PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE

This Bible Is Presented to

By

On

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

GOD’s WORD®

© 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations.

Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Pray the Scriptures Bible © 2012 by Bethany House Publishers

Introduction, How to Use This Bible, prayers, book introductions, and Authentic Prayer sidebars © 2012 by Kevin Johnson.

Published in 2012 by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Ebook edition created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-6061-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Up to 500 Scripture verses may be quoted in any form (printed, written, visual, electronic, or audio) without written permission, provided that no more than half of any one book of the Bible is quoted, and the verses quoted do not amount to 25 percent of the text of the product in which they are quoted.

If the quotation is used in a product that is not for sale, the designation—GW—must always appear following each quotation.

If the quotation is used in a product that is for sale, the following copyright notice must be used: “Scripture is taken from GOD’s WORD®. © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.”

For quotations over 500 verses and/or questions about these policies, please write to Baker Publishing Group, P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids MI 49516. You may also contact them through their website: www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

CONTENTS

Cover

Series Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Alphabetical Listing of Bible Books

Introduction

How to Use This Bible

About God’s Word Translation

The Books of the Old Testament

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

The Books of the New Testament

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

Topical Prayer Guide

Prayers in Scripture

Contributors

Notes

Back Cover

THE BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

(Numerical and Alphabetical Order)

1 Chronicles

1 Corinthians

1 John

1 Kings

1 Peter

1 Samuel

1 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Chronicles

2 Corinthians

2 John

2 Kings

2 Peter

2 Samuel

2 Thessalonians

2 Timothy

3 John

Acts

Amos

Colossians

Daniel

Deuteronomy

Ecclesiastes

Ephesians

Esther

Exodus

Ezekiel

Ezra

Galatians

Genesis

Habakkuk

Haggai

Hebrews

Hosea

Isaiah

James

Jeremiah

Job

Joel

John

Jonah

Joshua

Jude

Judges

Lamentations

Leviticus

Luke

Malachi

Mark

Matthew

Micah

Nahum

Nehemiah

Numbers

Obadiah

Philemon

Philippians

Proverbs

Psalms

Revelation

Romans

Ruth

Song of Songs

Titus

Zechariah

Zephaniah

INTRODUCTION

God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions. No creature can hide from God. Everything is uncovered and exposed for him to see. We must answer to him.

Hebrews 4:12–13

Scripture cuts to the innermost depths of everything you are. It inspires, informs, corrects, and encourages. It puts you on the path to real life that starts now and lasts forever. Scripture can also open a one-on-one conversation with the God who speaks to you in his Word.

Most people pray. Many of us struggle. We wonder what to say to God and how to say it. We worry if we will get what we ask or if we can speak honest questions. Pray the Scriptures Bible shows that the entire Word of God teaches us how to pray.

Pray the Scriptures Bible grew out of my own journey with God—decades of taking the Bible seriously, first as a follower of Jesus, then as a leader and spiritual shepherd, and finally as an author intent on making Scripture real and relevant to all ages. The more time I spent in the Bible, the more Scripture and prayer came together. It became habit to respond in prayer to the passage I studied. Because God spoke to me, I spoke back to him. As his word cut to my core, I talked to him about what he had already laid bare. I answered to him.

How to Pray Scripture

Pray the Scriptures Bible is an experiential Bible—a fresh, accurate, straightforward translation together with a stream of prayers flowing from both heart and mind. This is a personal response to Scripture, with prayers that capture an everyday conversation with God.

As you pick up the Bible and pray, several things happen. Many passages move you to declare who God is or what he has done, is doing, or will do. You identify with a person, thought, or feeling. That might prompt you to confess something that’s come between you and God or to commit to living differently. Or you might ask the Lord to work in you or meet a need.

The prayers in Pray the Scriptures Bible give you simple words to reflect on and offer to God. I intentionally stay close to the Bible text so the connection between a passage and prayer isn’t lost in excessive poetry or artistry. I searched for words and themes that fit easily in anyone’s mouth.

But the prayers I scripted aren’t the final word. They’re just a starting point for your own prayers. Let them encourage your own unique conversation with God as you process your own life circumstances and give voice to your own spiritual longings, wonderings, and worship.

Don’t limit your reading and praying to favorite passages. Praying the whole Bible forced me to form prayers from both teachings and stories . . . to make sense of challenging and awkward passages . . . to find personal relevance in verses dense with history and sparse on obvious application. This is an opportunity not just to read a book but to interact with the Lord who has reached out to people throughout history and who still reaches out to you now.

Don’t keep these prayers to yourself. Although for consistency they are written in first person (usually I, sometimes we), adapt them to pray for others—family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, people you struggle to love, and the world at large. Pray them with others—in pairs, groups, and gatherings. For group settings, put Scriptures and corresponding prayers on screens. Or enlarge them, print them, and scatter them on walls around your meeting space to let individuals and groups read and pray in “walkaround worship.” As you would any other resource, let people know where you found these prayers.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and Baker Publishing Group, from David Horton and Natasha Sperling to the entire staff, for teaming up to use the GOD’s WORD Translation to make this idea real. They join me in praying that this unique Bible will inspire your quest to know and experience God. Thanks to Nate, Karin, and Elise—for their constant patience and support. And thanks most of all to Lyn—my wife, my love, and my partner in everything.

Kevin Johnson

HOW TO USE THIS BIBLE

Scripture Prayers

Responsive prayers flow down the outside of each page covering every stretch of Scripture. Pray them silently or out loud. Experiment with alternating directly between a passage and prayer or reading a block of Scripture followed by a block of prayers. Make these words your own by using them as a starting point for prayers that bridge into your own life circumstances.

1:20–25   At your command sea and sky swarmed with life. You set your creatures free to fill the earth. You gave birth to animals wild and tame. And everything you made was good.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day from the night. They will be signs and will mark religious festivals, days, and years. 15 They will be lights in the sky to shine on the earth.” And so it was. 16 God made the two bright lights: the larger light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 God put them in the sky to give light to the earth, 18 to dominate the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening, then morning—a fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the water swarm with swimming creatures, and let birds fly through the sky over the earth.” 21 So God created the large sea creatures, every type of creature that swims around in the water and every type of flying bird. God saw that they were good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fertile, increase in number, fill the sea, and let there be many birds on the earth.” 23 There was evening, then morning—a fifth day.

Bible Book Introductions

Each introduction alerts you to the setting and overarching theme of a book to help you enter into the situation that drives your responsive prayers. Each introduction also highlights what you can expect to gain by praying a specific Bible book.

GENESIS

INTRODUCTION

Genesis announces God’s majestic creation of everything you see. Beginning with the simple declaration that “in the beginning God created heaven and earth” (Genesis 1:1), it tells the story of humankind’s first interactions with God.

The Lord crafts people as the high point of his creation, setting Adam and Eve in a lush paradise and instructing them to rule the earth and care for their garden home. The book pictures the Lord walking and talking with the world’s first couple and shows off their enthusiastic human love. Yet when Adam and Eve rebel against the Lord’s clear command, their relationship with him and each other shatters.

Genesis describes people continuing in open revolt against God, engaging in every imaginable sin and bringing on themselves pain the Lord never meant them to endure. It also shows God’s choice of one person, Abraham, as the start of his plan to invite all people back to him. Abraham models true faith as he obeys God’s command to leave his home and travel to a distant unknown land. His family history fills out the rest of Genesis, which concludes with Joseph, an arrogant youth sold into slavery by his brothers yet raised up by the Lord to save Egypt from starvation.

Praying this book introduces you to the God who placed you in a world of wonder and designed you to live close to him. It urges you to evaluate your own resistance to God. It invites you to join him on a fresh journey of faith.

Authentic Prayer

More than two dozen types of prayer appear in these articles, ranging from guidance to confession to growth, focused on one of the Bible’s own prayers or a biblical teaching on prayer. These major prayer categories invite you to stretch beyond your old prayer patterns and talk with God in fresh ways. Sample each type by following the references at the end of each feature.

Authentic Prayer

Exodus 3:1–17

Listening

God called to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” Moses answered, “Here I am!” Exodus 3:4

Prayer is more than talking at God. Moses perceived God at a flaming desert bush, but their conversation only begins after the Lord first calls his name. Moses answers, and the Lord teaches him that any meeting place with God is holy ground.

When Moses fearfully hides his face, the Lord keeps talking. He already knows everything the prince-turned-shepherd could possibly have on his mind. He knows the cries of his enslaved people, and he already has a firm plan to rescue them that includes sending Moses to force his people’s freedom. The Lord isn’t quiet until he tells Moses his name, “I Am Who I Am,” (Exodus 3:14) the God who has always existed and who will always be with his people.

Your prayers might not feel like a back-and-forth dialogue with God. But he always invites you to quiet yourself and listen for him. You might hear his whispering voice, and you can expect him to speak to you through Scripture. If you never stop the stream of words flowing from your mouth, you won’t ever hear his side of the conversation.

Pray the Scriptures Listening: Psalm 5:1–3, 1 Kings 19:11–12, Matthew 6:5–8, 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Scripture Prayers

A thorough list of prayers in the Bible.

Topical Index

An index covering categories of prayer as well as other common prayer concerns such as family, work, trials, and money.

GOD’s WORD Translation of the Bible

GOD’s WORD Translation (GW) accurately translates the meaning of the original texts into clear, everyday language. Readable and reliable, GW is living, active, and life-changing.

GW was translated by a committee of biblical scholars and English reviewers to ensure accurate, natural English that preserves the styles of the biblical writers. Its understandable vocabulary and easy phrasing helps you move easily between Scripture and prayer.

ABOUT GOD’S WORD TRANSLATION

GOD’s WORD® Translation

GOD’s WORD® Translation (GW), produced by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society, fills a need that has remained unmet by English Bibles: to translate the Bible from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to their closest natural English equivalent.

GW consciously combines scholarly fidelity with natural English. Because it was translated by a committee of biblical scholars, GW is an accurate, trustworthy translation. Because of the involvement of English reviewers at every stage of the translation process, GW reads like contemporary literature.

Closest Natural Equivalence

Like many Bibles published before it, GOD’s WORD has been translated directly from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Unlike many Bibles before it, however, GW used a translation theory that reflects the advancement of translation theory and practice.

Closest natural equivalent (CNE) translation provides readers with a meaning in the target language that is equivalent to that of the source language. It seeks to express that meaning naturally, in a way that a native English speaker would speak or write. Finally, it expresses the meaning with a style that preserves many of the characteristics of the source text.

However, CNE does not attempt to make all books or passages function on the same level. The more difficult books of the Bible are translated to the same level of difficulty as the original languages. In addition, abstract concepts in Greek and Hebrew are translated into abstract concepts in English, and concrete concepts remain concrete in translation.

This translation theory is designed to avoid the awkwardness and inaccuracy associated with formal-equivalent translations, and to avoid the loss of meaning and oversimplification associated with functional-equivalent translations.

Translation Process

The first consideration for the translators of GW was to find equivalent English ways of expressing the meaning of the original text, ensuring that the translation is faithful to the meaning of the source text. The next consideration was readability; the meaning is expressed in natural English by using common English punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and vocabulary. The third consideration was to choose the natural equivalent that most closely reflects the style of the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek text. At the core of this effort was a full-time translation team composed of biblical scholars who served as translators, English experts who actively reviewed English style with scholars at every stage of the translation process, and professional production personnel who oversaw the work. The basic process is outlined below.

Translation

In the first step of this process, a biblical scholar used the principles of closest natural equivalence to produce an initial translation of one of the books of the Bible. During this time, the translator was able to consult with the rest of the translation team as needed.

English Review

With the initial draft of a book completed, an expert in English style reviewed the translator’s text and suggested changes. The English reviewer was concerned primarily with a natural English rendering. Additionally, the English reviewer electronically searched the entire translation to ensure that any proposed revisions would not destroy the translation’s consistency.

The translator and the English reviewer then worked together to produce a second draft that improved both the naturalness and accuracy of the translation. Upon completion of the second draft, the translator and English reviewer served as resources for the rest of the editorial process.

Peer Review

After the English review process, the second draft was circulated to the other full-time translators and English reviewers for comments. This peer review stage allowed the other members of the translation team to compare the draft with their own work, offer suggestions for further improvement, and maintain consistency from one book of the Bible to another.

Technical Review

The translator and English reviewer incorporated all appropriate suggestions offered in the peer review stage to produce a third draft. This draft was then submitted to a number of scholarly technical reviewers, who submitted written suggestions for improvements in the translation.

Review by Book Editorial Committee

The next step in the process produced a fourth draft of the text. Taking into account the comments of the technical reviewers, a book editorial committee met to read and discuss the text for each book of the Bible.

The final step for the book editorial committee was reading the text aloud. Since the Bible is read not only silently but also aloud in worship and instructional settings, having a Bible translation that can be immediately grasped by the listener or reader and understood without the benefit of rereading was an important consideration.

Review by Consultative Committee

After the members of the book editorial committee finished their work, they passed the fourth draft to the members of the consultative committee. This group of more than fifty Christian leaders from various denominations submitted comments and suggestions.

Review by Old Testament, New Testament, and Bible Editorial Committees

The final editorial changes were made when all the books of the Bible had been completed or were near completion. Old and New Testament committees and, finally, a Bible editorial committee approved the accuracy and readability of the text.

Features of GOD’s WORD®

Layout

The features that distinguish GOD’s WORD from other Bible translations are designed to aid readers. The most obvious of these is the open, single-column format. This invites readers into the page.

In prose, GW looks like other works of literature. It contains frequent paragraphing. Whenever a different speaker’s words are quoted, a new paragraph begins. Lists, genealogies, and long prayers are formatted to help readers recognize the thought pattern of the text. The prose style of GW favors concise, clear sentences. While avoiding very long, complicated sentences, which characterize many English Bible translations, GW strives to vary the word arrangement in a natural way. Doing this enhances readability and brings the Scriptures to life.

The books that are primarily poetry in GW are instantly recognized by their format. The single-column format enables readers to recognize parallel thoughts in parallel lines of poetry. In a single-column, across-the-page layout, a variety of indentations are possible. The translators have used indentation to indicate the relationship of one line to others in the same context. This enables a person reading the Bible in English to appreciate the Bible’s poetry in much the same way as a person reading the Bible in the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek.

Punctuation, Capitalization

In English, meaning is conveyed not only by words but also by punctuation. However, no punctuation existed in ancient Hebrew and Greek writing, and words were used where English would use punctuation marks. GOD’s WORD strives to use standard English punctuation wherever possible. At times this means that a punctuation mark or paragraph break represents the meaning that could only be expressed in words in Hebrew or Greek.

Italics are also used as they would be in other printed English texts: for foreign words or to indicate that a word is used as a word. (GW never uses italics to indicate emphasis.)

Wherever possible, GW has supplied information in headings or half-brackets to identify the speaker in quoted material. To minimize the confusion produced by quotations within quotations, quotation marks are used sparingly. For instance, they are not used after formulaic statements such as “This is what the LORD says: . . .”

Contractions can fit comfortably into many English sentences. Certainly, “Don’t you care that we’re going to die” is more natural than, “Do you not care that we are going to die?” GW achieves a warmer style by using contractions where appropriate. But uncontracted words are used in contexts that require special emphasis.

GW capitalizes the first letter in proper nouns and sentences. Some religious literature chooses to capitalize pronouns that refer to the deity. As in the original languages, GW does not capitalize any pronouns (unless they begin sentences). In some cases scholars are uncertain whether pronouns in the original texts refer to God or someone else. In these cases the presence of capitalized pronouns would be misleading. Additionally, in some cases Hebrew or Greek pronouns are not ambiguous but an English pronoun would be. In those cases, GW uses the appropriate proper noun in its place.

Gender References

The Scriptures contain many passages that apply to all people. Therefore, GOD’s WORD strives to use gender-inclusive language in these passages so that all readers will apply these passages to themselves. For example, traditionally, Psalm 1:1 has been translated, “Blessed is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked. . . .” As a result, many readers will understand this verse to mean that only adult males, not women or children, can receive a blessing. In GW the first Psalm begins “Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of the wicked. . . .”

If a passage focuses upon an individual, however, GW does not use plural nouns and pronouns to avoid the gender-specific pronouns he, him, and his. In these cases the translators considered the text’s focus upon an individual more important than an artificial use of plural pronouns. For example, Psalm 1:2 has been translated “Rather, he delights in the teachings of the LORD. . . .” In addition, gender-accurate language is preserved in passages that apply specifically to men or specifically to women.

Word Choice

The translation team chose words that were natural in context and that were as easily understood as possible without losing accuracy and faithfulness to the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible.

One of the challenges faced by the translators of GW was finding words that accurately communicate the meaning of important theological concepts in the Bible. Many of these concepts have traditionally been translated by words that no longer communicate to most English speakers. Examples of these theological terms include covenant, grace, justify, repent, and righteousness. While these words continue to be used by theologians and even by many Christians, the meanings that readers assign to them in everyday use do not equate to the meanings of the Hebrew or Greek words they are intended to translate. GOD’s WORD avoids using these terms and substitutes words that carry the same meaning in clear, natural English. In some cases traditional theological words are contained in footnotes the first time they occur in a chapter.

Living, Active, and Life-Changing

While all these features make GOD’s WORD Translation an accurate and readable Bible, the ultimate goal of the God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society is to bring the readers of GW into a new or closer relationship with Jesus. The translation team and support staff of the Mission Society pray that your reading of GW makes the living, active, and life-changing words of our great God and Savior clear and meaningful.

For more details on the translation process and the unique features that enable GW to accurately and clearly communicate God’s saving, life-changing message, visit www.godsword.org. For more information on available editions of GW, visit www.godswordtranslation.org.

Notes on the Text of GOD’s WORD

Brackets

Proper names or foreign words whose meaning is significant for understanding a particular Bible passage are translated in brackets ( [ ] ) following the name or phrase. When reading aloud a bracketed word may be treated as “that is.”

Half-brackets ( ⌞ ⌟ ) enclose words that the translation team supplied because the context contains meaning that is not explicitly stated in the original language.

Footnotes

Five types of footnotes are used in GOD’s WORD:

1. Explanatory footnotes clarify historical, cultural, and geographical details from the ancient world to make the text more understandable to modern readers. These footnotes also identify word play in Hebrew or Greek that would otherwise be lost to the English reader.

2. Alternate translation footnotes offer other plausible translations. They are introduced by the word or.

3. Footnotes that state “English equivalent difficult” mark passages where a Hebrew or Greek expression cannot be adequately translated into modern English without resorting to a long, inappropriate paraphrase.

4. Footnotes that state “Hebrew meaning uncertain” or “Greek meaning uncertain” mark passages where scholars are not sure exactly what a Hebrew or Greek expression means.

5. Textual footnotes are included wherever GOD’s WORD translates the meaning of some text other than the Masoretic Text printed in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia or its footnotes (Old Testament) or the Greek text printed in the twenty-seventh edition of Novum Testamentum Graece (New Testament).

Terms Used In Footnotes

Aramaic

one of the languages of the Old Testament, related to Hebrew

Dead Sea Scrolls

one or more of the Qumran manuscripts

Egyptian

one or more of the ancient translations of the Bible into the ancient Egyptian or Ethiopic languages

Greek

in the Old Testament: one or more of the ancient Greek translations of the Old Testament; in the New Testament: the Greek language, the language of the New Testament

Hebrew

the primary language of the Old Testament

Latin

one or more of the ancient Latin translations of the Bible

Masoretic Text

the traditional Hebrew text of the Old Testament

manuscript

an ancient, handwritten copy of a text

Samaritan Pentateuch

Samaritan Hebrew version of the first five books of the Bible

Syriac

the ancient Syriac translation of the Bible

Targum

one of the ancient Aramaic translations of the Old Testament

GENESIS

INTRODUCTION

Genesis announces God’s majestic creation of everything you see. Beginning with the simple declaration that “in the beginning God created heaven and earth” (Genesis 1:1), it tells the story of humankind’s first interactions with God.

The Lord crafts people as the high point of his creation, setting Adam and Eve in a lush paradise and instructing them to rule the earth and care for their garden home. The book pictures the Lord walking and talking with the world’s first couple and shows off their enthusiastic human love. Yet when Adam and Eve rebel against the Lord’s clear command, their relationship with him and each other shatters.

Genesis describes people continuing in open revolt against God, engaging in every imaginable sin and bringing on themselves pain the Lord never meant them to endure. It also shows God’s choice of one person, Abraham, as the start of his plan to invite all people back to him. Abraham models true faith as he obeys God’s command to leave his home and travel to a distant unknown land. His family history fills out the rest of Genesis, which concludes with Joseph, an arrogant youth sold into slavery by his brothers yet raised up by the Lord to save Egypt from starvation.

Praying this book introduces you to the God who placed you in a world of wonder and designed you to live close to him. It urges you to evaluate your own resistance to God. It invites you to join him on a fresh journey of faith.

GENESIS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20

21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | 29  | 30

31  | 32  | 33  | 34  | 35  | 36  | 37  | 38  | 39  | 40

41  | 42  | 43  | 44  | 45  | 46  | 47  | 48  | 49  | 50

The Creation

1

1 In the beginning God created heaven and earth.

1:1   You created everything that exists, from the earth under my feet to the heavens far above.

2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The Spirit of God was hovering over the water.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light!” So there was light. 4 God saw the light was good. So God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God named the light day, and the darkness he named night. There was evening, then morning—the first day.

1:2–5   Your Spirit hovered over murky chaos, eager to act. You shone light to scatter darkness. You set boundaries for day and night.

6 Then God said, “Let there be a horizon in the middle of the water in order to separate the water.” 7 So God made the horizon and separated the water above and below the horizon. And so it was. 8 God named ⌞what was above⌟ the horizon sky. There was evening, then morning—a second day.

9 Then God said, “Let the water under the sky come together in one area, and let the dry land appear.” And so it was. 10 God named the dry land earth. The water which came together he named sea. God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: plants bearing seeds, each according to its own type, and fruit trees bearing fruit with seeds, each according to its own type.” And so it was. 12 The earth produced vegetation: plants bearing seeds, each according to its own type, and trees bearing fruit with seeds, each according to its own type. God saw that they were good. 13 There was evening, then morning—a third day.

1:6–10   You spoke and your words parted the sky. Your power split land from sea. And everything you made was good.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day from the night. They will be signs and will mark religious festivals, days, and years. 15 They will be lights in the sky to shine on the earth.” And so it was. 16 God made the two bright lights: the larger light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 God put them in the sky to give light to the earth, 18 to dominate the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening, then morning—a fourth day.

1:11–19   You made plants and trees spring to life. You hung stars in the heavens and lit up the sky with sun and moon. And everything you made was good.

20 Then God said, “Let the water swarm with swimming creatures, and let birds fly through the sky over the earth.” 21 So God created the large sea creatures, every type of creature that swims around in the water and every type of flying bird. God saw that they were good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fertile, increase in number, fill the sea, and let there be many birds on the earth.” 23 There was evening, then morning—a fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce every type of living creature: every type of domestic animal, crawling animal, and wild animal.” And so it was. 25 God made every type of wild animal, every type of domestic animal, and every type of creature that crawls on the ground. God saw that they were good.

1:20–25   At your command sea and sky swarmed with life. You set your creatures free to fill the earth. You gave birth to animals wild and tame. And everything you made was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”

27 So God created humans in his image.

In the image of God he created them.

He created them male and female.

28 God blessed them and said, “Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”

29 God said, “I have given you every plant with seeds on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with seeds. This will be your food. 30 I have given all green plants as food to every land animal, every bird in the sky, and every animal that crawls on the earth—every living, breathing animal.” And so it was.

31 And God saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. There was evening, then morning—the sixth day.

1:26–31   You made human beings in your image, crafting us as men and women and commanding us to fill the earth. You trusted us to rule sea and sky and land. And everything you made was very good.

2

1 Heaven and earth and everything in them were finished. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. On the seventh day he stopped the work he had been doing. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and set it apart as holy, because on that day he stopped all his work of creation.

2:1–3   You finished the heavens and the earth and rested from your work, claiming the seventh day as your own.

The Creation of Man and Woman

4 This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when the LORD God made earth and heaven.

5 Wild bushes and plants were not on the earth yet because the LORD God hadn’t sent rain on the earth. Also, there was no one to farm the land. 6 Instead, underground water would come up from the earth and water the entire surface of the ground.

7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the earth[1] and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being.

8 The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. That’s where he put the man whom he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.

2:7–9   You built man from the dust and breathed life into his body. You surrounded him with beautiful trees and delicious fruit.

10 A river flowed from Eden to water the garden. Outside the garden it divided into four rivers. 11 The name of the first river is Pishon. This is the one that winds throughout Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is pure. Bdellium[2] and onyx are also ⌞found⌟ there.) 13 The name of the second river is Gihon. This is the one that winds throughout Sudan. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris. This is the one that flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it. 16 The LORD God commanded the man. He said, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. 17 But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

2:10–17   You wrapped the first man in paradise—a garden set in a land of gold and precious stones. You taught him to work and worship, insisting he obey your clear commands.

18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him.”

19 The LORD God had formed all the wild animals and all the birds out of the ground. Then he brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called each creature became its name. 20 So the man named all the domestic animals, all the birds, and all the wild animals.

But the man found no helper who was right for him. 21 So the LORD God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. While the man was sleeping, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 Then the LORD God formed a woman from the rib that he had taken from the man. He brought her to the man.

2:18–22   You watched the first man struggle alone. Your most amazing creatures couldn’t satisfy his soul. So you made woman, a helper who was right for him.

23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.

She will be named woman

because she was taken from man.”

24 That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, but they weren’t ashamed of it.

2:23–25   Man saw woman and recognized his own flesh and bone. You created husband and wife to live with no shame or separation.

The First Sin and the First Promise

3

1 The snake was more clever than all the wild animals the LORD God had made. He asked the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must never eat the fruit of any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman answered the snake, “We’re allowed to eat the fruit from any tree in the garden 3 except the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You must never eat it or touch it. If you do, you will die!’”

3:1–3   The snake in the garden cast doubt on your instructions. Woman mangled your command. She made your words sound unloving.

4 “You certainly won’t die!” the snake told the woman. 5 “God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened. You’ll be like God, knowing good and evil.”

3:4–5   The snake claimed we can sin and escape unscathed. He accused you of dangling your wisdom and rank beyond our reach.

6 The woman saw that the tree had fruit that was good to eat, nice to look at, and desirable for making someone wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

7 Then their eyes were opened, and they both realized that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves.

3:6–7   Why do we doubt you? Woman and man grabbed for what they thought was wisdom. Instead they got shame and guilt.

8 In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking around in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees in the garden. 9 The LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden. I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

11 God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat fruit from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?”

12 The man answered, “That woman, the one you gave me, gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13 Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

3:8–13   Man and woman hid when they heard you coming. You called out their sin and they shifted the blame.

“The snake deceived me, and I ate,” the woman answered.

14 So the LORD God said to the snake, “Because you have done this,

You are cursed more than all the wild or domestic animals.

You will crawl on your belly.

You will be the lowest of animals as long as you live.

15 I will make you and the woman hostile toward each other.

I will make your descendants

and her descendant hostile toward each other.

He will crush your head,

and you will bruise his heel.”

16 He said to the woman,

“I will increase your pain and your labor

when you give birth to children.

Yet, you will long for your husband,

and he will rule you.”

17 Then he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree, although I commanded you, ‘You must never eat its fruit.’

The ground is cursed because of you.

Through hard work you will eat ⌞food that comes⌟ from it

every day of your life.

18 The ground will grow thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat wild plants.

19 By the sweat of your brow, you will produce food to eat

until you return to the ground,

because you were taken from it.

You are dust, and you will return to dust.”

20 Adam named his wife Eve [Life] because she became the mother of every living person.

3:14–20   Rebellion carried a price we still pay. Your sentence is hard labor for woman and man—followed by death and dust. But you made a promise you won’t fail to keep. A child of woman will crush the snake’s head.

21 The LORD God made clothes from animal skins for the man and his wife and dressed them.

22 Then the LORD God said, “The man has become like one of us, since he knows good and evil. He must not reach out and take the fruit from the tree of life and eat. Then he would live forever.” 23 So the LORD God sent the man out of the Garden of Eden to farm the ground from which the man had been formed. 24 After he sent the man out, God placed angels[3] and a flaming sword that turned in all directions east of the Garden of Eden. He placed them there to guard the way to the tree of life.

3:21–24   You shut us out of paradise and cut short our days to keep sin in check. You sent us away from your intense presence. Yet you clothe us with mercy. Their story is my story. Their separation is my separation. I ache to reconnect with you.

Cain Murders Abel

4

1 Adam made love to his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have gotten the man that the LORD promised.” 2 Then she gave birth to another child, Abel, Cain’s brother. Abel was a shepherd, and Cain was a farmer.

4:1–2   You gave Adam and Eve the pleasure of love and power over life. You kept your promise to give them a son.

3 Later Cain brought some crops from the land as an offering to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought some choice parts of the firstborn animals from his flock. The LORD approved of Abel and his offering, 5 but he didn’t approve of Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry and was disappointed. 6 Then the LORD asked Cain, “Why are you angry, and why do you look disappointed? 7 If you do well, won’t you be accepted? But if you don’t do well, sin is lying outside your door ready to attack. It wants to control you, but you must master it.”

4:3–7   You smiled at Abel’s sacrifice. Yet you saw through Cain’s unconvincing worship. Warn me when sin crouches at the door of my life. Make me sin’s master instead of its slave.

8 Cain talked to his brother Abel. Later, when they were in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 The LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he answered. “Am I supposed to take care of my brother?”

10 The LORD asked, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the ground, which has received the blood of your brother whom you killed. 12 When you farm the ground, it will no longer yield its best for you. You will be a fugitive, a wanderer on the earth.”

4:8–12   You heard Abel cry out from the blood-soaked ground. You cursed Cain for killing his brother. You turned Cain’s fields against him and made him a fugitive.

13 But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can stand! 14 You have forced me off this land today. I have to hide from you and become a fugitive, a wanderer on the earth. Now anyone who finds me will kill me!”

15 So the LORD said to him, “Not so! Anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” The LORD gave Cain a sign so that anyone meeting him would not kill him.

16 Then Cain left the LORD’s presence and lived in Nod [The Land of Wandering], east of Eden.

4:13–16   Cain fled your scrutiny. Yet even a guilty wanderer can’t outrun your merciful protection.

Cain’s Ten Descendants—Cain to Lamech

17 Cain made love to his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named it Enoch after his son. 18 To Enoch was born Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael. And Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the first person to live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the first person to play the harp and the flute. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubalcain, who made bronze and iron tools. Tubalcain’s sister was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me!

Wives of Lamech, hear what I say!

I killed a man for bruising me,

a young man for wounding me.

24 If Cain is avenged 7 times,

then Lamech, 77 times.”

4:20–24   You gave people skills we need to thrive. But from the start we chose pride and violence.

Adam’s Godly Descendants—Adam to Enosh

25 Adam made love to his wife again. She gave birth to a son and named him Seth, because ⌞she said,⌟ “God has given[4] me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

26 A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to worship the LORD.

4:25–26   When my world goes dark, show me kindness. Turn my heart to worship you.

Adam’s Ten Descendants—Adam to Noah—1 Chronicles 1:1–3

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1 This is the written account of Adam and his descendants.

When God created humans,

he made them in the likeness of God.

2 He created them male and female.

He blessed them and called them humans

when he created them.

5:1–2   You made us in your image, crafting us as male and female. You blessed us from the moment you created us. You care for us even after we rebel.

3 When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father ⌞of a son⌟ in his own likeness, in his own image. He named him Seth. 4 After Adam became the father of Seth, he lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 Adam lived a total of 930 years; then he died.

6 When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of Enosh. 7 After he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Seth lived a total of 912 years; then he died.

5:3–8   People came and went—fathers and mothers, daughters and sons—living and dying. Each had a place in your plan. Help me find your purpose for my life.

9 When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan. 10 After he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Enosh lived a total of 905 years; then he died.

12 When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 After he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Kenan lived a total of 910 years; then he died.

15 When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared. 16 After he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years; then he died.

18 When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch. 19 After he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Jared lived a total of 962 years; then he died.

5:9–20   I won’t forget these faces from the past. I’ll ponder their long journeys on earth.

21 When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was gone because God took him.

5:21–23   I want to walk with you like Enoch, living each day closer to you than the last. Sweep me up to heaven when my time on earth is done.

25 When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. 26 After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Methuselah lived a total of 969 years; then he died.

28 When Lamech was 182 years old, he became the father of a son. 29 He named him Noah [Relief], and said, “This child will bring us relief from the work and painful labor of our hands since the LORD has cursed the ground.” 30 After Lamech became the father of Noah, he lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Lamech lived a total of 777 years; then he died.

32 When Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Evil Increases on the Earth

6

1 The number of people increased all over the earth, and daughters were born to them. 2 The sons of God saw that the daughters of other humans were beautiful. So they married any woman they chose.

3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not struggle with humans forever, because they are flesh and blood. They will live 120 years.”

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, as well as later, when the sons of God slept with the daughters of other humans and had children by them. These children were famous long ago.

5 The LORD saw how evil humans had become on the earth. All day long their deepest thoughts were nothing but evil. 6 The LORD was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and he was heartbroken. 7 So he said, “I will wipe off the face of the earth these humans that I created. I will wipe out not only humans, but also domestic animals, crawling animals, and birds. I’m sorry that I made them.” 8 But the LORD was pleased with Noah.

6:1–7   All day long our deepest thoughts were nothing but evil, and our sin broke your heart. You vowed to wipe us from the earth. You were sorry you made us.

Noah’s Family and the Ship

9 This is the account of Noah and his descendants.

Noah had God’s approval and was a man of integrity among the people of his time. He walked with God. 10 He had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 The world was corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence. 12 God saw the world and how corrupt it was because all people on earth lived evil lives.

6:8–12   You smiled at Noah, a man of integrity in a corrupt and violent world. Everyone on earth was evil, but Noah walked with you. I want to be like him, not like the crowds.

13 God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all people because the earth is full of their violence. Now I’m going to destroy them along with the earth. 14 Make yourself a ship of cypress wood.[5] Make rooms in the ship and coat it inside and out with tar. 15 This is how you should build it: the ship is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Make a roof for the ship, and leave an 18-inch-high opening at the top.[6] Put a door in the side of the ship. Build the ship with lower, middle, and upper decks. 17 I’m about to send a flood on the earth to destroy all people under the sky—every living, breathing human. Everything on earth will die.

6:13–17   You decided to end human violence—and to spare the one good man you could find. You told Noah to build a ship to escape the flood you were sending.

18 “But I will make my promise[7] to you. You, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives will go into the ship. 19 Bring two of every living creature into the ship in order to keep them alive with you. They must be male and female. 20 Two of every type of bird, every type of domestic animal, and every type of creature that crawls on the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 Take every kind of food that can be eaten and store it. It will be food for you and the animals.”

6:18–21   You preserved life in the midst of destruction. You invited a righteous man and his family to float above the flood. You welcomed your creatures aboard.

22 Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.

6:22   Long before the rains began, Noah did everything you commanded. Would I have listened to you?

The Flood

7

1 The LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ship with your whole family because I have seen that you alone are righteous among the people of today. 2 Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal (a male and a female of each) and one pair of every kind of unclean[8] animal (a male and a female). 3 Also, take seven pairs of every kind of bird (a male and a female of each) to preserve animal life all over the earth after the flood. 4 In seven days I will send rain to the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. I will wipe off the face of the earth every living creature that I have made.”

5 So Noah did everything that the LORD commanded him.

6 Noah was 600 years old when the flood came to the earth. 7 Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives went into the ship to escape the floodwaters. 8 Clean and unclean animals, birds, and creatures that crawl on the ground 9 came to Noah to go into the ship in pairs (a male and female of each) as God had commanded Noah.

7:1–9   At your word Noah and his family went into the ship to ride out the flood. They took birds and animals and crawling creatures with them.

10 Seven days later the flood came on the earth. 11 On the seventeenth day of the second month of the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, all the deep springs burst open. The sky opened, 12 and rain came pouring down on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights.

13 On that same day Noah and his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, as well as Noah’s wife and his three daughters-in-law went into the ship. 14 They had with them every type of wild animal, every type of domestic animal, every type of creature that crawls on the earth, and every type of bird (every creature with wings). 15 A pair of every living, breathing animal came to Noah to go into the ship. 16 A male and a female of every animal went in as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD closed the door behind them.

17 The flood continued for 40 days on the earth. The water increased and lifted the ship so that it rose high above the ground. 18 As the water rose and became very deep, the ship floated on top of the water. 19 The water rose very high above the earth. It covered all the high mountains everywhere under the sky. 20 It rose 23 feet above the mountaintops.

7:10–20   Rain poured down day and night until it lifted the ship free. Noah and his family floated on the waves and waited.

21 Every creature that crawls on the earth died, including birds, domestic and wild animals, and everything that swarms over the earth, along with every human. 22 Everything on dry land (every living, breathing creature) died. 23 Every living creature on the face of the earth was wiped out. Humans, domestic animals, crawling creatures, and birds were wiped off the earth. Only Noah and those with him in the ship were left.

24 The floodwaters were on the earth for 150 days.

7:21–24   You wiped out every living thing, all because of human sin. Only the people and creatures you protected on the ship survived.

God Remembers Noah

8

1 God remembered Noah and all the wild and domestic animals with him in the ship. So God made a wind blow over the earth, and the water started to go down. 2 The deep springs and the sky had been shut, and the rain had stopped pouring. 3 The water began to recede from the land. At the end of 150 days the water had decreased. 4 On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ship came to rest in the mountains of Ararat. 5 The water kept decreasing until the tenth month. On the first day of the tenth month, the tops of the mountains appeared.

6 After 40 more days Noah opened the window he had made in the ship 7 and sent out a raven. It kept flying back and forth until the water on the land had dried up. 8 Next, he sent out a dove to see if the water was gone from the surface of the ground. 9 The dove couldn’t find a place to land because the water was still all over the earth. So it came back to Noah in the ship. He reached out and brought the dove back into the ship. 10 He waited seven more days and again sent the dove out of the ship. 11 The dove came to him in the evening, and in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf. Then Noah knew that the water was gone from the earth. 12 He waited seven more days and sent out the dove again, but it never came back to him.

8:1–14   You sent wind over the earth and shut the sky. The water went down and the ship came to rest. The earth sprouted life and the ground soon dried.

13 By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water on the land had dried up. Noah opened the top of the ship, looked out, and saw the surface of the ground. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the land was dry.

15 Then God spoke to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ship with your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives. 17 Bring out every animal that’s with you: birds, domestic animals, and every creature that crawls on the earth. Be fertile, increase in number, and spread over the earth.”

18 So Noah came out with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives. 19 Every animal, crawling creature, and bird—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ship, one kind after another.

8:15–19   You gave the world a new start, sending people and creatures to spread over the earth. Give me a new beginning each day.

20 Noah built an altar to the LORD. On it he made a burnt offering of each type of clean[9] animal and clean bird. 21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma. He said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humans, even though from birth their hearts are set on nothing but evil. I will never again kill every living creature as I have just done.

22 As long as the earth exists,

planting and harvesting,

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

will never stop.”

8:20–22   You smelled the soothing aroma of worship and swore to never again curse the earth or destroy all life. Despite our evil hearts, you vowed to show us mercy.

God Blesses Noah and His Sons

9

1 God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fertile, increase in number, and fill the earth. 2 All the wild animals and all the birds will fear you and be terrified of you. Every creature that crawls on the ground and all the fish in the sea have been put under your control. 3 Everything that lives and moves will be your food. I gave you green plants as food; I now give you everything else.

9:1–3   You blessed Noah and his descendants. You told us to fill the earth and appointed us as masters of our world. Don’t let me abuse your trust.

4 “But you are not to eat meat with blood in it. (Blood is life.) 5 In addition, I will demand your blood for your life. I will demand it from any animal or from any person. I will demand the life of any person ⌞who kills⌟ another person.

6 Whoever sheds human blood,

by humans his blood will be shed,

because in the image of God, God made humans.

9:4–6   You created us in your image and made our lives sacred. No one who sheds human blood will escape your justice.

7 Be fertile, and increase in number. Spread over the earth, and increase.”

God’s Promise—The Sign of the Rainbow

8 God also said to Noah and his sons, 9 “I am going to make my promise[10] to you, your descendants, 10 and every living being that is with you—birds, domestic animals, and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ship—every living thing on earth. 11 I am making my promise to you. Never again will all life be killed by floodwaters. Never again will there be a flood that destroys the earth.”

12 God said, “This is the sign of the promise I am giving to you and every living being that is with you for generations to come. 13 I will put my rainbow in the clouds to be a sign of my promise to the earth. 14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth, a rainbow will appear in the clouds. 15 Then I will remember my promise to you and every living animal. Never again will water become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember my everlasting promise to every living animal on earth.”

17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the promise I am making to all life on earth.”

9:8–17   The rainbow declares your mercy—your everlasting promise to never again flood the earth or destroy every living thing.

Noah Curses Canaan but Blesses Shem and Japheth

18 Noah’s sons, who came out of the ship, were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 19 These were Noah’s three sons. From them the whole earth was populated. Ham was the father of Canaan.[11]

20 Noah, a farmer, was the first person to plant a vineyard. 21 He drank some wine, got drunk, and lay naked inside his tent. 22 Ham, father of Canaan, saw his father naked. So he went outside and told his two brothers.

23 Shem and Japheth took a blanket and laid it over their shoulders. Then they walked in backwards and covered their father’s naked body. They turned their faces away so that they didn’t see their father naked.

24 When Noah sobered up, he found out what his youngest son had done to him. 25 So he said,

“Canaan is cursed!

He will be the lowest slave to his brothers.

26 Praise the LORD, the God of Shem!

Canaan will be his slave.

27 May God expand the territory of Japheth.[12]

May he live in the tents of Shem.

Canaan will be his slave.”

9:18–27   Ham mocked his father, but Canaan bore the brunt of Ham’s sin. Shake sense into me when my sins make others suffer.

28 Noah lived 350 years after the flood. 29 Noah lived a total of 950 years; then he died.

The 14 Descendants of Japheth—1 Chronicles 1:4–7

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1 This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their descendants. Shem, Ham and Japheth had children after the flood.

2 Japheth’s descendants were

Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

3 Gomer’s descendants were

Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

4 Javan’s descendants were

the people from Elishah, Tarshish, Cyprus, and Rhodes.[13]

5 From these descendants the people of the coastlands spread into their own countries. Each nation had its own language and families.

The 30 Descendants of Ham—1 Chronicles 1:8–16

6 Ham’s descendants were

Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.

7 Cush’s descendants were

Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah,

and Sabteca.

Raamah’s descendants were

Sheba and Dedan.

8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, the first mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter whom the LORD blessed. That’s why people used to say, “ ⌞He’s⌟ like Nimrod, a mighty hunter whom the LORD blessed.” 10 The first ⌞cities⌟ in his kingdom were Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh in Shinar [Babylonia]. 11 He went from that land to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, 12 and Resen, the great city between Nineveh and Calah.

13 Egypt was the ancestor of

the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.

15 Canaan was the father of

Sidon his firstborn, then Heth, 16 also the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

Later the Canaanite families scattered. 19 The border of the Canaanites extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as far as Lasha.

20 These were Ham’s descendants by families and languages within their countries and nations.

The 26 Descendants of Shem—1 Chronicles 1:17–23

21 Shem, Japheth’s older brother, also had children. ⌞Shem was⌟ the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.

22 Shem’s descendants were

Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.

23 Aram’s descendants were

Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.

24 Arpachshad was the father of Shelah,

and Shelah was the father of Eber.

25 Two sons were born to Eber.

The name of the one was Peleg [Division], because in his day the earth was divided.

His brother’s name was Joktan.

26 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. These were Joktan’s sons. 30 The region where they lived extended from Mesha toward Sephar in the eastern mountains.

31 These were Shem’s descendants by families and languages within their countries according to their nations.

32 These were the families of Noah’s sons listed by their genealogies, nation by nation. From these ⌞descendants⌟ the nations spread over the earth after the flood.

10:1–32   Life doesn’t begin or end with me. I’ll honor the people who came before me and work for the good of those who come after me.

The Tower of Babel

11

1 The whole world had one language with a common vocabulary. 2 As people moved toward the east,[14] they found a plain in Shinar [Babylonia] and settled there.

3 They said to one another, “Let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used bricks as stones and tar[15] as mortar.

4 Then they said, “Let’s build a city for ourselves and a tower with its top in the sky. Let’s make a name for ourselves so that we won’t become scattered all over the face of the earth.”

11:1–4   You give humankind ingenuity and energy. I won’t abuse your kindness by aiming to make a name for myself or lift myself above you.

5 The LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the descendants of Adam were building. 6 The LORD said, “They are one people with one language. This is only the beginning of what they will do! Now nothing they plan to do will be too difficult for them. 7 Let us go down there and mix up their language so that they won’t understand each other.”

8 So the LORD scattered them all over the face of the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 This is why it was named Babel, because there the LORD turned the language of the whole earth into babble. From that place the LORD scattered them all over the face of the earth.

11:5–9   Glory belongs to you alone. When I’m impressed with myself you’ll frustrate my ambitions.

The Ten Descendants of Shem—Shem to Terah—1 Chronicles 1:17–23

10 This is the account of Shem and his descendants. Two years after the flood when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arpachshad. 11 After he became the father of Arpachshad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

12 Arpachshad was 35 years old when he became the father of Shelah. 13 After he became the father of Shelah, Arpachshad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

14 Shelah was 30 years old when he became the father of Eber. 15 After he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

16 Eber was 34 years old when he became the father of Peleg. 17 After he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

18 Peleg was 30 years old when he became the father of Reu. 19 After he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

20 Reu was 32 years old when he became the father of Serug. 21 After he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

22 Serug was 30 years old when he became the father of Nahor. 23 After he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

24 Nahor was 29 years old when he became the father of Terah. 25 After he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

26 Terah was 70 years old when he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Terah Moves to Haran

27 This is the account of Terah and his descendants. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, his native land. 29 Both Abram and Nahor married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, daughter of Haran. (Haran was the father of Milcah and Iscah.) 30 Sarai was not able to have children.

31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (son of Haran), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, wife of his son Abram. They set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. When they came as far as Haran, they stayed there. 32 Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran.

11:27–32   You set the stage for your powerful acts. You devise plans long before anyone knows what you’re up to.

The LORD’s First Promise to Abram

12

1 The LORD said to Abram,

“Leave your land,

your relatives,

and your father’s home.

Go to the land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation,

I will bless you.

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you, I will curse.

Through you every family on earth will be blessed.”

The LORD’s Second Promise to Abram

4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. 5 Abram set out for Canaan. He took along his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the servants they had acquired in Haran.

12:1–5   Abram heard your command to go—and your promise to bless him and every family on earth. He put home behind and left for a land you hadn’t yet shown him. Train me to hear and to trust your words.

6 They arrived in Canaan,[16] and Abram traveled through the land to the oak tree belonging to Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I’m going to give this land to your descendants.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

8 He moved on to the hills east of Bethel, and he put up his tent—with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He also built an altar to the LORD there and worshiped the LORD. 9 Abram kept moving toward the Negev.

12:6–9   You appeared to Abram to show him the land you picked for him and his descendants. He accepted your promise and worshiped you.

Abram Deceives Pharaoh

10 There was a famine in the land. Abram went to Egypt to stay awhile because the famine was severe. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, Abram said to his wife Sarai, “I know that you’re a beautiful woman. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they’ll say, ‘This is his wife!’ Then they’ll kill me but let you live. 13 Please say that you’re my sister. Then everything will be alright for me, and because of you I will live.”

14 When Abram arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians saw how very beautiful his wife was. 15 When Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they raved about her to Pharaoh, so Sarai was taken to Pharaoh’s palace. 16 Everything went well for Abram because of her, and he was given sheep, cattle, donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.

17 However, the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with terrible plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 Then Pharaoh called for Abram. “What have you done to me?” he asked. “Why didn’t you tell me that she’s your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister’ and allow me to take her for my wife? Here’s your wife! Take her and go!” 20 Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram. They sent Abram away with his wife and everything that he had.

12:10–20   Abram hid behind a lie rather than risk Pharaoh’s wrath. I feel Abram’s desperate hunger and fear of death. But where was his faith? Why do I scheme instead of trusting you?

Abram and Lot Separate

13

1 Abram left Egypt with his wife and everything he had and went to the Negev. Lot was with him. 2 Abram was very rich because he had livestock, silver, and gold. 3 He traveled from place to place. He went from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the area between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been originally, 4 where he had first made an altar. There Abram worshiped the LORD.

13:1–4   You made Abram rich with family and herds and silver and gold. He kept worshiping you.

5 Lot, who had been traveling with Abram, also had his own sheep, cattle, and tents. 6 There wasn’t enough pastureland for both of them. They had so many possessions that they were unable to remain together. 7 Quarrels broke out between Abram’s herders and Lot’s herders. (Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in that area.)

8 Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have any more quarrels between us or between our herders. After all, we’re relatives. 9 Isn’t all this land yours also? Let’s separate. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right, and if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” 10 Then Lot looked in the direction of Zoar as far as he could see. He saw that the whole Jordan Plain was well-watered like the LORD’s garden or like Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

11 Lot chose the whole Jordan Plain for himself. He moved toward the east. They each went their own way. 12 Abram lived in Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain, moving his tents as far as Sodom.13 (The people who lived in Sodom were very wicked. They committed terrible sins against the LORD.)

13:8–13   Lot chose a well-watered home. But he moved his tents too close to the wicked. Alert me when I set myself up for compromise.

The LORD’s Third Promise to Abram

14 After Lot left, the LORD said to Abram, “Look north, south, east, and west of where you are. 15 I will give all the land you see to you and to your descendants for an indefinite period of time. 16 I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants. 17 Go! Walk back and forth across the entire land because I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live by the oak trees belonging to Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar for the LORD.

13:14–18   You gave Abram land as far as he could see. You promised him descendants as numerous as dust. When you sent him roaming across the land, he worshiped you wherever he went. Your promises move me to worship.

Abram Rescues Lot

14

1 At that time ⌞four kings⌟—King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim—2 went to war against ⌞five kings⌟—King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 The five kings joined forces and met in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea). 4 For 12 years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and his allies came and defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, the Emim at Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, going as far as El Paran on the edge of the desert. 7 On their way back, they came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites and also the Amorites who were living at Hazazon Tamar.

8 Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and prepared for battle in the valley of Siddim. 9 They fought against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 The valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. As the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell because of the tar pits, but the other kings fled to the hills. 11 So the four kings took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as all their food, and left. 12 They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions since he was living in Sodom.

13 Then a soldier who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew what had happened. He was living next to the oak trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner. (These men were Abram’s allies.)

14 When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he armed[17] his 318 trained men, born in his own household, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan. 15 He split up his men to attack them at night. He defeated them, pursuing them all the way to Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 He brought back everything they had, including women and soldiers. He also brought back his relative Lot and his possessions.

14:1–16   Lot was swept up in someone else’s fight. Rescue me when I get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

17 After Abram came back from defeating Chedorlaomer and his allies, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed Abram, and said,

“Blessed is Abram by God Most High,

maker[18] of heaven and earth.

20 Blessed is God Most High,

who has handed your enemies over to you.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and keep everything else for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I now raise my hand and solemnly swear to the LORD God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, 23 that I won’t take a thread or a sandal strap. I won’t take anything that is yours so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I won’t take one single thing except what my men have eaten. But let my allies Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

14:17–20   The King of Salem served you as priest, God Most High. He blessed Abram, who gratefully gave back to you. Use my giving to honor you.

The LORD’s Fourth Promise to Abram

15

1 Later the LORD spoke his word to Abram in a vision. He said,

“Abram, don’t be afraid.

I am your shield.

Your reward will be very great.”[19]

2 Abram asked, “Almighty LORD, what will you give me? Since I’m going to die without children, Eliezer of Damascus will inherit[20] my household. 3 You have given me no children, so this member of my household will be my heir.”

4 Suddenly, the LORD spoke his word to Abram again. He said, “This man will not be your heir. Your own son will be your heir.” 5 He took Abram outside and said, “Now look up at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He also said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 6 Then Abram believed the LORD, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abram’s approval by the LORD. 7 Then the LORD said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land so that you will take possession of it.”

8 Abram asked, “Almighty LORD, how can I be certain that I will take possession of it?”

15:1–8   Abram begged you to explain. How could he father a great nation when he lacked an heir? You approved of Abram because he trusted your promise. But he still had questions. How could he be sure he would possess the land?

9 He answered Abram, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a mourning dove, and a pigeon.” 10 So Abram brought all these animals to him. He cut each of them in half and laid each half opposite the other. However, he did not cut the birds in half.

11 When birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was just about to set, a deep sleep—a dreadful, deep darkness—came over Abram.

13 God said to Abram, “You can know for sure that your descendants will live in a land that is not their own, where they will be slaves, and they will be oppressed for 400 years. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve, and after that they will come out with many possessions. 15 But you will die in peace and be buried at a very old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, because the sin of the Amorites will not have run its course until then.”

15:13–16   Abram’s family would be enslaved for centuries. But you would bring them home when the sins of the land’s inhabitants piled high. You never abandon your chosen ones.

17 The sun had gone down, and it was dark. Suddenly a smoking oven and a flaming torch passed between the animal pieces. 18 At that time the LORD made a promise[21] to Abram. He said, “I will give this land to your descendants. This is the land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates. 19 It is the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Abram and Hagar

16

1 Sarai, Abram’s wife, was not able to have children. She owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Why don’t you sleep with my slave? Maybe I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed with Sarai.

3 After Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Abram’s wife Sarai took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to be disrespectful to Sarai, her owner.

5 So Sarai complained to Abram, “I’m being treated unfairly! And it’s your fault! I know that I gave my slave to you, but now that she’s pregnant, she’s being disrespectful to me. May the LORD decide who is right—you or me.”

16:1–5   Sarai and Abram couldn’t envision how you could make them the start of a great family. So they hatched a plan of their own. Teach me to wait and to watch your work unfold.

6 Abram answered Sarai, “Here, she’s your slave. Do what you like with her.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar so much that she ran away.

7 The Messenger of the LORD found her by a spring in the desert, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

She answered, “I’m running away from my owner Sarai.” 9 The Messenger of the LORD said to her, “Go back to your owner, and place yourself under her authority.” 10 The Messenger of the LORD also said to her, “I will give you many descendants. No one will be able to count them because there will be so many.” 11 Then the Messenger of the LORD said to her,

“You are pregnant,

and you will give birth to a son.

You will name him Ishmael [God Hears],

because the LORD has heard your cry of distress.

12 He will be as free and wild as an untamed donkey.

He will fight with everyone, and everyone will fight with him.

He will have conflicts with all his relatives.”[22]

16:6–12   You pitied Hagar and promised her many descendants. You told her to call her son “God Hears.” You always hear my painful cries.

13 Hagar named the LORD, who had been speaking to her, “You Are the God Who Watches Over Me.” She said, “This is the place where I watched ⌞the one⌟ who watches over me.” 14 This is why the well is named Beer Lahai Roi [Well of the Living One Who Watches Over Me]. It is still there between Kadesh and Bered.

15 Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son. Abram named him Ishmael. 16 Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.

16:13–16   Hagar named you “The God Who Watches Over Me.” You always watch over me when I’m shunned.

The LORD’s Fifth Promise to Abraham

17

1 When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him. He said to Abram, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence with integrity. 2 I will give you my promise,[23] and I will give you very many descendants.” 3 Immediately, Abram bowed with his face touching the ground, and again God spoke to him, 4 “My promise is still with you. You will become the father of many nations. 5 So your name will no longer be Abram [Exalted Father], but Abraham [Father of Many] because I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will give you many descendants. Many nations and kings will come from you. 7 I will make my promise to you and your descendants for generations to come as an everlasting promise. I will be your God and the God of your descendants. 8 I am also giving this land where you are living—all of Canaan—to you and your descendants as your permanent possession. And I will be your God.”

17:1–8   You promised again that Abraham would be the father of descendants too many to count. You will be the God of your people forever.

9 God also said to Abraham, “You and your descendants in generations to come are to be faithful to my promise. 10 This is how you are to be faithful to my promise: Every male among you is to be circumcised. 11 All of you must be circumcised. That will be the sign of the promise from me to you. 12 For generations to come every male child who is eight days old must be circumcised, whether he is born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner who’s not related to you. 13 Every male born in your household or bought with your money is to be circumcised without exception. So my promise will be a sign on your flesh, an everlasting promise. 14 Any uncircumcised male must be excluded from his people because he has rejected my promise.”

17:9–14   You expected Abraham and his descendants to be faithful to your promise. You gave them an unmistakable mark of your unchanging blessing.

15 God said to Abraham, “Don’t call your wife by the name Sarai anymore. Instead, her name is Sarah [Princess]. 16 I will bless her, and I will also give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will become ⌞a mother of⌟ nations, and kings will come from her.” 17 Immediately, Abraham bowed with his face touching the ground. He laughed as he thought to himself, “Can a son be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, have a child?” 18 Then Abraham said to God, “Why not let Ishmael be my heir?”

17:15–18   Abraham’s body bowed to you, but his heart laughed at your vow to give an old man and wife a son. He suggested Ishmael should be his heir.

19 God replied, “No! Your wife Sarah will give you a son, and you will name him Isaac [He Laughs]. I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants. 20 I have heard your request about Ishmael. Yes, I will bless him, make him fertile, and increase the number of his descendants. He will be the father of 12 princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But I will make my promise to Isaac. Sarah will give birth to him at this time next year.” 22 When God finished speaking with Abraham, he left him.

17:19–22   Remind me to never laugh at your plans. You do the impossible.

Abraham’s Household Circumcised

23 So Abraham took his son Ishmael, everyone born in his household, and everyone bought with money—every male in his household—and circumcised them that day, as God had told him. 24 Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised. 25 His son Ishmael was 13 years old when he was circumcised. 26 That same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 All the men of his household, whether born in the household or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

The LORD’s Sixth Promise to Abraham

18

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oak trees belonging to Mamre as he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day. 2 Abraham looked up, and suddenly he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them, and he bowed with his face touching the ground.

3 “Please, sir,” Abraham said, “stop by to visit me for a while. 4 Why don’t we let someone bring a little water? After you wash your feet, you can stretch out and rest under the tree. 5 Let me bring some bread so that you can regain your strength. After that you can leave, since this is why you stopped by to visit me.”

They answered, “That’s fine. Do as you say.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to find Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three measures of flour, knead it, and make bread.”

7 Then Abraham ran to the herd and took one of his best calves. He gave it to his servant, who prepared it quickly. 8 Abraham took cheese and milk, as well as the meat, and set these in front of them. Then he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

18:1–8   When Abraham spread a feast for strangers, you sat down as a guest. Come visit me now.

9 They asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?”

He answered, “Over there, in the tent.”

10 The LORD said, “I promise I’ll come back to you next year at this time, and your wife Sarah will have a son.”

Sarah happened to be listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were old. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 And so Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “Now that I’ve become old, will I enjoy myself again? What’s more, my husband is old!”

13 The LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child now that I’m old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will come back to you next year at this time, and Sarah will have a son.”

15 Because she was afraid, Sarah denied that she had laughed.

But the LORD said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

18:9–15   Sarah overheard your promise of a son—and she laughed just like her husband. But nothing is too hard for you.

The LORD Tells Abraham about His Plan

16 Then the men got up to leave. As Abraham was walking with them to see them off, they looked toward Sodom. 17 The LORD said, “I shouldn’t hide what I am going to do from Abraham. 18 After all, Abraham is going to become a great and mighty nation and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 19 I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his family after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. In this way I, the LORD, will do what I have promised Abraham.”

18:16–19   You chose Abraham to direct his family to keep your way, doing what’s right and just. I hear you calling me to do the same.

20 The LORD also said, “Sodom and Gomorrah have many complaints against them, and their sin is very serious. 21 I must go down and see whether these complaints are true. If not, I will know it.”

22 From there the men turned and went on toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing in front of the LORD. 23 Abraham came closer and asked, “Are you really going to sweep away the innocent with the guilty? 24 What if there are 50 innocent people in the city? Are you really going to sweep them away? Won’t you spare that place for the sake of the 50 innocent people who are in it? 25 It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?”

26 The LORD said, “If I find 50 innocent people inside the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

18:20–26   You heard complaints against Sodom and Gomorrah—and considered if you should judge their sin. Abraham urged you to be fair.

27 Abraham asked, “Consider now, if I may be so bold as to ask you, although I’m ⌞only⌟ dust and ashes, 28 what if there are 45 innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of 5 fewer people?”

The LORD answered, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.”

29 Abraham asked him again, “What if 40 are found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of the 40 I will not do it.”

30 “Please don’t be angry if I speak again,” Abraham said. “What if 30 are found there?”

He answered, “If I find 30 there, I will not do it.”

31 “Look now, if I may be so bold as to ask you,” Abraham said. “What if 20 are found there?”

He answered, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the 20.”

32 “Please don’t be angry if I speak only one more time,” Abraham said. “What if 10 are found there?”

He answered, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the 10.” 33 When the LORD finished speaking to Abraham, he left. Abraham returned home.

18:27–33   Abraham begged you to spare Sodom for the sake of the innocent, hoping you would find good people there. I’m only dust and ashes, but I’ll plead for your mercy.

Lot’s Guests Are Assaulted

19

1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed with his face touching the ground. 2 He said, “Please, gentlemen, why don’t you come to my home and spend the night? ⌞You can⌟ wash your feet there. Then early tomorrow morning you can continue your journey.”

“No,” they answered, “we’d rather spend the night in the city square.”

3 But he insisted so strongly that they came with him and went into his home. He prepared a special dinner for them, baked some unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 Before they had gone to bed, all the young and old male citizens of Sodom surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to ⌞stay with⌟ you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”

19:1–5   Lot invited strangers into his home. But his neighbors swarmed in a notorious frenzy.

6 Then Lot went outside and shut the door behind him. 7 “Please, my friends, don’t be so wicked,” he said. 8 “Look, I have two daughters who have never had sex. Why don’t you let me bring them out to you? Do whatever you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, since I’m responsible for them.”

9 But the men yelled, “Get out of the way! This man came here to stay awhile. Now he wants to be our judge! We’re going to treat you worse than those men.” They pushed hard against Lot and lunged forward to break down the door. 10 The men ⌞inside⌟ reached out, pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 Then they struck all the men who were in the doorway of the house, young and old alike, with blindness so that they gave up trying to find the door.

19:6–11   Lot risked his life to protect strangers. Before he could toss his daughters to the mob you struck the would-be rapists blind.

Lot Leaves Sodom, and the Cities Are Destroyed

12 Then the men asked Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—any in-laws, sons, daughters, or any other relatives in the city? Get them out of here 13 because we’re going to destroy this place. The complaints to the LORD against its people are so loud that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”

14 So Lot went out and spoke to the men engaged to his daughters. He said, “Hurry! Get out of this place, because the LORD is going to destroy the city.” But they thought he was joking.

19:12–14   The complaints against Sodom grew too loud for you to ignore. Some didn’t take your judgment seriously.

15 As soon as it was dawn, the angels urged Lot by saying, “Quick! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you’ll be swept away when the city is punished.” 16 When he hesitated, the men grabbed him, his wife, and his two daughters by their hands, because the LORD wanted to spare Lot. They brought them safely outside the city. 17 As soon as they were outside, one ⌞of the angels⌟ said, “Run for your lives! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stop on the plain. Run for the hills, or you’ll be swept away!”

19:15–17   Don’t let me hesitate to flee evil. Seize me by the hand and drag me away when I’m in a dangerous place. Don’t let me stop running for the hills!

18 Lot answered, “Oh no! 19 Even though you’ve been so good to me and though you’ve been very kind to me by saving my life, I can’t run as far as the hills. This disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. 20 Look, there’s a city near enough to flee to, and it’s small. Why don’t you let me run there? Isn’t it small? Then my life will be saved.”

21 The angel said to him, “Alright, I will grant you this request too. I will not destroy the city you’re talking about. 22 Run there quickly, because I can’t do anything until you get there.” (The city is named Zoar [Small].)

19:18–22   Give me determination and endurance to flee evil completely. I won’t turn back as you rain down judgment. Show me a safe place to escape.

23 The sun had just risen over the land as Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the LORD made burning sulfur and fire rain out of heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He destroyed those cities, the whole plain, all who lived in the cities, and whatever grew on the ground. 26 Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a column of salt.

27 Early the next morning Abraham came to the place where he had stood in front of the LORD. 28 When he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land in the plain, he saw smoke rising from the land like the thick smoke of a furnace.

29 When God destroyed the cities on the plain, he remembered Abraham. Lot was allowed to escape from the destruction that came to the cities where he was living.

19:23–29   Your destruction comes suddenly and leaves nothing standing. I’ll remember Lot’s wife. I won’t look back or linger over sin.

Lot’s Daughters Have Sons by Their Father

30 Lot left Zoar because he was afraid to stay there. He and his two daughters settled in the mountains where they lived in a cave. 31 The older daughter said to the younger one, “Our father is old. No men are here. We can’t get married as other people do. 32 Let’s give our father wine to drink. Then we’ll go to bed with him so that we’ll be able to preserve our family line through our father.” 33 That night they gave their father wine to drink. Then the older one went to bed with her father. He didn’t know when she came to bed or when she got up. 34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger one, “I did it! Last night I went to bed with my father. Let’s give him wine to drink again tonight. Then you go to bed with him so that we’ll be able to preserve our family line through our father.” 35 That night they gave their father wine to drink again. Then the younger one went to bed with him. He didn’t know when she came to bed or when she got up. 36 So Lot’s two daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older one gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the ancestor of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben Ammi. He is the ancestor of the Ammonites of today.

19:30–38   Lot’s daughters committed incest to carry on their family line. Show me better ways to deal with my desperate problems.

Abraham Deceives Abimelech

20

1 Abraham moved to the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living in Gerar, 2 Abraham told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar sent men to take Sarah. 3 God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You’re going to die because of the woman that you’ve taken! She’s a married woman!” 4 Abimelech hadn’t come near her, so he asked, “Lord, will you destroy a nation even if it’s innocent? 5 Didn’t he tell me himself, ‘She’s my sister,’ and didn’t she even say, ‘He’s my brother’? I did this in all innocence and with a clear conscience.”

6 “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience,” God said to him in the dream. “In fact, I kept you from sinning against me. That’s why I didn’t let you touch her. 7 Give the man’s wife back to him now, because he’s a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don’t give her back, you and all who belong to you are doomed to die.”

20:1–7   You came in a dream and warned a king not to sleep with a married woman. So warn me when I’m about to sin in ways I can’t see. Show me how to make bad situations right.

8 Early in the morning Abimelech called together all his officials. He told them about all of this, and they were terrified. 9 Then Abimelech called for Abraham and asked him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you that you would bring such a serious sin on me and my kingdom? You shouldn’t have done this to me.” 10 Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What were you thinking when you did this?”

11 Abraham said, “I thought that because there are no God-fearing people in this place, I’d be killed because of my wife. 12 Besides, she is my sister—my father’s daughter but not my mother’s. She is also my wife. 13 When God had me leave my father’s home and travel around, I said to her, ‘Do me a favor: Wherever we go, say that I’m your brother.’”

14 Then Abimelech took sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him. 15 Abimelech said, “Look, here’s my land. Live anywhere you like.” 16 He said to Sarah, “Don’t forget, I’ve given your brother 25 pounds of silver. This is to silence any criticism against you from everyone with you. You’re completely cleared.”

20:8–16   Abraham gave away his wife rather than risk being killed, then implied you were to blame for his deception. I want to keep your commands even when you send me to strange places. I won’t use you as an excuse for my bad choices.

17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could have children. 18 (The LORD had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech’s household to have children because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.)

God Provides for Hagar and Ishmael

21

1 The LORD came to help Sarah and did for her what he had promised. 2 So she became pregnant, and at the exact time God had promised, she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. 3 Abraham named his newborn son Isaac. 4 When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 5 Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.

6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. 7 Who would have predicted to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet, I have given him a son in his old age.”

21:1–7   You did what you promised for Sarah, granting her a son at the exact time you said. Teach me to wait for you to fulfill your impossible promises.

8 The child grew and was weaned. On the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a big feast. 9 Sarah saw that Abraham’s son by Hagar the Egyptian was laughing at Isaac. 10 She said to Abraham, “Get rid of this slave and her son, because this slave’s son must never share the inheritance with my son Isaac.” 11 Abraham was upset by this because of his son Ishmael. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Don’t be upset about the boy and your slave. Listen to what Sarah says because through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name. 13 Besides, I will make the slave’s son into a nation also, because he is your child.”

14 Early the next morning Abraham took bread and a container of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder. He also gave her the boy and sent her on her way. So she left and wandered around in the desert near Beersheba. 15 When the water in the container was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went about as far away as an arrow can be shot and sat down. She said to herself, “I don’t want to watch the boy die.” So she sat down and sobbed loudly.

17 God heard the boy crying, and the Messenger of God called to Hagar from heaven. “What’s the matter, Hagar?” he asked her. “Don’t be afraid! God has heard the boy crying from the bushes. 18 Come on, help the boy up! Take him by the hand, because I’m going to make him into a great nation.”

19 God opened her eyes. Then she saw a well. She filled the container with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became a skilled archer. 21 He lived in the desert of Paran, and his mother got him a wife from Egypt.

21:8–21   Like you watched over Hagar and Ishmael, you provide for me when I’m rejected. You hear my sobbing and speak fresh promises. You open my eyes and offer me something to drink.

Abraham’s Agreement with Abimelech

22 At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. 23 Now, swear an oath to me here in front of God that you will never cheat me, my children, or my descendants. Show me and the land where you’ve been living the same kindness that I have shown you.”

24 Abraham said, “I so swear.”

25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well which Abimelech’s servants had seized. 26 Abimelech replied, “I don’t know who did this. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear about it until today.”

27 Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made an agreement. 28 Then Abraham set apart seven female lambs from the flock. 29 Abimelech asked him, “What is the meaning of these seven female lambs you have set apart?”

30 Abraham answered, “Accept these lambs from me so that they may be proof[24] that I dug this well.” 31 This is why that place is called Beersheba,[25] because both of them swore an oath there.

32 After they made the treaty at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and went back to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba and worshiped the LORD, the Everlasting God, there. 34 Abraham lived a long time in the land of the Philistines.

21:22–34   I swear to you I’ll never cheat others. I’ll show them the kindness you show me. I’ll worship you always, my Lord and Everlasting God.

God Tests Abraham

22

1 Later God tested Abraham and called to him, “Abraham!”

“Yes, here I am!” he answered.

2 God said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you.”

3 Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place that God had told him about. 4 Two days later Abraham saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his servants, “You stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go over there. We’ll worship. After that we’ll come back to you.”

22:1–5   You tested Abraham. You told him to sacrifice the son that he loved. He saddled his donkey and set out with Isaac for the place you would show him.

6 Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to his son Isaac. Abraham carried the burning coals and the knife. The two of them went on together.

22:6–8   Abraham and Isaac carried wood, coals, and knife. Abraham assured his boy you would provide a lamb for the offering. Would you?

7 Isaac spoke up and said, “Father?”

“Yes, Son?” Abraham answered.

Isaac asked, “We have the burning coals and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God will provide a lamb for the burnt offering, Son.”

The two of them went on together. 9 When they came to the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied up his son Isaac and laid him on top of the wood on the altar. 10 Next, Abraham picked up the knife and took it in his hand to sacrifice his son. 11 But the Messenger of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!”

22:9–10   Abraham tied up Isaac and laid him on the altar. He picked up the knife to sacrifice his son—his only son. What was Abraham thinking? What about Isaac?

“Yes?” he answered.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you did not refuse to give me your son, your only son.”

22:11–12   You called from heaven and stopped Abraham’s knife. You knew he lived for you with utter respect—and you had a better plan.

13 When Abraham looked around, he saw a ram behind him caught by its horns in a bush. So Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide. It is still said today, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

22:13–14   You provided a ram from your flock in place of Isaac. You give a sacrifice in my place.

The LORD’s Seventh Promise to Abraham

15 Then the Messenger of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I am taking an oath on my own name, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son, 17 I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies’ cities. 18 Through your descendant all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and together they left for Beersheba. Abraham remained in Beersheba.

22:15–19   You called again to Abraham and swore on your own name that the whole world would be blessed because he obeyed you. Use my obedience to bless my world.

Abraham Learns of Nahor’s Descendants

20 Later Abraham was told, “Milcah has given birth to these children of your brother Nahor: 21 Uz (the firstborn), Buz (his brother), Kemuel (father of Aram), 22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 Bethuel is the father of Rebekah. Milcah had these eight sons by Abraham’s brother Nahor. 24 Nahor’s concubine,[26] whose name was Reumah, had the following children: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.”

Sarah’s Death

23

1 Sarah lived to be 127 years old. This was the length of her life. 2 She died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to cry about her death.

3 Then Abraham left the side of his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites, 4 “I’m a stranger with no permanent home. Let me have some of your property for a tomb so that I can bury my dead wife.”

23:1–4   Abraham buried Sarah and mourned her death. You had sent him walking to Canaan. You made him a stranger with no permanent home.

5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Listen to us, sir. You are a mighty leader among us. Bury your dead in one of our best tombs. Not one of us will withhold from you his tomb for burying your dead.”

7 Abraham got up in front of the Hittites, the people of that region, and bowed with his face touching the ground. 8 He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my wife, listen to me. Encourage Ephron, son of Zohar, 9 to let me have the cave of Machpelah that he owns at the end of his field. He should sell it to me for its full price as my property to be used as a tomb among you.”

10 Ephron was sitting among the Hittites. He answered Abraham so that everyone who was entering the city gate could hear him. He said, 11 “No, sir, listen to me. I’m giving you the field together with the cave that is in it. My people are witnesses that I’m giving it to you. Bury your wife!”

12 Abraham bowed down again in front of the people of that region. 13 He spoke to Ephron so that the people of that region could hear him. He said, “If you would only listen to me. I will pay you the price of the field. Take it from me so that I can bury my wife there.”

14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “Sir, listen to me. The land is worth ten pounds of silver. What is that between us? Bury your wife!”

16 Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms. So he weighed out for Ephron the amount stated in front of the Hittites: ten pounds of silver at the current merchants’ exchange rate.

17 So Ephron’s field at Machpelah, east of Mamre, was sold 18 to Abraham. His property included the field with the cave in it as well as all the trees inside the boundaries of the field.[27] The Hittites together with all who had entered the city gate were the official witnesses for the agreement.

19 After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (that is, Hebron). 20 So the field and its cave were sold by the Hittites to Abraham as his property to be used as a tomb.

23:5–20   The Hittites recognized Abraham as a mighty leader and offered him a choice plot to bury Sarah. Honor me and my family because I honor you.

Abraham Instructs His Servant

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1 By now Abraham was old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2 So Abraham said to the senior servant of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Take a solemn oath. 3 I want you to swear by the LORD God of heaven and earth that you will not get my son a wife from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I’m living. 4 Instead, you will go to the land of my relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”

24:1   Abraham grew old. You kept your promise to bless him in every way.

5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman doesn’t want to come back to this land with me? Should I take your son all the way back to the land you came from?”

6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said to him. 7 “The LORD God of heaven took me from my father’s home and the land of my family. He spoke to me and swore this oath: ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’

“God will send his angel ahead of you, and you will get my son a wife from there. 8 If the woman doesn’t want to come back with you, then you’ll be free from this oath that you swear to me. But don’t take my son back there.” 9 So the servant did as his master Abraham commanded and swore the oath to him concerning this.

10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left, taking with him all of his master’s best things. He traveled to Aram Naharaim, Nahor’s city.

24:2–10   Abraham didn’t want a Canaanite wife for his son—a woman who worshiped other gods. He wanted his son to stay in the land you had sworn to him. Teach me to order my life in keeping with your promises.

Abraham’s Servant Finds a Wife for Isaac

11 The servant had the camels kneel down outside the city by the well. It was evening, when the women would go out to draw water. 12 Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today. Show your kindness to Abraham. 13 Here I am standing by the spring, and the girls of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 I will ask a girl, ‘May I please have a drink from your jar?’ If she answers, ‘Have a drink, and I’ll also water your camels,’ let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. This way I’ll know that you’ve shown your kindness to my master.”

15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The girl was a very attractive virgin. No man had ever had sexual intercourse with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came back.

17 The servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a drink of water.”

18 “Drink, sir,” she said. She quickly lowered her jar to her hand and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I’ll also keep drawing water for your camels until they’ve had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the water trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 The man was silently watching her to see whether or not the LORD had made his trip successful.

24:11–21   You honored a servant’s prayer and showed Abraham your kindness. You sent the servant to a caring and attractive girl. I’ll silently watch to see if you make my efforts a success.

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a fifth of an ounce and two gold bracelets weighing four ounces. 23 He asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me whether there is room in your father’s house for us to spend the night.”

24 She answered him, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah and Nahor. 25 We have plenty of straw and feed ⌞for your camels⌟ and room for you to spend the night.”

26 The man knelt, bowing to the LORD with his face touching the ground. 27 He said, “Praise the LORD, the God of my master Abraham. The LORD hasn’t failed to be kind and faithful to my master. The LORD has led me on this trip to the home of my master’s relatives.”

24:22–27   Abraham’s servant bowed to praise you because he recognized your kind and faithful leading. Train me to bow and praise you when I experience your care.

28 The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29 Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. 30 He saw the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists and heard her tell what the man had said to her. Immediately, Laban ran out to the man by the spring.[28] He came to the man, who was standing with the camels by the spring. 31 He said, “Come in, you whom the LORD has blessed. Why are you standing out here? I have straightened up the house and made a place for the camels.”

32 So the man went into the house. The camels were unloaded and given straw and feed. Then water was brought for him and his men to wash their feet. 33 When the food was put in front of him, he said, “I won’t eat until I’ve said what I have to say.”

“Speak up,” Laban said.

34 “I am Abraham’s servant,” he said. 35 “The LORD has blessed my master, and he has become wealthy. The LORD has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah gave him a son in her old age, and my master has given that son everything he has. 37 My master made me swear this oath: ‘Don’t get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I’m living. 38 Instead, go to my father’s home and to my relatives, and get my son a wife.’

39 “I asked my master, ‘What if the woman won’t come back with me?’

40 “He answered me, ‘I have been living the way the LORD wants me to. The LORD will send his angel with you to make your trip successful. You will get my son a wife from my relatives and from my father’s family. 41 Then you will be free from your oath to me. You will also be free of your oath to me if my relatives are not willing to do this when you go to them.’

42 “When I came to the spring today, I prayed, ‘LORD God of my master Abraham, please make my trip successful. 43 I’m standing by the spring. I’ll say to the young woman who comes out to draw water, “Please give me a drink of water.” 44 If she says to me, “Not only may you have a drink, but I will also draw water for your camels,” let her be the woman the LORD has chosen for my master’s son.’

45 “Before I had finished praying, Rebekah came with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water.

“So I asked her, ‘May I have a drink?’ 46 She quickly lowered her jar and said, ‘Have a drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.

47 “Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’

“She answered, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor and Milcah.’

“I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. 48 I knelt, bowing down to the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham. The LORD led me in the right direction to get the daughter of my master’s relative for his son. 49 Tell me whether or not you’re going to show my master true kindness so that I will know what to do.”

24:34–49   The servant declared your blessings—and told everyone of Abraham’s intent to obey you. He waited to see if you would show Abraham true kindness.

50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD. We can’t say anything to you one way or another. 51 Here’s Rebekah! Take her and go! She will become the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has said.”

52 When Abraham’s servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the LORD. 53 The servant took out gold and silver jewelry and clothes and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Let me go back to my master.”

55 Her brother and mother replied, “Let the girl stay with us ten days or so. After that she may go.”

56 He said to them, “Don’t delay me now that the LORD has made my trip successful. Let me go back to my master.”

57 So they said, “We’ll call the girl and ask her.”

58 They called for Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

She said, “Yes, I’ll go.”

59 So they let their sister Rebekah and her nurse go with Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 They gave Rebekah a blessing:

“May you, our sister, become the mother of many thousands of children.

May your descendants take possession of their enemies’ cities.”

61 Then Rebekah and her maids left. Riding on camels, they followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and left.

Isaac and Rebekah Are Married

62 Isaac had just come back from Beer Lahai Roi, since he was living in the Negev. 63 Toward evening Isaac went out into the field to meditate.[29] When he looked up, he saw camels coming. 64 When Rebekah saw Isaac, she got down from her camel. 65 She asked the servant, “Who is that man over there coming through the field to meet us?”

“That is my master,” the servant answered. Then she took her veil and covered herself. 66 The servant reported to Isaac everything he had done. 67 Isaac took her into his mother Sarah’s tent. He married Rebekah. She became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

24:50–67   The men of Rebekah’s family gave her away. But she made her own choice to become part of your plan. And Isaac treasured her as a gift from you. I’ll cherish every good thing you bring into my life.

Abraham’s Second Marriage and His Death—1 Chronicles 1:32–33

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1 Abraham married again, and his wife’s name was Keturah. 2 Keturah gave birth to these sons of Abraham: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Assyrians, the Letushites, and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were the descendants of Keturah.

5 Abraham left everything he had to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, Abraham had given gifts to the sons of his concubines.[30] He sent them away from his son Isaac to a land in the east.

7 Abraham lived 175 years. 8 Then he took his last breath, and died at a very old age. After a long and full life, he joined his ancestors in death. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron, son of Zohar the Hittite. The cave is east of Mamre. 10 This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer Lahai Roi.

The 12 Tribes of Ishmael—1 Chronicles 1:29–31

12 This is the account of the descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael. He was the son of Sarah’s Egyptian slave Hagar and Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and their names listed by their settlements and camps—12 leaders of their tribes.

17 Ishmael lived 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined his ancestors in death. 18 His descendants lived as nomads from the region of Havilah to Shur, which is near Egypt, in the direction of Assyria. They all fought with each other.

25:1–17   Abraham died after a long and full life. Even after he was buried, you continued your blessings to Isaac and Ishmael. You keep your promises from generation to generation.

Esau and Jacob

19 This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac and his descendants. Abraham was the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 When the children inside her were struggling with each other, she said, “If it’s like this now, what will become of me?”[31] So she went to ask the LORD.

23 The LORD said to her,

“Two countries are in your womb.

Two nations will go their separate ways from birth.

One nation will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger.”

25:19–23   Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons struggled against each other even in their mother’s womb. You said the older would serve the younger. Your choice overrules human customs.

24 When the time came for her to give birth, she had twins. 25 The first one born was red. His whole body was covered with hair, so they named him Esau [Hairy]. 26 Afterwards, his brother was born with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, and so he was named Jacob [Heel]. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.

27 They grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob remained a quiet man, staying around the tents. 28 Because Isaac liked to eat the meat of wild animals, he loved Esau. However, Rebekah loved Jacob.

25:24–28   Esau became an outdoorsman, but Jacob was quiet. Their parents picked favorites. That never turns out well.

29 Once, Jacob was preparing a meal when Esau, exhausted, came in from outdoors. 30 So Esau said to Jacob, “Let me have the whole pot of red stuff to eat—that red stuff—I’m exhausted.” This is why he was called Edom.[32]

31 Jacob responded, “First, sell me your rights as firstborn.”

32 “I’m about to die.” Esau said. “What good is my inheritance to me?”

33 “First, swear an oath,” Jacob said. So Esau swore an oath to him and sold him his rights as firstborn. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau a meal of bread and lentils. He ate and drank, and then he got up and left.

This is how Esau showed his contempt for his rights as firstborn.

25:29–34   Esau wanted a pot of red stuff to eat—and he sold Jacob his rights as firstborn in exchange for a full stomach. Catch me before I trade precious things for quick satisfaction.

The LORD’s First Promise to Isaac

26

1 There was a famine in the land in addition to the earlier one during Abraham’s time. So Isaac went to King Abimelech of the Philistines in Gerar.

2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Don’t go to Egypt. Stay where I tell you. 3 Live here in this land for a while, and I will be with you and bless you. I will give all these lands to you and your descendants. I will keep the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and give all these lands to your descendants. Through your descendant all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 I will bless you because Abraham obeyed me and completed the duties, commands, laws, and instructions I gave him.” 6 So Isaac lived in Gerar.

26:1–6   You blessed Isaac with everything good you gave Abraham and swore to keep your oath. You fulfill your promises from generation to generation.

Isaac and Rebekah at Gerar

7 When the men of that place asked about his wife, Isaac answered, “She’s my sister.” He was afraid to say “my wife.” He thought that the men of that place would kill him to get Rebekah, because she was an attractive woman. 8 When he had been there a long time, King Abimelech of the Philistines looked out of his window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

9 Abimelech called for Isaac and said, “So she’s really your wife! How could you say, ‘She’s my sister’?”

Isaac answered him, “I thought I would be killed because of her.”

10 Then Abimelech said, “What have you done to us! One of the people might have easily gone to bed with your wife, and then you would have made us guilty of sin.” 11 So Abimelech ordered his people, “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death.”

26:7–11   Isaac repeated his father’s mistakes, deceiving a king to guard his own life. Help me pass on to my children all the hard lessons I’ve learned.

12 Isaac planted ⌞crops⌟ in that land. In that same year he harvested a hundred times as much as he had planted because the LORD had blessed him. 13 He continued to be successful, becoming very rich. 14 Because he owned so many flocks, herds, and servants, the Philistines became jealous of him. 15 So the Philistines filled in all the wells that his father’s servants had dug during his father Abraham’s lifetime.

16 Finally, Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us! You’ve become more powerful than we are.”

17 So Isaac moved away. He set up his tents in the Gerar Valley and lived there. 18 He dug out the wells that had been dug during his father Abraham’s lifetime. The Philistines had filled them in after Abraham’s death. He gave them the same names that his father had given them.

19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a spring-fed well. 20 The herders from Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herders, claiming, “This water is ours!” So Isaac named the well Esek [Argument], because they had argued with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one too. So Isaac named it Sitnah [Accusation]. 22 He moved on from there and dug another well. They didn’t quarrel over this one. So he named it Rehoboth [Roomy] and said, “Now the LORD has made room for us, and we will prosper in this land.”

26:12–22   You gave Isaac success and riches. Only you can make me prosper.

The LORD’s Second Promise to Isaac

23 He went from there to Beersheba. 24 That night the LORD appeared to Isaac, and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. I will bless you and increase the number of your descendants for my servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the LORD. He also pitched his tent in that place, and his servants dug a well there.

Isaac’s Agreement with Abimelech

26 Abimelech, his friend Ahuzzath, and Phicol, the commander of his army, came from Gerar to see Isaac. 27 Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and sent me away from you?”

28 They answered, “We have seen that the LORD is with you. So we thought, ‘There should be a solemn agreement between us.’ We’d like to make an agreement with you 29 that you will not harm us, since we have not touched you. We have done only good to you and let you go in peace. Now you are blessed by the LORD.”

30 Isaac prepared a special dinner for them, and they ate and drank. 31 Early the next morning they exchanged oaths. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left peacefully.

32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about a well they had dug. They said to him, “We’ve found water.” 33 So he named it Shibah [Oath]. That is why the name of the city is still Beersheba today.

Esau’s Marriages

34 When Esau was 40 years old, he married Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite. He also married Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 These women brought Isaac and Rebekah a lot of grief.

26:26–35   Let me show to others the same goodness you’ve shown to me. I want to pass along your blessings—not grief.

Jacob Gets Isaac’s Blessing

27

1 When Isaac was old and going blind, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “Son!”

Esau answered, “Here I am.”

2 Isaac said, “I’m old. I don’t know when I’m going to die. 3 Now take your hunting equipment, your quiver and bow, and go out into the open country and hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare a good-tasting meal for me, just the way I like it. Bring it to me to eat so that I will bless you before I die.”

5 Rebekah was listening while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau. When Esau went into the open country to hunt for some wild game to bring back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I’ve just heard your father speaking to your brother Esau. 7 He said, ‘Bring me some wild game, and prepare a good-tasting meal for me to eat so that I will bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.’ 8 Now listen to me, Son, and do what I tell you. 9 Go to the flock, and get me two good young goats. I’ll prepare them as a good-tasting meal for your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father to eat so that he will bless you before he dies.”

11 Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “My brother Esau is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth.[33] 12 My father will feel ⌞my skin⌟ and think I’m mocking him. Then I’ll bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing.”

13 His mother responded, “Let any curse on you fall on me, Son. Just obey me and go! Get me ⌞the young goats⌟.”

14 He went and got them and brought them to his mother. She prepared a good-tasting meal, just the way his father liked it. 15 Then Rebekah took her older son Esau’s good clothes, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She put the skins from the young goats on his hands and on the back of his neck. 17 Then she gave her son Jacob the good-tasting meal and the bread she had prepared.

27:1–17   Isaac wanted to bless Esau. Rebekah overheard his wishes and hatched a scheme to trick her husband into blessing her favorite son. Stop me when I’ll do anything to get my way.

18 He went to his father and said, “Father?”

“Yes?” he answered. “Who are you, Son?”

19 Jacob answered his father, “I’m Esau, your firstborn. I’ve done what you told me. Sit up and eat this meat I’ve hunted for you so that you may bless me.”

20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, Son?”

“The LORD your God brought it to me,” he answered.

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come over here so that I can feel your skin, Son, ⌞to find out⌟ whether or not you really are my son Esau.” 22 So Jacob went over to his father. Isaac felt ⌞his skin⌟. “The voice is Jacob’s,” he said, “but the hands are Esau’s.” 23 He didn’t recognize Jacob, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked him.

“I am,” Jacob answered.

25 Isaac said, “Bring me some of the game, and I will eat it, Son, so that I will bless you.” Jacob brought it to Isaac, and he ate it. Jacob also brought him wine, and he drank it.

27:18–25   Again and again Jacob lied to carry out his deception. He said he had gone hunting—and even claimed you brought him the kill. But you never join us in sin.

26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here and give me a kiss, Son.” 27 He went over and gave him a kiss. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said,

“The smell of my son

is like the smell of open country

that the LORD has blessed.

28 May God give you dew from the sky,

fertile fields on the earth,

and plenty of fresh grain and new wine.

29 May nations serve you.

May people bow down to you.

Be the master of your brothers,

and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.

May those who curse you be cursed.

May those who bless you be blessed.”

27:26–29   Jacob stole a blessing that sealed him as master of his brother. You meant for Jacob to inherit the favor you gave Abraham—but not like this.

30 Isaac finished blessing Jacob. Jacob had barely left when his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He, too, prepared a good-tasting meal and brought it to his father. Then he said to his father, “Please, Father, eat some of the meat I’ve hunted for you so that you will bless me.”

32 “Who are you?” his father Isaac asked him.

“I’m your firstborn son Esau,” he answered.

33 Trembling violently all over, Isaac asked, “Who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it before you came in. I blessed him, and he will stay blessed.”

34 When Esau heard these words from his father, he shouted out a very loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, Father!”

35 Isaac said, “Your brother came and deceived me and has taken away your blessing.”

36 Esau said, “Isn’t that why he’s named Jacob? He’s cheated me twice already: He took my rights as firstborn, and now he’s taken my blessing.” So he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him your master, and I have made all his brothers serve him. I’ve provided fresh grain and new wine for him. What is left for me to do for you, Son?”

38 Esau asked, “Do you have only one blessing, Father? Bless me too, Father!” And Esau sobbed loudly.

39 His father Isaac answered him,

“The place where you live will lack the fertile fields of the earth

and the dew from the sky above.

40 You will use your sword to live,

and you will serve your brother.

But eventually you will gain your freedom[34]

and break his yoke[35] off your neck.”

27:30–40   Esau sought his father’s blessing, but the best words were already spoken. Jacob the deceiver cheated Esau twice. Don’t let me be a deceiver—or be deceived.

41 So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing that his father had given him. Esau said to himself, “The time to mourn for my father is near. Then I’ll kill my brother Jacob.”

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Watch out! Your brother Esau is comforting himself by planning to kill you.[36] 43 So now, Son, obey me. Quick! Run away to my brother Laban in Haran. 44 Stay with him awhile, until your brother’s anger cools down. 45 When your brother’s anger is gone and he has forgotten what you did to him, I’ll send for you and get you back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

46 Rebekah said to Isaac, “I can’t stand Hittite women! If Jacob marries a Hittite woman like one of those from around here, I might as well die.”

27:41–46   Esau so hated Jacob for stealing his blessing that Jacob had to flee his brother’s rage. If I push myself ahead of others in my family, I can expect trouble.

Isaac Sends Jacob Away

28

1 Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him, “You are not to marry any of the Canaanite women. 2 Quick! Go to Paddan Aram. Go to the home of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and get yourself a wife from there from the daughters of your uncle Laban. 3 May God Almighty bless you, make you fertile, and increase the number of your descendants so that you will become a community of people. 4 May he give to you and your descendants the blessing of Abraham so that you may take possession of the land where you are now living, the land that God gave to Abraham.”

5 Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan Aram. Jacob went to live with Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean and brother of Rebekah. She was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

6 Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him away to Paddan Aram to get a wife from there. He learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had commanded him not to marry any of the Canaanite women. 7 He also learned that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had left for Paddan Aram. 8 Esau realized that his father Isaac disapproved of Canaanite women. 9 So he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth, in addition to the wives he had.

28:1–9   Isaac sent Jacob running, but not without every blessing of Abraham—a land and family to fill it.

Jacob’s First Encounter with God

10 Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11 When he came to a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down there. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and coming down on it. 13 The LORD was standing above it, saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give the land on which you are lying to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Through you and through your descendant every family on earth will be blessed. 15 Remember, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will also bring you back to this land because I will not leave you until I do what I’ve promised you.”

28:10–14   Jacob dreamed of a stairway leading to heaven. You stood at the top and declared your promises—land, descendants, and blessings through Jacob to every human family.

16 Then Jacob woke up from his sleep and exclaimed, “Certainly, the LORD is in this place, and I didn’t know it!” 17 Filled with awe, he said, “How awe-inspiring this place is! Certainly, this is the house of God and the gateway to heaven!”

18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had put under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured olive oil on top of it. 19 He named that place Bethel [House of God]. Previously, the name of the city was Luz.

28:15–19   You watch over me wherever I go. You won’t leave me until you do what you promise. You’re with me even when I don’t know it. You fill me with awe!

20 Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on my trip and give me food to eat and clothes to wear, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the LORD will be my God. 22 This stone that I have set up as a marker will be the house of God, and I will surely give you a tenth of everything you give me.”

Jacob’s Arrival in Haran

29

1 Jacob continued on his trip and came to the land in the east. 2 He looked around, and out in a field he saw a well with a large stone over the opening. Three flocks of sheep were lying down near it, because the flocks were watered from that well. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the stone would be rolled off the opening of the well so that the sheep could be watered. Then the stone would be put back in place over the opening of the well.

4 Jacob asked some people, “My friends, where are you from?”

“We’re from Haran,” they replied.

5 He asked them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”

They answered, “We do.”

6 “How is he doing?” Jacob asked them.

“He’s fine,” they answered. “Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

7 “It’s still the middle of the day,” he said. “It isn’t time yet to gather the livestock. Water the sheep. Then let them graze.”

8 They replied, “We can’t until all the flocks are gathered. When the stone is rolled off the opening of the well, we can water the sheep.”

9 While he was still talking to them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, because she was a shepherd. 10 Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, with his uncle Laban’s sheep. He came forward and rolled the stone off the opening of the well and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and sobbed loudly. 12 When Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s nephew and that he was Rebekah’s son, she ran and told her father.

13 As soon as Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him. He hugged and kissed him and brought him into his home. Then Jacob told Laban all that had happened. 14 Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”

29:1–14   Jacob sobbed at his relatives’ warm welcome and poured out everything that had happened. Make my family a place where we grieve and laugh together.

Jacob Obtains Wives

Jacob stayed with him for a whole month. 15 Then Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative doesn’t mean that you should work for nothing. Tell me what your wages should be.”

16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the older one was Leah, and the name of the younger one was Rachel. 17 Leah had attractive eyes,[37] but Rachel had a beautiful figure and beautiful features. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. So he offered, “I’ll work seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”

19 Laban responded, “It’s better that I give her to you than to any other man. Stay with me.” 20 Jacob worked seven years in return for Rachel, but the years seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her.

21  ⌞At the end of the seven years⌟ Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up; give me my wife! I want to sleep with her.” 22 So Laban invited all the people of that place and gave a wedding feast. 23 In the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. Jacob slept with her. When morning came, he realized it was Leah.[38] 24 (Laban had given his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave.)

25 “What have you done to me?” Jacob asked Laban. “Didn’t I work for you in return for Rachel? Why did you cheat me?”

26 Laban answered, “It’s not our custom to give the younger daughter ⌞in marriage⌟ before the older one. 27 Finish the week of wedding festivities with this daughter. Then we will give you the other one too. But you’ll have to work for me another seven years.”

28 That’s what Jacob did. He finished the week with Leah. Then Laban gave his daughter Rachel to him as his wife. 29 (Laban had given his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.) 30 Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.

29:16–30   Jacob the deceiver met his match in Laban the shrewd dealer. He worked fourteen years for Rachel. Teach me unwearied devotion to the love of my life.

Leah and Rachel Compete for Jacob’s Love

31 When the LORD saw Leah was unloved, he made it possible for her to have children, but Rachel had none. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben [Here’s My Son], because she said, “Certainly, the LORD has seen my misery; now my husband will love me!” 33 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “Certainly, the LORD has heard that I’m unloved, and he also has given me this son.” So she named him Simeon [Hearing]. 34 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I’ve given him three sons.” So she named him Levi [Attached]. 35 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah [Praise]. Then she stopped having children.

29:31   You gave children to an unloved woman. I know I can trust you to see my misery and hear my pleas. I’ll always praise you.

30

1 Rachel saw that she could not have children for Jacob, and she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and asked, “Can I take the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”

3 She said, “Here’s my servant Bilhah. Sleep with her. She can have children for me, and I can build a family for myself through her.” 4 So she gave him her slave Bilhah as his wife, and Jacob slept with her. 5 Bilhah became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Jacob. 6 Rachel said, “Now God has judged in my favor. He has heard my prayer and has given me a son.” So she named him Dan [He Judges].

7 Rachel’s slave Bilhah became pregnant again and gave birth to a second son for Jacob. 8 Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle[39] with my sister, and I have won!” So she named him Naphtali [My Struggle].

9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her slave Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as his wife. 10 Leah’s slave Zilpah gave birth to a son for Jacob. 11 Leah said, “I’ve been lucky!” So she called him Gad [Luck].

12 Leah’s slave Zilpah gave birth to her second son for Jacob. 13 Leah said, “I’ve been blessed! Women will call me blessed.” So she named him Asher [Blessing].

14 During the wheat harvest Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrakes.[40] He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

15 Leah replied, “Isn’t it enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son’s mandrakes?”

Rachel said, “Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”

16 As Jacob was coming in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You are to sleep with me,” she said. “You are my reward for my son’s mandrakes.” So he went to bed with her that night. 17 God answered Leah’s prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. 18 Leah said, “God has given me my reward because I gave my slave to my husband.” So she named him Issachar [Reward].

19 She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. 20 Leah said, “God has presented me with a beautiful present. This time my husband will honor me because I have given him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun [Honor].

21 Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

30:1–21   Jealousy drove Rachel to hand over Bilhah. Then Zilpah became pregnant by Jacob. And Rachel swapped time with Jacob for plants. That family was neck-deep in trouble. Keep my own loved ones faithful to you and each other.

22 Then God remembered Rachel. God answered her prayer and made it possible for her to have children. 23 So she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then she said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24 She named him Joseph [May He Give Another] and said, “May the LORD give me another son.”

Jacob’s Flocks Prosper

25 After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Let me go home to my own country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I’ve worked, and let me go. You know how much work I’ve done for you.”

27 Laban replied, “Listen to me. I’ve learned from the signs I’ve seen that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” 28 So he offered, “Name your wages, and I’ll pay them.”

29 Jacob responded, “You know how much work I’ve done for you and what has happened to your livestock under my care. 30 The little that you had before I came has grown to a large amount. The LORD has blessed you wherever I’ve been. When can I do something for my own family?”

31 Laban asked, “What should I give you?”

“Don’t give me anything,” Jacob answered. “Instead, do something for me, then I’ll go back to taking care of and watching your flocks again. 32 Let me go through all of your flocks today and take every speckled or spotted sheep, every black lamb, and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages. 33 My honesty will speak for itself whenever you come to check on my wages. Any goat I have that isn’t speckled or spotted or any lamb that isn’t black will be considered stolen.”

34 Laban answered, “Agreed. We’ll do as you’ve said.” 35 However, that same day Laban took out the striped and spotted male goats, all the speckled and spotted female goats (every one with white on it), and every black lamb. He had his sons take charge of them. 36 He traveled three days away from Jacob. Jacob continued to take care of the rest of Laban’s flocks.

37 Then Jacob took fresh-cut branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled the bark on them in strips of white, uncovering the white which was on the branches.[41] 38 He placed the peeled branches in the troughs directly in front of the flocks, at the watering places where the flocks came to drink. When they were in heat and came to drink, 39 they mated in front of the branches. Then they gave birth to young that were striped, speckled, or spotted.

40 Jacob separated the rams from the flock and made the rest of the sheep face any that were striped or black in Laban’s flocks. So he made separate herds for himself and did not add them to Laban’s flocks. 41 Whenever the stronger of the flocks were in heat, Jacob would lay the branches in the troughs in front of them so that they would mate by the branches. 42 But when the flocks in heat were weak, he didn’t lay down the branches. So the weaker ones belonged to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. 43 As a result, Jacob became very wealthy. He had large flocks, male and female slaves, camels, and donkeys.

30:22–43   You remembered Rachel, and she gave birth to a son. Jacob heard you calling his family back to the land you promised. You made flocks prosper, and because of you we enjoy good things.

Jacob’s Second and Third Encounters with God

31

1 Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father and has gained all his wealth from him.” 2 He also noticed that Laban did not appear as friendly to him as before.

3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your ancestors and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

31:1–3   You pledged to go with Jacob as he went home. You always call me back to your best plans.

4 So Jacob sent a message to Rachel and Leah to come out to the open country where his flocks were. 5 He said to them, “I have seen that your father isn’t as friendly to me as he was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have worked as hard as I could for your father. 7 Your father has cheated me. He has changed my wages ten times. But God hasn’t let him harm me. 8 Whenever he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ all the flocks gave birth to speckled young. And whenever he said, ‘The striped ones will be your wages,’ all the flocks gave birth to striped young. 9 So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.

10 “During the mating season I had a dream: I looked up and saw that the male goats which were mating were striped, speckled, or spotted. 11 In the dream the Messenger of God called to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I answered, ‘Yes, here I am.’ 12 He said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, or spotted, because I have seen everything that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel,[42] where you poured olive oil on a stone marker for a holy purpose and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land, and go back to the land of your relatives.’”

14 Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there anything left in our father’s household for us to inherit? 15 Doesn’t he think of us as foreigners? Not only did he sell us, but he has used up the money that was paid for us. 16 Certainly, all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. Now do whatever God has told you.”

31:4–16   You blessed Jacob even when Laban tried to cheat him. Protect me when others try to play me. Prove that your blessing is bigger than their dishonesty.

Laban and Jacob Make Peace

17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels. 18 He drove all his livestock ahead of him and took all the possessions that he had accumulated. He took his own livestock that he had accumulated in Paddan Aram and went back to his father Isaac in Canaan.

19 When Laban went to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s idols. 20 Jacob also tricked Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was leaving. 21 So he left in a hurry with all that belonged to him. He crossed the Euphrates River and went toward the mountains of Gilead.

22 Two days later Laban was told that Jacob had left in a hurry. 23 He and his relatives pursued Jacob for seven days. Laban caught up with him in the mountains of Gilead.

24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything at all to Jacob.”

31:17–24   Without a word, Jacob left with his family for Canaan. When Laban discovered their escape, you warned him not to harm Jacob. Spare my family from secrets and needless drama.

25 When Laban finally caught up with Jacob, Jacob had put up his tents in the mountains. So Laban and his relatives put up their tents in the mountains of Gilead. 26 Then Laban asked Jacob, “What have you done by tricking me? You’ve carried off my daughters like prisoners of war. 27 Why did you leave secretly and trick me? You didn’t even tell me you were leaving. I would have sent you on your way rejoicing, with songs accompanied by tambourines and lyres. 28 You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters. You’ve done a foolish thing. 29 I have the power to harm you. Last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything at all to Jacob.’ 30 Now you have left for your father’s home because you were so homesick. But why did you steal my gods?”

31 Jacob answered Laban, “I left because I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32 If you find your gods, the one who has them will not be allowed to live. In the presence of our relatives, search as much as you want through what I have, and take what is yours.” (Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen the gods.)

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two slaves. But he found nothing. He came out of Leah’s tent and went into Rachel’s tent. 34 Rachel had taken the idols and had put them in her camel’s saddle-bag and was sitting on them. Laban rummaged through the whole tent but found nothing.

35 Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, Father, but I can’t get up to greet you; I’m having my period.” So even though Laban had made a thorough search, he didn’t find the idols.

36 Then Jacob became angry and confronted Laban. “What is my crime?” Jacob demanded of Laban. “What is my offense that you have come chasing after me? 37 Now that you’ve rummaged through all my things, did you find anything from your house? Put it here in front of all our relatives. Let them decide which one of us is right.

38 “I’ve been with you for 20 years. Your sheep and goats never miscarried, and I never ate any rams from your flocks. 39 I never brought you any of the flock that was killed by wild animals. I paid for the loss myself. That’s what you demanded of me when any of the flock was stolen during the day or at night. 40 The scorching heat during the day and the cold at night wore me down, and I lost a lot of sleep. 41 I’ve been with your household 20 years now. I worked for you 14 years for your two daughters and 6 years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac,[43] had not been with me, you would have sent me away empty-handed by now. God has seen my misery and hard work, and last night he made it right.”

31:25–42   Jacob unleashed 20 years of resentment at his father-in-law’s cheating. I trust you to see my misery and hard work and help me not end up empty-handed.

43 Then Laban answered Jacob, “These are my daughters, my grandchildren, and my flocks. Everything you see is mine! Yet, what can I do today for my daughters or for their children? 44 Now, let’s make an agreement and let it stand as a witness between you and me.”

45 Jacob took a stone and set it up as a marker. 46 Then Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” They took stones, put them into a pile, and ate there by the pile of stones. 47  ⌞In his language⌟ Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha [Witness Pile], but Jacob called it Galeed.[44]

48 Laban said, “This pile of stones stands as a witness between you and me today.” This is why it was named Galeed 49 and also Mizpah [Watchtower], because he said, “May the LORD watch between you and me when we’re unable to see each other. 50 If you mistreat my daughters or marry other women behind my back, remember that God stands as a witness between you and me.”

51 Laban said to Jacob, “Here is the pile of stones, and here is the marker that I have set up between you and me. 52 This pile of stones and this marker stand as witnesses that I will not go past the pile of stones to harm you, and that you will not go past the pile of stones or marker to harm me. 53 May the God of Abraham and Nahor—the God of their father—judge between us.”

So Jacob swore this oath by the Fear of his father Isaac 54 and offered a sacrifice on the mountain. He invited his relatives to eat the meal with him. They ate with him and spent the night on the mountain.[45]

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

31:43–55   Laban and Jacob called a truce. They set a boundary between them and asked you to ensure they kept their agreement. Jacob worshiped you. Show me how to make peace with my enemies.

Jacob Sends Messages and Gifts to Esau

32  [46]

1 As Jacob went on his way, God’s angels met him. 2 When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp!” He named that place Mahanaim [Two Camps].

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He commanded them to give this message to Esau, “Sir, this is what Jacob has to say, ‘I’ve been living with Laban and have stayed until now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, and male and female slaves. I’ve sent ⌞these messengers⌟ to tell you ⌞this news⌟ in order to win your favor.’”

6 When the messengers came back to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you with 400 men.”

7 Jacob was terrified and distressed. So he divided the people, the sheep and goats, the cattle, and the camels into two camps. 8 He thought, “If Esau attacks the one camp, then the other camp will be able to escape.”

32:1–8   Your angels met Jacob as he went on his way. When he sent a greeting to Esau, his brother met him with 400 men. Who wouldn’t feel terror and distress?

9 Then Jacob prayed, “God of my grandfather Abraham and God of my father Isaac! LORD, you said to me, ‘Go back to your land and to your relatives, and I will make you prosperous.’ 10 I’m not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown me. I only had a shepherd’s staff when I crossed the Jordan River, but now I have two camps. 11 Please save me from my brother Esau, because I’m afraid of him. I’m afraid that he’ll come and attack me and the mothers and children too. 12 But you did say, ‘I will make sure that you are prosperous and that your descendants will be as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one will be able to count them because there are so many.’”

32:9–12   Jacob reminded you of your promise. He admitted he wasn’t worthy of your love. And he acknowledged that everything he owned came from you. When I feel fear I’ll return to your promises. I’ll remind you and me what you’ve said.

13 He stayed there that night. Then he prepared a gift for his brother Esau from what he had brought with him: 14 200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 female sheep and 20 male sheep, 15 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys.

16 He placed servants in charge of each herd. Then he said to his servants, “Go ahead of me, and keep a distance between the herds.” 17 He commanded the first servant, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and whose animals are these ahead of you?’ 18 then say, ‘Sir, they belong to your servant Jacob. This is a gift sent to you. Jacob is right behind us.’” 19 He also commanded the second servant, the third, and all the others who followed the herds. He said, “Say the same thing to Esau when you find him. 20 And be sure to add, ‘Jacob is right behind us, sir.’” He thought, “I’ll make peace with him by giving him this gift that I’m sending ahead of me. After that I will see him, and he’ll welcome me back.” 21 So Jacob sent the gift ahead of him while he stayed in the camp that night.

32:13–21   Jacob sent waves of gifts to Esau, then waited to see if his brother welcomed him back. Make me wise when I try to make peace.

Jacob’s Fourth Encounter with God—He Wrestles with God

22 During that night he got up and gathered his two wives, his two slaves and his eleven children and crossed at the shallow part of the Jabbok River. 23 After he sent them across the stream, he sent everything else across. 24 So Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until dawn. 25 When the man saw that he could not win against Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that it was dislocated as they wrestled. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go; it’s almost dawn.”

32:22–25   You appeared to Jacob and wrestled with him all night long. You touched him and wounded his hip. Your mercy is the only reason he lived to tell the story of his struggle.

But Jacob answered, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”

27 So the man asked him, “What’s your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

28 The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel [He Struggles With God], because you have struggled with God and with men—and you have won.”

29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

The man answered, “Why do you ask for my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there. 30 So Jacob named that place Peniel [Face of God], because he said, “I have seen God face to face, but my life was saved.” 31 The sun rose as he passed Penuel.[47] He was limping because of his hip. 32 (Therefore, even today the people of Israel do not eat the muscle of the thigh attached to the hip socket because God touched the socket of Jacob’s hip at the muscle of the thigh.)

32:26–32   Jacob wouldn’t let you go until you blessed him. So you gave him a new name, “He Struggles With God.” Make me brave enough to struggle with you!

Jacob Meets Esau

33

1 Jacob saw Esau coming with 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slaves. 2 He put the slaves and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 He went on ahead of them and bowed seven times with his face touching the ground as he came near his brother.

4 Then Esau ran to meet Jacob. Esau hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They both cried. 5 When he saw the women and children, Esau asked, “Who are these people here with you?”

“The children God has graciously given me, sir,” Jacob answered.

6 Then the slaves and their children came forward and bowed down. 7 Likewise, Leah and her children came forward and bowed down. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.

8 Then Esau asked, “Why did you send this whole group ⌞of people and animals⌟ I met?”

He answered, “To win your favor, sir.”

33:1–8   Jacob bowed with his face to the ground, ready for the worst. But Esau threw his arms around him and kissed him. Servants, wives, and children all bowed to Esau. You bring enemies back together.

9 Esau said, “I have enough. Keep what you have, Brother.”

10 Jacob said, “No, please take the gift I’m giving you, because I’ve seen your face as if I were seeing the face of God, and yet you welcomed me so warmly. 11 Please take the present I’ve brought you, because God has been gracious to me and has given me all that I need.” So Esau took it because Jacob insisted.

12 Then Esau said, “Let’s get ready to go, and I’ll go with you.”

13 Jacob said to him, “Sir, you know that the children are frail and that I have to take care of the flocks and cattle that are nursing their young. If they’re driven too hard for even one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Go ahead of me, sir. I will slowly and gently guide the herds that are in front of me at their pace and at the children’s pace until I come to you in Seir.”

15 Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”

33:9–15   Jacob stole his brother’s blessing, but now he insisted Esau share in your abundance. Teach me to share what you give me—even with people I’ve turned into enemies.

“Why do that?” Jacob asked. “I only want to win your favor, sir.”

16 That day Esau started back to Seir. 17 But Jacob moved on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is named Succoth [Shelters].

18 So having come from Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in Canaan. He camped within sight of the city. 19 Then he bought the piece of land on which he had put up his tents. He bought it from the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. 20 He set up an altar there and named it God Is the God of Israel.

33:17–20   When you brought Jacob home to Canaan he set up an altar and worshiped you. You keep your promises from generation to generation.

Dinah Is Raped

34

1 Dinah, daughter of Leah and Jacob, went out to visit some of the Canaanite women. 2 When Shechem, son of the local ruler Hamor the Hivite, saw her, he took her and raped her. 3 He became very fond of Jacob’s daughter Dinah. He loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her.

4 So Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this girl for my wife.”

5 Jacob heard that Shechem had dishonored his daughter Dinah. His sons were with his livestock out in the open country, so Jacob kept quiet until they came home.

6 So Shechem’s father Hamor came to Jacob to speak with him. 7 Jacob’s sons came in from the open country as soon as they heard the news. The men felt outraged and very angry because Shechem had committed such a godless act against Israel’s family by raping Jacob’s daughter. This shouldn’t have happened.

34:1–7   Jacob and his sons felt outrage when they heard about Dinah. Love doesn’t rape. These things should never happen.

8 Hamor told them. “My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter. Please let her marry him. 9 Intermarry with us; give your daughters to us, and take ours for yourselves. 10 You can live with us, and the land will be yours. Live here, move about freely in this area, and acquire property here.”

11 Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and her brothers, “Do me this favor. I’ll give you whatever you ask. 12 Set the price I must pay for the bride and the gift I must give her as high as you want. I’ll pay exactly what you tell me. Give me the girl as my wife.”

13 Then Jacob’s sons gave Shechem and his father Hamor a misleading answer because he had dishonored their sister Dinah. 14 They said, “We can’t do this. We can’t give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised. That would be a disgrace to us! 15 We will give our consent to you only on one condition: Every male must be circumcised as we are. 16 Then we’ll give our daughters to you and take yours for ourselves, and we’ll live with you and become one people. 17 If you won’t agree to be circumcised, we’ll take our daughter and go.”

18 Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. 19 The young man didn’t waste any time in doing what they said because he took such pleasure in Jacob’s daughter. He was the most honored person in all his father’s family.

20 So Hamor and his son Shechem went to their city gate to speak to the men of their city. They said, 21 “These people are friendly toward us, so let them live in our land and move about freely in the area. Look, there’s plenty of room in this land for them. We can marry their daughters and let them marry ours. 22 These people will consent to live with us and become one nation on one condition: Every male must be circumcised as they are. 23 Won’t their livestock, their personal property, and all their animals be ours? We only need to agree to do this for them. Then they’ll live with us.”

24 All the men who had come out to the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem. So they were all circumcised at the city gate.

25 Two days later, while the men were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and boldly attacked the city. They killed every man 26 including Hamor and his son Shechem. They took Dinah from Shechem’s home and left. 27 Then Jacob’s sons stripped the corpses and looted the city where their sister had been dishonored. 28 They took the sheep and goats, cattle, donkeys, and whatever else was in the city or out in the fields. 29 They carried off all the wealth and all the women and children and looted everything in the houses.

34:8–29   Shechem tried to marry Dinah, but her family would have nothing of it. Shechem and his clan ended up dead. Everything they owned was looted.

30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have caused me a lot of trouble! You’ve made the people living in the area, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, hate me. There are only a few of us. If they join forces against me and attack me, my family and I will be wiped out.”

31 Simeon and Levi asked, “Should Shechem have been allowed to treat our sister like a prostitute?”

34:30–31   Simeon and Levi saw justice. Jacob foresaw trouble. These things should never happen. Show mercy to my family and keep violence far away.

Jacob’s Fifth Encounter with God

35

1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there. I am the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”

2 So Jacob said to his family and those who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods which you have, wash yourselves until you are ritually clean,[48] and change your clothes. 3 Then let’s go to Bethel. I will make an altar there to God, who answered me when I was troubled and who has been with me wherever I’ve gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods that they had in their possession as well as the earrings that they had on. Jacob buried these things under the oak tree near Shechem.

35:1–4   When you called Jacob to worship, he ordered his family to get rid of their foreign gods. Like Jacob, I’m eager to worship you. You answer me when I’m in trouble. You’re with me wherever I go.

5 As they moved on, God made the people of the cities that were all around them terrified so that no one pursued them. 6 Jacob and all the people who were with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7 He built an altar there and called that place El Bethel [God of the House of God]. That’s where God had revealed himself to Jacob when he was fleeing from his brother. 8 Rebekah’s nurse Deborah died and was buried under the oak tree outside Bethel. So Jacob called it the Tree of Crying.

Jacob’s Sixth Encounter with God—His Name Changed to Israel

9 Then God appeared once more to Jacob after he came back from Paddan Aram, and he blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. You will no longer be called Jacob, but your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel.

11 God also said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fertile, and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from you. 12 I will give you the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac. I will also give this land to your descendants.” 13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had spoken with him. 14 So Jacob set up a memorial, a stone marker, to mark the place where God had spoken with him. He poured a wine offering and olive oil on it. 15 Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him Bethel [House of God].

35:9–15   Once again you showed yourself and repeated your blessings. Jacob marked the place you spoke to him. I commit to remembering the places you speak to me.

Jacob’s [Israel’s] Sons—1 Chronicles 2:1–2

16 Then they moved on from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor and was having severe labor pains. 17 During one of her pains, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid! You’re having another son!” 18 Rachel was dying. As she took her last breath, she named her son Benoni [Son of My Sorrow], but his father named him Benjamin [Son of My Right Hand].

19 Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Then Jacob set up a stone as a marker for her grave. The same marker is at Rachel’s grave today.

21 Israel moved on again and put up his tent beyond Migdal Eder. 22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father’s concubine[49] Bilhah, and Israel heard about it.

Jacob had 12 sons.

23 The sons of Leah were

Jacob’s firstborn Reuben, then Simeon,

Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

24 The sons of Rachel were

Joseph and Benjamin.

25 The sons of Rachel’s slave Bilhah were

Dan and Naphtali.

26 The sons of Leah’s slave Zilpah were

Gad and Asher.

These were Jacob’s sons, who were born in Paddan Aram.

27 Jacob came home to his father Isaac to Mamre’s city, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron). Abraham and Isaac had lived there for a while. 28 Isaac was 180 years old 29 when he took his last breath and died. He joined his ancestors in death at a very old age. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

The Origin of Edom—1 Chronicles 1:35–54

36

1 This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom) and his descendants. 2 Esau chose his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah, daughter of Elon the Hittite; Oholibamah, daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 also Basemath, daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth. 4 Adah gave birth to Eliphaz for Esau, and Basemath gave birth to Reuel. 5 Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born in Canaan.

6 Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, all the members of his household, his possessions, all his cattle, and everything he had accumulated in Canaan and went to another land away from his brother Jacob. 7 He did this because they had too many possessions to live together. There wasn’t enough pastureland for all of their livestock. 8 So Esau, who was also known as Edom, lived in the mountains of Seir.

9 This is the account of Esau and his descendants. He was the father of the people of Edom in the mountains of Seir.

10 These were the names of Esau’s sons:

Eliphaz, son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, son of Esau’s wife Basemath.

11 The sons of Eliphaz were

Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 Timna was a concubine[50] of Esau’s son Eliphaz. She gave birth to Amalek for Eliphaz. These were the grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.

13 These were Reuel’s sons:

Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

14 These were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon. She gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah for Esau.

15 These were the tribal leaders among Esau’s descendants:

The sons of Eliphaz, Esau’s firstborn, were

Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These were the tribal leaders descended from Eliphaz in Edom. They were the grandsons of Adah.

17 These were the tribal leaders among the descendants of Esau’s son Reuel:

Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the tribal leaders descended from Reuel in Edom. They were the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

18 These were the tribal leaders among the descendants of Esau’s wife Oholibamah:

Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the tribal leaders descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, Anah’s daughter.

19 These were the descendants of Esau (that is, Edom), who were tribal leaders.

20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite, the people living in that land:

Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These Horite tribal leaders were the sons of Seir in Edom.

22 The sons of Lotan were

Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was Timna.

23 These were the sons of Shobal:

Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

24 These were the sons of Zibeon:

Aiah and Anah. (Anah found the hot springs[51] in the desert while he was taking care of the donkeys that belonged to his father Zibeon.)

25 These were the children of Anah:

Dishon and Oholibamah, daughter of Anah.

26 These were the sons of Dishon:

Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

27 These were the sons of Ezer:

Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

28 These were the sons of Dishan:

Uz and Aran.

29 These were the Horite tribal leaders:

Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the Horite tribal leaders in the land of Seir.

31 These were the kings who ruled Edom before any king ruled the people of Israel:

32 Bela, son of Beor, ruled Edom. The name of his ⌞capital⌟ city was Dinhabah.

33 After Bela died, Jobab, son of Zerah from Bozrah, succeeded him as king.

34 After Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.

35 After Husham died, Hadad, son of Bedad succeeded him as king. Hadad defeated the Midianites in the country of Moab. The name of his capital city was Avith.

36 After Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.

37 After Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.

38 After Shaul died, Baal Hanan, son of Achbor, succeeded him as king.

39 After Baal Hanan, son of Achbor, died, Hadar succeeded him as king, and the name of his capital city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Mezahab.

40 These were the names of the tribal leaders descended from Esau, by family, place, and name:

Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel, and Iram.

These were the tribal leaders of Edom listed by the places where they lived and the property they owned.

Esau was the father of the people of Edom.

36:1–43   You made Esau the father of Edom. You are the one who blesses and multiplies.

Joseph’s Brothers Sell Him into Slavery

37

1 Jacob continued to live in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived.

2 This is the account of Jacob and his descendants.

Joseph was a seventeen-year-old young man. He took care of the flocks with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph told his father about the bad things his brothers were doing.

3 Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because Joseph had been born in Israel’s old age. So he made Joseph a special robe with long sleeves. 4 Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. They hated Joseph and couldn’t speak to him on friendly terms.

37:1–4   Joseph’s father loved him more than his brothers and made him a special robe. The brothers hated Joseph and could barely speak to him. Couldn’t his father see the problems he was causing?

5 Joseph had a dream and when he told his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Please listen to the dream I had. 7 We were tying grain into bundles out in the field, and suddenly mine stood up. It remained standing while your bundles gathered around my bundle and bowed down to it.”

8 Then his brothers asked him, “Are you going to be our king or rule us?” They hated him even more for his dreams and his words.

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream: I saw the sun, the moon, and 11 stars bowing down to me.”

10 When he told his father and his brothers, his father criticized him by asking, “What’s this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers come and bow down in front of you?” 11 So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept thinking about these things.

37:5–11   Joseph’s dreams made his brothers hate him even more—those visions of his whole family bowing to him. Warn me when I think I tower above others.

12 His brothers had gone to take care of their father’s flocks at Shechem. 13 Israel then said to Joseph, “Your brothers are taking care of the flocks at Shechem. I’m going to send you to them.”

Joseph responded, “I’ll go.”

14 So Israel said, “See how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring some news back to me.” Then he sent Joseph away from the Hebron Valley.

When Joseph came to Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the open country. “What are you looking for?” the man asked.

16 Joseph replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Please tell me where they’re taking care of their flocks.”

17 The man said, “They moved on from here. I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

18 They saw him from a distance. Before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 They said to each other, “Look, here comes that master dreamer! 20 Let’s kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and say that a wild animal has eaten him. Then we’ll see what happens to his dreams.”

21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to save Joseph from their plot. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. 22 “Let’s not have any bloodshed. Put him into that cistern that’s out in the desert, but don’t hurt him.” Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph from them and bring him back to his father.

23 So when Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his special robe with long sleeves. 24 Then they took him and put him into an empty cistern. It had no water in it.

25 As they sat down to eat, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying the materials for cosmetics, medicine, and embalming. They were on their way to take them to Egypt.

26 Judah asked his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother and covering up his death? 27 Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites. Let’s not hurt him, because he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

28 As the Midianite merchants were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph out of the cistern. They sold him to the Ishmaelites for eight ounces of silver. The Ishmaelites took him to Egypt.

29 When Reuben came back to the cistern and saw that Joseph was no longer there, he tore his clothes in grief. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! What am I going to do?”

37:19–30   Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him, then sold him into slavery. Only the oldest tried to save him and spare his father grief. Make me strong and sensible when others aren’t.

31 So they took Joseph’s robe, killed a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 Then they brought the special robe with long sleeves to their father and said, “We found this. You better examine it to see whether it’s your son’s robe or not.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph must have been torn to pieces!” 34 Then, to show his grief, Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son a long time. 35 All his other sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, “No, I will mourn for my son until I die.” This is how Joseph’s father cried over him.

36 Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials and captain of the guard.

37:31–36   Jacob cried for the son he thought had died. No one could console him. Come to me and comfort my deepest pains.

Judah’s Sin with Tamar

38

1 About that time Judah left his brothers and went to stay with a man from Adullam whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man whose name was Shua. He married her and slept with her. 3 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son named[52] Er. 4 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son, whom she named Onan. 5 Then she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son, whom she named Shelah. He was born at Kezib.

6 Judah chose a wife for his firstborn son Er. Her name was Tamar. 7 Er angered the LORD. So the LORD took away his life. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go sleep with your brother’s widow. Do your duty for her as a brother-in-law, and produce a descendant for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the descendant wouldn’t belong to him, so whenever he slept with his brother’s widow, he wasted his semen on the ground to avoid giving his brother a descendant. 10 What Onan did angered the LORD so much that the LORD took away Onan’s life too.

38:1–10   Judah left home to live with the Canaanites. His sons grew up and made you furious. It looked like your plan for Abraham’s family was falling apart.

11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Return to your father’s home. Live as a widow until my son Shelah grows up.” He thought that this son, too, might die like his brothers. So Tamar went to live in her father’s home.

12 After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah from Adullam went to Timnah where the men were shearing Judah’s sheep. 13 As soon as Tamar was told that her father-in-law was on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep, 14 she took off her widow’s clothes, covered her face with a veil, and disguised herself. Then she sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. (She did this because she realized that Shelah was grown up now, and she hadn’t been given to him in marriage.)

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. 16 Since he didn’t know she was his daughter-in-law, he approached her by the roadside and said, “Come on, let’s sleep together!”

She asked, “What will you pay to sleep with me?”

17 “I’ll send you a young goat from the flock,” he answered.

She said, “First give me something as a deposit until you send it.”

18 “What should I give you as a deposit?” he asked.

“Your signet ring, its cord, and the shepherd’s staff that’s in your hand,” she answered.

So he gave them to her. Then he slept with her, and she became pregnant. 19 After she got up and left, she took off her veil and put her widow’s clothes back on.

20 Judah sent his friend Hirah to deliver the young goat so that he could get back his deposit from the woman, but his friend couldn’t find her. 21 He asked the men of that area, “Where’s that prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?”

“There’s no prostitute here,” they answered.

22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I couldn’t find her. Even the men of that area said, ‘There’s no prostitute here.’”

23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what I gave her, or we’ll become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you couldn’t find her.”

24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has been acting like a prostitute. What’s more, because of it she’s pregnant.”

Judah ordered, “Bring her out to be burned.”

25 As she was brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law, “I’m pregnant by the man who owns these things. See if you recognize whose signet ring, cord, and shepherd’s staff these are.”

26 Judah recognized them and said, “She’s not guilty. I am! She did this because I haven’t given her my son Shelah.” Judah never made love to her again.

27 The time came for Tamar to give birth, and she had twin boys. 28 When she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand. The midwife took a piece of red yarn, tied it on his wrist, and said, “This one came out first.” 29 As he pulled back his hand, his brother was born. So she said, “Is this how you burst into the world!” He was named Perez [Bursting Into]. 30 After that his brother was born with the red yarn on his hand. He was named Zerah [Sunrise].

38:11–30   Tamar took revenge on Judah for letting her suffer as an unmarried widow. She trapped him into living up to his family responsibilities. Teach me to do right—and own up to my failings.

Joseph in Potiphar’s House

39

1 Joseph had been taken to Egypt. Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s Egyptian officials and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. He worked in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 Joseph’s master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made everything he did successful. 4 Potiphar liked Joseph so much that he made him his trusted servant. He put him in charge of his household and everything he owned. 5 From that time on the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household because of Joseph. Therefore, the LORD’s blessing was on everything Potiphar owned in his house and in his fields. 6 So he left all that he owned in Joseph’s care. He wasn’t concerned about anything except the food he ate.

39:1–6   Joseph’s master saw you were on his side. He trusted Joseph enough to put him in charge of everything he owned. Make me a blessing to the people I work for.

Joseph was well-built and handsome. 7 After a while his master’s wife began to desire Joseph, so she said, “Come to bed with me.”

8 But Joseph refused and said to her, “My master doesn’t concern himself with anything in the house. He trusts me with everything he owns. 9 No one in this house is greater than I. He’s kept nothing back from me except you, because you’re his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 Although she kept asking Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there. 12 She grabbed him by his clothes and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he ran outside and left his clothes in her hand.

39:7–12   Again and again Joseph refused to go to bed with his master’s wife. He ran away when she grabbed him. Teach me to flee temptation!

13 When she realized that he had gone but had left his clothes behind, 14 she called her household servants and said to them, “Look! My husband brought this Hebrew here to fool around with us. He came in and tried to go to bed with me, but I screamed as loud as I could. 15 As soon as he heard me scream, he ran outside and left his clothes with me.”

16 She kept Joseph’s clothes with her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought here came in and tried to fool around with me. 18 But when I screamed, he ran outside and left his clothes with me.”

19 When Potiphar heard his wife’s story, especially when she said, “This is what your slave did to me,” he became very angry. 20 So Joseph’s master arrested him and put him in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were kept.

While Joseph was in prison, 21 the LORD was with him. The LORD reached out to him with his unchanging love and gave him protection. The LORD also put Joseph on good terms with the warden. 22 So the warden placed Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in that prison. Joseph became responsible for everything that they were doing. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care because the LORD was with Joseph and made whatever he did successful.

39:13–23   Potiphar’s wife framed Joseph and got him arrested. But you were with Joseph in prison. I can always count on you to reach out to me with your unchanging love and give me protection.

Joseph in Prison

40

1 Later the king’s cupbearer[53] and his baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his chief cupbearer and his chief baker. 3 He put them in the prison of the captain of the guard, the same place where Joseph was a prisoner. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them.

After they had been confined for some time, 5 both prisoners—the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt—had dreams one night. Each man had a dream with its own special meaning.

6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were upset. 7 So he asked these officials of Pharaoh who were with him in his master’s prison, “Why do you look so unhappy today?”

8 “We both had dreams,” they answered him, “but there’s no one to tell us what they mean.”

“Isn’t God the only one who can tell what they mean?” Joseph asked them. “Why don’t you tell me all about them.”

9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said “In my dream a grapevine with three branches appeared in front of me. 10 Soon after it sprouted it blossomed. Then its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, so I took the grapes and squeezed them into it. I put the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 In the next three days Pharaoh will release you and restore you to your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 Remember me when things go well for you, and please do me a favor. Mention me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison. 15 I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I’ve done nothing to deserve being put in this prison.”

16 The chief baker saw that the meaning Joseph had given to the cupbearer’s dream was good. So he said to Joseph, “I had a dream too. In my dream three baskets of white baked goods were on my head. 17 The top basket contained all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

18 “This is what it means,” Joseph replied. “The three baskets are three days. 19 In the next three days Pharaoh will cut off your head and hang your dead body on a pole. The birds will eat the flesh from your bones.”

40:1–19   You gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams. He explained what you told him—good or bad. Help me comprehend truths others don’t understand.

20 Two days later, on his birthday, Pharaoh had a special dinner prepared for all his servants. Of all his servants he gave special attention to the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position. So the cupbearer put the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hung the chief baker just as Joseph had said in his interpretation.

23 Nevertheless, the chief cupbearer didn’t remember Joseph. He forgot all about him.

40:20–23   Joseph trusted the cupbearer to get him out of prison, but the man forgot all about him. Stay with me when I feel forgotten.

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams

41

1 After two full years Pharaoh had a dream. He dreamed he was standing by the Nile River. 2 Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. 3 Seven other cows came up from the river behind them. These cows were sickly and skinny. They stood behind the first seven cows on the riverbank. 4 The cows that were sickly and skinny ate the seven nice-looking, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream. Seven good, healthy heads of grain were growing on a single stalk. 6 Seven other heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted behind them. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full, healthy heads. Then Pharaoh woke up. It was only a dream.

8 In the morning he was so upset that he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could tell him what they meant.

9 Then the chief cupbearer[54] spoke to Pharaoh, “I remember a promise I failed to keep.[55] 10 Some time ago when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he confined me and the chief baker to the captain of the guard’s prison. 11 We both had dreams the same night. Each dream had its own meaning. 12 A young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guard, was with us. We told him our dreams, and he told each of us what they meant. 13 What he told us happened: Pharaoh restored me to my position, but he hung the baker on a pole.”

41:1–13   Two years passed before anyone remembered Joseph. Pharaoh couldn’t understand his dreams without your help.

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and immediately he was brought from the prison. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came in front of Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. I heard that when you are told a dream, you can say what it means.”

16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “I can’t, but God can give Pharaoh the answer that he needs.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile. 18 Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. 19 Seven other cows came up behind them. These cows were scrawny, very sick, and thin. I’ve never seen such sickly cows in all of Egypt! 20 The thin, sickly cows ate up the seven well-fed ones. 21 Even though they had eaten them, no one could tell they had eaten them. They looked just as sick as before. Then I woke up.

22 “In my second dream I saw seven good, full heads of grain growing on a single stalk. 23 Seven other heads of grain, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted behind them. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but no one could tell me what it meant.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh had the same dream twice. God has told Pharaoh what he’s going to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. It’s all the same dream. 27 The seven thin, sickly cows that came up behind them are seven years. The seven empty heads of grain scorched by the east wind are also seven years. Seven years of famine are coming.

28 “It’s just as I said to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what he’s going to do. 29 Seven years are coming when there will be plenty of food in Egypt. 30 After them will come seven years of famine. People will forget that there was plenty of food in Egypt, and the famine will ruin the land. 31 People won’t remember that there once was plenty of food in the land, because the coming famine will be so severe. 32 The reason Pharaoh has had a recurring dream is because the matter has been definitely decided by God, and he will do it very soon.

41:14–32   Joseph gave you credit for his wisdom. Then you revealed the future to him—seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. You made up your mind what was to come.

Joseph Advises Pharaoh

33 “Pharaoh should look for a wise and intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt. 34 Make arrangements to appoint supervisors over the land to take a fifth of Egypt’s harvest during the seven good years. 35 Have them collect all the food during these good years and store up grain under Pharaoh’s control, to be kept for food in the cities. 36 This food will be a reserve supply for our country during the seven years of famine that will happen in Egypt. Then the land will not be ruined by the famine.”

37 Pharaoh and all his servants liked the idea. 38 So Pharaoh asked his servants, “Can we find anyone like this—a man who has God’s Spirit in him?”

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has let you know all this, there is no one as wise and intelligent as you. 40 You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will do[56] what you say. I will be more important than you, only because I’m Pharaoh.”

41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I now put you in charge of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring and put it on Joseph’s finger. He had Joseph dressed in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in the chariot of the second-in-command. Men ran ahead of him and shouted, “Make way!”[57] Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of Egypt.

44 He also said to Joseph, “Even though I am Pharaoh, no one anywhere in Egypt will do anything without your permission.” 45 Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenathpaneah and gave him Asenath as his wife. She was the daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On. Joseph traveled around Egypt.

41:33–45   Joseph had your Spirit in him. You made him wise and intelligent and raised him up to lead Egypt. You kept famine from ruining the land. Give me wisdom to prepare for the worst.

Joseph Serves Pharaoh

46 Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). He left Pharaoh and traveled all around Egypt. 47 During the seven good years the land produced large harvests. 48 Joseph collected all the food grown in Egypt during those seven years and put this food in the cities. In each city he put the food from the fields around it. 49 Joseph stored up grain in huge quantities like the sand on the seashore. He had so much that he finally gave up keeping any records because he couldn’t measure it all.

50 Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh [He Helps Me Forget], because God helped him forget all his troubles and all about his father’s family. 52 He named the second son Ephraim [Blessed Twice With Children], because God gave him children in the land where he had suffered.

53 The seven years when there was plenty of food in Egypt came to an end. 54 Then the seven years of famine began as Joseph had said they would. All the other countries were experiencing famine. Yet, there was food in Egypt. 55 When everyone in Egypt began to feel the effects of the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. But Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph! Do what he tells you!”

56 When the famine had spread all over the country, Joseph opened all the storehouses[58] and sold grain to the Egyptians. He did this because the famine was severe in Egypt. 57 The whole world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, since the famine was so severe all over the world.

41:46–57   You taught Joseph to store up food—enough to feed the world when famine struck. Joseph forgot his troubles and celebrated your blessings. I trust you to move me past my hardships and help me find new joys.

Jacob [Israel] Sends Ten Sons to Egypt

42

1 When Jacob found out that grain was for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other? 2 I’ve heard there’s grain for sale in Egypt. Go there and buy some for us so that we won’t starve to death.”

3 Ten of Joseph’s brothers went to buy grain in Egypt. 4 Jacob wouldn’t send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with the other brothers, because he was afraid that something would happen to him. 5 Israel’s sons left with the others who were going to buy grain, because there was also famine in Canaan.

42:1–5   Jacob’s family was as hungry as everyone else. They went to Egypt looking for grain. You had a plan to keep them from starving.

Joseph Sends Nine of His Brothers Back to Canaan

6 As governor of the country, Joseph was selling grain to everyone. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed in front of him with their faces touching the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them. But he acted as if he didn’t know them and spoke harshly to them. “Where did you come from?” he asked them.

“From Canaan, to buy food,” they answered.

8 Even though Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. 9 Then he remembered the dreams he once had about them. “You’re spies!” he said to them, “And you’ve come to find out where our country is unprotected.”

10 “No, sir!” they answered him. “We’ve come to buy food. 11 We’re all sons of one man. We’re honest men, not spies.”

12 He said to them, “No! You’ve come to find out where our country is unprotected.”

13 They answered him, “We were 12 brothers, sons of one man in Canaan. The youngest brother stayed with our father, and the other one is no longer with us.”

14 “It’s just as I told you,” Joseph said to them. “You’re spies! 15 This is how you’ll be tested: I solemnly swear, as surely as Pharaoh lives, that you won’t leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 One of you must be sent to get your brother while the rest of you stay in prison. We’ll see if you’re telling the truth. If not, I solemnly swear, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” 17 Then he put them in jail for three days.

42:6–17   Joseph knew his brothers as soon as they bowed to him, but they didn’t recognize him. He spoke harshly, called them spies, and put them in jail.

18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this, and you will live. I, too, fear God. 19 If you are honest men, you will let one of your brothers stay here in prison. The rest of you will go and take grain back to your starving families. 20 But you must bring me your youngest brother. This will show that you’ve been telling the truth. Then you won’t die.” So they agreed.

21 They said to each other, “We’re surely being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw how troubled he was when he pleaded with us for mercy, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in trouble now.”

22 Reuben said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen. Now we must pay for this bloodshed.”

23 They didn’t know that Joseph could understand them, because he was speaking through an interpreter. 24 He stepped away from them to cry. When he could speak to them again, he came back. Then he picked Simeon and had him arrested right in front of their eyes.

42:18–24   The brothers thought you were punishing them for their sins. They hadn’t listened when young Joseph had pleaded for mercy. But now Joseph the man stepped away to cry. What was going on inside him?

25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain. He put each man’s money back into his sack and gave them supplies for their trip. After their bags were filled, 26 they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

27 At the place where they stopped for the night, one of them opened his sack to feed his donkey. His money was right inside his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back! It’s right here in my sack!”

They wanted to die. They trembled and turned to each other and asked, “What has God done to us?”

Jacob’s [Israel’s] Sons Report to Him

29 When they came to their father Jacob in Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said, 30 “The governor of that land spoke harshly to us and treated us like spies. 31 But we said to him, ‘We’re honest men, not spies. 32 We were 12 brothers, sons of the same father. One is no longer with us. The youngest brother stayed with our father in Canaan.’

33 “Then the governor of that land said to us, ‘This is how I’ll know that you’re honest men: Leave one of your brothers with me. Take food for your starving families and go. 34 But bring me your youngest brother. Then I’ll know that you’re not spies but honest men. I’ll give your brother back to you, and you’ll be able to move about freely in this country.’”

35 As they were emptying their sacks, each man found his bag of money in his sack. When they and their father saw the bags of money, they were frightened. 36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You’re going to make me lose all my children! Joseph is no longer with us, Simeon is no longer with us, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything’s against me!”

37 So Reuben said to his father, “You may put my two sons to death if I don’t bring him back to you. Let me take care of him, and I’ll bring him back to you.”

38 Jacob replied, “My son will not go with you. His brother is dead, and he’s the only one left. If any harm comes to him on the trip you’re taking, the grief would drive this gray-haired old man to his grave!”

42:25–38   Joseph demanded his youngest brother come to Egypt. But Jacob wouldn’t let Benjamin leave his side. When I feel like everything is against me, show me what to do.

Jacob [Israel] Sends Ten Sons Back to Egypt

43

1 The famine was severe in the land. 2 When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, Israel said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

3 Judah said to him, “The man gave us a severe warning: ‘You won’t be allowed to see me again unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you let our brother go with us, we’ll go and buy food for you. 5 If you won’t let him go, we won’t go. The man said to us, ‘You won’t be allowed to see me again unless your brother is with you.’”

6 Israel asked, “Why have you made trouble for me by telling the man you had another brother?”

7 They answered, “The man kept asking about us and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How could we possibly know he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?”

8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy along with me. Let’s get going so that we won’t starve to death. 9 I guarantee that he will come back. You can hold me responsible for him. If I don’t bring him back to you and place him here in front of you, you can blame me the rest of my life. 10 If we hadn’t waited so long, we could have made this trip twice by now.”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If that’s the way it has to be, then take the man a gift. Put some of the best products of the land in your bags. Take a little balm, a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take twice as much money with you. You must return the money that was put back in your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother, and go back to the man. 14 May God Almighty make him merciful to you so that he will send your other brother and Benjamin ⌞home⌟ with you. If I lose my children, I lose my children.”

15 The men took the gifts, twice as much money, and Benjamin. They went to Egypt, where they presented themselves to Joseph.

43:1–15   Jacob knew his family would starve if they couldn’t buy more food. He sent gifts, money, and his beloved Benjamin to Egypt, pleading with you for mercy and entrusting his children to you. I trust you to provide for me and protect me.

The Banquet at Joseph’s House

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the man in charge of his house, “Take these men to my house. Butcher an animal, and prepare a meal, because they are going to eat with me at noon.”

17 So the man did as Joseph said and took them to Joseph’s house. 18 The men were frightened, because they had been brought to Joseph’s house. They thought, “We’ve been brought here because of the money that was put back into our sacks the first time. They’re going to attack us, overpower us, take our donkeys, and make us slaves.”

19 So they came to the man in charge of Joseph’s house and spoke to him at the door. 20 “Please, sir,” they said, “we came here to buy food once before. 21 When we stopped for the night, we opened our sacks, and each man found all of his money inside. So we brought it back with us. 22 We also brought more money to buy food. We have no idea who put our money back in our sacks.”

23 “It’s alright,” he said. “Don’t be afraid! Your God, the God of your father, must have given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 The man took the brothers into Joseph’s house. He gave them water to wash their feet and feed for their donkeys. 25 They got their gifts ready for Joseph’s return at noon, because they had heard they were going to eat there.

43:16–25   The brothers worried they would be attacked and enslaved. But Joseph invited them into his house. Your mercy is always amazing.

26 When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought to the house. Then they bowed to him with their faces touching the ground. 27 He asked them how they were. Then he said, “You told me about your elderly father. How is he? Is he still alive?”

28 They answered, “Yes, sir. Our father is alive and well.” Then they knelt, bowing down.

29 As Joseph looked around, he saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son. “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” he asked. “God be gracious to you, my son,” he said. 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, he hurried away, looking for a place to cry. He went into his private room and cried there.

31 Then he washed his face and came out. He was in control of his emotions when he said, “Serve the food.”

32 He was served separately from his brothers. The Egyptians who were there with him were also served separately, because they found it offensive to eat with Hebrews. 33 The brothers were seated facing him according to their ages—from the oldest to the youngest. They looked at each other in amazement.

34 Joseph had portions of food brought to them from his table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times more than any of the others. So they ate and drank with Joseph until they were drunk.

43:26–34   Joseph accepted his brothers’ gifts. He asked about his father and cried at the sight of Benjamin. And he welcomed his brothers with a feast. The brothers felt the amazement I feel at your kind welcome.

Joseph’s Plan to Trap His Brothers

44

1 Joseph commanded the man in charge of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry. Put each man’s money in his sack. 2 Then put my silver cup in the youngest brother’s sack along with the money for his grain.” He did what Joseph told him.

3 At dawn the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to the man in charge of his house, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you paid me back with evil when I was good to you? 5 Isn’t this the cup that my master drinks from and that he uses for telling the future? What you have done is evil!’”

44:1–5   Joseph had a servant hide a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and forced his brothers to return. When they claimed to be innocent, Joseph threatened to keep Benjamin as his slave.

6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 They answered him, “Sir, how can you say such things? We would never think of doing anything like that! 8 We brought the money we found in our sacks back from Canaan. So why would we steal any silver or gold from your master’s house? 9 If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become your slaves.”

10 “I agree,” he said. “We’ll do what you’ve said. The man who has the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you can go free.”

11 Each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the man made a thorough search. He began with the oldest and ended with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 When they saw this, they tore their clothes in grief. Then each one loaded his donkey and went back into the city.

14 Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house while Joseph was still there. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground. 15 Joseph asked them, “What have you done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out because he knows the future?”

16 “Sir, what can we say to you?” Judah asked. “How else can we explain it? How can we prove we’re innocent? God has uncovered our guilt. Now all of us are your slaves, including the one who had the cup.”

17 But Joseph said, “I would never think of doing that! Only the man who had the cup will be my slave. The rest of you can go back to your father in peace.”

44:6–17   Urge me to honesty when I’m caught in evil. Give me dignity when I’m falsely accused.

Judah Defends Benjamin

18 Then Judah went up to Joseph and said, “Please, sir, let me speak openly with you. Don’t be angry with me, although you are equal to Pharaoh. 19 Sir, you asked us, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ 20 We answered, ‘We have a father who is old and a younger brother born to him when he was already old. The boy’s brother is dead, so he’s the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

21 “Then you said to us, ‘Bring him here to me so that I can see him myself.’ 22 We replied, ‘The boy can’t leave his father. If the boy leaves him, his father will die.’ 23 Then you told us, ‘If your youngest brother doesn’t come here with you, you will never be allowed to see me again.’ 24 When we went back to our father, we told him what you had said.

25 “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little more food.’ 26 We answered, ‘We can’t go back. We can only go back if our youngest brother is with us. The man won’t see us unless our youngest brother is with us.’

27 “Then our father said to us, ‘You know that my wife ⌞Rachel⌟ gave me two sons. 28 One is gone, and I said, “He must have been torn to pieces!” I haven’t seen him since. 29 If you take this one away from me too and anything happens to him, you’ll drive this gray-haired old man to his grave.’

30 “Our father’s life is wrapped up with the boy’s life. If I come ⌞home⌟ without the boy 31 and he sees that the boy isn’t ⌞with me⌟, he’ll die. The grief would drive our gray-haired old father to his grave.

32 “I guaranteed my father that the boy would come back. I said, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, then you can blame me the rest of my life, Father.’ 33 Sir, please let me stay and be your slave in the boy’s place, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 How could I go back to my father if the boy isn’t with me? I couldn’t bear to see my father’s misery!”

44:18–34   Judah finally stood up for his youngest brother. He offered himself as a slave in the boy’s place. He wouldn’t bear to drive his gray-haired father to the grave. Keep shaping me—even when it takes me years to learn your lessons.

Joseph Reveals His Identity

45

1 Joseph could no longer control his emotions in front of everyone who was standing around him, so he cried out, “Have everyone leave me!” No one else was there when Joseph told his brothers who he was. 2 He cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” His brothers could not answer him because they were afraid of him.

45:1–3   Joseph couldn’t control his emotions. He said, “I am Joseph,” but his brothers were afraid.

4 “Please come closer to me,” Joseph said to his brothers. When they did so, he said, “I am Joseph, the brother you sold into slavery in Egypt! 5 Now, don’t be sad or angry with yourselves that you sold me. God sent me ahead of you to save lives. 6 The famine has been in the land for two years. There will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7 God sent me ahead of you to make sure that you would have descendants on the earth and to save your lives in an amazing way. 8 It wasn’t you who sent me here, but God. He has made me ⌞like⌟ a father to Pharaoh, lord over his entire household, and ruler of Egypt.

45:4–8   Joseph told his brothers not to be sad. You had sent him ahead to save their lives and preserve your promises in an amazing way. They weren’t the ones who sent Joseph to Egypt. It was you.

9 “Hurry back to my father, and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of Egypt. Come here to me right away! 10 Live in the land of Goshen, where you will be near me. Live there with your children and your grandchildren, as well as your flocks, your herds, and everything you have. 11 I will provide for you in Egypt, since there will be five more years of famine. Then you, your family, and all who belong to you won’t lose everything.” ’

12 “You and my brother Benjamin can see for yourselves that I am the one who is speaking to you. 13 Tell my father how greatly honored I am in Egypt and about everything you have seen. Hurry and bring my father here!”

14 He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and cried with Benjamin, who was crying on his shoulder. 15 He kissed all his brothers and cried with them. After that his brothers talked with him.

45:9–15   Joseph kissed his brothers and cried with them. He promised to provide for their families. You made him lord of Egypt.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob’s [Israel’s] Family to Live in Egypt

16 When Pharaoh’s household heard the news that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his officials were pleased. 17 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Load up your animals, and go back to Canaan. 18 Take your father and your families, and come to me. I will give you the best land in Egypt. Then you can enjoy the best food in the land.’

19 “Give them this order: ‘Take wagons with you from Egypt for your children and your wives. Bring your father, and come back. 20 Don’t worry about your belongings because the best of everything in Egypt is yours.’”

21 Israel’s sons did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons and supplies for their trip as Pharaoh had ordered. 22 He gave each of them a change of clothes, but he gave Benjamin three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 He sent his father ten male donkeys carrying Egypt’s best products and ten female donkeys carrying grain, bread, and food for his father’s trip. 24 So Joseph sent his brothers on their way. As they were leaving, he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on your way back!”

25 So they left Egypt and came to their father Jacob in Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! Yes, he is ruler of Egypt.” Jacob was stunned and didn’t believe them. 27 Yet, when they told their father everything Joseph had said to them and he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to bring him back, his spirits were lifted.

28 “You have convinced me!” Israel said. “My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

45:16–28   Pharaoh honored the brothers with rich gifts, and Joseph reminded them not to quarrel. Jacob was stunned that his son was alive. He couldn’t believe he was ruler of Egypt. Yet his spirits lifted. You bring families back together.

Jacob’s [Israel’s] Seventh Encounter with God

46

1 Israel moved with all he had. When he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

2 God spoke to Israel in a vision that night and said, “Jacob, Jacob!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to go to Egypt, because I will make you a great nation there. 4 I will go with you to Egypt, and I will make sure you come back again. Joseph will close your eyes ⌞when you die⌟.”

5 So Jacob left Beersheba. Israel’s sons put their father Jacob, their children, and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to bring him back. 6 They also took their livestock and the possessions they had accumulated in Canaan.

Jacob and all his family arrived in Egypt. 7 He had brought his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters—his entire family.

Jacob’s [Israel’s] Descendants—Exodus 6:14–16; 1 Chronicles 2:3–5

8 These are the names of Israel’s descendants (Jacob and his descendants) who arrived in Egypt.

Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn.

9 The sons of Reuben were

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10 The sons of Simeon were

Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.

11 The sons of Levi were

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12 The sons of Judah were

Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Er and Onan had died in Canaan.)

The sons of Perez were

Hezron and Hamul.

13 The sons of Issachar were

Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.

14 The sons of Zebulun were

Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15 These were the descendants of the sons Leah gave to Jacob in Paddan Aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of these sons and daughters was 33.

16 The sons of Gad were

Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

17 The sons of Asher were

Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah.

The sons of Beriah were

Heber and Malchiel.

18 These were the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah. She gave birth to these children for Jacob. The total was 16.

19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were

Joseph and Benjamin.

20 In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On.

21 The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

22 These were the descendants of Rachel who were born to Jacob. The total was 14.

23 The son of Dan was

Hushim.

24 The sons of Naphtali were

Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25 These were the descendants of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel. She gave birth to these sons for Jacob. The total was 7.

26 The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt was 66. This didn’t include the wives of Jacob’s sons. 27 Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. The grand total of people in Jacob’s household who went to Egypt was 70.

46:1–27   Jacob answered when you spoke to him. You told him not to be afraid to go to Egypt. You would make him a great nation there. You keep your promises from generation to generation.

Joseph and Jacob [Israel] Reunited

28 Israel sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When Israel’s family arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and went to meet his father Israel. As soon as he saw his father, he threw his arms around him and cried on his shoulder a long time.

30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now that I’ve seen for myself that you’re still alive, I’m ready to die.”

31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father’s family, “I’m going to Pharaoh to tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s family, who were in Canaan, have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds. They take care of livestock. They’ve brought their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ 33 Now, when Pharaoh calls for you and asks, ‘What kind of work do you do?’ 34 you must answer, ‘We have taken care of herds all our lives, as our ancestors have done.’ ⌞You must say this⌟ so that you may live in the region of Goshen, because all shepherds are disgusting to Egyptians.”

46:28–34   Joseph raced to meet his father. He cried when they met. And you made a home for your people in Goshen, where they cared for their herds. You provided for your people even when they were despised.

Jacob [Israel] Meets Pharaoh

47

1 Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers have arrived from Canaan with their flocks, herds, and everything they have. Now they are in Goshen.” 2 Since he had taken five of his brothers with him, he presented them to Pharaoh.

47:1–12   Pharaoh gave your people the best land in Egypt, along with the job of caring for his livestock. I know you watch out for my livelihood.

3 Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What kind of work do you do?”

They answered Pharaoh, “We are shepherds, as were our ancestors. 4 We have come to live in this land for a while. The famine is so severe in Canaan that there’s no pasture for our flocks. So please let us live in Goshen.”

5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 All of Egypt is available to you. Have your father and your brothers live in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. If they are qualified, put them in charge of my livestock.”

7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and had him stand in front of Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?”

9 Jacob answered Pharaoh, “The length of my stay on earth has been 130 years. The years of my life have been few and difficult, fewer than my ancestors’ years.” 10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left.

11 As Pharaoh had ordered, Joseph had his father and his brothers live in the best part of Egypt, the region of Rameses. He gave them property there. 12 Joseph also provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s family with food based on the number of children they had.

Joseph Acquires All the Land in Egypt for Pharaoh

13 The famine was so severe that there was no food anywhere. Neither Egypt nor Canaan were producing crops because of the famine. 14 Joseph collected all the money that could be found in Egypt and in Canaan as payment for the grain people bought. Then he took it to Pharaoh’s palace. 15 When the money in Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph. “Give us food,” they said. “Do you want us to die right in front of you? We don’t have any more money!”

16 Joseph replied, “If you don’t have any more money, give me your livestock, and I’ll give you food[59] in exchange.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. During that year he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

18 When that year was over, they came to him the next year. “Sir,” they said to him, “you know that our money is gone, and you have all our livestock. There’s nothing left to bring you except our bodies and our land. 19 Do you want us to die right in front of you? Do you want the land to be ruined? Take us and our land in exchange for food. Then we will be Pharaoh’s slaves and our land will be his property. But give us seed so that we won’t starve to death and the ground won’t become a desert.”

20 Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his fields because the famine was so severe. The land became Pharaoh’s. 21 All over Egypt Joseph moved the people to the cities. 22 But he didn’t buy the priests’ land because the priests received an income from Pharaoh, and they lived on that income. That’s why they didn’t sell their land.

23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh, here is seed for you. Plant crops in the land. 24 Every time you harvest, give one-fifth of the produce to Pharaoh. Four-fifths will be yours to use as seed for your fields and as food for your households.”

25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “Please, sir, we are willing to be Pharaoh’s slaves.”

26 Joseph made a law concerning the land in Egypt which is still in force today: One-fifth ⌞of the produce⌟ belongs to Pharaoh. Only the land of the priests didn’t belong to Pharaoh.

47:13–26   Joseph seized an opportunity to add wealth to Pharaoh’s kingdom. He also kept a nation from starving. Show me how to have complete integrity in how I meet my responsibilities at work—and how I care for others.

Jacob’s [Israel’s] Last Days in Egypt

27 So the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and had many children.

28 Jacob lived in Egypt 17 years, so he lived a total of 147 years. 29 Israel was about to die. He called for his son Joseph and said to him, “I want you to swear that you love me and are faithful to me. Please don’t bury me here. 30 I want to rest with my ancestors. Take me out of Egypt, and bury me in their tomb.”

“I will do as you say,” Joseph answered.

31 “Swear to me,” he said. So Joseph swore to him. Then Israel bowed down in prayer with his face at the head of his bed.

47:27–31   Jacob made Joseph swear he would bury him in the land you promised. Even from Egypt, Jacob was looking for the home you would provide. And your people began to multiply, just as you said.

Jacob [Israel] Blesses Joseph’s Two Sons

48

1 Later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim ⌞to see Jacob⌟. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph is here to see you,” Israel gathered his strength and sat up in bed.

3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in Canaan and blessed me. 4 He said to me, ‘I will make you fertile and increase the number of your descendants so that you will become a community of people. I will give this land to your descendants as a permanent possession.’

5 “So your two sons, who were born in Egypt before I came here, are my sons. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine just as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 Any other children you have after them will be yours. They will inherit the land listed under their brothers’ names. 7 As I was coming back from Paddan, Rachel died in Canaan when we were still some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there on the way to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he asked, “Who are they?”

9 “They are my sons, whom God has given me here in Egypt,” Joseph answered his father.

Then Israel said, “Please bring them to me so that I may bless them.”

10 Israel’s eyesight was failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to his father, and Israel hugged them and kissed them.

11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see you again, and now God has even let me see your sons.”

48:1–11   Jacob called Joseph’s sons his own. He beckoned Ephraim and Manasseh near so he could bless them. Jacob never expected to see Joseph again, yet you let him see Joseph’s sons. You’re faithful to your followers.

12 Joseph took them off his father’s lap and bowed with his face touching the ground. 13 Then Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right, facing Israel’s left, and Manasseh on his left, facing Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim’s head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was older.

15 Then Jacob blessed Joseph,

“May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham

and my father Isaac walked,

may God, who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day,

16 may the Messenger, who has rescued me from all evil,

bless these boys.

May they be called by my name

and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac.

May they have many children on the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he didn’t like it. So he took his father’s hand in order to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. 18 Then he said to his father, “That’s not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

19 His father refused and said, “I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation, and he, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he, and his descendants will become many nations.”

20 That day he blessed them. He said,

“Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing,

‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’”

In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now I’m about to die, but God will be with you. He will bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 I’m giving you one more mountain ridge than your brothers. I took it from the Amorites with my own sword and bow.”

48:12–22   Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons, passing to them everything good you promised to Abraham. He put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh, but he declared you would bless them both.

Jacob [Israel] Blesses His 12 Sons

49

1 Jacob called for his sons and said, “Come here, and let me tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.

2 “Gather around and listen, sons of Jacob.

Listen to your father Israel.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my strength, the very first son I had,

first in majesty and first in power.

4 You will no longer be first

because you were out of control like a flood

and you climbed into your father’s bed.

Then you dishonored it.

He climbed up on my couch.

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers.

Their swords[60] are weapons of violence.

6 Do not let me attend their secret meetings.

Do not let me join their assembly.

In their anger they murdered men.

At their whim they crippled cattle.

7 May their anger be cursed because it’s so fierce.

May their fury be cursed because it’s so cruel.

I will divide them among ⌞the sons of⌟ Jacob

and scatter them among ⌞the tribes of⌟ Israel.

49:1–7   Jacob cursed Reuben’s sexual sin, along with Simeon and Levi’s cruel fury. Sin riles your anger.

8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you.

Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies.

Your father’s sons will bow down to you.

9 Judah, you are a lion cub.

You have come back from the kill, my son.

He lies down and rests like a lion.

He is like a lioness. Who dares to disturb him?

10 A scepter will never depart from Judah

nor a ruler’s staff from between his feet

until Shiloh comes

and the people obey him.

11 He will tie his donkey to a grapevine,

his colt to the best vine.

He will wash his clothes in wine,

his garments in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are darker than wine.

His teeth are whiter than milk.

13 “Zebulun will live by the coast.

He will have ships by the coast.

His border will go as far as Sidon.

49:8–12   Jacob promised Judah praise from his brothers and power over his enemies. The scepter would never depart from Judah’s line.

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,

lying down between the saddlebags.

15 When he sees that his resting place is good

and that the land is pleasant,

he will bend his back to the burden

and will become a slave laborer.

16 “Dan will hand down decisions[61] for his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan will be a snake on a road,

a viper on a path,

that bites a horse’s heels

so that its rider falls off backwards.

18 “I wait with hope for you to rescue me, O LORD.

19 “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders,

but he will strike back at their heels.

20 “Asher’s food will be rich.

He will provide delicacies fit for a king.

21 “Naphtali is a doe set free

that has beautiful fawns.

49:13–21   Zebulun would sail the seas, but Issachar would become a slave. Dan would judge his people, but Gad would suffer attack. Asher and Naphtali would enjoy food and freedom. Each of Jacob’s sons would take his place in your plan.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful tree,

a fruitful tree by a spring,

with branches climbing over a wall.

23 Archers provoked him,

shot at him,

and attacked him.

24 But his bow stayed steady, and his arms remained limber

because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob,

because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

25 because of the God of your father who helps you,

because of the Almighty who gives you

blessings from the heavens above,

blessings from the deep springs below the ground,

blessings from breasts and womb.

26 The blessings of your father are greater than

the blessings of the oldest mountains

and the riches of the ancient hills.

May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph,

on the crown of the prince among his brothers.

49:22–26   Joseph survived every attack because you helped him. Mighty One of Jacob, I know you are the God who helps me, giving me blessings from above and below.

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf.

In the morning he devours his prey.

In the evening he divides the plunder.”

28  These are the 12 tribes of Israel and what their father said to them when he gave each of them his special blessing.

29 Then he gave them these instructions, “I am about to join my ancestors in death. Bury me with my ancestors in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. 30 Abraham bought the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre in Canaan, from Ephron the Hittite to use as a tomb. 31 Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there. I also buried Leah there. 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.”

33 When Jacob finished giving these instructions to his sons, he pulled his feet into his bed. He took his last breath and joined his ancestors in death.

49:27–33   Benjamin would be a ravenous wolf—the last son to receive Jacob’s special blessing. Jacob took his last breath and died.

Joseph Buries His Father

50

1 Joseph threw himself on his father, cried over him, and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph ordered the doctors in his service to embalm his father. So the doctors embalmed Israel. 3 The embalming was completed in the usual time—40 days. The Egyptians mourned for him 70 days.

4 When the time of mourning for Jacob was over, Joseph spoke to the Pharaoh’s palace staff. He said, “Please speak directly to Pharaoh. Tell him, 5 ‘My father made me swear an oath. He said, “I’m about to die. Bury me in the tomb I bought for myself in Canaan.” Please let me go there and bury my father; then I’ll come back.’”

6 Pharaoh replied, “Go and bury your father, as you have promised him.”

7 So Joseph left to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials, the leaders in his palace staff, and all the leaders of Egypt went with him. 8 Joseph’s household, his brothers, and his father’s household also went with him. (Only their children, their flocks, and their cattle were left in Goshen.) 9 Chariots and horsemen went with him. It was a very large group.

10 When they came to the threshing floor[62] of Atad, which is on the east side of the Jordan River, they began a great and solemn ceremony to mourn Jacob’s death. Joseph took seven days to mourn his father’s death. 11 When the Canaanites living there saw the funeral ceremonies at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “These funeral ceremonies are taken very seriously by the Egyptians.” That’s why that place on the east side of the Jordan was named Abel Mizraim [Egyptian Funeral Ceremonies].

12 Jacob’s sons did for him what he had told them to do. 13 They carried him back to Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre. Abraham had bought this tomb from Ephron the Hittite.

14 After Joseph had buried his father, he went back to Egypt along with his brothers and everyone who had gone there with him to bury his father.

50:1–14   Joseph cried over his father. He honored Jacob by bringing him back to the land you promised. I’ll grieve for my loved ones and honor their memories.

Joseph Forgives His Brothers

15 Joseph’s brothers realized what their father’s death could mean. So they thought, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us? What if he decides to pay us back for all the evil we did to him?” 16 They sent a messenger to Joseph to say, “Before your father died, he commanded us, 17 ‘This is what you should say to Joseph, “I’m begging you to forgive the crime and the sin your brothers committed against you. What they did to you was very evil.” ’ So now, please forgive our crime, because we are servants of your father’s God.” Joseph cried when he got their message.

18 Then his brothers also came and immediately bowed down in front of him. “We are your slaves!” they said.

19 Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I can’t take God’s place. 20 Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it. This was to keep many people alive, as he is doing now. 21 Don’t be afraid! I will provide for you and your children.” In this way he reassured them, setting their minds at ease.

22 Joseph and his father’s family stayed in Egypt. Joseph lived to be 110 years old. 23 He saw his grandchildren, Ephraim’s children. Even the children of Machir, son of Manasseh, were adopted by Joseph at birth.

24 At last Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m about to die. God will definitely take care of you and take you out of this land to the land he swore with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” 25 Joseph made Israel’s sons swear an oath. He said, “God will definitely take care of you. So be sure to carry my bones back with you.”

26 Joseph died when he was 110 years old. His body was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

50:15–26   Joseph’s brothers feared he would pay back the evil they had done to him, but he refused to enslave them. Instead he set their minds at ease. They planned evil against him, but you had a plan for good. When others plot evil against me, I trust you to use it for your best.

EXODUS

INTRODUCTION

Exodus reveals God rescuing people in pain. The end of Genesis showed famine driving God’s people south to Egypt to seek food. Four hundred years after Joseph’s brilliant planning saved that country from starvation, a pharaoh now comes to power who knows nothing about Joseph.

This king views Joseph’s descendants living among the Egyptians as a threat to his own political power. He forces the Hebrews into slavery, violently compelling them to construct the royal storage cities. As the slave population continues to increase in number, Pharaoh commands the slaughter of all Hebrew baby boys. The mother of one boy, desperate to save her son, sends him floating on the Nile River. Moses, pulled ashore by Pharaoh’s daughter, grows up in the royal palace.

Moses later flees to the desert, where he meets God at a burning bush. The Lord tells Moses he has seen his people’s suffering. He’s heard their cries for deliverance. So he sends Moses away with a miraculous plan to free his people from slavery and lead them to the land promised to Abraham centuries earlier.

Exodus derives its name from a word that means “exit,” and the slaves’ dramatic flight from Egypt foreshadows an even greater escape when Jesus frees people from bondage to sin. Praying this book offers you assurance that God knows your pain. It lets you invite him to free you from every kind of enslavement. It prods you to grapple with obedience to God’s everyday instructions and most important commandments. In Exodus you meet a mighty God who rescues everyone who calls on him.

EXODUS

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Israel Comes to Egypt

1

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel (that is, Jacob) who came with him to Egypt with their families: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. 5 Joseph was already in Egypt. The total number of Jacob’s descendants was 70.

6 Eventually, Joseph, all his brothers, and that entire generation died. 7 But the descendants of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them.

1:1–7   Jacob’s small family grew strong and filled the land. You kept your promise to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.

The Israelites Become Slaves

8 Then a new king, who knew nothing about Joseph, began to rule in Egypt. 9 He said to his people, “There are too many Israelites, and they are stronger than we are. 10 We have to outsmart them, or they’ll increase in number. Then, if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

1:8–10   The new king of Egypt knew nothing about Joseph. He feared the strength and numbers of your people.

11 So the Egyptians put slave drivers in charge of them in order to oppress them through forced labor. They built Pithom and Rameses as supply cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they increased in number and spread out. The Egyptians couldn’t stand them ⌞any longer⌟. 13 So they forced the Israelites to work hard as slaves. 14 They made their lives bitter with back-breaking work in mortar and bricks and every kind of work in the fields. All the jobs the Egyptians gave them were brutally hard.

1:11–14   The Egyptians forced the Israelites to work as slaves, loading them down with back-breaking labor. Don’t leave me to die when life turns bitter and brutally hard!

Pharaoh Tells the Midwives to Kill All Hebrew Baby Boys

15 Then the king of Egypt told the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth, look at the child when you deliver it. If it’s a boy, kill it, but if it’s a girl, let it live.”

17 However, the midwives feared God and didn’t obey the king of Egypt’s orders. They let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. He asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women. They are so healthy that they have their babies before a midwife arrives.”

20 God was good to the midwives. So the people increased in number and became very strong. 21 Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people to throw into the Nile every ⌞Hebrew⌟ boy that was born, but to let every girl live.

1:15–22   The king ordered the Israelite midwives to kill the Hebrew’s newborn sons. But the midwives feared you and let the boys live. My awe for you will determine my choices.

Pharaoh’s Daughter Adopts Moses

2

1 A man from Levi’s family married a Levite woman. 2 The woman became pregnant and had a son. She saw how beautiful he was and hid him for three months. 3 When she couldn’t hide him any longer, she took a basket made of papyrus plants and coated it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in it and set it among the papyrus plants near the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5 While Pharaoh’s daughter came to the Nile to take a bath, her servants walked along the bank of the river. She saw the basket among the papyrus plants and sent her slave girl to get it. 6 Pharaoh’s daughter opened the basket, looked at the baby, and saw it was a boy. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. She said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”

2:1–6   A mother set her baby afloat on a river—how desperate is that? You sent Pharaoh’s daughter to find the boy. She felt your compassion.

7 Then the baby’s sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”

8 She answered, “Yes!” So the girl brought the baby’s mother.

9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to the woman, “Take this child, nurse him for me, and I will pay you.”

She took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child was old enough, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. Pharaoh’s daughter named him Moses [Pulled Out] and said, “I pulled him out of the water.”

2:7–10   You arranged for the baby’s own mother to nurse him. You made a bed for young Moses in Pharaoh’s palace.

Moses Commits Murder and Flees to Midian

11 In the course of time Moses grew up. Then he went to ⌞see⌟ his own people and watched them suffering under forced labor. He saw a Hebrew, one of his own people, being beaten by an Egyptian. 12 He looked all around, and when he didn’t see anyone, he beat the Egyptian to death and hid the body in the sand.

13 When Moses went there the next day, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. He asked the one who started the fight, “Why are you beating another Hebrew?”

14 The man asked, “Who made you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought that everyone knew what he had done.

15 When Pharaoh heard what Moses had done, he tried to have him killed. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian.

2:11–15   Moses saw the suffering of his own people. He beat an Egyptian dead and hid the body. Watch over me when I run scared.

Moses Marries Zipporah

One day, while Moses was sitting by a well, 16 seven daughters of the priest of Midian came. They drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s sheep. 17 But some shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses got up, came to their defense, and then watered their sheep.

Authentic Prayer

Exodus 3:1–17

Listening

God called to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” Moses answered, “Here I am!” Exodus 3:4

Prayer is more than talking at God. Moses perceived God at a flaming desert bush, but their conversation only begins after the Lord first calls his name. Moses answers, and the Lord teaches him that any meeting place with God is holy ground.

When Moses fearfully hides his face, the Lord keeps talking. He already knows everything the prince-turned-shepherd could possibly have on his mind. He knows the cries of his enslaved people, and he already has a firm plan to rescue them that includes sending Moses to force his people’s freedom. The Lord isn’t quiet until he tells Moses his name, “I Am Who I Am,” (Exodus 3:14) the God who has always existed and who will always be with his people.

Your prayers might not feel like a back-and-forth dialogue with God. But he always invites you to quiet yourself and listen for him. You might hear his whispering voice, and you can expect him to speak to you through Scripture. If you never stop the stream of words flowing from your mouth, you won’t ever hear his side of the conversation.

Pray the Scriptures Listening: Psalm 5:1–3, 1 Kings 19:11–12, Matthew 6:5–8, 2 Timothy 3:16–17

18 When they came back to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you come home so early today?”

19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from some shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the sheep.”

20 Reuel asked his daughters, “Where is he? Why did you leave the man there? Go, invite him to supper.”

21 Moses decided to stay with the man. So Reuel gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as his wife. 22 She gave birth to a son. Moses named him Gershom [Foreigner], because he said, “I was a foreigner living in another country.”

2:16–22   Even when Moses found a wife he felt like a foreigner. Even with a new family he felt out of place. Come with me when I walk alone.

The Israelites Pray to God during Their Suffering

23 After a long time passed, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites still groaned because they were slaves. So they cried out, and their cries for help went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his promise[1] to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 God saw the Israelites ⌞being oppressed⌟ and was concerned about them.

2:23–25   The Israelites groaned in pain. Yet you heard their cries and saw the oppression they suffered. You hadn’t forgotten your promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Moses at the Burning Bush

3

1 Moses was taking care of the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. As he led the sheep to the far side of the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

2 The Messenger of the LORD appeared to him there as flames of fire coming out of a bush. Moses looked, and although the bush was on fire, it was not burning up. 3 So he thought, “Why isn’t this bush burning up? I must go over there and see this strange sight.”

4 When the LORD saw that Moses had come over to see it, God called to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

3:1–4   Moses was minding sheep when you appeared to him as flames of fire coming out of a bush. You called to him and he answered.

Moses answered, “Here I am!”

5 God said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy ground. 6 I am the God of your ancestors,[2] the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

3:5–6   You warned Moses he stood on holy ground. You introduced yourself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at you.

7 The LORD said, “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard them crying out because of the slave drivers. I know how much they’re suffering. 8 I have come to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good land with plenty of room ⌞for everyone⌟. It is a land flowing with milk and honey where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live. 9 I have heard the cry of the people of Israel. I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you can bring my people Israel out of Egypt.”

3:7–10   You saw your people’s misery and heard their cries. Rescue me and bring me to a good place.

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this will be the proof that I sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”

3:11–12   You promised to go with Moses when you sent him to Pharaoh. You had a plan to lead your people to freedom—and to worship.

13 Then Moses replied to God, “Suppose I go to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?”

14 God answered Moses, “I Am Who I Am. This is what you must say to the people of Israel: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’”

15 Again God said to Moses, “This is what you must say to the people of Israel: The LORD God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever. This is my title throughout every generation.

3:13–15   You call yourself “I Am Who I Am.” You’ve always existed and will always be with us. You’re the one and only God!

16 “Go, assemble the leaders of Israel. Say to them, ‘The LORD God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me. He said, “I have paid close attention to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 I promise I will take you away from your misery in Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

18 “The leaders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the leaders must go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.’ 19 I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, even if he is forced to. 20 So I will use my power to strike Egypt. After all the miracles that I will do there, he will let you go. 21 I will make the Egyptians kind to the people of Israel so that, when you leave, you will not leave empty-handed.

22 “Every Hebrew woman should ask her Egyptian neighbor and any woman living in her home for silver and gold jewelry and for clothes. Put them on your sons and daughters. This way you will strip Egypt of its wealth.”

3:16–22   You promised to move your people from misery to a land of milk and honey. You would force the king to free them.

4

1 “They will never believe me or listen to me!” Moses protested. “They will say, ‘The LORD didn’t appear to you.’”

2 Then the LORD asked him, “What’s that in your hand?”

He answered, “A shepherd’s staff.”

3 The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.”

When Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran away from it.

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out and grab the snake by its tail.” He reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a staff as he held it. 5  ⌞The LORD explained,⌟ “This is to convince the people that the LORD God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to you.”

6 The LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your shirt.” So Moses did this, and when he took his hand out, it had a skin disease. It looked as ⌞flaky as⌟ snow. 7 “Now put your hand back inside your shirt,” the LORD said. Moses put it back, and when he took it out this time, it was healthy again like the rest of his body.

8  ⌞Then the LORD said,⌟ “If they won’t believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. 9 But if they won’t believe these two miraculous signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile River and pour it on the ground. The water you take from the Nile will turn into blood on the ground.”

4:1–9   Moses thought no one would believe he had met you. So you offered miracles as proof. Convince me when I’m skeptical. Be patient when I want evidence.

10 Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I’m not a good speaker. I’ve never been a good speaker, and I’m not now, even though you’ve spoken to me. I speak slowly, and I become tongue-tied easily.”

11 The LORD asked him, “Who gave humans their mouths? Who makes humans unable to talk or hear? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? It is I, the LORD! 12 Now go, and I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

4:10–12   Moses claimed he was tongue-tied. But you made his mouth. You could help him speak.

13 But Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”

14 Then the LORD became angry with Moses and asked, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He’s already on his way to meet you, and he will be very glad to see you. 15 You will speak to him and tell him what to say. I will help both of you speak, and I will teach you both what to do. 16 Aaron will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and you will be like God. 17 Take that shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to do the miraculous signs.”

4:13–17   Moses angered you when he begged you to send someone else. But you gave him Aaron and a shepherd’s staff to make him bold. Support me and make me brave.

Moses Returns to Egypt

18 Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro. Moses said to him, “Please let me go back to my own people in Egypt. I would like to see if they’re still alive.”

Jethro said to Moses, “You may go.”

19 Now, the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, because all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.”

20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and started out for Egypt. He also brought with him the staff God had told him to take.

21 The LORD said to Moses, “When you get back to Egypt, see that you show Pharaoh all the amazing things that I have given you the power to do. But I will make him stubborn so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then tell Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son. 23 I told you to let my son go so that he may worship me. But you refused to let him go. So now I’m going to kill your firstborn son.’”

4:18–23   Moses left for Egypt to speak with Pharaoh. You already knew how this would end. The king would resist your will. You would kill his firstborn son.

24 Along the way they stopped for the night. The LORD met Moses and tried to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet ⌞with it⌟. She said, “You are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So the LORD let him alone. It was because of the circumcision that she said at that time, “You are a bridegroom of blood!”

Moses and Aaron Tell the People What the LORD Said

27 Meanwhile, the LORD had told Aaron to meet Moses in the desert.

When Aaron met Moses at the mountain of God, he kissed him. 28 Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say and all the miraculous signs the LORD had commanded him to do.

29 Then Moses and Aaron went ⌞to Egypt⌟ and assembled all the leaders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also did the miraculous signs for the people, 31 and the people believed them. When they heard that the LORD was concerned about the people of Israel and that he had seen their misery, they knelt, bowing with their faces touching the ground.

4:27–31   Moses and Aaron spoke to your people and did miraculous signs. The people believed your message. You notice when I’m miserable. I bow to worship you.

Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh

5

1 Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Let my people go into the desert to celebrate a festival in my honor.”

2 Pharaoh asked, “Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and I won’t let Israel go.”

3 They replied, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don’t go, he may kill us with a plague or a war.”

4 The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their work? Get back to work!” 5 Then Pharaoh added, “Look how many people there are in the land! Do you want them to quit working?”

5:1–5   Moses demanded Pharaoh let your people go worship. Pharaoh didn’t know you or why he should obey. Help me grasp who you are.

Pharaoh Increases the Israelites’ Labor

6 That same day Pharaoh gave these orders to the slave drivers and foremen: 7 “Don’t give the people any more straw to make bricks as you have been doing. Let them gather their own straw, 8 but insist that they make the same number of bricks they were making before. Making fewer bricks will not be acceptable. They’re lazy! That’s why they’re crying, ‘Let us go offer sacrifices to our God.’ 9 Make the work harder for these people so that they will be too busy to listen to lies.”

10 The slave drivers and foreman went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: I’m no longer giving you straw. 11 Get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work load will not be reduced one bit.”

5:6–11   Pharaoh ordered your people to get their own straw to make bricks. He called them lazy and made their work even harder.

12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept hurrying them. They said, “Finish the same amount of work each day, just as when you had straw.”

14 Pharaoh’s slave drivers had placed Israelite foremen in charge of the people. The slave drivers beat the foremen and said, “You didn’t finish all the bricks you were ordered to make yesterday or today. Why didn’t you make as many as you used to?”

15 Then the Israelite foremen complained to Pharaoh. They asked, “Why are you treating us this way? 16 We’re given no straw, and yet we’re told to make bricks. We’re being beaten, but your men are at fault.”

17 “You’re lazy! ⌞Just plain⌟ lazy!” Pharaoh answered. “That’s why you keep saying, ‘Let us go offer sacrifices to the LORD.’ 18 Now get back to work! You won’t be given any straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks.”

19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “Don’t make fewer bricks each day than you’re supposed to.”

5:12–19   Slave masters beat your people for not working fast enough. Revive me when I’m forced to make bricks without straw.

20 As they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting for them. 21 So they said, “May the LORD see what you have done and judge you! You have made Pharaoh and his officials hate us. You have given them an excuse to kill us.”

22 Moses went back to the LORD and asked, “Why have you brought this trouble on your people? Why did you send me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak for you, he has treated your people cruelly, and you have done nothing at all to rescue your people.”

5:20–23   Your people were more miserable than ever. They wondered if you really would rescue them. When my life goes from bad to worse, I wonder where you are and what you’re doing.

6

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. I will show him my power, and he will let my people go. I will show him my power, and he will throw them out of his country.”

The LORD Tells Moses to Speak to Pharaoh Again

2 God spoke to Moses, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I didn’t make myself known to them by my name, the LORD. 4 I even made a promise[3] to give them Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners. 5 Now I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians hold in slavery, and I have remembered my promise.

6:1–5   You told your people your name. You swore to give them a land. You heard their groaning. Now it was time to keep your promise and show your power.

6 “Tell the Israelites, ‘I am the LORD. I will bring you out from under the oppression of the Egyptians, and I will free you from slavery. I will rescue you with my powerful arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 Then I will make you my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you to the land I solemnly swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your own possession. I am the LORD.’”

6:6–8   You promised to rescue your people with your powerful arm and mighty acts of judgment—to make them yours and be their God. Save us and we’ll know you are Lord.

9 Moses reported this to the Israelites. But they would not listen to him because they were so discouraged by their back-breaking work.

6:9   The Israelites wouldn’t hear your words because of their backbreaking work. Don’t stop talking to me when my pain makes you hard to hear.

10 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, 11 “Go tell Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) to let the Israelites leave his country.”

12 But Moses protested to the LORD, “The Israelites wouldn’t listen to me. Why would Pharaoh listen to me? I’m such a poor speaker.”

13 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). He commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

Aaron and Moses’ Ancestry—Genesis 46:9–11

14 These were the heads of the families:

The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

These were the families descended from Reuben.

15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the families descended from Simeon.

16 These are the names of the sons of Levi listed in birth order: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

17 The sons of Gershon listed by their families were Libni and Shimei.

18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.

19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.

These were the families descended from Levi listed in birth order.

20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed. She gave birth to Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.

22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon. She gave birth to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph.

These were the families descended from Korah.

25 Eleazar, son of Aaron, married one of the daughters of Putiel. She gave birth to Phinehas.

These were the heads of Levite households listed by their families.

26 This was the same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt in organized family groups.” 27 They—this same Moses and Aaron—told Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) to let the Israelites leave Egypt.

6:14–27   Build my family. Bring us out of bondage. Free us completely from every kind of slavery.

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Snake

28 At that time the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt. 29 He said to Moses, “I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) everything I tell you.”

30 But Moses said to the LORD, “Why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

7

1 The LORD answered Moses, “I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron is your prophet. 2 Tell your brother Aaron everything I command you, and he must tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave the country. 3 But I will make Pharaoh stubborn. Even though I will do many miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will use my power to punish Egypt severely, and I will bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt in organized family groups. 5 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I use my power against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of there.”

6 Moses and Aaron did as the LORD had commanded them. 7 Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when they talked to Pharaoh.

7:1–7   You kept speaking to Pharaoh and kept making him stubborn. He wouldn’t listen even when you did amazing things. Don’t doom me to my own stubbornness.

8 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Give me a sign to prove that God has sent you,’ tell Aaron, ‘Take your shepherd’s staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh,’ and it will become a large snake.”

10 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a large snake. 11 Then Pharaoh sent for his wise men and sorcerers. These Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. 12 Each of them threw his staff down, and they all became large snakes. But Aaron’s staff swallowed theirs. 13 Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to them, as the LORD had predicted.

7:8–13   Moses’ staff became a snake that swallowed the Egyptian magicians’ staffs. Yet Pharaoh wouldn’t listen to you.

The First Plague—The Nile River Turns into Blood

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh is being stubborn. He refuses to let my people go. 15 In the morning meet Pharaoh when he’s on his way to the Nile. Wait for him on the bank of the river. Take along the staff that turned into a snake. 16 Say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews sent me to tell you, “Let my people go to worship me in the desert.” So far you have not listened. 17 Here is what the LORD says: This is the way you will recognize that I am the LORD: With this staff in my hand, I’m going to strike the Nile, and the water will turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’”

19 The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—its rivers, canals, ponds, and all its reservoirs—so that they turn into blood. There will be blood everywhere in Egypt, even in the wooden and stone containers.’”

20 Moses and Aaron did as the LORD had commanded. In front of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised his staff and struck the Nile. All the water in the river turned into blood. 21 The fish in the Nile died, and it smelled so bad that the Egyptians couldn’t drink any water from the river. There was blood everywhere in Egypt.

7:14–21   When Pharaoh refused to let your people go, you turned the Nile to blood. The fish died and the river smelled. There was blood everywhere.

22 But the Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. So Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as the LORD had predicted. 23 Pharaoh turned and went back to his palace. He dismissed the entire matter from his mind.

24 All the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink because they couldn’t drink any of the water from the river.

7:22–24   When the Egyptian magicians copied your miracle, Pharaoh wouldn’t listen to you. He dismissed you from his mind.

25 Seven days passed after the LORD struck the Nile.

The Second Plague—Frogs

8  [4]

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go to worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go, I will bring a plague of frogs on your whole country. 3 The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come into your palace, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your officials, on your people, into your ovens and into your mixing bowls. 4 The frogs will jump on you, on your people, and on all your officials.’”

5 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Hold your staff over the rivers, canals, and ponds. This will bring frogs onto the land.’”

6 So Aaron held his staff over the waters of Egypt. The frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same thing using their magic spells and brought frogs onto the land.

8:1–7   Pharaoh refused to let your people go. So you sent frogs that jumped on everything and everyone. But the magicians did the same thing.

8 Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray that the LORD will take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

9 Moses answered Pharaoh, “You may have the honor of choosing when I should pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then the frogs will leave you and your homes. The only ones left will be those in the Nile.”

10 “Pray for me tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

Moses replied, “It will be as you say so that you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11 The frogs will leave you, your homes, your officials, and your people. The only frogs left will be those in the Nile.”

12 After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, Moses prayed to the LORD about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh. 13 The LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, in the yards, and in the fields. 14 They were piled into countless heaps, and the land began to stink because of them.

15 When Pharaoh saw that the plague was over, he became stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as the LORD had predicted.

8:8–15   Pharaoh begged for the frogs to go away. Frogs died everywhere when Moses prayed. They were heaped into piles and began to stink. But Pharaoh still wouldn’t listen to you.

The Third Plague—Gnats

16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Hold out your staff and strike the dust on the ground. All over Egypt the dust will turn into gnats.’”

17 When Moses told him, Aaron held out the staff in his hand and struck the dust on the ground. It turned into gnats that bit people and animals. All the dust on the ground everywhere in Egypt turned into gnats.

18 The magicians also tried to produce gnats using their magic spells, but they couldn’t do it. The gnats bit people and animals. 19 So the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the hand of God!”

8:16–19   You turned dust into biting gnats. Even the magicians recognized your hand at work. But Pharaoh continued to be stubborn.

Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as the LORD had predicted.

The Fourth Plague—Flies

20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Early in the morning, stand in Pharaoh’s way when he’s going to the Nile. Say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go to worship me. 21 If you will not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The homes of the Egyptians will be filled with flies, and even the ground outside will be covered with them. 22 But on that day I will treat the region of Goshen differently. That is where my people live. There won’t be any flies there. This way you will know that I, the LORD, am here in this land. 23 I will distinguish between my people and yours. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’”

24 The LORD did what he said. Dense swarms of flies came into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials. All over Egypt the flies were ruining everything. 25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in this country.”

8:20–24   You did what you said, sending flies swarming all over Egypt. But you spared your people in Goshen. You showed you were present in the land.

26 Moses replied, “It wouldn’t be right to do that. The sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God are disgusting to Egyptians. If they see us offer sacrifices that they consider disgusting, won’t they stone us to death? 27 We need to travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he told us to do.”

28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, but don’t go very far. You may offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the desert and pray for me.”

29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD. Tomorrow the swarms of flies will go away from you, your officials, and your people. But you must stop tricking us by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

30 Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. 31 The LORD did what Moses asked. The swarms of flies left Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not one fly was left. 32 Yet, this time, too, Pharaoh was stubborn and did not let the people go.

8:25–32   Your power made the flies go away. Not a fly was left. But Pharaoh was stubborn. He wouldn’t let your people go.

The Fifth Plague—Death of Livestock

9

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD God of the Hebrews says: Let my people go to worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them ⌞in slavery⌟, 3 the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock, including your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. 4 But the LORD will distinguish between Israel’s livestock and the livestock of the Egyptians. No animals belonging to the Israelites will die.’” 5 The LORD set a definite time. He said, “Tomorrow I will do this.”

6 The next day the LORD did as he said. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but none of the Israelites’ animals died. 7 Pharaoh found out that not one of the Israelites’ animals had died. Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not let the people go.

9:1–6   You insisted your people come worship you. When Pharaoh refused, you sent a plague that killed the Egyptians’ livestock. But Pharaoh continued to be stubborn.

The Sixth Plague—Boils

8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take a handful of ashes from a kiln, and have Moses throw them up in the air as Pharaoh watches. 9 They will become a fine dust throughout Egypt. The dust will cause boils to break into open sores on people and animals throughout Egypt.”

10 They took ashes from a kiln and stood in front of Pharaoh. Moses threw the ashes up in the air, and they caused boils to break into open sores on people and animals. 11 The magicians couldn’t compete with Moses because they had boils like all the other Egyptians.

12 But the LORD made Pharaoh stubborn, so he wouldn’t listen to Moses and Aaron, as the LORD had predicted to Moses.

9:8–12   Boils broke out on people and animals. Pharaoh’s magicians couldn’t match your power. Yet the king remained as stubborn as ever, just as you predicted.

The Seventh Plague—Hail

13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Early in the morning, go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD God of the Hebrews says: Let my people go to worship me. 14 Now I will send plagues that will affect you personally as well as your officials and people. This is how you will know that there is no one like me anywhere on earth. 15 By now I could have used my power to kill you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have spared you for this reason. I want to show you my power and make my name famous throughout the earth.17 You are still blocking my people from leaving. 18 So, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever happened in Egypt since the beginning of its history. 19 Now, send ⌞servants⌟ to bring your livestock and everything else you have indoors. All people and animals still outside and not brought in will die when the hail falls on them.’”

9:13–19   You threatened plagues to show there’s no one like you—displays to prove your power and make your name famous throughout the earth.

20 Those members of Pharaoh’s court who listened to the LORD’s warning brought their servants and cattle indoors quickly. 21 But those who didn’t take the LORD’s warning seriously left their servants and animals out in the open.

22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky, and hail will fall on people, animals, and every plant in the fields of Egypt.”

23 When Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD made it hail on Egypt. 24 It hailed, and lightning flashed while it hailed. This was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 25 All over Egypt the hail knocked down everything that was out in the open. It struck down people, animals, and every plant in the fields and destroyed every tree in the fields. 26 The only place it didn’t hail was the region of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.

9:20–26   Some didn’t take your warning seriously. You sent thunder and hail and lightning—the worst storm Egypt had ever seen. You struck down everything out in the open—but not in Goshen. Protect me when you send your judgment.

27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he told them. “The LORD is right, and my people and I are wrong. 28 Pray to the LORD. We’ve had enough of God’s thunder and hail. I’ll let you go; you don’t have to stay here any longer.”

29 Moses replied, “As soon as I’m out of the city, I’ll spread out my hands to the LORD in prayer. The thunder will stop, and there will be no more hail. This is how you will know that the earth belongs to the LORD. 30 But I know that you and your officials still don’t fear the LORD God.”

9:27–30   This time Pharaoh knew he had sinned. You were right and he was wrong. He promised to let your people go. Pharaoh still didn’t fear you, even though the earth belongs to you.

31 (The flax and the barley were ruined, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was in bloom. 32 Neither the wheat nor the wild grain was damaged, because they ripen later.)

33 As soon as he left Pharaoh and went out of the city, Moses spread out his hands to the LORD in prayer. The thunder and the hail stopped, and no more rain came pouring down on the ground.

34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had stopped, he sinned again. He and his officials continued to be stubborn. 35 Pharaoh was stubborn and would not let the Israelites go, as the LORD had predicted through Moses.

The Eighth Plague—Locusts

10

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh. I have made him and his officials stubborn so that I can do these miraculous signs among them. 2 You will be able to tell your children and grandchildren exactly how I treated the Egyptians and what miraculous signs I did among them. This is how you will all know that I am the LORD.”

10:1–2   You kept Pharaoh’s heart stubborn and kept doing miraculous signs. Everyone would know you are the Lord.

3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the LORD God of the Hebrews says: How long will you refuse to humble yourself in my presence? Let my people go to worship me. 4 If you refuse to let my people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country. 5 They will cover the land so that the ground can’t be seen. They will eat everything left by the hail, including every tree still standing in the fields. 6 They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and those of all the Egyptians. Your parents and ancestors never saw anything like this from the time they first came here until now.” Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

7 Then Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man hold us in his grip? Let the Israelite men go to worship the LORD their God. When will you realize that Egypt is ruined?”

10:3–7   You threatened to bring locusts to Egypt, so many the ground couldn’t be seen. Some Egyptians despaired to be in your grip. But Pharaoh ignored the ruin everywhere around him.

8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said to them. “But exactly who will be going?”

9 Moses answered, “Everyone! We’ll be taking our young and old, our sons and daughters, our flocks and herds with us. For us it’s a pilgrimage festival in the LORD’s honor.”

10 Pharaoh said to them, “The LORD would have to be with you if I would ever let you take your women and children along. I know you’re up to no good! 11 No! Only the men may go to worship the LORD, since that’s what you’ve been asking for.” Then Moses and Aaron were thrown out of Pharaoh’s palace.

12 The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over Egypt to bring locusts. They will invade Egypt and eat up every plant in the land—everything left by the hail.”

13 Moses held his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD made a wind from the east blow over the land all that day and all that night. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 They invaded all of Egypt and landed all over the country in great swarms. Never before had there been so many locusts like this, nor would there ever be that many again. 15 They covered all the ground until it was black ⌞with them⌟. They ate all the plants and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant anywhere in Egypt.

10:8–15   When Pharaoh threw Moses and Aaron out of his palace, you sent locusts to eat every plant in the land. Nothing green was left.

16 Then Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. 17 Please forgive my sin one more time. Pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me.”

18 Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. 19 Then the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind. It picked up the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not one locust was left anywhere in Egypt.

20 But the LORD made Pharaoh stubborn, so he did not let the Israelites go.

10:16–20   Pharaoh again admitted his sin against you. So you blew the locusts away with your strong wind. But again Pharaoh became stubborn.

The Ninth Plague—Darkness

21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky, and a darkness ⌞so thick⌟ that it can be felt will come over Egypt.” 22 Moses lifted his hand toward the sky, and throughout Egypt there was total darkness for three days. 23 People couldn’t see each other, and no one went anywhere for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they were living.

24 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD! Even your women and children may go with you, but your flocks and herds must stay behind.”

25 But Moses said, “You must allow us to take ⌞our animals⌟ for the sacrifices and burnt offerings we have to make to the LORD our God. 26 All our livestock must go with us. Not one animal must be left behind. We’ll have to use some of them for worshiping the LORD our God, and we won’t know what we’ll need until we get there.”

27 But the LORD made Pharaoh stubborn, so he refused to let them go. 28 Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Don’t ever let me see your face again. The day I do, you will die.”

10:21–28   You sent darkness over Egypt—darkness so thick people couldn’t see or move. Yet you lit the place where your people lived. When my world goes dark, shine on me.

29 “You’re right!” Moses answered. “You’ll never see my face again.”

The Tenth Plague—The Death of the Firstborn

11

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that he will let you go. When he does, he will be certain to force all of you out of here. 2 Now announce to the people ⌞of Israel⌟ that each man and woman must ask the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry.”

3 The LORD made the Egyptians kind to the people. And Moses was highly respected by Pharaoh’s officials and all the Egyptians.

4 Moses said, “This is what the LORD says: About midnight I will go out among the Egyptians. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who rules the land, to the firstborn children of female slaves who use their handmills, including every firstborn domestic animal. 6 There will be loud crying throughout Egypt, such as there has never been or ever will be again. 7 But where the Israelites are, not even a dog will be startled by any person or animal. This is how you will see that the LORD shows the distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8 Then all these officials of yours will come, bow down to me, and say, ‘You and all the people who follow you, get out!’ After that I will leave.” Burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.

11:1–7   You planned a final plague to force your people free. There would be loud crying like never before. The firstborn of Egypt would die. But you would spare your people.

9 The LORD had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you. This is why I will do more amazing things in Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron showed Pharaoh all these amazing things. Yet, the LORD made Pharaoh stubborn, so he wouldn’t let the Israelites leave his country.

11:8–10   Because Pharaoh wouldn’t listen, you would do amazing things. But he still wouldn’t let the Israelites leave.

Passover

12

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month will be the very first month of the year for you. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth ⌞day⌟ of this month each man must take a lamb or a young goat for his family—one animal per household. 4 A household may be too small to eat a whole animal. That household and the one next door can share one animal. Choose your animal based on the number of people and what each person can eat. 5 Your animal must be a one-year-old male that has no defects. You may choose a lamb or a young goat. 6 Take care of it until the fourteenth ⌞day⌟ of this month.

12:1–6   You told each household to slaughter a lamb, a one-year-old male without defect. This was your command for the whole community.

“Then at dusk, all the assembled people from the community of Israel must slaughter their animals. 7 They must take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they will eat the animals. 8 The meat must be eaten that same night. It must be roasted over a fire and eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. 9 Don’t eat any of it raw or boiled but roast the whole animal over a fire. 10 Don’t leave any of it until morning. Anything left over in the morning must be burned up. 11 This is how ⌞you should be dressed when⌟ you eat it: with your belt on, your sandals on your feet, and your shepherd’s staff in your hand. You must eat it in a hurry. It is the LORD’s Passover.

12:7–11   Your people were to paint doorframes with the blood of the lambs they slaughtered. They should eat the lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. They should rush and be ready to move. This was your Passover.

12 “On that same night I will go throughout Egypt and kill every firstborn male, both human and animal. I will severely punish all the gods of Egypt, ⌞because⌟ I am the LORD. 13 But the blood on your houses will be a sign for your protection. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. Nothing will touch or destroy you when I strike Egypt.

12:12–13   That night you would kill every firstborn male to punish the gods of Egypt. But the blood of the lamb would protect your people. Nothing would touch them.

14 “This day will be one for you to remember. This is a permanent law for generations to come: You will celebrate this day as a pilgrimage festival in the LORD’s honor. 15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the very first day you must remove any yeast that you have in your houses. Whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh day must be excluded from Israel. 16 You must have a holy assembly on the first day and another one on the seventh. You must not work on these days except to prepare your own meals. That’s all you may do.

17 You must celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread because it was on this very day that I brought you out of Egypt in organized family groups. This is a permanent law for future generations: You must celebrate this day. 18 From the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day you must eat unleavened bread. 19 There should be no yeast in your houses for seven days. Whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be excluded from the community of Israel, whether he is an Israelite or not. 20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat ⌞only⌟ unleavened bread.”

12:14–20   This would be a day to remember. It was the start of a festival to honor you, a feast of Unleavened Bread.

21 Then Moses called for all the leaders of Israel. He said to them, “Pick out a lamb or a young goat for your families, and kill the Passover animal. 22 Take the branch of a hyssop plant, dip it in the blood which is in a bowl, and put some of the blood on the top and sides of the doorframes ⌞of your houses⌟. No one may leave the house until morning. 23 The LORD will go throughout Egypt to kill the Egyptians. When he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, he will pass over that doorway, and he will not let the destroyer come into your home to kill you.

24 “You must follow these instructions. They are a permanent law for you and your children. 25 When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 When your children ask you what this ceremony means to you, 27 you must answer, ‘It’s the Passover sacrifice in the LORD’s honor. The LORD passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he killed the Egyptians.’”

Then the people knelt, bowing with their faces touching the ground. 28 The Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.

12:21–28   You warned your people to follow your instructions. You would spare them as the destroyer went from door to door. The people bowed to you and did as you commanded. Rescue me from bondage and death!

29 At midnight the LORD killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal. 30 Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the ⌞other⌟ Egyptians got up during the night. There was loud crying throughout Egypt because in every house someone had died.

12:29–30   At midnight you killed every firstborn male in Egypt, and there was loud crying throughout Egypt.

Pharaoh Allows the Israelites to Leave Egypt

31 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron during the night. He said, “You and the Israelites must leave my people at once. Go, worship the LORD as you asked. 32 Take your flocks and herds, too, as you asked. Just go! And bless me, too!”

33 The Egyptians begged the people to leave the country quickly. They said, “Soon we’ll all be dead!” 34 So the people picked up their bread dough before it had risen and carried it on their shoulders in bowls, wrapped up in their clothes.

35 The Israelites did what Moses had told them and asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry and for clothes. 36 The LORD made the Egyptians generous to the people, and they gave them what they asked for. So the Israelites stripped Egypt of its wealth.

The Israelites Leave Egypt

37 The Israelites left Rameses to go to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children. 38 Many other people also went with them, along with large numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle.

12:31–38   Pharaoh said your people must leave at once. They left quickly, loaded down with gold and jewelry and clothes. You kept your promise to free your people.

39 With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked round, flat bread. The dough hadn’t risen because they’d been thrown out of Egypt and had no time to prepare food for the trip.

40 The Israelites had been living in Egypt for 430 years. 41 After exactly 430 years all the LORD’s people left Egypt in organized family groups. 42 That night the LORD kept watch to take them out of Egypt. (All Israelites in future generations must keep watch on this night, since it is dedicated to the LORD.)

Rules for the Passover

43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the rules for the Passover:

“No foreigner may eat the Passover meal.

44 “Any male slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him.

45 “No foreigner visiting you may eat it.

“No hired worker may eat it.

46 “The meal must be eaten inside one house. Never take any of the meat outside the house.

“Never break any of the bones.

47 “The whole community of Israel must celebrate the Passover.

48 “Foreigners may want to celebrate the LORD’s Passover. First, every male in the household must be circumcised. Then they may celebrate the Passover like native-born Israelites. But no uncircumcised males may ever eat the Passover meal. 49 The same instructions apply to native-born Israelites as well as foreigners.”

50 All the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 That very day the LORD brought all the Israelites out of Egypt in organized family groups.

13

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Set apart every firstborn male for me. Every firstborn male offspring among the Israelites is mine, whether human or animal.”

3 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day—the day when you left Egypt, the land of slavery. The LORD used his mighty hand to bring you out of there. Don’t eat anything made with yeast. 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving Egypt. 5 The LORD swore to your ancestors that he would give you the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. When he brings you into that land flowing with milk and honey, you must observe this ceremony in this month.

13:1–5   Your mighty hand rescued your people from slavery and brought them to a land flowing with milk and honey. You had a home set aside for them—the land you swore to their ancestors.

6 “For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. The seventh day will be a pilgrimage festival in the LORD’s honor. 7 Only unleavened bread should be eaten during these seven days. No sourdough or yeast should be seen anywhere in your territory. 8 On that day tell your children, ‘We do this because of what the LORD did for us when we left Egypt.’ 9 This ⌞festival⌟ will be ⌞like⌟ a mark on your hand or a reminder on your forehead that the teachings of the LORD are ⌞always⌟ to be a part of your conversation. Because the LORD used his mighty hand to bring you out of Egypt, 10 you must follow these rules every year at this time.

13:6–10   You commanded your people to remember you helped them. I’ll make your teachings part of my conversation. Your mighty hand saves me too.

Rules Concerning the Firstborn Child

11 “When the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he swore to you and your ancestors, 12 sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to the LORD. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to the LORD. 13 It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from the LORD. If you don’t buy it back, then you must break the donkey’s neck. You must also buy every firstborn son back from the LORD.

14 “In the future when your children ask you what this means, tell them, ‘The LORD used his mighty hand to bring us out of slavery in Egypt. 15 When Pharaoh was too stubborn to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn male in Egypt—human and animal. This is why we sacrifice every firstborn male to the LORD and buy every firstborn son back from the LORD.’ 16 So this ⌞festival⌟ will be ⌞like⌟ a mark on your hand and ⌞like⌟ a band on your forehead, because the LORD used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt.”

13:11–16   You claimed every firstborn male as your own—a sign that you struck down the firstborn of Egypt and saved your people from slavery. Remind me to give you what is rightfully yours.

God Leads the People out of Egypt

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn’t lead them on the road through Philistine territory, although that was the shortest route. God said, “If they see that they have to fight a war, they may change their minds and go back to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around the other way, on the road through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were ready for battle when they left Egypt.

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear to do this. Joseph had said, “God will definitely come to help you. When he does, take my bones with you.”

20 They moved from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night he went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night. 22 The column of smoke was always in front of the people during the day. The column of fire was always there at night.

13:17–22   You led your people through the desert, going ahead of them in smoke and fire. So stay in front of me always. I don’t want to rush ahead of you.

Pharaoh Pursues Israel

14

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to go back and set up their camp facing Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Set up your camp facing north—by the sea. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are ⌞just⌟ wandering around. The desert is blocking their escape.’ 4 I will make Pharaoh so stubborn that he will pursue them. Then, because of what I do to Pharaoh and his entire army, I will receive honor, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So that is what the Israelites did.

5 When Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) was told that the people had fled, he and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, “What have we done? We’ve lost our slaves because we’ve let Israel go.” 6 So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. 7 He took 600 of his best chariots as well as all the other chariots in Egypt, placing an officer in each of them. 8 The LORD made Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) so stubborn that he pursued the Israelites, who were boldly leaving Egypt. 9 The Egyptians pursued the Israelites. Pharaoh’s army, including all his horse-drawn chariots and cavalry, caught up with them as they were setting up their camp by the sea at Pi Hahiroth facing north.

14:1–9   Pharaoh assumed your people were wandering aimlessly. They would be easy to chase down. But you led him into a trap.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw that the Egyptians were coming after them. Terrified, the Israelites cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Did you bring us out into the desert to die because there were no graves in Egypt? Look what you’ve done by bringing us out of Egypt! 12 Didn’t we tell you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone! Let us go on serving the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

14:10–12   The Israelites cried to you in terror. Did you bring them into the desert to die? They thought they were better off as slaves. Forgive me when I want to go back to bad places.

The LORD Divides the Red Sea

13 Moses answered the people, “Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see what the LORD will do to save you today. You will never see these Egyptians again. 14 The LORD is fighting for you! So be still!”

14:13–14   You told your people to stand still and see what you would do. So I’ll be still. You fight for me!

15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to start moving. 16 Raise your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide the water. Then the Israelites will go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I am making the Egyptians so stubborn that they will follow the Israelites. I will receive honor because of what I will do to Pharaoh, his entire army, his chariots, and cavalry. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I am honored for what I did to Pharaoh, his chariots, and his cavalry.”

19 The Messenger of God, who had been in front of the Israelites, moved behind them. So the column of smoke moved from in front of the Israelites and stood behind them 20 between the Egyptian camp and the Israelite camp. The ⌞column of⌟ smoke was there when darkness came, and it lit up the night. Neither side came near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. All that night the LORD pushed back the sea with a strong east wind and turned the sea into dry ground. The water divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the middle of the sea on dry ground. The water stood like a wall on their right and on their left.

14:15–22   You told your people to move. You made the sea stand like a wall and sent them through on dry ground. You showed everyone you are the Lord.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry followed them into the sea. 24 Just before dawn, the LORD looked down from the column of fire and smoke and threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they could hardly move. Then the Egyptians shouted, “Let’s get out of here! The LORD is fighting for Israel! He’s against us!”

26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water will flow back over the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry.”

27 Moses stretched his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the water returned to its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the LORD swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered Pharaoh’s entire army, as well as the chariots and the cavalry that had followed Israel into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29 Meanwhile, the Israelites had gone through the sea on dry ground while the water stood like a wall on their right and on their left. 30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore. 31 When the Israelites saw the great power the LORD had used against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.

14:23–31   Pharaoh’s army chased down your people. You made the wheels fall off their chariots. You buried them in water. Show me your great power so I live in awe of you.

The Song of Moses

15

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

“I will sing to the LORD.

He has won a glorious victory.

He has thrown horses and their riders into the sea.

2 The LORD is my strength and my song.

15:1–2   You’re my strength and my song. You’re my Savior and my God. I’ll praise you!

He is my Savior.

This is my God, and I will praise him,

my father’s God, and I will honor him.

3 The LORD is a warrior!

The LORD is his name.

4 He has thrown Pharaoh’s chariots and army into the sea.

Pharaoh’s best officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The deep water covered them.

They sank to the bottom like a rock.

6 Your right hand, O LORD, wins glory because it is strong.

Your right hand, O LORD, smashes your enemies.

7 With your unlimited majesty, you destroyed those who attacked you.

You sent out your burning anger.

It burned them up like straw.

8 With a blast from your nostrils, the water piled up.

The waves stood up like a dam.

The deep water thickened in the middle of the sea.

15:3–8   You threw Pharaoh’s army into the sea. Your unlimited majesty destroys all who attack you. Your anger burns up your enemies like straw. Your enemies can’t catch your people.

9 “The enemy said, ‘I’ll pursue them!

I’ll catch up with them!

I’ll divide the loot!

I’ll take all I want!

I’ll use my sword!

I’ll take all they have!’

10 Your breath blew the sea over them.

They sank like lead in the raging water.

15:9–13   No one is like you. Your holiness is glorious. Your splendor is awe-inspiring. You lead your people in love. You guide them to your holy home.

11 “Who is like you among the gods, O LORD?

Who is like you?

You are glorious because of your holiness

and awe-inspiring because of your splendor.

You perform miracles.

12 You stretched out your right hand.

The earth swallowed them.

13 “Lovingly, you will lead the people you have saved.

Powerfully, you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

14 People will hear of it and tremble.

The people of Philistia will be in anguish.

15 The tribal leaders of Edom will be terrified.

The powerful men of Moab will tremble.

The people of Canaan will be deathly afraid.

16 Terror and dread will fall on them.

Because of the power of your arm, they will be petrified

until your people pass by, O LORD,

until the people you purchased pass by.

17 You will bring them and plant them on your own mountain,

the place where you live, O LORD,

the holy place that you built with your own hands, O LORD.

18 The LORD will rule as king forever and ever.”

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry went into the sea, the LORD made the water of the sea flow back over them. However, the Israelites had gone through the sea on dry ground.

15:14–19   Others hear about you and tremble. They’re petrified by your power as you bring your people home. You’ll rule as king forever and ever.

The Song of Miriam

20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women, dancing with tambourines, followed her. 21 Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the LORD.

He has won a glorious victory.

He has thrown horses and their riders into the sea.”

15:20–21   You won a glorious victory. You threw horses and riders into the sea.

God Provides Water for the Israelites

22 Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea into the desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink the water because it tasted bitter. That’s why the place was called Marah [Bitter Place]. 24 The people complained about Moses by asking, “What are we supposed to drink?”

25 Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed[5] him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

15:22–25   You led your people deeper into the desert. They complained about the bitter water they found. Save my life and give me sweet water to drink.

There the LORD set down laws and rules for them to live by, and there he tested them. 26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what he considers right, if you pay attention to his commands and obey all his laws, I will never make you suffer any of the diseases I made the Egyptians suffer, because I am the LORD, who heals you.”

27 Next, they went to Elim, where there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees. They camped there by the water.

15:26–27   I’ll listen carefully to you and do what you say is right. You’re the God who heals me and leads me to refreshing springs.

The LORD Provides Manna and Quails for the Israelites to Eat

16

1 The whole community of Israelites moved from Elim and came to the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai. This was on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community complained about Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only the LORD had let us die in Egypt! There we sat by our pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted! You brought us out into this desert to let us all starve to death!”

16:1–3   The Israelites longed for their life in Egypt. They remembered being stuffed with good food. Would you ever lead me into the desert to starve?

4 The LORD said to Moses, “I’m going to send you food from heaven like rain. Each day the people should go out and gather only what they need for that day. In this way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. 5 But on the sixth day when they prepare what they bring home, it should be twice as much as they gather on other days.”

16:4–5   You promised food from heaven like rain. You provided only what they needed each day. You give me my daily bread.

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt. 7 In the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard you complaining about him. Why are you complaining about us?” 8 Moses also said, “The LORD will give you meat to eat in the evening and all the food you want in the morning. The LORD has heard you complaining about him. Who are we? You’re not complaining about us but about the LORD.”

16:6–8   The Israelite’s complaints were aimed at you, not Moses or Aaron. Do you get tired of my grumbling?

9 Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole community of Israelites, ‘Come into the LORD’s presence. He has heard you complaining.’”

10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole community of Israelites, they looked toward the desert. Suddenly, they saw the glory of the LORD in the ⌞column of⌟ smoke.

11 The LORD said to Moses, 12 “I’ve heard the Israelites complaining. Tell them, ‘At dusk you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat all the food you want. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”

16:9–12   You invited the Israelites into your presence, and they saw your glory in a cloud of smoke. You promised meat at dusk and all they could eat at dawn. When you provide I know you are God.

13 That evening quails came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, the ground was covered with a thin layer of flakes like frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked each other, “What is this?” because they didn’t know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It’s the food the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is what the LORD has commanded: Each of you should gather as much as you can eat. Take two quarts for each person in your tent.”

17 So that is what the Israelites did. Some gathered more, some less. 18 They measured it into two-quart containers. Those who had gathered more didn’t have too much. Those who had gathered less didn’t have too little. They gathered as much as they could eat.

19 Then Moses said to them, “No one may keep any of it until morning.”

20 But some of them didn’t listen to Moses. They kept part of it until morning, and it was full of worms and smelled bad. So Moses was angry with them.

21 Each morning they gathered as much food as they could eat. When the sun was hot, it melted away. 22 But on the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts per person. All the leaders of the community came to Moses and told him about it.

16:13–22   Quail and manna came as your gift from heaven. You always give me exactly enough.

23 He said to them, “This is what the LORD said: Tomorrow is a day of worship, a holy day of worship dedicated to the LORD. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Save all that’s left over, and keep it until tomorrow morning.”

24 So they saved it until the next morning as Moses had commanded, but it didn’t smell or have worms in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a day of worship dedicated to the LORD. You won’t find anything on the ground today. 26 You can gather food on six days, but on the seventh day, the day of worship, you won’t find any.”

27 On the seventh day some people went out to gather food, but they didn’t find any. 28 The LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to do what I have commanded and instructed you to do? 29 Remember: The LORD has given you this day of worship. That’s why he gives you enough food on the sixth day for two days. On the seventh day you may not leave. Everyone, stay where you are.” 30 So the people never worked on the seventh day of the week.

16:23–30   You gave extra food for a day of worship. You claimed the seventh day as your own.

31 The Israelites called the food manna. It was like coriander seeds. It was white and tasted like wafers made with honey.

32 Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: Take two quarts of manna to be kept for your descendants. This way they will see the food that I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.”

33 Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, put two quarts of manna in it, and put it in the LORD’s presence to be kept for your descendants.” 34 Aaron put the jar of manna in front of the words of God’s promise to be kept there, as the LORD commanded Moses.

35 The Israelites ate manna for 40 years until they came to a place to settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of Canaan.

36 (Now, the standard dry measure at that time held 20 quarts.)

16:31–36   You fed your people for forty years—every day until they came to the border of the land you promised. You never stop providing.

The LORD Provides Water for the Israelites from a Rock

17

1 The whole community of Israelites left the desert of Sin and traveled from place to place as the LORD commanded them. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they complained to Moses by saying, “Give us water to drink!”

Moses said to them, “Why are you complaining to me? Why are you testing the LORD?”

3 But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses and asked, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to make us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?”

17:1–3   The Israelites cried for water. They complained Moses brought them out of Egypt to make them die of thirst.

4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? They’re almost ready to stone me!”

5 The LORD answered Moses, “Bring some of the leaders of Israel with you, and go to where the people can see you. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile River. 6 I’ll be standing in front of you there by a rock at Mount Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.”

Moses did this while the leaders of Israel watched him.

7 He named that place Massah [Testing] and Meribah [Complaining] because the Israelites complained and because they tested the LORD, asking, “Is the LORD with us or not?”

17:4–7   The people were ready to stone Moses. You made water come out of a rock. I can be sure you’re always with me when I’m tested and want to complain.

God Defeats the Amalekites

8 The Amalekites fought Israel at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men. Then fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I will hold in my hand the staff God told me to take along.”

10 Joshua did as Moses told him and fought the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel would win, but as soon as he put his hands down, the Amalekites would start to win. 12 Eventually, Moses’ hands felt heavy. So Aaron and Hur took a rock, put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron held up one hand, and Hur held up the other. His hands remained steady until sunset. 13 So Joshua defeated the Amalekite army in battle.

14 The LORD said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”

15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD Is My Banner. 16 He said, “Because a hand was lifted against the LORD’s throne,[6] he will be at war against the Amalekites from one generation to the next.”

17:8–16   You gave the Israelites victory in battle as long as Moses raised his hands. As soon they dropped, the enemy started to win. Friends may lift my hands, but success comes from you.

Moses’ Father-in-law Visits Israel’s Camp

18

1 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people Israel and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 When Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had taken her in, 3 along with her two sons. The one son was named Gershom [Foreigner], because Moses said, “I was a foreigner living in another country.” 4 The name of the other was Eliezer [My God Is a Helper], because he said, “My father’s God was my helper. He saved me from Pharaoh’s death sentence.”

5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought Moses’ sons and wife to Moses in the desert where he was camped near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to Moses, “I’m coming to ⌞visit⌟ you, ⌞and I’m bringing⌟ your wife and her two sons.”

18:1–6   You free me from bondage. You’re my constant helper. You save me from death.

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed with his face touching the ground and kissed Jethro. After they asked each other how they were, they went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel, all the hardships they had had on the way, and how the LORD had saved them.

9 Jethro was delighted ⌞to hear⌟ about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Thank the LORD! He rescued you from the Egyptians and their Pharaoh and rescued these people from the control of the Egyptians, 11 who treated Israel with contempt. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods.”

12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the leaders of Israel came to eat the meal with Moses’ father-in-law in God’s presence.

18:7–12   Jethro gladly heard everything good you had done. You’re greater than all other gods. You save me from hardships I encounter on my way.

13 The next day Moses was settling disagreements among the people. The people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “Why are you doing this for the people? Why do you sit here alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

15 Moses answered his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to find out God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a disagreement and bring it to me, I decide which person is right, and I tell them God’s laws and instructions.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you’re doing is not good. 18 You and your people will wear yourselves out. This is too much work for you. You can’t do it alone! 19 Now listen to me, and I’ll give you some advice. May God be with you! You must be the people’s representative to God and bring their disagreements to him. 20 You must instruct them in the laws and the teachings, show them how to live, and tell them what to do.

18:13–20   Jethro saw Moses working too hard explaining your laws. He worried Moses would wear himself out. Remind me I can’t accomplish your work alone.

21 “But choose capable men from all the people, men who fear God, men you can trust, men who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. 22 Let them be the ones who usually settle disagreements among the people. They should bring all important cases to you, but they should settle all minor cases themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them help you. 23 If God commands you, and you do this, you will be able to continue your work, and all these people will have their disagreements settled so that they can go home.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 Moses chose capable men from all the Israelites and put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. 26 These men were the ones who usually settled disagreements among the people. They would bring difficult cases to Moses, but they settled all minor ones themselves.

27 Moses sent his father-in-law on his way. So Jethro went back to his own country.

18:21–27   Moses chose capable leaders who feared you and hated corruption. Give me good help so I can serve you better.

Israel at Mount Sinai

19

1 Two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they came to the desert of Sinai. 2 Israel had moved from Rephidim and had come into the desert of Sinai. They had set up camp there in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses went up the mountain to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites, 4 ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to my mountain. 5 If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise,[7] then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine. 6 You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words you must speak to the Israelites.”

19:1–6   Moses climbed Mount Sinai to meet you. You carried your people on eagles’ wings and brought them to your mountain. You called them to obey you and to be your special people.

7 So Moses went down and called for the leaders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that the LORD had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

9 The LORD said to Moses, “I am coming to you in a storm cloud so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always believe you.” Moses told the LORD what the people had said.

19:7–9   The people agreed to do everything you commanded. You came in a cloud so everyone could see you talk with Moses.

10 So the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people, and tell them they have two days to get ready. They must set themselves apart as holy. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the day after tomorrow. On that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Mark off a boundary around the mountain for the people, and tell them not to go up the mountain or even touch it. Those who touch the mountain must be put to death. 13 No one should touch them. They must be stoned or shot with arrows. No matter whether it’s an animal or a person, it must not live. The people may go up the mountain ⌞only⌟ when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast.”

14 After Moses went down the mountain to the people, he had them get ready, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then Moses said to the people, “Be ready two days from now. Don’t disqualify yourselves by having sexual intercourse.”

19:10–15   You gave your people two days to get ready to meet you. You warned them not to touch your mountain. I’ll diligently prepare myself to worship you.

16 On the morning of the second day, there was thunder and lightning with a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud blast from a ram’s horn ⌞was heard⌟. All the people in the camp shook with fear. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had come down on it in fire. Smoke rose from the mountain like the smoke from a kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking, and the voice of God answered him.

19:16–19   A thundering cloud hung over the mountain. You came down in fire and covered the mountain with smoke. Everything shook as you spoke with Moses.

20 The LORD came down on top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up. 21 The LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to force their way through ⌞the boundary⌟ to see the LORD, or many of them will die. 22 Even the priests who are allowed to come near the LORD must set themselves apart as holy, or the LORD will violently kill them.”

23 Moses said to the LORD, “The people can’t come up Mount Sinai, because you warned us yourself to mark off a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy.”

24 The LORD said to him, “Go down, and bring Aaron back with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through the boundary to come up to the LORD, or he will violently kill them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

19:20–25   You called Moses to the top of the mountain. You warned others not to come near. I respect your holy boundaries. I won’t cross them.

The Ten Commandments—Deuteronomy 5:6–21

20

1 Then God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

20:1–2   You are God. I’ll hear and obey your commands.

3 “Never have any other god. 4 Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water. 5 Never worship them or serve them, because I, the LORD your God, am a God who does not tolerate rivals. I punish children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. 6 But I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.

20:3–6   You don’t tolerate rivals. So I won’t serve other gods. I’ll worship only you. Show your mercy to me and my children.

7 “Never use the name of the LORD your God carelessly. The LORD will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.

8 “Remember the day of worship by observing it as a holy day. 9 You have six days to do all your work. 10 The seventh day is the day of worship dedicated to the LORD your God. You, your sons, your daughters, your male and female slaves, your cattle, and the foreigners living in your city must never do any work ⌞on that day⌟. 11 In six days the LORD made heaven, earth, and the sea, along with everything in them. He didn’t work on the seventh day. That’s why the LORD blessed the day he stopped his work and set this day apart as holy.

20:7–11   I won’t use your name carelessly. I’ll worship you on the day you claim as your own.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live for a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

13 “Never murder.

14 “Never commit adultery.

15 “Never steal.

16 “Never lie when you testify about your neighbor.

17 “Never desire to take your neighbor’s household away from him.

“Never desire to take your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to him.”

20:12–17   I’ll honor my father and mother. I won’t commit murder or break faith with my spouse. I won’t steal or lie. I’ll quiet my urge to take what my neighbor has.

The People’s Reaction

18 All the people heard the thunder and saw the lightning. They heard the blast of the ram’s horn and saw the mountain covered with smoke. So they shook with fear and stood at a distance. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we’ll listen. But don’t let God speak to us, or we’ll die!”

20 Moses answered the people, “Don’t be afraid! God has come only to test you, so that you will be in awe of him and won’t sin.”

21 The people kept their distance while Moses went closer to the dark cloud where God was.

20:18–21   When you thundered from the mountain, your people shook with fear. When you come to test me, I’ll live in awe of you and be careful not to sin.

General Rules for Worship

22 The LORD said to Moses, “This is what you must say to the Israelites: You’ve seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23 Never make any gods of silver or gold for yourselves. Never worship them.

24 “You must build an altar for me made out of dirt. Sacrifice your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings, your sheep, goats, and cattle on it. Wherever I choose to have my name remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you build an altar for me made out of stones, never make it with cut stone blocks. If you use a chisel on it, you will make it unacceptable to me. 26 Never use stairs to go up to my altar. Otherwise, people will be able to see under your clothes.”

20:22–26   You spoke from heaven to say that worship belongs to you alone. I’ll bring you the sacrifices you desire.

Laws Concerning the Treatment of Slaves

21

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Here are the legal decisions to be used by the Israelites:

2 “Whenever you buy a Hebrew slave, he will be your slave for six years. In the seventh year he may leave as a free man, without paying for his freedom. 3 If he comes to you by himself, he must leave by himself. If he comes as a married man, his wife may leave with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she gives birth to sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to the master, and the slave must leave by himself. 5 But if he makes this statement: ‘I hereby declare my love for my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to leave as a free man,’ 6 then his master must bring him to God. The master must bring him to the door or the doorframe and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his slave for life.

21:1–6   Everything I have comes from you. I swear my love for you and won’t ever leave you. Take me to your door and pierce my ear. I’ll be your servant for life.

7 “Whenever a man sells his daughter into slavery, she will not go free the way male slaves do. 8 If she doesn’t please the master who has chosen her as a wife,[8] he must let her be bought back by one of her close relatives. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has treated her unfairly. 9 But if he has chosen her for his son, he must treat her like a daughter. 10 If that son marries another woman, he must not deprive the first wife of food, clothes, or sex.

11 If he doesn’t give her these three things, she can go free, without paying any money for her freedom.

Laws Concerning Injury to People

12 “Whoever strikes someone and kills him must be put to death. 13 If it wasn’t done intentionally, but God let it happen, the killer should flee to a place I will set aside for you. 14 But whenever someone becomes so angry that he plans to kill his neighbor, you must take him away from my altar and put him to death.

15 “Whoever hits his father or mother must be put to death.

16 “Whoever kidnaps another person must be put to death, whether he has sold the kidnapped person or still has him.

17 “Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death.

18 “This is what you must do whenever men quarrel and one hits the other with a rock or with his fist and injures him so that he has to stay in bed. 19 If the injured man can get up again and walk around outside with a cane, the one who hit him must not be punished. He must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and for all his medical expenses.

20 “Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave with a stick so that the slave dies from the beating, the owner must be punished. 21 But if the slave gets up in a day or two, the owner must not be punished. The slave is his property.

22 “This is what you must do whenever men fight and injure a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely. If there are no other injuries, the offender must pay whatever fine the court allows the woman’s husband to demand. 23 If anyone is injured, the offender must pay a life for a life, 24 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, 25 a burn for a burn, a bruise for a bruise, a wound for a wound.

26 “Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave in the eye and the slave is blinded, he must let the slave go free to make up for the loss of the eye. 27 If the owner knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to make up for the loss of the tooth.

28 “Whenever a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must be stoned to death, and its meat may not be eaten. The bull’s owner is free from any liability. 29 But if the bull has had the habit of goring, and the owner has been warned but has not kept it confined, and it kills a man or a woman, then the bull must be stoned and its owner must be put to death, too. 30 However, if only a cash settlement is demanded from the owner, the bull’s owner may save his life by paying whatever price is demanded of him. 31 If the bull gores someone’s son or daughter, this same ruling applies. 32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, its owner must pay 12 ounces of silver to the slave’s master, and the bull must be stoned.

21:12–32   Train me in your way. Teach me to love justice and mercy.

Laws Concerning Property

33 “Whenever someone opens up a cistern or digs a new one and doesn’t cover it and a bull or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the cistern must make up for the loss. He must pay money to the animal’s owner, and then the dead animal will be his.

35 “Whenever one person’s bull kills another person’s bull, they must sell the live bull and divide the money between them. They must divide the dead bull, too. 36 However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, and its owner didn’t keep it confined, the owner must make up for the loss—bull for bull—and then the dead bull will be his.”

21:33–36   Show me my part of a problem. I’ll take responsibility for my actions and not shrug off the hurts I cause.

22  [9]

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Whenever someone steals a bull or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he must make up for the loss with five head of cattle to replace the bull or four sheep to replace the sheep.

2 “If anyone catches a thief breaking in and hits him so that he dies, he is not guilty of murder. 3 But if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of murder.

“A thief must make up for what he has stolen. If he is unable to do so, he must be sold ⌞as a slave⌟ to pay for what he stole. 4 But if the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether it’s a bull, donkey, or a sheep, he must make up for the loss with double the amount.

5 “Whenever someone lets his livestock graze in a field or a vineyard, and they stray and graze in another person’s field, he must make up for what the damaged field was expected to produce. But if he lets them ruin the whole field with their grazing,[10] he must make up from his own field for the loss with the best from his field and vineyard.

6 “Whenever a fire starts and spreads into the underbrush so that it burns up stacked or standing grain or ruins a field, the person who started the fire must make up for the loss.

22:1–6   I won’t steal what isn’t mine. I’ll work hard to fix my mistakes.

7 “This is what you must do whenever someone gives his neighbor silver or ⌞other⌟ valuables to keep for him, and they are stolen from that person’s house: If the thief is caught, he must make up for the loss with double the amount. 8 If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must be brought to God to find out whether or not he took his neighbor’s valuables. 9 If there is a dispute over the ownership of a bull, a donkey, a sheep, an article of clothing, or any ⌞other⌟ lost property which two people claim as their own, both people must bring their case to God. The one whom God declares guilty must make up for his neighbor’s loss with double the amount.

10 “This is what you must do whenever someone gives his neighbor a donkey, a bull, a sheep, or any other kind of animal to keep for him, and it dies, is injured, or is captured in war, and there are no witnesses. 11 The case between them must be settled by swearing an oath to the LORD that the neighbor did not take the other person’s animal. The owner must accept the oath. The neighbor doesn’t have to make up for the loss. 12 But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, he must make up for the owner’s loss. 13 If it was killed by a wild animal, he must bring in the dead body as evidence. He doesn’t have to make up for an animal that has been killed.

14 “Whenever someone borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, the borrower must make up for the loss. 15 If the owner is with the animal, the borrower doesn’t have to make up for the loss. If it is rented, the rental fee covers the loss.

22:7–15   I’ll search for truth and bring my case to you. I’ll act with fairness in every part of life.

Laws for Living as God’s Holy People

16 “Whenever a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sexual intercourse with her, he must pay the bride-price and marry her. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must pay an amount of money equal to the bride-price for virgins.

18 “Never let a witch live.

19 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.

20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god except the LORD must be condemned and destroyed.

22:16–20   I pledge my body to you and your commands. My heart belongs to you alone.

21 “Never mistreat or oppress foreigners, because you were foreigners living in Egypt.

22 “Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. 23 If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry. 24 I will become angry and have you killed in combat. Then your wives and children will become widows and orphans.

25 “If you lend money to my people—to any poor person among you—never act like a moneylender. Charge no interest. 26 If you take any of your neighbor’s clothes as collateral, give it back to him by sunset. 27 It may be the only clothes he has to cover his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will listen because I am compassionate.

22:21–27   Catch me when I take advantage of the needy. Shake me when I lack compassion. Help me hear the cries of the poor like you do.

28 “Never show disrespect for God or curse a leader of your people.

29 “Never withhold your best wine[11] from me.

“You must give me your firstborn son. 30 You must do the same with your cattle and your sheep. They will stay with their mothers seven days, but on the eighth day you must give them to me.

31 “You must be my holy people. Never eat the meat of an animal that has been killed by wild animals out in the countryside. Throw it to the dogs.”

23

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Never spread false rumors. Don’t join forces with wicked people by giving false testimony. 2 Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. When you testify in court, don’t side with the majority to pervert justice. 3 Never give special favors to poor people in court.

4 “Whenever you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering loose, be sure to take it back to him. 5 Whenever you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, don’t leave it there. Be sure to help him with his animal.

6 “Never deny justice to poor people in court. 7 Avoid telling lies. Don’t kill innocent or honest people, because I will never declare guilty people innocent. 8 Never take a bribe, because bribes blind those who can see and deny justice to those who are in the right.

9 “Never oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be foreigners because you were foreigners living in Egypt.

23:1–9   You hate falsehood and bribery and mob justice. I’ll live carefully because you hold the guilty accountable.

10 “For six years you may plant crops in your fields and harvest them, 11 but in the seventh year you must leave the land unplowed and unused. In that way the poor among your people will have food to eat, and wild animals may eat what the poor people leave. You must do the same with your vineyards and olive groves.

12 “For six days you will do your work, but on the seventh day you must not work. Then your ox and donkey can rest. The slaves born in your household and foreigners will also be refreshed.

13 “Be careful ⌞to do⌟ everything I told you.

23:10–13   I’m glad for the work you give me to do, and I’m grateful you command me to rest. I’ll look after the poor and not praise other gods.

“Never mention the names of other gods or let them be heard on your lips.

Laws for Three Festivals

14 “Three times a year you must celebrate a pilgrimage festival in my honor.

15 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread: For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, because that was when you left Egypt. No one may come into my presence without an offering.

16 “Celebrate the Festival of the Harvest with the first produce harvested from whatever you plant in your fields.

“Celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the year when you harvest your crops from the fields.

17 “These are the three times each year that all your men must come into the presence of the Master, the LORD.

23:14–17   I’ll celebrate that you rescued me from slavery. I’ll bring you the first of everything I put in the ground. I’ll bring you more when the harvest comes in.

18 “Never offer the blood of a sacrifice to me at the same time you offer anything containing yeast. The fat sacrificed at my festivals should never be left over in the morning.

19 “You must bring the best of the first produce harvested from your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

“Never cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Laws about God’s Messenger, Who Will Bring Israel to the Promised Land

20 “I’m going to send a Messenger in front of you to protect you on your trip and bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him, and listen to him. Don’t defy him, because he will not forgive your disobedience. He is acting on my authority. 22 But if you will listen to him and do everything I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an opponent to your opponents.

23:20–22   You expect me to obey the leaders you put in my life. I’ll listen to them and not defy your authority.

23 “My Messenger will go ahead of you and will bring you to ⌞the land of⌟ the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites. I will wipe them out. 24 Never worship or serve their gods or follow their practices. Instead, you must destroy their gods and crush their sacred stones. 25 You must serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your food and water. I will take away all sickness from among you. 26 No woman in your land will miscarry or be unable to have children. I will let you live a normal life span.

27 “I will send my terror ahead of you and throw any nation you meet into a panic. I will make all your enemies flee from you. 28 I will spread panic ahead of you to force the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites out of your way. 29 I will not force them out of your way in one year. Otherwise, the land would be deserted, and wild animals would take over. 30 Little by little I will force them out of your way until you have increased enough in number to take possession of the land.

31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Sinai Desert to the Euphrates River. I will put the people living in the land under your control, and you will force them out of your way. 32 Never make a treaty with them and their gods. 33 Never let them live in your land, or they will make you sin against me and trap you into serving their gods.”

23:23–33   You’ll meet my needs when I serve you. You’ll keep me well and let me live long. I trust you to make my enemies flee. I won’t ever let myself be trapped into worshiping other gods.

The Promise Sealed with Blood

24

1 The LORD said to Moses, “You and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s leaders come up the mountain to me and worship at a distance. 2 Moses may come near the LORD, but the others may not. The people must not come along with Moses.”

3 Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and legal decisions. Then all the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the LORD has told us to do.” 4 So Moses wrote down all the LORD’s words.

Early the next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain and ⌞set up⌟ 12 sacred stones for the 12 tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they sacrificed bulls as burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it into bowls, and he threw the other half against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the LORD’s Promise[12] and read it while the people listened. They said, “We will obey and do everything the LORD has said.”

8 Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, “Here is the blood which seals the promise that the LORD has made to you based on everything you have just heard.”

24:1–9   When you spoke to Israel’s leaders, they pledged to do everything you commanded. They offered sacrifices to seal their promise.

9 Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s leaders. 10 They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made out of sapphire as clear and blue as the sky itself. 11 God didn’t harm these leaders of the Israelites. So they saw God, and then they ate and drank.

24:10–11   Israel’s leaders all saw you. The pavement under your feet was as clear and blue as the sky.

Moses Goes up the Mountain to Receive God’s Words Written on Stone

12 The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teachings and the commandments I have written for the people’s instruction.”

13 Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the leaders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Take all your disagreements to them.”

15 So Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered it. 16 The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from inside the cloud. 17 To the Israelites, the glory of the LORD looked like a raging fire on top of the mountain. 18 Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.

24:12–18   Moses went up the mountain, where you gave him your teachings on stone tables. Let me see your glory like a raging fire.

Gifts for Use in the Tent of Meeting—Exodus 35:4–9

25

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to choose something to give me as a special contribution. You must accept whatever contribution each person freely gives. 3 This is the kind of contribution you will accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 violet, purple, and bright red yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, 5 rams’ skins dyed red, fine leather,[13] acacia wood, 6 olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense, 7 onyx stones, and other precious stones to be set in the ⌞chief priest’s⌟ ephod[14] and his breastplate.

8 “Then have them make a holy place for me, and I will live among them. 9 Make the tent and all its furnishings exactly like the plans I am showing you.

25:1–9   You invited the Israelites to bring special offerings—unique gifts freely given. They brought everything to create a holy place. Come and live among your people now.

The Ark—Exodus 37:1–9

10 “Make an ark of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 11 Cover it with pure gold inside and out, and put a gold molding around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it, and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 13 Make poles of acacia wood, and cover them with gold. 14 Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it. 15 The poles must stay in the rings of the ark. Never remove them. 16 Then you will put into the ark the words of my promise which I will give you.

17 “Make a throne of mercy to cover the ark out of pure gold 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 18 Make two angels[15] out of hammered gold for the two ends of the throne of mercy, 19 one on each end. Form the angels and the throne of mercy out of one piece of gold. 20 The angels should have their wings spread above the throne of mercy, overshadowing it. They should face each other, looking at the throne of mercy. 21 After you put into the ark the words of my promise which I will give you, place the throne of mercy on top. 22 I will be above the throne of mercy between the angels whenever I meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

25:10–22   You told your people to make a box covered with costly and beautiful gold inside and out. You promised to meet your people at the throne of mercy.

The Table—Exodus 37:10–16

23 “Make a table of acacia wood 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 24 Cover it with pure gold, and put a gold molding around it. 25 Make a rim three inches wide around it, and put a gold molding around the rim. 26 Make four gold rings for it, and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. 27 The rings are to be close to the rim. They are to hold the poles for carrying the table. 28 Make the poles out of acacia wood, cover them with gold, and use them to carry the table. 29 Make plates and dishes for the table out of pure gold, as well as pitchers and bowls to be used for pouring wine offerings. 30 Put the bread of the presence on this table so that it will be in front of me all the time.

25:23–30   You asked for a table set apart for your use, a place for the bread of the presence.

The Lamp Stand—Exodus 37:17–24

31 “Make a lamp stand out of pure gold. The lamp stand, its base, and its shaft, as well as the flower cups, buds, and petals must be hammered out of one piece of gold. 32 Six branches are to come out of the sides, three branches on one side and three on the other. 33 Each of the six branches coming out of the lamp stand is to have three flower cups shaped like almond blossoms, with buds and petals. 34 The lamp stand itself is to have four flower cups shaped like almond blossoms, with buds and petals. 35 There should be a bud under each of the three pairs of branches coming out of the lamp stand. 36 The buds and branches should also be hammered out of the same piece of pure gold as the lamp stand.

37 “Make seven lamps, and set them on the lamp stand so that they light up ⌞the area⌟ in front of it. 38 The tongs and incense burners must be made of pure gold. 39 Use 75 pounds of pure gold to make the lamp stand and all the utensils. 40 Be sure to make them according to the plans you were shown on the mountain.”

25:31–40   Your lamp stand was magnificent, artistically hammered from one piece of gold.

The Tent—Exodus 36:8–38

26

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Make the inner tent with ten sheets made from fine linen yarn. Take violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and creatively work an angel[16] design into the fabric. 2 Each sheet will be 42 feet long and 6 feet wide—all the same size. 3 Five of the sheets must be sewn together, and the other five must also be sewn together. 4 Make 50 violet loops along the edge of the end sheet in each set, 5 placing the loops opposite each other. 6 Make 50 gold fasteners. Use them to link the ⌞two sets of⌟ sheets together so that the tent is a single unit.

7 “Make 11 sheets of goats’ hair to form an outer tent over the inner tent. 8 Each of the 11 sheets will be 45 feet long and 6 feet wide. 9 Sew five of the sheets together into one set and the remaining six into another set. Fold the sixth sheet in half ⌞to hang⌟ in front of the tent. 10 Make 50 loops along the edge of the end sheet in each set. 11 Make 50 bronze fasteners, and put them through the loops to link the inner tent together as a single unit. 12 The remaining half-sheet should hang over the back of the inner tent. 13 There will be 18 inches left over on each side because of the length of the outer tent’s sheets. That part should hang over each side in order to cover the inner tent. 14 Make a cover of rams’ skins that have been dyed red for the outer tent. Over that put a cover made of fine leather.[17]

15 “Make a framework out of acacia wood for the inner tent. 16 Each frame is to be 15 feet long and 27 inches wide, 17 with two identical pegs. Make all the frames for the inner tent the same way. 18 Make 20 frames for the south side of the inner tent. 19 Then make 40 silver sockets at the bottom of the 20 frames, two sockets at the bottom of each frame for the two pegs. 20 For the north side of the inner tent ⌞make⌟ 20 frames 21 and 40 silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame. 22 Make six frames for the far end, the west side. 23 Make two frames for ⌞each of⌟ the corners at the far end of the inner tent. 24 These will be held together at the bottom and held tightly at the top by a single ring.[18] Both corner frames will be made this way. 25 There will be eight frames with 16 silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame.

26 “Make crossbars out of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the inner tent, 27 five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the far end of the inner tent, the west side. 28 The middle crossbar will run from one end to the other, halfway up the frames. 29 Cover the frames with gold, make gold rings to hold the crossbars, and cover the crossbars with gold.

30 “Set up the inner tent according to the plans you were shown on the mountain.

31 “Make a canopy of violet, purple, and bright red yarn. Creatively work an angel design into fine linen yarn. 32 Use gold hooks to hang it on four posts of acacia wood covered with gold, standing in four silver sockets. 33 Hang the canopy from the fasteners in the ceiling, and put the ark containing the words of my promise under it. The canopy will mark off the most holy place from the holy place. 34 Put the throne of mercy that is on the ark in the most holy place.

35 “Place the table outside the canopy on the north side of the inner tent, and put the lamp stand opposite the table on the south side.

36 “For the entrance of the outer tent, make a screen out of fine linen yarn, embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn. 37 Make five posts of acacia wood for the screen and cover them with gold. Make gold hooks for this screen. Cast five bronze bases for the posts.”

26:1–37   Your tent was sewn from fine linen, with creative designs worked in with yarn. Its sheets formed the place you would dwell with your people. A canopy marked off the most holy place. Help me create sacred spaces to worship you.

The Altar—Exodus 38:1–7

27

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Make an altar out of acacia wood. It should be 7½ feet square, and 4½ feet high. 2 Make a horn at each of its four corners. The four horns and the altar must be made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟ covered with bronze.

3 “Make all the utensils for it out of bronze: pots for taking away the altar’s ashes, also shovels, bowls, forks, and incense burners.

4 “Make a grate for it out of bronze mesh, and make a bronze ring for ⌞each of⌟ the four corners of the grate. 5 Put the grate under the ledge of the altar so that it comes halfway up the altar.

6 “Make poles out of acacia wood for the altar, and cover them with bronze. 7 The poles should be put through the rings on both sides of the altar to carry it.

8 “Make the altar out of boards so that it’s hollow inside. It must be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

The Courtyard—Exodus 38:9–20

9 “Make a courtyard for the tent. The south side of the courtyard should be 150 feet long and have curtains made out of fine linen yarn, 10  ⌞hung⌟ on 20 posts ⌞set in⌟ 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts should be made of silver. 11 The north side should be the same: 150 feet long, with curtains on 20 posts set in 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts should be made of silver.

12 “The courtyard on the west end should be 75 feet wide and have curtains ⌞hung⌟ on ten posts ⌞set in⌟ ten bases. 13 On the east end, facing the rising sun, the courtyard should also be 75 feet wide.

14–15 Each side ⌞of the entrance⌟ will be 22½ feet wide with curtains ⌞hung on⌟ three posts ⌞set in⌟ three bases.

16 “The entrance to the courtyard must have a 30-foot screen made from fine linen yarn, embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn, ⌞hung⌟ on four posts ⌞set in⌟ four bases. 17 All the posts around the courtyard should have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases. 18 The courtyard should be 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 7½ feet high, with ⌞curtains⌟ made of fine linen yarn and with bronze bases.

19 “All the things for the tent, no matter how they’re used, including all the pegs for the tent and the courtyard, must be made of bronze.

Lamps in the Tent—Leviticus 24:1–4

20 “For the lighting, you must command the Israelites to bring you pure, virgin olive oil so that the lamps won’t go out. 21 In the tent of meeting outside the canopy where the words of my promise are, Aaron and his descendants must keep the lamps lit in the LORD’s presence from evening until morning. This is a permanent law among the Israelites for generations to come.”

27:1–21   You called for an altar of acacia wood. You asked for a courtyard to shelter the tent’s holy places. You wanted lamps always lit in your presence. Tell me how you want to be worshiped now.

The Holy Clothes—Exodus 39:1

28

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Out of all the Israelites, bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar to you. They will serve me as priests. 2 Make holy clothes for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.

3 “Tell all those who have the skill—those to whom I have given this ability—to make Aaron’s clothes. These clothes will set him apart as holy when he serves me as priest. 4 These are the clothes they will make: a breastplate, an ephod and the robe that is worn with it, another specially woven linen robe, the chief priest’s turban, and a cloth belt. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they can serve me as priests. 5 They must use gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine linen.

The Ephod—Exodus 39:2–7

6 “Make the ephod out of fine linen yarn. Creatively work gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn into the fabric. 7 It will have two shoulder straps attached at the ⌞top⌟ corners so that it can be fastened. 8 Make the belt that is attached to the ephod out of the same fabric. 9 Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel 10 in birth order—six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. 11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the same way a jeweler engraves a signet ring. Mount them in gold settings, 12 and fasten them on the shoulder straps of the ephod as reminders of who the Israelites are. In this way Aaron will carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder in the LORD’s presence. 13 Make gold settings 14 and two chains of pure gold, twisted like ropes, and fasten these chains to the settings.

28:1–14   You called priests from among your people and clothed them with dignity and honor. You employed people skilled in their crafts. I give all of my abilities to your glory.

The Breastplate—Exodus 39:8–21

15 “Make the breastplate for decision-making as creatively as you make the ephod. Make it out of gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn and out of fine linen yarn. 16 Fold it in half so that it’s 9 inches square. 17 Fasten four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row put red quartz, topaz, and emerald. 18 In the second row put turquoise, sapphire, and crystal. 19 In the third row put jacinth, agate, and amethyst. 20 In the fourth row put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. Mount them in gold settings. 21 The stones correspond to the 12 sons of Israel, by name, each stone engraved (like a signet ring) with the name of one of the 12 tribes.

22 “For the breastplate make chains out of pure gold, twisted like ropes. 23 Make two gold rings for the breastplate. Attach them to the two ⌞top⌟ corners of the breastplate. 24 Then fasten the two gold ropes to the rings at the ⌞top⌟ corners of the breastplate. 25 Fasten the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod ⌞so that the breastplate hangs⌟ in front of it. 26 Make two gold rings, and fasten them to the other two corners of the breastplate on the inside edge next to the ephod. 27 Make two ⌞more⌟ gold rings, and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This will be close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod. 28 Then the breastplate should be fastened by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord. This will attach it just above the belt of the ephod and will hold the breastplate in place.

29 “Whenever Aaron goes into the holy place, he will be carrying the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a constant reminder in the LORD’s presence. He must do this by wearing the breastplate for decision-making. 30 Put the Urim and Thummim[19] into the breastplate for decision-making. They, too, will be over Aaron’s heart when he comes into the LORD’s presence. In this way whenever he’s in the LORD’s presence, Aaron will always be carrying over his heart the ⌞means for determining the LORD’s⌟ decisions for the Israelites.

28:15–30   Lead me in my decision-making. As I approach you, I’ll wear the names of my loved ones over my heart.

Other Clothes for Aaron and His Sons—Exodus 39:22–31

31 “Make the robe that is worn with the ephod entirely of violet material. 32 Make an opening for the head in the center with a reinforced edge (like a leather collar[20]) all around it to keep it from tearing. 33 All around the hem of the robe make pomegranates of violet, purple, and bright red yarn with gold bells in between—34 a gold bell alternating with a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe. 35 Aaron must wear it when he serves as priest. The sound of the bells must be heard when he comes into and goes out of the LORD’s presence in the holy place so that he won’t die.

36 “Make a flower-shaped medallion out of pure gold, and engrave on it (as on a signet ring): Holy to the LORD. 37 Fasten a violet cord to it, and tie it so that it’s on the front of the turban. 38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead. He’s the one to be blamed for anything done wrong when the Israelites bring their holy offerings—whatever their gifts may be. The medallion must always be on Aaron’s forehead so that the LORD will accept their offerings.

39 “Make the specially woven inner robe of fine linen. Make the turban of fine linen, but the belt should be embroidered with colored yarn.

40 “Also make linen robes, belts, and turbans for Aaron’s sons. These clothes will give them dignity and honor. 41 Put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint them, ordain them, and set them apart to serve me as priests.

42 “Make linen undergarments to cover them down to their thighs. 43 Aaron and his sons must wear them when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to serve as priests in the holy place. Then they will be blameless and won’t die.

“This is a permanent law for him and his descendants.”

28:31–43   Aaron’s clothes set him apart as holy in his service as priest. Your holy coverings let Aaron and his sons come near you without dying. Cover me with your holiness.

Make Aaron and His Sons Priests—Leviticus 8:1–36

29

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Now, this is what you must do in order to set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests:

“Take a young bull that has no defects and two rams that have no defects. 2 Use the finest wheat flour, but no yeast, and bake some loaves of bread, some rings of bread made with olive oil, and some wafers brushed with olive oil. 3 Put the bread in a basket, and bring the basket along with the young bull and the two rams.

4 “Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and wash them. 5 Take the clothes, and put them on Aaron—the linen robe, the ephod and the robe that is worn with it, and the breastplate. Use the belt to tie it on him tightly. 6 Put his turban on him, and fasten the holy crown to it. 7 Take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.

8 “Have his sons come forward. Dress them in their linen robes, 9 and put turbans on them. Tie belts around the waists of Aaron and his sons. They alone are to be priests; this is a permanent law. In this way you will ordain Aaron and his sons.

10 “Then bring the young bull to the front of the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head. 11 Slaughter the bull in the LORD’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 12 Take some of the bull’s blood, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger. Pour the rest of it out at the bottom of the altar.

13 “Then take all the fat that covers the internal organs, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. 14 But burn the bull’s meat, skin, and excrement outside the camp. It is an offering for sin.

15 “Take one of the rams. Then Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head. 16 Slaughter it, take the blood, and throw it against the altar on all sides. 17 Cut the ram into pieces, wash the internal organs and legs, and put them with the other pieces and the head. 18 Then burn the whole ram on the altar. It’s a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

19 “Take the other ram. Then Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head. 20 Slaughter it, take some of the blood, and put it on the right ear lobes of Aaron and his sons, on their right thumbs, and on the big toes of their right feet. Throw the ⌞rest of the⌟ blood against the altar on all sides. 21 Take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his clothes and on his sons and their clothes. In this way Aaron, his sons, and their clothes will be holy.

22 “From this ⌞same⌟ ram take the fat, the fat from the tail, the fat that covers the internal organs, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. (This is the ram for the ordination.) 23 From the basket of unleavened bread which is in the LORD’s presence, take a round loaf of bread, a ring of bread made with olive oil, and a wafer. 24 Put all of these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, who will offer them to the LORD. 25 Then take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar on top of the burnt offering. It’s a soothing aroma in the LORD’s presence, an offering by fire to the LORD.

26 “Take the breast from the ram used for Aaron’s ordination, and present it to the LORD. This will be your share. 27 Set apart as holy the breast that is offered to the LORD and the thigh that is the contribution. Both will come from the ram used for the ordination. They both belong to Aaron and his sons. 28 It is a permanent law that the Israelites give this portion to Aaron and his sons as a contribution. This will also be their contribution to the LORD from the fellowship offerings.

29 “Aaron’s holy clothes will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them. 30 The son who succeeds him as priest—the one who goes into the tent of meeting to serve in the holy place—will wear them for seven days.

31 “Take the ram used for the ordination, and boil its meat in a holy place. 32 At the entrance to the tent of meeting, Aaron and his sons will eat the meat of the ram and the bread ⌞left⌟ in the basket. 33 They will eat those offerings through which they made peace with the LORD at their ordination and installation. No one else may eat them because the offerings are holy. 34 If any meat or bread from the ordination is left over until morning, burn it up. It must not be eaten because it is holy.

35 “Do this with Aaron and his sons exactly as I have commanded you. Take seven days to ordain them. 36 Each day sacrifice a young bull as an offering to make peace with the LORD. Sacrifice this offering for sin on the altar in order to pay for its sins. Then anoint it ⌞with olive oil⌟ in order to dedicate it. 37 For seven days at the altar make peace with the LORD and set the altar apart for its holy purpose. Then the altar will be most holy. Anything that touches the altar will become holy.

29:1–37   You set apart Aaron and his sons to serve you as priests. You wanted flawless sacrifices of dedication and perfect offerings for sin. You used oil to anoint your priests for service and blood to make them holy. Make me fit to worship you.

38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly every day: two one-year-old lambs. 39 Offer one in the morning and the other at dusk. 40 With the first lamb make an offering of eight cups of flour mixed with one quart of virgin olive oil. Make a wine offering of one quart of wine. 41 Offer the other lamb at dusk, and with it make the same grain offering and wine offering as in the morning. This is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

29:38–41   You called for two young lambs to be offered on the altar each day. They were a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to you.

42 “For generations to come this will be the daily burnt offering ⌞made⌟ in the LORD’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. There I will meet with you to speak to you. 43 I will also meet with the Israelites there, and my glory will make this place holy. 44 I will dedicate the tent of meeting and the altar for their holy purposes. I will set Aaron and his sons apart for their holy duties of serving me as priests.

45 “Then I will live among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the LORD their God. I brought them out of Egypt so that I might live among them. I am the LORD their God.”

29:42–46   You promised to meet with your people and by your glory to make your tent holy. You swore you would live among your people and be their God.

The Altar for Incense—Exodus 37:25–29

30

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Build an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 Make it 18 inches square and 36 inches high. The horns and altar must be made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟. 3 Cover all of it with pure gold—the top, the sides, and the horns. Put a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings, and put them below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles for carrying it. 5 Make the poles out of acacia wood, and cover them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the canopy which ⌞hangs⌟ over the ark containing the words of my promise. I will meet with you there in front of the throne of mercy that is on the ark.

7 “Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on this altar every morning when he takes care of the lamps. 8 Also, when Aaron lights the lamps at dusk, he must burn incense. For generations to come an incense offering must burn constantly in the LORD’s presence.

9 “Never burn any unauthorized incense on this altar or any burnt offerings or grain offerings. Never pour a wine offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron must make peace with the LORD by putting blood on its horns. Once a year—for generations to come—blood from the offering must be placed on the altar to make peace with the LORD. It is most holy to the LORD.”

30:1–10   You commanded an altar to be built for burning incense. For generations to come sweet-smelling incense would rise to you. You forbade any incense not offered according to your command.

Counting the Israelites

11 Then the LORD said to Moses, 12 “When you take a census of the Israelites, each person must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will happen to them when they are counted. 13 As each person is counted, he must give one-fifth of an ounce of silver using the standard weight of the holy place.[21] This one-fifth of an ounce of silver is a contribution to the LORD. 14 Everyone counted who is at least 20 years old must give this contribution to the LORD. 15 The rich must not give more than one-fifth of an ounce of silver, and the poor must not give less. This contribution is given to make peace with the LORD and make your lives acceptable to the LORD. 16 Take the money the Israelites give to make peace with the LORD, and use it to pay the expenses of the tent of meeting. It will be a reminder for the Israelites in the LORD’s presence that the sins in their lives are removed.”

30:11–16   Each of your people paid a ransom for his or her life—silver measured precisely, no more and no less. It reminded your people their sins were removed. Thank you for making peace with me.

The Bronze Basin—Exodus 38:8

17 The LORD said to Moses, 18 “Make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and fill it with water. 19 Aaron and his sons will use it for washing their hands and feet. 20 Before they go into the tent of meeting, they must wash so that they will not die. Before they come near the altar to serve as priests and burn an offering by fire to the LORD, 21 they will wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This will be a permanent law for him and his descendants for generations to come.”

The Oil for Anointing

22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 “Take the finest spices: 12½ pounds of powdered[22] myrrh; half as much, that is, 6¼ pounds of fragrant cinnamon; 6¼ pounds of fragrant cane; 24 12½ pounds of cassia—all weighed using the standard weight of the holy place—and 4 quarts of olive oil. 25 Have a perfumer make these into a holy oil, a fragrant mixture, used only for anointing. This will be the holy oil used for anointing.

26 “Use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark containing the words of my promise, 27 the table and all the dishes, the lamp stand and all the utensils, the altar for incense, 28 the altar for burnt offerings and all its accessories, and the basin with its stand. 29 In this way you will dedicate them for their holy purpose. Then they will be most holy, and anything that touches them will become holy. 30 Anoint Aaron and his sons as well. In this way you will set them apart for their holy duties of serving me as priests.

31 “Say to the Israelites, ‘For generations to come, this will be my holy oil used only for anointing. 32 It must never be poured on the bodies of other people. Never make any perfumed oil using this formula. It is holy, and you must treat it as holy. 33 Whoever prepares a perfume like this or puts it on anyone who is not a priest must be excluded from the people.’”

The Incense for Use in the Tent

34 The LORD said to Moses, “Take one part fragrant spices (two kinds of gum resin and aromatic mollusk shells), and mix them with one part pure frankincense. 35 Have a perfumer make it into fragrant incense, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36 Grind some of it into a fine powder, and put it in front of ⌞the ark containing⌟ the words of my promise in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. You must treat it as most holy. 37 Never make any incense for yourselves using this formula. Treat it as holy to the LORD. 38 Whoever prepares anything like it for his own enjoyment must be excluded from his people.”

30:17–38   You required your priests to wash before they met you. You expected nothing less than the finest spices be used to make things holy. Worship was made for your honor, not casual enjoyment.

The Craftsmen for the Tent—Exodus 35:30–35

31

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “I have chosen Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, making him highly skilled, resourceful, and knowledgeable in all trades. 4 He’s a master artist familiar with gold, silver, and bronze. 5 He knows how to cut and set stones and how to work with wood. He’s an expert in all trades. 6 Also, I have appointed Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan, to help him. I have given every craftsman the skill necessary to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, the ark containing the words of my promise with the throne of mercy on it, and all the ⌞other⌟ furnishings for the tent, 8 the table and the dishes, the pure ⌞gold⌟ lamp stand and all its utensils, the altar for incense, 9 the altar for burnt offerings and all its accessories, the basin with its stand, 10 the special[23] clothes—the holy clothes for the priest Aaron and the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 the anointing oil, and the sweet-smelling incense for the holy place. They will make all these things as I commanded you.”

31:1–11   You chose craftsman to construct your tent. You gave each person skill to do everything you commanded. Give me the abilities I need to serve you well.

The Sign between the LORD and His People

12 The LORD said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘Be sure to observe my days of worship. This will be a sign between me and you for generations to come so that you will know that I am the LORD who makes you holy.

14 “‘Observe the day of worship because it is holy to you. Whoever treats it like any other day must be put to death. Whoever works on that day must be excluded from the people. 15 You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a day of worship, a day when you don’t work. It is holy to the LORD. Whoever works on that day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites must observe this day of worship, celebrating it for generations to come as a permanent reminder of my promise.[24] 17 It will be a permanent sign between me and the Israelites, because the LORD made heaven and earth in six days, and on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’”

18 The LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave him the two tablets with his words on them, stone tablets inscribed by God himself.

31:12–18   Making time to worship signals that someone esteems you as Lord. Treating worship like any other time makes it less than holy.

The Gold Calf

32

1 When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. They said to him, “We don’t know what has happened to this Moses, who led us out of Egypt. Make gods who will lead us.”

2 Aaron said to them, “Have your wives, sons, and daughters take off the gold earrings they are wearing, and bring them to me.”

3 So all the people took off their gold earrings and handed them to Aaron. 4 After he had worked on the gold with a tool,[25] he made it into a statue of a calf.

Then they said, “Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.”

5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival in the LORD’s honor.”

32:1–5   Everyone wondered what happened to Moses as he met with you on the mountain. They begged for gods to lead them. Aaron took their gold and made a calf to be their god.

6 Early the next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought fellowship offerings. Afterward, they sat down to a feast, which turned into an orgy.

7 The LORD said to Moses, “Go back down there. Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have ruined ⌞everything⌟. 8 They’ve already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They’ve made a statue of a calf for themselves. They’ve bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it. They’ve said, ‘Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.’”

9 The LORD added, “I’ve seen these people, and they are impossible to deal with. 10 Now leave me alone. I’m so angry with them I am going to destroy them. Then I’ll make you into a great nation.”

32:6–10   The people’s feast became an orgy, and you sent Moses back down the mountain. Your people were impossible. You threatened to destroy them all.

11 But Moses pleaded with the LORD his God. “LORD,” he said, “why are you so angry with your people whom you brought out of Egypt using your great power and mighty hand? 12 Don’t let the Egyptians say, ‘He was planning all along to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth. That’s why he brought them out ⌞of our land⌟.’ Don’t be so angry. Reconsider your decision to bring this disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You took an oath, swearing on yourself. You told them, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. I will give to your descendants all the land I spoke of. It will be their permanent possession.’”

32:11–13   Moses pleaded with you for mercy. He didn’t want anyone to think you meant to kill your people all along.

14 So the LORD reconsidered his threat to destroy his people.

15 Moses turned and went down the mountain carrying the two tablets with God’s words. They were written on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was God’s writing inscribed on the tablets.

17 Then Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting. He said to Moses, “It’s the sound of war in the camp!”

18 Moses replied,

“It’s not the sound of winners shouting.

It’s not the sound of losers crying.

It’s the sound of a wild celebration[26] that I hear.”

19 When he came near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. In a burst of anger Moses threw down the tablets and smashed them at the foot of the mountain. 20 Then he took the calf they had made, burned it, ground it into powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.

21 Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you encouraged them to commit such a serious sin?”

32:14–21   Moses saw the calf and smashed the tablets you gave him. How could Aaron have encouraged such a serious sin?

22 “Don’t be angry, sir,” Aaron answered. “You know that these people are evil. 23 They said to me, ‘We don’t know what’s happened to this Moses who brought us out of Egypt. Make gods for us. They will lead us.’ 24 So I told them to take off any gold they were wearing. They gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

32:22–24   Aaron claimed he tossed gold into a fire and out came a calf. But he let the people get out of control.

25 Aaron had let the people get out of control, and they became an object of ridicule to their enemies. When Moses saw this, 26 he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “If you’re on the LORD’s side, come over here to me!” Then all the Levites gathered around him.

27 He said to them, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Each of you put on your sword. Go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other, and kill your relatives, friends, and neighbors.”

28 The Levites did what Moses told them, and that day about 3,000 people died.

29 Moses said, “Today you are ordained as the LORD’s priests. God gave you a blessing today because each of you fought with your own sons and brothers.”[27]

32:25–29   Moses called your followers together. They struck down the disobedient. You made sin a matter of life and death. Never let me take sin lightly.

Moses Begs the LORD to Spare the People

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a serious sin. Now I will go up the mountain to the LORD. Maybe I will be able to make a payment for your sin and make peace with the LORD for your sin.”

31 So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “These people have committed such a serious sin! They made gods out of gold for themselves. 32 But will you forgive their sin? If not, please wipe me out of the book you have written.”

33 The LORD answered Moses, “I will wipe out of my book whoever sins against me. 34 Now, go! Lead the people to the place I told you about. My Messenger will go ahead of you. But when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

35 So the LORD killed people because they had Aaron make the calf.

32:30–35   Moses begged you to spare your people. He offered his life for theirs. You put people to death for their own sins.

The LORD Assures Moses That He Will Have Mercy on Israel

33

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send a Messenger ahead of you, and I will force out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go to that land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not be with you, because you are impossible to deal with, and I would destroy you on the way.”

4 When the people heard this bad news, they acted as if someone had died. No one wore any jewelry. 5 The LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are impossible to deal with. If I were with you, I might destroy you at any time. Now take off your jewelry, and I’ll decide what to do with you.’” 6 After they left Mount Horeb, the Israelites no longer wore their jewelry.

33:1–6   You vowed not to move with your people. They were impossible to deal with—as if they were daring you to destroy them. The people heard this bad news and mourned like someone had died.

7 Now, Moses used to take a tent and set it up far outside the camp. He called it the tent of meeting. Anyone who was seeking the LORD’s will used to go outside the camp to the tent of meeting. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand at the entrances to their tents and watch Moses until he went in. 9 As soon as Moses went into the tent, the column of smoke would come down and stay at the entrance to the tent while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the column of smoke standing at the entrance to the tent, they would all bow with their faces touching the ground at the entrance to their own tents. 11 The LORD would speak to Moses personally, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would come back to the camp, but his assistant, Joshua, son of Nun, stayed inside the tent.

33:7–11   Moses would meet you in a tent outside camp. You spoke to him like a man speaks to his friend. I long to talk with you like that.

12 Moses said to the LORD, “You’ve been telling me to lead these people, but you haven’t let me know whom you’re sending with me. You’ve also said, ‘I know you by name, and I’m pleased with you.’ 13 If you really are pleased with me, show me your ways so that I can know you and so that you will continue to be pleased with me. Remember: This nation is your people.”

14 The LORD answered, “My presence will go ⌞with you,⌟ and I will give you peace.”

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your presence is not going ⌞with us⌟, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone ever know you’re pleased with your people and me unless you go with us? Then we will be different from all other people on the face of the earth.”

17 The LORD answered Moses, “I will do what you have asked, because I am pleased with you, and I know you by name.”

33:12–17   Moses asked to know you and your ways so he could continue to please you. You promised him your presence and peace. My heart calms when I know you’re with me.

18 Then Moses said, “Please let me see your glory.”

19 The LORD said, “I will let all my goodness pass in front of you, and there I will call out my name ‘the LORD.’ I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to. 20 But you can’t see my face, because no one may see me and live.”

33:18–20   You let all your goodness pass in front of Moses. You even called out your holy name. You showed Moses kindness and mercy, but he couldn’t see your face.

21 Then the LORD said, “Look, there’s a place near me. Stand by this rocky cliff. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a crevice in the cliff and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you’ll see my back, but my face must not be seen.”

33:21–23   You gave Moses a place near you. You promised to shelter him in a rocky crevice while your glory passed by. Glory!

The LORD Meets with Moses on the Mountain

34

1 The LORD said to Moses, “Cut two ⌞more⌟ stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed. 2 Be ready in the morning. Then come up on Mount Sinai, and stand in my presence on the top of the mountain. 3 No one may come with you or even be seen anywhere on the mountain. Even the flocks and herds may not graze in front of this mountain.”

4 So Moses cut two ⌞more⌟ stone tablets like the first ones. Early the next morning he went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, carrying the two stone tablets.

5 The LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him and called out his name “the LORD.”

34:1–5   You wanted to carve your commands and give them again to Moses. So you invited him to stand in your presence. You came in a cloud and stood with him. You called out your name—the Lord!

6 Then he passed in front of Moses, calling out, “The LORD, the LORD, a compassionate and merciful God, patient, always faithful and ready to forgive. 7 He continues to show his love to thousands of generations, forgiving wrongdoing, disobedience, and sin. He never lets the guilty go unpunished, punishing children and grandchildren for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation.”

34:6–7   You are compassionate, merciful, patient, faithful, and ready to forgive. You love and forgive to thousands of generations. You never leave the guilty unpunished.

8 Immediately, Moses knelt, bowing with his face touching the ground. 9 Then he said, “Lord, please go with us! Even though we are impossible to deal with, forgive our sin and the wrong we have done, and accept us as your own people.”

34:8–11   Moses confessed your people’s sin and pleaded for forgiveness. You said you would do miracles never done anywhere else on earth.

The LORD Makes His Promise with Israel Again

10 The LORD said, “I’m making my promise[28] again. In front of all your people I will perform miracles that have never been done in any other nation in all the world. All the people around you will see how awesome these miracles are that I will perform for you. 11 Do everything that I command today. Then I will force the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites out of your way. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you’re going. This will prove to be a trap to you. 13 But tear down their altars, crush their sacred stones, and cut down their poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. 14 (Never worship any other god, because the LORD is a God who does not tolerate rivals. In fact, he is known for not tolerating rivals.) 15 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in that land. When they chase after their gods as though they were prostitutes and sacrifice to them, they may invite you to eat the meat from their sacrifices with them. 16 Then your sons will end up marrying their daughters. When their daughters chase after their gods as though they were prostitutes, they’ll lead your sons to do the same thing.

34:12–16   You forbid me to worship other gods. Jolt me when I let anything take your place. Help me train my children to follow you fully.

17 “Never make an idol.

18 “You must celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you must eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, because in that month you came out of Egypt.

19 “Every first male offspring is mine, even the firstborn males[29] of all your livestock, whether cattle, sheep, or goats. 20 It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy back the firstborn donkey. If you don’t buy it back, then you must break the donkey’s neck. You must buy back every firstborn of your sons.

“No one may come into my presence without an offering.

21 “You may work six days, but on the seventh day you must not work. Even during the time of plowing or harvesting you must not work ⌞on this day⌟.

22 “You must celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the first grain from your wheat harvest, and the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the season.

23 “Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the Master, the LORD God of Israel. 24 I will force nations out of your way and will expand ⌞your country’s⌟ borders. No one will want to take away your land while you’re gone three times a year to the LORD’s festivals.

25 “Never offer the blood of a sacrifice to me at the same time you offer anything containing yeast. No part of the sacrifice at the Passover Festival should be left over in the morning.

26 “You must bring the first and best of the produce harvested from your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

“Never cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

27 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, because on the basis of these words I’m making a promise to Israel and to you.”

28 Moses was there with the LORD 40 days and 40 nights without food or water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the promise, the ten commandments.

34:17–28   I’ll celebrate you and bring you what belongs to you. I’ll give you the first and best of all I produce. I’ll be still on the day you claim as your own. I’ll be careful to keep your commands.

Moses Returns to the People

29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai, carrying the two tablets with God’s words on them. His face was shining from speaking with the LORD, but he didn’t know it.

30 When Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses and saw his face shining, they were afraid to come near him. 31 Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him. Then Moses spoke to them. 32 After that, all the other Israelites came near him, and he commanded them to do everything the LORD told him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever Moses went into the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out. Whenever he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they would see that Moses’ face was shining. Then Moses would put the veil back on until he went in again to speak with the LORD.

34:29–35   Your glory made Moses shine. Everyone knew when he had talked with you. Make my face glow when I meet you.

Rules about the Day of Worship

35

1 Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the LORD has commanded you to do: 2 You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a holy day of worship, a day when you don’t work. It is dedicated to the LORD. Whoever does any work on this day should be put to death. 3 Never light a fire in any of your homes on this day of worship.”

35:1–3   I’ll worship you in the ways you command. Make each of my days a holy throne.

The People Contribute Their Wealth—Exodus 25:1–7

4 Then Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the LORD has commanded: 5 Choose something of your own to give as a special contribution to the LORD. Let everyone who is willing bring this kind of contribution to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze, 6 violet, purple, and bright red yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, 7 rams’ skins dyed red, fine leather,[30] acacia wood, 8 olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense, 9 onyx stones, and other precious stones to be set in the ⌞chief priest’s⌟ ephod[31] and breastplate.

35:4–9   I’ll bring you something of my own—my special contribution to you.

The Craftsmen for the Tent—Exodus 31:2–6

10 “Have all the skilled craftsmen among you come and make everything the LORD has commanded: 11 the inner tent, the outer tent, and cover, along with the fasteners, frames, crossbars, posts, and sockets, 12 the ark with its poles, the throne of mercy and the canopy over it, 13 the table with its poles, all the dishes, the bread of the presence, 14 the lamp stand used for the light with its utensils, its lamps and the olive oil for the lamps, 15 the altar for incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet-smelling incense, the screen for the entrance to the tent, 16 the altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its accessories, the basin with its stand, 17 the curtains for the courtyard, the posts, bases, and the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, 18 the pegs for the tent and the courtyard with their ropes, 19 the special clothes[32] worn for official duties in the holy place—both the holy clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests.”

20 Then the whole Israelite community left Moses. 21 Those who were willing and whose hearts moved them came and brought their contributions to the LORD. The gifts were used to construct the tent of meeting, to pay other expenses, and to make the holy clothes. 22 All who were willing—men and women alike—came and brought all kinds of gold jewelry: pins,[33] earrings, signet rings, and pendants. They took these gifts of gold and offered them to the LORD. 23 Those who had violet, purple, or bright red yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, or fine leather brought them. 24 Those who could give silver or bronze brought it as their contribution to the LORD. Those who had acacia wood that could be used in the construction brought it. 25 All the women who were skilled in spinning yarn brought violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine linen, which they had made by hand. 26 All the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goats’ hair. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other precious stones to be set in the ⌞chief priest’s⌟ ephod and breastplate. 28 They also brought the spices and the olive oil for the lamps, the anointing oil, and the sweet-smelling incense. 29 Every Israelite man and woman who was willing brought all these items to the LORD as a freewill offering. They brought these items to be used to make everything the LORD had commanded through Moses.

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “The LORD has chosen Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah. 31 The LORD has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, making him highly skilled, resourceful, and knowledgeable in all trades. 32 He’s a master artist familiar with gold, silver, and bronze. 33 He knows how to cut and set stones and how to work with wood. He’s an expert in all trades. 34 Also, the LORD has given Bezalel and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan the ability to teach others. 35 The LORD has made these men highly skilled in all trades. They can do the work of jewelers, carpenters, and designers. They know how to embroider violet, purple and bright red yarn on fine linen. They know how to weave yarn on a loom. They can do all kinds of trades. They are master artists.”

35:10–35   You give skill to do your work, so point me to the place you’ve equipped me to serve. My heart is willing to give!

36

1  ⌞Moses continued,⌟ “So Bezalel and Oholiab will do the work as the LORD has commanded. They will do this with the help of every other craftsman to whom the LORD has given the necessary skills and talents. They will know how to do all the work for constructing the holy place.”

2 Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every other craftsman to whom the LORD had given these skills and who was willing to come and do the work.

Excess Contributions

3 Moses turned over to them all the contributions the Israelites had brought for the work of constructing the holy place. But the people still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning. 4 Finally, all the skilled craftsmen who were working on the holy place stopped what they were doing. They all came to Moses. 5 They said, “The people are bringing much more than we need for doing the work the LORD commanded us to do.”

6 So Moses gave instructions to have the following message announced all over camp: “No man or woman needs to make anything more to give as their special contribution to the holy place.” Then the people stopped bringing gifts. 7 The material they had was more than enough to do the job.

36:3–6   Move me. I want my giving to flow from an eager heart. Don’t let me be slow to share—and miss unique moments to give.

The Tent—Exodus 26:1–37

8 All the skilled craftsmen among the workers made the inner tent with ten sheets made from fine linen yarn and violet, purple, and bright red yarn. An angel[34] design was creatively worked into the fabric. 9 Each sheet was 42 feet long and 6 feet wide—all the same size. 10 Five of the sheets were sewn together, and the other five were also sewn together. 11 Then they made 50 violet loops along the edge of the end sheet in each set, 12 placing the loops opposite each other. 13 They also made 50 gold fasteners. They used them to link the ⌞two sets of⌟ sheets together so that the inner tent was a single unit.

14 They made 11 sheets of goats’ hair to form an outer tent over the inner tent. 15 Each of the 11 sheets was 45 feet long and 6 feet wide. 16 Five of the sheets were sewn together into one set, and the remaining six into another set. 17 Then they made 50 loops along the edge of the end sheet in each set. 18 They also made 50 bronze fasteners to link the inner tent together as a single unit. 19 They made a cover out of rams’ skins that had been dyed red for the outer tent, and over that they put a cover made of fine leather.[35]

20 They made a framework out of acacia wood for the inner tent. 21 Each frame was 15 feet long and 27 inches wide, 22 with two identical pegs. They made all the frames for the inner tent this same way. 23 They made 20 frames for the south side of the inner tent. 24 Then they made 40 silver sockets at the bottom of the 20 frames, two sockets at the bottom of each frame for the two pegs. 25 For the north side of the inner tent ⌞they made⌟ 20 frames 26 and 40 silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame. 27 They made six frames for the far end, the west side. 28 They made two frames for ⌞each of⌟ the corners at the far end of the inner tent. 29 They were held together at the bottom and held tightly at the top by a single ring.[36] Both corner frames were made this way. 30 There were eight frames with 16 silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame.

31 They also made crossbars out of acacia wood. Five were for the frames on one side of the inner tent, 32 five were for those on the other side, and five were for the frames on the far side of the inner tent, the west side. 33 They made the middle crossbar so that it ran from one end to the other, halfway up the frames. 34 They covered the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also covered the crossbars with gold.

35 They made the canopy out of violet, purple, and bright red yarn and fine linen yarn. An angel design was creatively worked into the fabric. 36 They made four posts of acacia wood for it and covered them with gold. They made gold hooks for the posts, and they cast four silver bases for them.

37 They made a screen out of fine linen yarn for the entrance to the outer tent. It was embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn. 38 They also made five posts with hooks for ⌞hanging⌟ the screen. They covered the tops of the posts and the bands with gold, but the five bases for the posts were made of bronze.

36:7–38   You designed your holy tent as a showcase of craftsmanship. You made your dwelling place to reflect your beauty.

The Ark—Exodus 25:10–20

37

1 Bezalel made the ark out of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 2 He covered it with pure gold inside and out and put a gold molding around it. 3 He cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on each side. 4 Then he made poles out of acacia wood and covered them with gold. 5 He put them through the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.

6 He made the throne of mercy out of pure gold 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 7 Then he made two angels[37] out of hammered gold for the two ends of the throne of mercy, 8 one on each end. He formed the angels and the throne of mercy out of one piece ⌞of gold⌟. 9 The angels had their wings spread above the throne of mercy, overshadowing it. They faced each other, looking at the throne of mercy.

37:1–9   Bezalel followed your directions to build the ark. He kept your commands and made it an exquisite work of art.

The Table—Exodus 25:23–30

10 He made the table out of acacia wood 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 11 He covered it with pure gold and put a gold molding around it. 12 He made a rim 3 inches wide around it and put a gold molding around the rim. 13 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened the rings to the four corners, where the four legs were. 14 The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles for carrying the table. 15 These poles were made out of acacia wood and were covered with gold. 16 For the table he made plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers to be used for pouring wine offerings. All of them were made out of pure gold.

The Lamp Stand—Exodus 25:31–39

17 He made the lamp stand out of pure gold. The lamp stand, its base, and its shaft, as well as the flower cups, buds, and petals were hammered out of one piece ⌞of gold⌟. 18 Six branches came out of its sides, three branches on one side and three on the other. 19 Each of the six branches coming out of the lamp stand had three flower cups shaped like almond blossoms, with buds and petals. 20 The lamp stand itself had four flower cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals. 21 There was a bud under each of the three pairs of branches coming out of the lamp stand. 22 The buds and branches were hammered out of the same piece of pure gold as the lamp stand.

23 He made the seven lamps, the tongs, and the incense burners out of pure gold. 24 The lamp stand and all the utensils were made out of 75 pounds of pure gold.

The Altar for Incense—Exodus 30:1–5

25 He made an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense. It was 18 inches square and 36 inches high. The horns and altar were made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟. 26 He covered all of it with pure gold—the top, the sides, and the horns—and he put a gold molding around it. 27 He made two gold rings and put them below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles for carrying it. 28 He made the poles out of acacia wood and covered them with gold.

29 He also had a perfumer make the holy oil to be used for anointing and for the pure, sweet-smelling incense.

37:10–29   Your table came together just as you directed. Your lamp stand was hammered from pure gold. Your mixture of holy oil smelled sweet. I’ll do my best work for you. I’ll worship you according to your commands.

The Altar for Burnt Offerings—Exodus 27:1–8

38

1 He made the altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood 7½ feet square and 4½ feet high. 2 He made a horn at each of its four corners. He made the four horns and the altar out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟ covered with bronze.

3 He made all the utensils out of bronze: pots, shovels, bowls, forks, and incense burners.

4 He made a grate for the altar out of bronze mesh, ⌞and put it⌟ under the ledge, halfway up the altar. 5 He cast four rings to hold the poles (one for each of the four corners of the bronze grate). 6 He made the poles out of acacia wood and covered them with bronze. 7 He put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it. He made the altar out of boards so that it was hollow inside.

The Bronze Basin—Exodus 30:17–21

8 He made the basin and stand out of the bronze mirrors given by the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

The Courtyard—Exodus 27:9–19

9 He also made the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was 150 feet long and had curtains made out of fine linen yarn, 10  ⌞hung⌟ on 20 posts ⌞set in⌟ 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. 11 The north side was also 150 feet long with 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver.

12 The west side was 75 feet long and had curtains ⌞hung⌟ on 10 posts ⌞set in⌟ 10 bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. 13 The east side, facing the rising sun, was 75 feet ⌞wide⌟.

14–15 Each side of the entrance to the courtyard was 22½ feet wide with curtains ⌞hung⌟ on three posts ⌞set in⌟ three bases. 16 All the curtains around the courtyard were made out of fine linen yarn. 17 The bases for the posts were made of bronze. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. The tops of the posts were covered with silver. And the bands on all the posts of the courtyard were made of silver.

18 The screen for the entrance to the courtyard was made of violet, purple, and bright red yarn embroidered on ⌞fabric made from⌟ fine linen yarn. It was 30 feet long and 7½ feet high, just like the curtains of the courtyard. 19 It was hung on four posts ⌞set in⌟ four bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. The tops of the posts were covered with silver.

20 All the pegs for the tent and the surrounding courtyard were made of bronze.

38:1–20   Your altar and basin turned out exactly as you described. Curtains marked off holy ground.

The Amount of Gold, Silver, and Bronze Used

21 This is the amount of material that was used for the tent (the tent of the words of God’s promise). An inventory was ordered by Moses and carried out by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron.

22 Now Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah, made everything the LORD had commanded Moses. 23 He was a jeweler, carpenter, designer, and he knew how to embroider violet, purple, and bright red yarn on fine linen. His assistant was Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan.

24 The total amount of gold from the offerings presented to the LORD used in building the holy place weighed over 2,193 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place.

25 The silver collected when the census of the community was taken weighed 7,544 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. 26 This came to one-fifth of an ounce per person, for everyone counted who was at least 20 years old: 603,550 people. 27 He used 7,500 pounds of silver to cast the 100 bases for the holy place and the canopy. This was 75 pounds per base. 28 He used 44 pounds of silver to make the hooks and bands for the posts and the coverings for the tops of the posts.

29 The bronze from the offerings presented to the LORD weighed 5,310 pounds. 30 With this he made the bases for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the bronze altar with its bronze grate and all its accessories, 31 the bases all around the courtyard, the bases for the entrance to the courtyard, all the pegs for the tent, and all the pegs for the surrounding courtyard.

38:21–31   People shared their best, bringing precious gifts to build the tent of your promise. I won’t be stingy and hinder your work.

The Holy Clothes—Exodus 28:1–5

39

1 From the violet, purple, and bright red yarn they made special clothes worn for official duties in the holy place. They also made the holy clothes for Aaron. They followed the LORD’s instructions to Moses.

The Ephod—Exodus 28:6–14

2 They made the ephod out of fine linen yarn and gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn. 3 They hammered the gold into thin sheets and cut them up. They twisted the gold into threads, which they creatively worked into each strand of the violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and throughout the fine linen. 4 They made two shoulder straps attached at the ⌞top⌟ corners so that the ephod could be fastened. 5 They made the belt that is attached to the ephod out of the same fabric. They followed the LORD’s instructions to Moses. 6 They mounted the onyx stones in gold settings, and engraved on them the names of the sons of Israel. 7 Then they fastened them on the shoulder straps of the ephod as a reminder of who the Israelites are. They followed the LORD’s instructions to Moses.

The Breastplate—Exodus 28:15–28

8 They made the breastplate as creatively as they made the ephod. It was made out of gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and of fine linen yarn. 9 It was folded in half and was 9 inches square. 10 They fastened four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row they put red quartz, topaz, and emerald. 11 In the second row they put turquoise, sapphire, and crystal. 12 In the third row they put jacinth, agate, and amethyst. 13 In the fourth row they put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. The stones were mounted in gold settings. 14 They corresponded to the 12 sons of Israel, by name, each stone engraved (like a signet ring) with the name of one of the 12 tribes.

15 For the breastplate they made chains out of pure gold, twisted like ropes. 16 They made two gold settings and two gold rings and attached the two rings to the ⌞top⌟ two corners of the breastplate. 17 They fastened the two gold ropes to the rings at the ⌞top⌟ corners of the breastplate. 18 They fastened the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod ⌞so that the breastplate hung⌟ in front of it. 19 They made two gold rings and fastened them to the other two corners of the breastplate on the inside edge next to the ephod. 20 They made two ⌞more⌟ gold rings and fastened them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This was close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod. 21 Then they fastened the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord. So the breastplate was attached just above the belt of the ephod and was held in place. They followed the LORD’s instructions to Moses.

Other Clothes for Aaron and His Sons—Exodus 28:31–43

22 They made the robe that is worn with the ephod, woven entirely of violet yarn. 23 The opening in the center of the robe had a finished edge (like a leather collar[38]) all around it to keep it from tearing. 24 On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine yarn. 25 They made bells out of pure gold and fastened them in between the pomegranates all around the hem of the robe. 26 A gold bell alternated with a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe that is worn by Aaron when he serves as priest. They followed the LORD’s instructions to Moses.

27 They wove inner robes out of fine linen for Aaron and his sons. 28 They also made the chief priest’s turban and the other beautiful turbans out of fine linen. They made the undergarments and belt out of fine linen yarn. 29 The belt was embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn. They followed the LORD’s instructions to Moses.

30 They made the flower-shaped medallion (the holy crown) out of pure gold and engraved on it (as on a signet ring): Holy to the LORD. 31 They fastened a violet cord to it and tied it on top of the turban. They followed the LORD’s instructions to Moses.

39:1–31   Holy robes set apart Aaron for service. You wouldn’t let him come near to you wearing ordinary clothes. He couldn’t approach you without following your instructions. I’ll come near to you in the way you prescribe.

The Tent Is Brought to Moses

32 So all the work on the inner tent (the tent of meeting) was now done. The Israelites followed all the LORD’s instructions to Moses. 33 Then they brought everything to Moses—the inner tent, the outer tent and all its furnishings, the fasteners, frames, crossbars, posts, sockets, 34 the cover made of rams’ skins dyed red, the cover made of fine leather,[39] the canopy over ⌞the ark⌟, 35 the ark containing the words of God’s promise with its poles and the throne of mercy, 36 the table with all the dishes, the bread of the presence, 37 the pure ⌞gold⌟ lamp stand with its lamps in a row and all its utensils, the olive oil for the lamps, 38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, the sweet-smelling incense, the screen for the entrance to the tent, 39 the bronze altar with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its accessories, the basin with its stand, 40 the curtains for the courtyard, the posts, bases, and screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and pegs—all the equipment needed for the service of the inner tent (the tent of meeting)—41 the special clothes worn when serving as priests in the holy place—both the holy clothes for the priest Aaron and the clothes for his sons when serving as priests. 42 The Israelites had done all the work following the LORD’s instructions to Moses.

43 Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had followed the LORD’s instructions. So Moses blessed them.

39:32–43   The Israelites followed your instructions. They brought everything to Moses—every part of your holy tent and all its furnishings. I want nothing less than to keep your commands for worship.

Instructions for Setting Up the Tent

40

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Set up the tent (the tent of meeting) on the first day of the first month of the year. 3 Place the ark containing the words of my promise inside it, and hang the canopy over the ark. 4 Bring in the table, and arrange everything on it. Bring in the lamp stand, and set up the lamps. 5 Put the gold altar for incense in front of the ark. Put up the screen at the entrance to the tent.

6 “Put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the tent of meeting. 7 Put the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 8 Set up the surrounding courtyard, and put up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard. 9 Take the anointing oil, and anoint the tent and everything in it. In this way you will dedicate it and all its furnishings. Then it will be holy. 10 Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all the utensils. In this way you will dedicate the altar, and it will be most holy. 11 Anoint the basin and stand, and they will be dedicated.

12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and wash them. 13 Then dress Aaron in the holy clothes, and anoint him. In this way you will dedicate him to serve me as priest. 14 Have his sons come forward, and dress them in their linen robes. 15 Anoint them to serve me as priests, as you anointed their father. Their anointing will begin a permanent priesthood for them for generations to come.”

Moses Sets Up the Tent

16 Moses did everything as the LORD commanded him. 17 So the tent was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year ⌞after the Israelites had left Egypt⌟. 18 When Moses set up the tent, he put the sockets in place, put up the frames, inserted the crossbars, and set up the posts. 19 He spread the outer tent over the inner tent and put the cover on top. Moses followed the LORD’s instructions.

20 He took the words of God’s promise and put them in the ark. He put the poles on the ark and placed the throne of mercy on top of the ark. 21 Then he brought the ark into the tent and hung the canopy over it to mark off where the ark was. Moses followed the LORD’s instructions.

22 Moses put the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tent outside the canopy. 23 He arranged the bread on the table in the LORD’s presence, following the LORD’s instructions. 24 He placed the lamp stand in the tent of meeting opposite the table, on the south side of the tent. 25 He set up the lamps in the LORD’s presence, following the LORD’s instructions.

26 Moses put the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the canopy. 27 He burned sweet-smelling incense on it, following the LORD’s instructions. 28 Then he put up the screen at the entrance to the tent.

29 He put the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance to the tent (the tent of meeting). He sacrificed burnt offerings and grain offerings on it. Moses followed the LORD’s instructions.

30 He put the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing. 31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons used this water to wash their hands and feet. 32 They would wash whenever they went into the tent of meeting or whenever they approached the altar. Moses followed the LORD’s instructions.

33 He set up the courtyard around the tent and the altar and put up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard. Finally, Moses finished the work.

40:1–33   You told Moses to set up the tent of meeting and everything inside it. You made this place holy and anointed priests to serve you. Moses followed all of your instructions.

The LORD Comes to the Tent

34 Then the ⌞column of⌟ smoke covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tent. 35 Moses couldn’t go into the tent of meeting, because the smoke settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tent.

36 In all their travels, whenever the ⌞column of⌟ smoke moved from the tent, the Israelites would break camp. 37 But if the column didn’t move, they wouldn’t break camp. 38 So the LORD’s column stayed over the tent during the day, and there was fire in the smoke at night. In this way all the Israelites could see the column throughout their travels.

40:34–38   You came near in a column of smoke and your glory filled the tent. You stayed there day and night. You kept your promise to be present with your people.

LEVITICUS

INTRODUCTION

Leviticus taught God’s ancient people about God’s holiness. After the familiar stories of Genesis and the miraculous escape of Exodus, this book of rules can strike you as odd or outrageous. Yet it makes a crucial point no matter when or where you live.

Leviticus is named for the tribe of Levi, the clan that served first in the early tent of worship and later in the permanent temple. The laws of Leviticus detail priestly roles and God’s expectations for all Israel. Some commands give strict instructions for worship. Others cover obvious issues of right and wrong, such as forbidden sexual practices and rules about treatment of neighbors and workers. Other instructions about ritual purity likely ensured the health of a desert-dwelling people.

Neighboring nations had similar codes that set them apart from others. These rules dictated how local gods should be worshiped—through diet, religious ritual, prostitution said to bring fertility to the land, even child sacrifice. The distinct “holiness codes” of Leviticus made God’s people stand out from their neighbors and taught that the Lord expected obedience in every part of life. The sacrifices detailed in Leviticus also point out the high price of wrongdoing and look forward to Jesus’ death for sin.

Many of the Levitical laws were done away with by God’s fresh offer of life revealed at the arrival of Jesus. Yet praying this book still challenges you to hear and obey all of God’s commands for you today, even expectations that seem small or irrelevant.

LEVITICUS

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1

1 The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, 2 “Tell the Israelites: If any of you bring a sacrifice to the LORD, you must offer an animal from your cattle, sheep, or goats.

Burnt Offerings of Cattle

3 “If you bring a burnt offering from your cattle, you must offer a male that has no defects. Offer it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that the LORD will accept you. 4 Place your hand on the animal’s head. The burnt offering will be accepted to make peace with the LORD. 5 Then slaughter the bull in the LORD’s presence. Aaron’s sons, the priests, will offer the blood. They will throw it against all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 6 Skin the burnt offering, and cut it into pieces. 7 Then the sons of the priest Aaron will start a fire on the altar and lay the wood on the fire. 8 Aaron’s sons, the priests, will also lay the pieces, the head, and the fat on top of the wood burning on the altar. 9 Wash the internal organs and legs. Then the priest will burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD.

Burnt Offerings of Sheep or Goats

10 “If your offering is a sheep or goat, you must bring a male that has no defects. 11 Slaughter it in the LORD’s presence on the north side of the altar. Aaron’s sons, the priests, will throw the blood against the altar on all sides. 12 Then cut it into pieces. The priest will lay the head and the fat on the wood burning on the altar. 13 Wash the internal organs and legs. Then the priest will burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD.

Burnt Offerings of Birds

14 “If your offering to the LORD is a bird, you must sacrifice a mourning dove or pigeon. 15 The priest must bring it to the altar. He will break its neck and burn the bird on the altar. First, he will drain the blood against the side of the altar. 16 Remove the gizzard with its filth and throw it on the east side of the altar on the place for the ashes. 17 Then pull on the bird’s wings to tear the bird open, but don’t pull the wings off. Then the priest will lay the bird on the wood burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD.”

1:1–17   You commanded nothing less than perfect sacrifices—the most valuable animals—as burnt offerings to make peace with you. You smelled their soothing aroma. I gladly and freely offer you my best.

Uncooked Grain Offerings

2

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Now, if any of you bring a grain offering to the LORD, your offering must be flour. Pour olive oil on it, and put incense on it. 2 Then bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. Take from this a handful of flour with olive oil, and all the incense. The priest will burn it on the altar as a reminder. It is an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD. 3 The rest of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is very holy, set apart from the LORD’s offering by fire.

2:1–3   You welcomed offerings of the best grain and oil. A handful of grain was burned with costly incense. The rest fed the priests. It was all very holy, set apart by fire.

Cooked Grain Offerings

4 “If you bring a grain offering which has been baked in an oven, it must be rings of unleavened bread made of flour mixed with olive oil or wafers of unleavened bread brushed with olive oil. 5 If your grain offering is prepared in a frying pan, it, too, will be unleavened bread made of flour mixed with olive oil. 6 Break it into pieces and pour olive oil over it. It is a grain offering. 7 If your grain offering is prepared in a skillet, it will be made of flour with olive oil.

8 “Bring the LORD the grain offering prepared in any of these ways. Offer it to the priest who will bring it to the altar. 9 The priest will remove part of the grain offering and burn it as a reminder on the altar. It is an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD. 10 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons. It is very holy, set apart from the LORD’s offering by fire.

Other Ingredients

11 “Every grain offering that you bring to the LORD must be prepared without yeast. Never burn yeast or honey as an offering to the LORD. 12 You may bring them to the LORD as offerings of your first products. But they must never be placed on the altar to make a soothing aroma. 13 Also put salt on each of your grain offerings. The salt of God’s promise[1] must never be left out of your grain offerings. Put salt on all your offerings.

Offering the First Grain Harvested

14 “If you bring a grain offering to the LORD from the first grain you harvest, roast the cracked grain over fire. 15 Put olive oil on it, and place incense on it. It is a grain offering. 16 The priest will burn the flour, olive oil, and all the incense as a reminder. It is an offering by fire to the LORD.”

2:4–16   You invited cooked grain offerings—but with no impurity, no leaven. The salt of your promise could never be left out. Teach me to worship you in the ways you prescribe.

Fellowship Offerings of Cattle

3

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “If your sacrifice is a fellowship offering of cattle in the LORD’s presence, it must be a male or female animal that has no defects. 2 Place your hand on the animal’s head. Then slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will throw the blood against the altar on all sides. 3 From your offering remove the fat that covers the internal organs 4 and the two kidneys with the fat on them and offer them by fire to the LORD. Also cut off the lobe of the liver along with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons will lay them on top of the burnt offering on the burning wood. It is an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD.

Fellowship Offerings of Sheep

6 “If your sacrifice is a fellowship offering of sheep to the LORD, you must bring a male or female animal that has no defects. 7 If your offering is a lamb, you must bring it to the LORD. 8 Place your hand on the animal’s head. Slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons will throw the blood against the altar on all sides. 9 Then take the fat from the fellowship offering and offer it by fire to the LORD. Remove all the fat from the tail and the fat that covers the internal organs. 10 Also remove the two kidneys with the fat on them along with the lobe of the liver. 11 Then the priest will burn the fellowship offering on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to the LORD.

Fellowship Offerings of Goats

12 “If your offering is a goat, you must bring it to the LORD. 13 Place your hand on its head. Slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons will throw the blood against the altar on all sides. 14 Then bring the fat that covers the internal organs 15 and the two kidneys with the fat on them as an offering by fire to the LORD. Also remove the lobe of the liver along with the kidneys. 16 Then the priest will burn them on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to the LORD. It is a soothing aroma. All the fat belongs to the LORD. 17 This is a permanent law for generations to come wherever you live: Never eat any fat or blood.”

3:1–17   You commanded fellowship offerings of cattle, sheep, and goats—sacrifices in celebration of all your gifts. You banned eating the blood. I promise to make you the center of my life’s celebrations.

Offerings for Unintentional Wrongdoing

4

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites: If a person unintentionally does something wrong—even one thing that is forbidden by any of the LORD’s commands—this is what he must do.

Offerings for Wrongdoing by the Chief Priest

3 “If the anointed priest does something wrong and brings guilt on the people, he must bring a bull that has no defects as an offering for sin to the LORD. 4 He must bring the bull into the LORD’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He will place his hand on the bull’s head. He will then slaughter the bull in the LORD’s presence. 5 Then the anointed priest will take some of the bull’s blood and bring it into the tent of meeting. 6 The priest will dip his finger in it and sprinkle some of the blood seven times in the LORD’s presence facing the canopy in the holy place. 7 Then the priest will put some of the blood on the horns of the altar for sweet-smelling incense in the LORD’s presence in the tent of meeting. He will pour the rest of the bull’s blood at the bottom of the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He will remove all of the fat from the bull that is the offering for sin, the fat that covers the internal organs, 9 and the two kidneys with the fat on them. He will also remove the lobe of the liver and the kidneys 10 the same way they were removed from the bull used for the fellowship offering. The priest will lay them on the altar for burnt offerings. 11 Then he will take the entire bull (the skin, meat, head, legs, internal organs, and excrement) 12 to a clean[2] place outside the camp where the ashes are dumped. He will burn it there on a wood fire.

4:1–12   You made a way for unintentional wrongs to be made right. You know exactly the cleansing I need. My unintentional sins offend you. Tell me when I do wrong so I can take hold of your help.

Offerings for Wrongdoing by the Whole Congregation

13 “If the whole congregation of Israel unintentionally does something wrong, without the assembly being aware of it, if they do even one thing that is forbidden by any of the LORD’s commands, they will be guilty. 14 When the wrong they have done becomes known, the congregation must sacrifice a bull as an offering for sin. They must bring it in front of the tent of meeting. 15 The leaders of the congregation will place their hands on the bull’s head in the LORD’s presence. One of them will slaughter it in the LORD’s presence. 16 Then the anointed priest will bring some of the bull’s blood into the tent of meeting. 17 The priest will dip his finger in some of the blood and sprinkle it seven times in the LORD’s presence facing the canopy. 18 He will also put some blood on the horns of the altar in the LORD’s presence in the tent of meeting. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 He will remove all the fat and burn it on the altar. 20 He will do the same thing with this bull that he did with the bull used as the offering for sin. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for the people, and they will be forgiven. 21 Then he will take the bull outside the camp and will burn it the same way he burned the first bull. It is an offering for sin for the community.

4:13–21   I’ll acknowledge my guilt when I’m part of a group that sins. Urge me to honesty.

Offerings for Wrongdoing by a Leader

22 “When a leader unintentionally does something wrong—even one thing that is forbidden by any of the commands of the LORD his God—he will be guilty. 23 When he is told about what he has done wrong, he must bring a male goat that has no defects as his offering. 24 He will place his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it in the LORD’s presence where he slaughters animals for burnt offerings. It is an offering for sin. 25 Then the priest will take some of the blood of the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar for burnt offerings. 26 He will burn all the fat on the altar the same way the fat of the fellowship offering is burned. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for what the leader did wrong, and the leader will be forgiven.

29:42–46   Being a leader doesn’t put me above your law. Move me to confession.

Offerings for Wrongdoing by a Common Person—Goats

27 “If a common person unintentionally does something wrong—even one thing forbidden by the LORD’s commands—he will be guilty. 28 When he is told about what he has done wrong, he must bring a female goat that has no defects as his offering for what he has done wrong. 29 He will place his hand on the animal’s head and slaughter it where animals for burnt offerings are slaughtered. 30 The priest will take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar. 31 He will remove all the fat the same way it is removed from the fellowship offering. The priest will burn it on the altar for a soothing aroma to the LORD. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for that person, and that person will be forgiven.

Offerings for Wrongdoing by a Common Person—Lambs

32 “If someone brings a lamb as his offering for sin, he must bring a female that has no defects. 33 He will place his hand on the animal’s head and slaughter it where he slaughters animals for burnt offerings. 34 Then the priest will take some of the blood from the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar. 35 He will remove all the fat the same way the fat of the lamb is removed from the fellowship offerings. Then the priest will burn it on the altar with the offering by fire to the LORD. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for what that person did wrong, and that person will be forgiven.”

Sins Which Require an Offering for Sin

5

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Now, if you are a witness under oath and won’t tell what you saw or what you know, you are sinning and will be punished.

2 “If you touch anything unclean[3]—the unclean dead body of a wild or tame animal or the body of an unclean, swarming creature—and then ignore what you did, you are unclean and will be guilty.

3 “If you become unclean by touching human uncleanness of any kind and then ignore it (although you know what you did), you will be guilty.

4 “If you hastily take a vow about what you will or will not do (as some people do) and then ignore it (although you know what you said), you will be guilty.

5 “So if you are guilty of any of these sins, you must confess it. 6 Bring your guilt offering to the LORD for the sin you committed. It must be a female sheep or goat as an offering for sin. Then the priest will make peace with the LORD for what you did wrong.

If You Cannot Afford a Sheep

7 “Now, if you cannot afford a sheep, you must bring to the LORD two mourning doves or two pigeons as a guilt offering for the sin you committed. One will be an offering for sin, the other a burnt offering. 8 Bring them to the priest, and he will sacrifice the offering for sin first. He will break the bird’s neck without pulling its head off. 9 He will sprinkle some of the blood from the offering for sin on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood will be drained at the bottom of the altar. It is an offering for sin. 10 Then, following the proper procedures, he will sacrifice the second bird as a burnt offering. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for what you did wrong.

5:1–10   When you call out my sin, I’ll confess my wrongdoing so you can make me whole. I’ll bring the offering you prescribe to make peace with you. Only you can take away my guilt.

If You Cannot Afford Two Mourning Doves

11 “But if you cannot afford two mourning doves or two pigeons, then bring eight cups of flour as an offering for the sin you committed. Never put olive oil on it or add incense to it, because it is an offering for sin. 12 Bring it to the priest. The priest will take a handful of it. He will burn it as a reminder on top of the offering by fire to the LORD on the altar. It is an offering for sin. 13 So the priest will make peace with the LORD for what you did wrong, and you will be forgiven. The offering will belong to the priest like the grain offering.”

For Unintentional Wrongdoing against the LORD’s Property

14 The LORD spoke to Moses, 15 “If any of you fail to do your duty by unintentionally doing something wrong with any of the LORD’s holy things, bring a guilt offering to the LORD. It must be a ram that has no defects or its value in silver weighed according to the official standards of the holy place. 16 Pay for whatever holy things you used plus one-fifth more. Give it to the priest. So the priest will use the ram sacrificed for the guilt offering to make peace with the LORD for what you did wrong, and you will be forgiven.

For Unintentionally Disobeying the LORD’s Commands

17 “If any of you do wrong—even one thing forbidden by any of the LORD’s commands, but you didn’t know it—when you realize your guilt, you must be punished. 18 You must bring the priest a ram that has no defects from the flock or its value in money for a guilt offering. The priest will make peace with the LORD for the wrong you did unintentionally (although you didn’t know what you did), and you will be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering because you are certainly guilty as far as the LORD is concerned.”

5:11–17   You made a way for the poor to sacrifice to you. Accept my worship when I have nothing left to give.

For Sins against the LORD’s People

6  [4]

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “If any of you sin against the LORD by failing to do your duty, if you lie to your neighbor about something you were supposed to take care of or if you lie about something stolen or seized from your neighbor, you are sinning and will be guilty. 3 If you find something that someone lost and lie about it under oath, or commit any other sin like this, 4 you are sinning and will be guilty. Return what you stole or seized, what you were supposed to take care of, the lost item you found, 5 or whatever it was that you swore falsely about. Pay it back in full plus one-fifth more. Give it back to its owner on the day you bring your guilt offering. 6 Then bring the LORD your guilt offering, a ram that has no defects or its value in money. Bring it to the priest. 7 So the priest will make peace with the LORD. Then you will be forgiven for whatever you did that made you guilty.”

6:1–7   A sin against my neighbor is a sin against you. I’ll confess my wrong and repair the damage I caused.

Instructions for Taking Care of the Fire

8 The LORD spoke to Moses, 9 “Command Aaron and his sons: These are the instructions for the burnt offering that stays on the altar overnight while the altar fire is kept burning.

10 “The priest must put on his linen clothes, including his linen undergarments. Then he will remove the ashes left on the altar from the fire that consumed the burnt offering and will put them next to the altar. 11 Then he will take off these clothes and put on some others. He will take the ashes to a clean place outside the camp. 12 The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out. The priest will burn wood on it every morning. He will lay the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offering. 13 The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out.

6:8–13   The fire on your altar must always be burning. It can never go out. I won’t ever stop worshiping you.

The Grain Offering from the People

14 “These are the instructions for the grain offering. Aaron’s sons must bring it into the LORD’s presence in front of the altar. 15 One of them will remove a handful of flour from the grain offering, together with the olive oil and all the incense. He will burn it on the altar as a reminder. It is a soothing aroma to the LORD. 16 Aaron and his sons will eat the rest of it. They will eat unleavened bread in a holy place, in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. 17 Don’t use yeast in baking the bread. I have given it to them as their share from the offerings by fire made to me. It is very holy like the offering for sin and the guilt offering. 18 Every male descendant of Aaron may eat it. It is a permanent law for generations to come regarding the offering by fire to the LORD. Everyone who touches it will become holy.”

Special Grain Offerings from the Priests

19 The LORD spoke to Moses, 20 “This is the offering that Aaron and his sons must bring to the LORD on the day he is anointed—eight cups of flour. They must do this every day. He must offer half of it in the morning and half in the evening. 21 Prepare it in a frying pan with olive oil, mixing it well. Offer baked pieces of the grain offering as a soothing aroma to the LORD. 22 Aaron’s son who is anointed to take his place as priest will prepare it. This is a permanent law of the LORD: It must be completely burned. 23 Every grain offering made by a priest must be completely burned. It must not be eaten.”

6:14–23   Your priests offered sacrifices daily, a privilege of serving you. I won’t ever stop worshiping you.

Instructions for the Offering for Sin

24 The LORD spoke to Moses, 25 “Tell Aaron and his sons: These are the instructions for the offering for sin. The offering for sin must be slaughtered in the LORD’s presence in the same place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. It is very holy. 26 The priest who makes the offering for sin will eat it in a holy place, in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. 27 Anything that touches its meat will be holy. If blood gets on someone’s clothes, he must wash them in a holy place. 28 Any piece of pottery in which the offering for sin is cooked must be broken into pieces. Any copper kettle in which the offering for sin is cooked must be scoured and rinsed with water. 29 Any male among the priests may eat the offering for sin. It is very holy. 30 Any offering for sin must not be eaten if some of the blood was brought into the holy place in the tent of meeting to make peace with the LORD. It must be burned.”

6:24–30   Everything that touched a sacrifice became holy. When I meet you in worship, my whole life belongs to you.

Instructions for the Guilt Offering

7

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “These are the instructions for the guilt offering. It is very holy. 2 It must be slaughtered in the same place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. ⌞A priest⌟ will throw the blood against the altar on all sides. 3 He will offer all the fat, the fat from the tail, the fat covering the internal organs, 4 and the two kidneys with the fat on them. He will also remove the lobe of the liver along with the kidneys. 5 The priest will burn them on the altar. It is a guilt offering by fire to the LORD. 6 Any male among the priests may eat it. It will be eaten in a holy place. It is very holy.

7 “The same instructions apply to the offering for sin and the guilt offering. Both offerings belong to the priest to make peace with the LORD. 8 The skin of the burnt offering belongs to the priest who sacrifices it. 9 Every grain offering, whether baked in an oven or prepared in a skillet or a frying pan, belongs to the priest who offers it. 10 Every grain offering, whether mixed with olive oil or dry, will be shared equally by all of Aaron’s sons.

Instructions for the Fellowship Offering of Thanksgiving

11 “These are the instructions for the fellowship offering that you must bring to the LORD. 12 If you offer it as a thank offering, you must also bring rings of unleavened bread mixed with olive oil, wafers of unleavened bread brushed with olive oil, and loaves made from flour mixed well with olive oil. 13 In addition to these rings of bread, you must bring bread with yeast along with your fellowship offering of thanksgiving. 14 From every offering you must bring one loaf to the LORD as a ⌞special⌟ contribution. It will belong to the priest who throws the blood of the fellowship offering.

15 “The meat from your fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered. Never leave any of it until morning.

Instructions for Other Fellowship Offerings

16 “If your sacrificial offering is something you vowed or a freewill offering, it must be eaten the day you offer it or the next day. 17 However, on the third day any meat left over from the sacrifice must be burned. 18 You will not be accepted if any meat from the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day. You will not receive credit for it. It is repulsive to God. The person who eats any of it must be punished.

19 “Meat that touches anything unclean must not be eaten. It must be burned. Anyone who is clean may eat from these sacrifices. 20 Those who eat meat from the LORD’s fellowship offering while unclean must be excluded from the people. 21 Those who touch anything unclean, human or animal, or any other disgusting uncleanness and still eat the LORD’s fellowship offering must be excluded from the people.”

No Fat or Blood May Be Eaten

22 The LORD spoke to Moses, 23 “Tell the Israelites: Never eat any fat from bulls, sheep, or goats. 24 The fat from an animal that dies naturally or is killed by wild animals you may use for any other purpose, but you must never eat it. 25 Those who eat the fat from an animal which they sacrificed by fire to the LORD must be excluded from the people.

26 “Never eat the blood of any bird or animal no matter where you live. 27 Those who eat any blood must be excluded from the people.”

Dividing the Fellowship Offering between the People and the Priests

28 The LORD spoke to Moses, 29 “Tell the Israelites: Anyone who offers the LORD a fellowship offering must bring a part of that sacrifice as a gift to the LORD. 30 Bring the sacrifices by fire made to the LORD yourself. Bring the fat with the breast. Take the breast and present it to the LORD.

31 “The priest will burn the fat on the altar. However, the breast will belong to Aaron and his sons. 32 You will also give the priest the right thigh as a contribution. 33 When any of Aaron’s sons offer the blood and fat of the fellowship offering, the right thigh will belong to him as his share. 34 From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that was presented ⌞to me⌟ and the thigh from the contribution offering. I have given them to the priest Aaron and his sons. This is a permanent law for generations to come.

35 “This is the share for Aaron and his sons from the sacrifices by fire made to the LORD. It was given to them on the day Moses ordained them to serve the LORD as priests. 36 The LORD commanded the Israelites to give it to them on the day he anointed them. This is a permanent law for generations to come.”

Summary of Offerings

37 These are the instructions for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the offering for sin, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the fellowship offering. 38 On Mount Sinai the LORD gave Moses commands about these offerings at the same time that he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to him in the Sinai Desert.

7:1–38   You gave detailed instructions for offerings. They were permanent laws for generations to come. Help me discern right ways to worship you.

Aaron and His Sons Made Priests—Exodus 29:1–45

8

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons, the priests’ clothes, the anointing oil, the bull that will be the offering for sin, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread. 3 Gather the whole congregation at the entrance to the tent of meeting.”

4 Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and the congregation gathered at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 5 Moses told the congregation, “The LORD has commanded that this is what you must do.”

6 Moses had Aaron and his sons come forward, and he washed them. 7 He put the linen robe on Aaron and fastened the belt around him. He also dressed him in the robe that is worn with the ephod.[5] He fastened the ephod to it. 8 Then he put the breastplate on him, and into it he placed the Urim and Thummim.[6] 9 He put the turban on him and fastened the gold medallion (the holy crown) to the front of the turban as the LORD had commanded Moses.

10 Moses took the anointing oil to anoint the tent and everything in it and dedicate them. 11 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times and anointed the altar, all the utensils, and the basin with its stand to dedicate them.

12 He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to set him apart for his holy duties.

13 Moses had Aaron’s sons come forward. He put linen robes on them, fastened their belts around them, and put turbans on them as the LORD had commanded Moses.

8:1–13   Even after Aaron led your people to worship a gold calf, you made him high priest. You clothed him in holiness. Everyone saw you give him a second chance.

14 He brought the bull that was the offering for sin. Aaron and his sons placed their hands on its head. 15 When it was slaughtered, Moses took the blood and put it on the horns of the altar all around with his finger and cleansed the altar from sins. He poured the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar and declared it holy so that priests could use it to make peace with the LORD. 16 Moses took all the fat that was on the internal organs, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and he burned them on the altar. 17 He burned the rest of the bull, its skin, meat, and excrement outside the camp, as the LORD commanded him.

18 He brought forward the ram for the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons placed their hands on the ram’s head. 19 Moses slaughtered it and threw the blood against the altar on all sides. 20 When the ram was cut into pieces, Moses burned the head with the other pieces and the fat. 21 He washed the internal organs and the legs. Then Moses burned the whole ram on the altar as the LORD commanded him. It was a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

22 He brought forward the second ram for the ordination offering. Aaron and his sons placed their hands on the ram’s head. 23 Moses slaughtered it, took some of the blood, and put it on Aaron’s right ear lobe, on his right thumb, and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 Moses also brought Aaron’s sons forward. He put some of the blood on their right ear lobes, on their right thumbs, and on the big toes of their right feet. Moses threw the rest of the blood against all the sides of the altar. 25 He took the fat, the fat from the tail, all the fat on the internal organs, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys with their fat, and the right thigh. 26 He took a loaf of unleavened bread, a ring of bread made with olive oil, and a wafer from the basket of unleavened bread which was in the LORD’s presence. He put them on the fat and the right thigh. 27 Then he placed all these things in the hands of Aaron and his sons. Moses presented all these things to the LORD as an offering. 28 Then he took them from their hands and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar. These were ordination offerings, offerings by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD. 29 Moses also took the breast from the ram of the ordination offering and presented it to the LORD. It was Moses’ share, as the LORD had commanded.

30 Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar, sprinkled it on Aaron and his clothes and on his sons and their clothes. In this way he dedicated Aaron, his clothes, his sons, and their clothes.

31 Moses told Aaron and his sons: “Cook the meat at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Take the meat and the bread in the basket of the ordination offering. Eat them there as I commanded when I said, ‘Aaron and his sons will eat it.’ 32 You must burn any meat or bread that is left over. 33 You will not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting for seven days, not until the last day of your ordination is over. It will take seven days to ordain you. 34 I did today what the LORD commanded me to make peace with the LORD for you. 35 You will stay at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and serve as the LORD tells you. Then you will not die. This is what I was commanded.”

36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD commanded through Moses.

8:14–36   Aaron and his sons owned up to their sins as they laid hands on a bull and a ram. The blood made peace with you. A second ram showed the priests were set aside to serve you.

Aaron’s First Sacrifices

9

1 On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the leaders of Israel. 2 He told Aaron, “Take a calf that has no defects for yourself as an offering for sin and a ram that has no defects as a burnt offering. Sacrifice them in the LORD’s presence. 3 Also tell the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat as an offering for sin, a calf and a lamb (each one year old and without defects) as a burnt offering, 4 a bull and a ram as a fellowship offering, and a grain offering mixed with olive oil to sacrifice in the LORD’s presence. The LORD will appear to you today.’”

5 So they took the things Moses commanded and brought them in front of the tent of meeting. The whole congregation came and stood in the LORD’s presence.

6 Moses said, “The LORD has commanded you to offer these sacrifices so that you may see the LORD’s glory.”

9:1–6   Aaron offered sacrifices as you commanded. The whole congregation stood in your presence and saw your glory.

7 Moses told Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice an offering for sin and a burnt offering to make peace with the LORD for your sins and the sins of the people. Also make an offering for the people, to make peace with the LORD for them as the LORD commanded.”

8 Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as his own offering for sin. 9 Aaron’s sons brought him the blood. He dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar. Then he poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar. 10 On the altar he burned the fat, kidneys, and lobe of the liver from the offering for sin as the LORD had commanded Moses. 11 He burned the meat and the skin outside the camp.

12 He slaughtered the animal for the burnt offering. Aaron’s sons gave him the blood, and he threw it against the altar on all sides. 13 They also gave him the burnt offering, which was cut in pieces and included the head. He burned it on the altar. 14 He washed the internal organs and the legs and laid them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.

15 He brought the people’s offerings. He took the male goat for the people’s offering for sin and slaughtered it. He sacrificed it to take away sins as he had done before. 16 Following the proper procedures, he brought forward the burnt offering and sacrificed it. 17 He also brought the grain offering. He took a handful of grain and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning burnt offering. 18 He slaughtered the bull and the ram for the people’s fellowship offering. Aaron’s sons gave him the blood, which he threw against the altar on all sides. 19 However, the fat from the bull and the ram (the fat from the tail, the layer of fat, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver) 20 they placed on the breasts. Aaron burned them all on the altar. 21 However, he first took the breasts and the right thighs and presented them to the LORD as Moses commanded.

9:7–21   Moses invited Aaron to the altar. He told him to offer sacrifices to make peace with you for his own sins and the sins of the people.

22 Then Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. He sacrificed the offering for sin, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering. Then he came down ⌞from the altar⌟. 23 Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people. Then the LORD’s glory appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar. When all the people saw this, they shouted and bowed with their faces touching the ground.

9:22–24   Your glory appeared to all the people. Fire came from your presence and consumed the burnt offering. The people shouted and bowed to you. Show me your glory. Make me shout!

Improper Conduct for Priests

10

1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took an incense burner and put burning coals and incense in it. Then in the LORD’s presence they offered this unauthorized fire. 2 A fire flashed from the LORD and burned them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

3 Moses said to Aaron, “This is exactly what the LORD said:

‘I will show my holiness among those who come to me.

I will show my glory to all the people.’”

Aaron was speechless.

4 Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle, Uzziel. He told them, “Come and take your relatives away from in front of the holy place. Take them outside the camp.” 5 So they came and took them away to a place outside the camp, as Moses told them. The dead men were still in their linen robes.

6 Moses told Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar: “Do not mourn by leaving your hair uncombed or tearing your clothes. If you do, you will die and the LORD will become angry with the whole congregation. All the other Israelites may cry over the fire the LORD sent, but you may not. 7 You must not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or else you, too, will die, because the LORD has anointed you with his oil.” They obeyed Moses.

10:1–7   You showed your holiness when Nadab and Abihu offered fire without your permission. You made proper worship a matter of life and death.

Proper Conduct for Priests

8 The LORD spoke to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons must not drink any wine or liquor when you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a permanent law for generations to come. 10 Teach them the difference between what is holy and what is unholy, what is clean and what is unclean.[7] 11 Also teach the Israelites all the laws that I gave them through Moses.”

12 Moses told Aaron and his surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the offering by fire to the LORD. Make unleavened bread, and eat it next to the altar because it is very holy. 13 Eat it in a holy place because it is the part of the offering by fire to the LORD that belongs to you and your children. That is the command I received. 14 Also eat the breast presented ⌞to the LORD⌟ and the thigh that was given as a contribution. You and your sons and daughters may eat them in a clean place because they are your part of the fellowship offerings from the Israelites. 15 They will bring the thigh given as a contribution, the breast presented ⌞to the LORD⌟, and the fat that is to be burned and present them to the LORD. These parts will belong to you and your children. This will be a permanent law, as the LORD has commanded.”

10:8–15   You want me to know the difference between holy and unholy—between clean and unclean. Teach me discernment.

Eleazar and Ithamar Sacrifice the Offering for Sin

16 Moses tried to find out what had happened to the male goat that was supposed to be the offering for sin. To his surprise, it had already been burned. So he became angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s surviving sons. 17 He asked them, “Why didn’t you eat the offering for sin in the holy place? It is very holy and was given to you to take away the sins of the congregation and to make peace with the LORD for them. 18 Since its blood was not brought inside the holy place, you certainly should have eaten it there, as I commanded.”

19 Aaron answered Moses, “Today they sacrificed their offering for sin and their burnt offering in the LORD’s presence, and look what happened to me. If I had eaten the offering for sin today, would the LORD have approved?”

20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.

10:16–20   Aaron acted cautiously by not eating meat offered to you. He was trying hard to honor you rightly. Be gracious to me when I don’t have your ways figured out.

Laws about Animals the Israelites May and May Not Eat—Deuteronomy 14:3–20

11

1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Tell the Israelites: Here are the kinds of land animals you may eat: 3 all animals that have completely divided hoofs and that also chew their cud. 4 However, from those that either chew their cud or have divided hoofs, these are the kinds you must never eat: You must never eat camels. (Camels are unclean because they chew their cud but do not have divided hoofs.) 5 You must never eat rock badgers. (Rock badgers are unclean because they chew their cud but do not have divided hoofs.) 6 You must never eat rabbits. (Rabbits are unclean because they chew their cud but do not have divided hoofs.) 7 You must never eat pigs. (Because pigs have completely divided hoofs but do not chew their cud, they are also unclean.) 8 Never eat the meat of these animals or touch their dead bodies. They are unclean for you.

9 “Here are the kinds of creatures that live in the water which you may eat—anything in the seas and streams that has fins and scales. 10 However, you must consider all swarming creatures living in the seas or the streams that have no fins or scales disgusting. 11 They must remain disgusting to you. Never eat their meat. Consider their dead bodies disgusting. 12 Every creature in the water without fins or scales is disgusting to you.

13 “Here are the kinds of birds you must consider disgusting and must not eat. They are eagles, bearded vultures, black vultures, 14 kites, all types of buzzards, 15 all types of crows, 16 ostriches, nighthawks, seagulls, all types of falcons, 17 little owls, cormorants, great owls, 18 barn owls, pelicans, ospreys, 19 storks, all types of herons, hoopoes, and bats.

20 “Every swarming, winged insect that walks across the ground like a four-legged animal is disgusting to you. 21 However, you may eat winged insects that swarm if they use their legs to hop on the ground. 22 You may eat any kind of locust, cricket, katydid, or grasshopper. 23 Every kind of winged insect that walks across the ground like a four-legged animal is disgusting to you.

24 “Regarding the creatures mentioned above, this is how you would become unclean: Whoever touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening. 25 Whoever carries any part of their dead bodies must wash his clothes. He will be unclean until evening. 26 All animals whose hoofs are not completely divided or that don’t chew their cud are unclean for you. Whoever touches them is unclean. 27 All four-legged animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you. Whoever touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening. 28 Those who carry the dead body of any of these animals must wash their clothes and will be unclean until evening. These animals are unclean for you.

29 “The following swarming creatures that move on the ground are unclean for you—moles, mice, and all types of lizards: 30 geckos, monitors, lizards, skinks, and chameleons. 31 Among all the swarming creatures that move on the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening. 32 When the dead body of one of these creatures falls on something, that thing will be unclean. It may be a wooden article, clothing, leather, a sack, or anything used for any purpose. It should be put in water and will be unclean until evening. Then it will be clean ⌞again⌟.

33 “If any of these creatures falls into a piece of pottery, break the pottery because everything in it is unclean. 34 If water ⌞from that pottery⌟ touches any food, the food is unclean. Any liquid that you drink from that pottery is unclean. 35 Anything on which their dead bodies fall is unclean. If it is an oven or a stove, smash it. It is unclean and will remain unclean for you. 36 However, a spring or a cistern holding water will remain clean. But anyone who touches their dead bodies will be unclean. 37 If their dead bodies fall on seed that is to be planted, the seed is clean. 38 But if water is poured on the seed and their dead bodies fall on it, the seed is unclean for you.

39 “When any animal that you are allowed to eat dies, whoever touches its dead body will be unclean until evening. 40 Those who eat any of its dead body must wash their clothes and will be unclean until evening. Those who carry its dead body away will wash their clothes and will be unclean until evening.

41 “Any creature that swarms on the ground is disgusting and must not be eaten. 42 Don’t eat any creature with many legs that goes on its belly or on the ground like a four-legged animal, or any creature that swarms on the ground. Consider them disgusting. 43 Don’t become disgusting by eating anything that swarms on the ground. Never allow yourselves to become unclean because of them.

11:1–43   You divided animals as clean and unclean—some good for eating and some disgusting. Touching anything unholy made a person unholy. Teach me to distinguish between clean and unclean.

44 “Here is the reason: I am the LORD your God. You must live holy lives. Be holy because I am holy. Never become unclean by touching anything that swarms or crawls on the ground. 45 Here is the reason ⌞again⌟: I am the LORD. I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. Be holy because I am holy.

46 “These are the instructions about animals, birds, and every living creature that swims in the water and every creature that swarms on the ground. 47 These instructions help you distinguish between clean and unclean, the animals you may eat and those you may not eat.”

11:44–47   You give the reason for your commands: You are my Lord God. Because you are holy, I must be holy. You rescued me from bondage to be my God.

Instructions for Women after Childbirth

12

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites: When a woman gives birth to a boy, she will be unclean for seven days. This is the same number of days she is unclean for her monthly period. 3 The boy must be circumcised when he is eight days old. 4 Then she must stay at home for 33 days in order to be made clean from her bleeding. She must not touch anything holy or go into the holy place until the days needed to make her clean are over.

5 “When a woman gives birth to a girl, she will be unclean as in her monthly period. However, she will be unclean for two weeks. Then she must stay at home for 66 days in order to be made clean from her bleeding.

6 “When the days needed to make her clean are over, she must bring a one-year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a mourning dove as an offering for sin. She must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 7 The priest will offer them in the LORD’s presence to make peace with the LORD for her. Then she will be clean from her flow of blood.

“These are the instructions for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 If she cannot afford a lamb, she must use two mourning doves or two pigeons. One will be the burnt offering and the other the offering for sin. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for her, and she will be clean.”

12:1–8   You blessed childbirth from the start. But for a time the blood made a woman ritually unclean.

Skin Diseases

13

1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 2 “If anyone has a sore, a rash, or an irritated area on his skin that turns into an infectious skin disease, he must be taken to the priest Aaron or to one of his sons who are also priests. 3 The priest will examine the disease. If the hair in the diseased area has turned white, and the diseased area looks deeper than the rest of his skin, it is an infectious skin disease. When the priest has examined him, he must declare him unclean. 4 But if the irritated area is white and does not look deeper than the rest of the skin, and the hair has not turned white, the priest must put him in isolation for seven days. 5 On the seventh day the priest will examine him again. If the disease looks the same and has not spread, the priest must put him in isolation for another seven days. 6 On the seventh day the priest will examine him again. If the diseased area has faded and not spread, the priest must declare him clean. It is only a rash. The person must wash his clothes and will be clean. 7 But if the rash has spread after he has shown himself to the priest to be declared clean, he must show himself to the priest again. 8 The priest will examine him one more time, and if the rash has spread, the priest must declare him unclean. It is an infectious skin disease.

9 “If anyone has an infectious skin disease, he must be taken to the priest. 10 The priest will examine him. If there is a white sore that has turned the hair white, and if there is raw flesh in the sore, 11 he has a chronic skin disease. Without putting him in isolation, the priest must declare him unclean because he is unclean. 12 If skin disease develops and covers the whole person from head to foot (so far as the priest can see), 13 the priest will examine him. If the disease does cover his whole body, the priest must declare the diseased person clean. His body has turned white. The person is clean. 14 But if raw flesh appears, he will be unclean. 15 The priest will examine the raw flesh and declare him unclean. The raw flesh is unclean. It is an infectious skin disease. 16 But if the raw flesh turns white again, he must go to the priest. 17 The priest will examine him again, and if the diseased area has turned white, the priest must declare the diseased person clean. He is clean.

18 “If a boil on the skin has healed 19 and in its place there is a white sore or a pink area, it must be shown to the priest. 20 The priest will examine it. If it looks deeper than the rest of the skin and its hair has turned white, the priest must declare the person unclean. An infectious skin disease has developed in the boil. 21 But if the priest examines the affected area and the hair in it is not white or the affected area is not deeper than the rest of the skin but has faded, the priest must put him in isolation for seven days. 22 If the area has spread, the priest must declare him unclean. It is a skin disease. 23 But if the irritated area has not spread, it is a scar caused by the boil. The priest must declare him clean.

24 “If anyone has a burn on his skin and the raw flesh of the burn turns into a pink or bright white area, 25 the priest will examine it. If the hair on the affected area has turned white and the affected area looks deeper than the rest of the skin, an infectious skin disease has developed in the burn. The priest must declare him unclean. It is an infectious skin disease. 26 But if the priest examines it and the hair in it is not white and the affected area is not deeper than the rest of the skin but has faded, the priest must put him in isolation for seven days. 27 On the seventh day the priest will examine him again. If the area has spread, the priest must declare him unclean. It is an infectious skin disease. 28 If the irritated area does not spread but has faded, it is only a sore caused by the burn. The priest must declare him clean, because it is a scar caused by the burn.

29 “If a man or a woman has some disease on the head or chin, 30 the priest will examine the disease. If it looks deeper than the rest of the skin and there is thin yellow hair on it, the priest must declare the person unclean. It is a scab, a disease on the head or the chin. 31 But if the priest examines the scabby disease and it does not look deeper than the rest of the skin and there is no black hair in it, the priest must put the person with the scabby disease in isolation for seven days. 32 On the seventh day the priest will examine the disease. If the scab has not spread, there is no yellow hair on it, and the scab does not look deeper than the rest of the skin, 33 the person will shave everything except the scab. The priest will put the person with the scab in isolation for another seven days. 34 On the seventh day the priest will examine the scab again. If the scab has not spread on the skin and does not look deeper than the rest of the skin, the priest must declare him clean. When he has washed his clothes, he will be clean. 35 But if the scab spreads after the person has been declared clean, 36 the priest will make another examination. If the scab has spread on the skin, the priest does not have to look for yellow hair. The person is unclean. 37 But if he sees that the scab hasn’t spread and black hair grows on it, the scab is healed. The person is clean, so the priest must declare him clean.

38 “If a man or a woman has white irritated areas of skin, 39 the priest will make an examination. If the irritated areas on the skin are pale white, a rash has developed on the skin. The person is clean.

40 “If a man loses his hair, he is clean, even though he is bald. 41 If he loses the hair on the front of his head, he is clean, even though he is bald on the forehead. 42 But if there is a pink patch on the bald places in back or in front, a skin disease is developing in those places. 43 The priest will examine him. If the sore from the disease in the bald places in back or in front is pink like a skin disease somewhere else on the body, 44 the man has come down with an infectious skin disease. He is unclean. The priest must declare him unclean because of the skin disease on his head.

45 “People who come down with a skin disease must wear torn clothes and leave their hair uncombed. They must cover their upper lips and call out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ 46 As long as they have the skin disease, they are unclean. They must live outside the camp.

13:1–46   You said that skin disease made a person unclean. You aimed to teach your people the difference between holy and unholy. The people’s uncleanliness brought separation from you.

Mildew in Clothing or Leather Articles

47 “Now about clothing—if there is a green or red area on a piece of clothing 48 that is woven or knitted from linen or wool or on any leather article, 49 it is mildew. It must be shown to the priest. 50 The priest will examine the mildew and will put the clothing in a separate place for seven days. 51 On the seventh day he will examine the area again. If the spot is spreading, it is unclean. 52 He must burn the piece of clothing or the leather article because the mildew is growing. 53 But if the priest sees that the area has not spread, 54 he must order the area to be washed and put the clothing in a separate place for seven more days. 55 The priest will examine the area again after it is washed. If it doesn’t look any different and the mildew has not spread, it is still unclean. It must be burned, whether the area is on the outside or the inside. 56 If the priest sees that the area is pale after washing, he will tear it out of the clothing or the leather. 57 However, if it shows up again, you must burn the clothing or the leather article. 58 But if the area disappears from the woven or knitted clothing or any leather article when it is washed, wash it again, and it will be clean.

59 “These are the instructions for deciding whether mildew in clothing that is woven or knitted from linen or wool or in any leather article is clean or unclean.”

13:47–59   Mildew could make cloth and leather unclean. You wanted your people to understand the difference between holy and unholy.

Cleansing after Skin Diseases

14

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “These are the instructions for making a person clean after a skin disease. He must be taken to the priest. 3 The priest will go outside the camp and examine him. If the person is healed, 4 the priest will order someone to get two living, clean birds, some cedar wood, red yarn, and a hyssop sprig to use for the cleansing. 5 Then the priest will order someone to kill one bird over a clay bowl containing fresh water. 6 The priest will take the living bird, the cedar wood, the red yarn, and the hyssop sprig and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 He will sprinkle the blood seven times on the one to be cleansed and will declare that person clean. Then he will let the living bird fly away into the open country.

8 “The one to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash. Then he will be clean. After that he may go into the camp. However, for seven days he will live outside his tent. 9 On the seventh day he must shave off all the hair on his head, his beard, and his eyebrows, and he must wash his clothes and body. Then he will be clean.

10 “On the eighth day he must take two male lambs that have no defects and a one-year-old female lamb that has no defects. He must also take eight cups of flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering along with a quart of olive oil. 11 The priest who will declare him clean must bring the person and his offerings into the LORD’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 12 The priest will take one of the male lambs and the quart of olive oil and present them to the LORD as a guilt offering. 13 He will slaughter the lamb in the holy place where he slaughters the offering for sin and the burnt offering. He will do this because the guilt offering, like the offering for sin, belongs to the priest. It is very holy. 14 Then the priest will take some of the blood from the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. 15 The priest will also take some of the olive oil and pour it into his own left hand. 16 He will dip his right finger in the oil in his left hand, and with his finger sprinkle some of the oil seven times in the LORD’s presence. 17 The priest will put some of the oil that is still in his hand on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. These are the same places he had put the blood of the guilt offering. 18 The priest will put the rest of the oil in his hand on the head of the one to be cleansed. So he will make peace with the LORD for that person in the LORD’s presence. 19 The priest will also sacrifice the offering for sin to make peace with the LORD for the one who is being cleansed from his impurity. After that, he will slaughter the burnt offering. 20 The priest will sacrifice the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest will make peace with the LORD for that person, and the person who had the skin disease will be clean.

Cleansing for a Poor Person after a Skin Disease

21 “But if the one to be cleansed is poor and cannot afford that much, he must take one male lamb, present it to make peace with the LORD for himself, and use it for his guilt offering. He will take only eight cups of flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering, a quart of olive oil, 22 and two mourning doves or two pigeons (whatever he can afford). The one will be an offering for sin and the other a burnt offering. 23 On the eighth day he will take them to the priest for his cleansing at the entrance to the tent of meeting in the LORD’s presence. 24 The priest will take the lamb for the guilt offering and the quart of olive oil and present them to the LORD. 25 He will slaughter the lamb as a guilt offering. Then the priest will take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. 26 The priest will pour some of the olive oil into his own left hand. 27 With his right finger he will sprinkle some of the oil seven times in the LORD’s presence. 28 The priest will put some of the oil that is in his hand on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. These are the same places he had put the blood of the guilt offering. 29 In the LORD’s presence, the priest will pour the rest of the oil in his hand on the head of the one to be cleansed in order to make a payment for him. 30 Then the one to be cleansed must take one of the mourning doves or pigeons (whichever he can afford),[8] 31 and sacrifice it as an offering for sin. He will take the other and sacrifice it as a burnt offering together with the grain offering. So in the LORD’s presence the priest will make peace with the LORD for the one who is being cleansed. 32 These are the instructions for one who has an infectious skin disease but cannot afford what is needed for his cleansing.”

14:1–32   You gave instructions for making a person clean after a skin disease. You aimed to make unclean people whole.

Mildew in Houses

33 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 34 “When you come to Canaan that I am going to give to you, mildew may appear in a house. 35 The owner of that house must come and tell the priest that there is something that looks like mildew in his house.

36 “Before the priest examines the house, he will order everything taken out of it so that nothing in the house will become unclean. Then the priest will go inside to examine the house. 37 He will examine the mildew area on the walls. If it is green and red in sunken areas that are deeper than the rest of the wall, 38 the priest will go out to the door of the house and close up the house for seven days. 39 On the seventh day the priest will go back and examine it again. If the mildew in the walls of the house has spread, 40 the priest must order the stones that have the mildew to be torn out and thrown outside the city in an unclean place. 41 He must have the entire inside of the house scraped. The plaster dust scraped off the walls must be dumped in an unclean place outside the city. 42 The stones must be replaced, and the house must be plastered again. 43 If the mildew develops again in the house after all this, 44 the priest will examine it one more time. If it is a spreading type of mildew, the house is unclean. 45 The house—stones, wood, and all the plaster—must be torn down and taken to an unclean place outside the city. 46 Whoever goes into the house any time it is closed up will be unclean until evening. 47 Whoever sleeps or eats in the house must wash his clothes. 48 But if the priest comes and makes an examination and the mildew has not spread in the house after it is plastered again, the priest must declare the house clean. The mildew is gone.

49 “The priest must take two birds, cedar wood, red yarn, and a hyssop sprig and use them to make the house clean. 50 He must kill the one bird over a clay bowl containing fresh water. 51 He must take the cedar wood, the hyssop sprig, the red yarn, and the living bird and dip them in the fresh water containing the blood of the bird that was killed. He must sprinkle the house seven times. 52 So he must use the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the living bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the red yarn to make the house clean. 53 Then he will let the living bird fly from the city into the open country. He will make peace with the LORD for the house, and it will be clean.

54 “These are the instructions for any kind of mildew or fungus 55 that infects clothing or houses 56 and for skin diseases where there is a sore, a rash, or an irritated area. 57 These instructions for skin diseases and mildew help you distinguish between what is clean and what is unclean.”

14:33–57   You gave instructions for cleaning mildew. You aimed to make unclean things pure.

Bodily Discharges from Men

15

1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Tell the Israelites: If a man has a discharge from his penis, his discharge is unclean. 3 He is unclean because of the discharge from his penis. Whether it is chronic or not makes no difference; he is still unclean.

4 “The man who has a discharge makes everything he lies on or sits on unclean. 5 Those who touch his bed must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening. 6 Those who sit on anything he sat on must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening. 7 Those who touch a man who has a discharge must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening. 8 If a man who has a discharge spits on anyone who is clean, the person he spits on must wash his clothes and his body. He will be unclean until evening. 9 When a man who has a discharge sits on a saddle, it becomes unclean. 10 Those who carry such things must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening. 11 If a man who has a discharge touches anyone without first rinsing his hands, the person he touched must wash his clothes and his body. He will be unclean until evening. 12 When a man who has a discharge touches pottery, it must be broken, and any wooden bucket he touches must be rinsed.

13 “When a man’s discharge stops, he must wait seven days to be cleansed. He must wash his clothes and his body in fresh water. Then he will be clean. 14 On the eighth day he must take two mourning doves or two pigeons and come into the LORD’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He will give these birds to the priest. 15 The priest will sacrifice one as an offering for sin and the other as a burnt offering. So in the LORD’s presence, the priest will make peace with the LORD for the man who had a discharge.

16 “If a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body. He will be unclean until evening. 17 Any clothes or any leather with semen on it must be washed. It will be unclean until evening.

18 “When a man has sexual intercourse with a woman and has an emission of semen, they must wash themselves. They will be unclean until evening.

Bodily Discharges from Women

19 “When a woman has her monthly period, she will be unclean for seven days. Those who touch her will be unclean until evening. 20 Everything she lies on or sits on during her period will be unclean. 21 Those who touch her bed must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening. 22 Those who touch anything she sits on must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening. 23 If her blood touches anything on the bed or anything she sits on, it will be unclean until evening. 24 If a man has sexual intercourse with her while she has her period, he will be unclean for seven days. Any bed he lies on will become unclean.

25 “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days other than her monthly period, she is unclean. If her period lasts longer than usual, she will be unclean as long as she has a discharge. It is like her period. 26 As long as she has a discharge, any bed she lies on or anything she sits on is unclean. It is like her period. 27 Those who touch these things are unclean and must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening.

28 “When her discharge stops, she must wait seven days. After that, she will be clean. 29 On the eighth day she must take two mourning doves or two pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 30 The priest will offer one as an offering for sin and the other as a burnt offering. So in the LORD’s presence the priest will make peace with the LORD for the woman who had an unclean discharge.

31 “You must separate the Israelites from anything that keeps them from being presentable to me. Otherwise, they will die because they make my tent, which is among them, unclean.

15:1–32   You are Lord over my body. Every part of me belongs to you. I’ll use my body only for your honor.

32 “These are the instructions for any man who has a discharge or an emission of semen that makes him unclean, 33 for any woman who has her period, for any man or woman who has a discharge, or for any man who has sexual intercourse with a woman when she is unclean.”

15:33   You blessed human sexuality from the start. But for a time discharges made a man or a woman ritually unclean.

The Day for Making Peace with the LORD

16

1 The LORD spoke to Moses after Aaron’s two sons had come into the LORD’s presence and died. 2 The LORD said, “Tell your brother Aaron that he cannot go into the holy place whenever he wants to. If he goes up to the canopy and stands in front of the throne of mercy on the ark, he will die, because I appear in the smoke above the throne of mercy.

16:1–2   You set aside a day for your people to make peace with you—the one time the chief priest could approach you in the holy place.

3 “This is what Aaron must do in order to come into the holy place: He must take a bull as an offering for sin and a ram as a burnt offering. 4 He must put on a holy linen robe and wear linen undergarments. He must wear a linen belt and turban. These are holy clothes. He must wash his body and put them on. 5 He will take two male goats from the congregation of Israel as an offering for sin and a ram as a burnt offering.

6 “Aaron must sacrifice the bull as his own offering for sin. By doing this, he will make peace with the LORD for himself and his family. 7 He must take the two male goats and bring them into the LORD’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 Then Aaron must throw lots for the two goats. One lot will be for the LORD and the other for Azazel.[9] 9 Aaron must sacrifice the goat chosen by lot for the LORD as an offering for sin. 10 But he must bring the goat chosen by lot for Azazel into the LORD’s presence. He will release it in the desert to Azazel in order to make peace with the LORD for himself and his family.

16:3–10   You told Aaron to wash his body and put on holy clothes. He brought a bull and two goats to you.

11 “Aaron will bring the bull. He will then slaughter it as his own offering for sin. By doing this he will make peace with the LORD for himself and his family. 12 He will take an incense burner full of burning coals from the altar, which is in the LORD’s presence, and two handfuls of finely ground, sweet-smelling incense. He will bring them up to the canopy. 13 Then he will put the incense on the fire in the LORD’s presence. The cloud of incense will cover the throne of mercy, which is over the words of God’s promise, so that he will not die. 14 He will take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the throne of mercy. Then he will sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times in front of the throne of mercy.

16:11–14   Aaron sacrificed a bull as his own offering for sin. A cloud of incense covered the throne of mercy over the words of your promise. You would spare his life.

15 “Next, Aaron will slaughter the goat for the people’s offering for sin. He will take the blood inside, go up to the canopy, and sprinkle it on the throne of mercy and in front of it, as he did with the bull’s blood. 16 So he will make peace with the LORD for all the sins the Israelites committed against the holy place. These sins happened because the Israelites were unclean and because they committed rebellious acts. He will do the same for the tent of meeting which is among an unclean people. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron enters the holy place to do this until he comes out. Aaron will make peace with the LORD for his own sins, his family’s sins, and the sins of the entire assembly of Israel. 18 Then he will go out to the altar that is in the LORD’s presence and make peace with the LORD there for the sins committed. He will take some of the blood from the bull and some of the goat’s blood and put it all around the horns of the altar. 19 With his finger he will sprinkle some of the blood on it seven times. Because the Israelites made it unclean, he will cleanse it and declare it holy.

16:15–19   Aaron sacrificed a goat to make peace for the people’s sins. He sprinkled blood on the throne of mercy and on the altar. Blood does away with my sin!

20 “When he finishes making peace with the LORD at the holy place, the tent of meeting, and the altar, he will bring the living goat forward. 21 Aaron will place both hands on its head. He will confess over it all the sins, all the rebellious acts, and all the things the Israelites did wrong. He will transfer them to the goat’s head. A man will be appointed to release the goat in the desert. 22 The goat will take all their sins away to a deserted place. The man must release the goat in the desert.

23 “Then Aaron will go to the tent of meeting, take off the linen clothes he had put on to go into the holy place, and leave them there. 24 He will wash his body in the holy place and put on his other clothes. Then he will come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and for the people to make peace with the LORD for his own sins and the sins of the people. 25 He will burn the fat of the offering for sin on the altar.

26 “The man who released the goat to Azazel must wash his clothes and his body. Then he may return to the camp. 27 He must take the bull and the goat outside the camp. These animals were the offering for sin whose blood was brought into the holy place to make peace with the LORD for sins. The skin, meat, and excrement from the animals must be burned. 28 Whoever burns them must wash his clothes and his body. Then he may return to the camp.

16:20–28   Aaron took a live goat and put his hands on its head, confessing the people’s sins and transferring them to the goat. The goat was released into the desert and took sins away. You scatter my sins far away!

29 “This will be a permanent law for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month both native Israelites and foreigners must humble themselves. They must do no work. 30 On this day Aaron will make peace with the LORD to make you clean. Then you will be clean from all your sins in the LORD’s presence. 31 This is the most important worship festival there is for you. You will humble yourselves. It is a permanent law. 32 The priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as chief priest in his father’s place will pay for sins. He will put on the holy linen clothes 33 and will make peace with the LORD at the holy place, the tent of meeting, and the altar. He will make peace with the LORD for the priests and all the worshipers.

34 “This permanent law tells you how to make peace with the LORD once a year for all the sins the Israelites committed.”

16:29–34   You declared this day the most important festival of all. Once a year it made peace with you for all the sins the Israelites committed. I’ll humble myself and count on your sacrifice for my sin.

Aaron did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Eating Sacrifices

17

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites that this is what the LORD has commanded: 3 Any Israelite who slaughters a bull, sheep, or goat inside or outside the camp 4 is guilty of bloodshed. He has shed blood and must be excluded from the people. Bring the animal to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Offer it to the LORD in front of the LORD’s tent. 5  ⌞This means⌟ that the people of Israel must take the sacrifices they have been making in the open fields and bring them to the LORD. They must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The people will sacrifice them as fellowship offerings to the LORD. 6 The priest will pour the blood against the LORD’s altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He will burn the fat as a soothing aroma to the LORD. 7 The people must stop sacrificing to goat idols and chasing after them as though they were prostitutes. This is a permanent law for the people and for future generations.

8 “Tell them: If Israelites or foreigners make burnt offerings or sacrifices 9 but do not bring them to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer them to the LORD, they must be excluded from the people.

17:1–9   You forbade sacrifices anywhere but your holy tent. You told your people to quit prostituting themselves to idols. Worshiping anything but you means I’m not part of your people.

Eating Blood

10 “If Israelites or foreigners eat any blood, I will condemn them and exclude them from the people, 11 because blood contains life. I have given this blood to you to make peace with me on the altar. Blood is needed to make peace with me. 12 That is why I have said to the people of Israel: Neither you nor foreigners should ever eat blood.

13 “If Israelites or foreigners hunt any animal or bird that may be eaten, they must pour out the animal’s blood and cover it with dirt. 14 This is because the life of any creature is in its blood. So I have said to the people of Israel: Never eat any blood, because the life of any creature is in its blood. Whoever eats blood must be excluded ⌞from the people⌟.

17:10–14   You banned eating of blood, because the life of any creature is in its blood. Blood is necessary to make peace with you!

15 “Native Israelites or foreigners who eat the body of an animal that dies naturally or is killed by another animal must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening. Then they will be clean. 16 If they don’t wash their clothes and their bodies, they will be guilty of sin.”

Forbidden Sexual Practices

18

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites: I am the LORD your God. 3 You used to live in Egypt. Don’t live the way the Egyptians do. I am bringing you to Canaan. Don’t live the way the Canaanites do. Never live by their standards. 4 Follow my rules, and live by my standards. I am the LORD your God. 5 Live by my standards, and obey my rules. You will have life through them. I am the LORD.

6 “Never have sexual intercourse with anyone related to you by blood. I am the LORD.

7 “Never have sexual intercourse with your mother. She is your own mother. Never have sexual intercourse with her. 8 Never have sexual intercourse with your stepmother. She is related to you through your father. 9 Never have sexual intercourse with your stepsister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter. It makes no difference whether or not she was born in your house. 10 Never have sexual intercourse with your granddaughter, whether she is your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, because she is related to you. 11 Never have sexual intercourse with a daughter of your father and his wife. She is your own sister. 12 Never have sexual intercourse with your father’s sister. She is your paternal aunt. 13 Never have sexual intercourse with your mother’s sister. She is your maternal aunt. 14 Never have sexual intercourse with the wife of your father’s brother. She, too, is your aunt. 15 Never have sexual intercourse with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. Never have sexual intercourse with her. 16 Never have sexual intercourse with your sister-in-law. She is your brother’s wife. 17 Never have sexual intercourse with a woman and her daughter or a woman and her granddaughter. They are related. Doing this is perverted. 18 While your wife is living, never marry her sister as a rival wife and have sexual intercourse with her.

19 “Never have sexual intercourse with a woman while she is unclean during her monthly period. 20 Never have sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife and become unclean with her. 21 Never give your children as sacrifices to the god Molech ⌞by burning them alive⌟. If you do, you are dishonoring the name of your God. I am the LORD. 22 Never have sexual intercourse with a man as with a woman. It is disgusting. 23 Never have sexual intercourse with any animal and become unclean with it. A woman must never offer herself to an animal for sexual intercourse. It is unnatural.

18:1–23   I pledge my body to you and your commands. My heart belongs to you alone.

Punishment for Sexual Sins

24 “Do not become unclean in any of these ways. By these practices all the nations which I am forcing out of your way have become unclean. 25 The land has become unclean. I will punish it for its sins. The land will vomit out those who live in it. 26 Live by my standards, and obey my rules. Neither you nor any foreigner should ever do any of these disgusting things. 27 The people of the land who were there before you did all these disgusting things. As a result, the land has become unclean. 28 If you make the land unclean, it will vomit you out as it has vomited out the people who were there before you. 29 Whoever does any of these disgusting things must be excluded from the people. 30 So you must follow my instructions. Don’t live by the standards of the people who lived there before you. What they do is disgusting. Never become unclean that way. I am the LORD your God.”

18:24–30   Sexual sin makes me unclean—and ripe for your punishment. I choose to live by your rules, not the standards of people around me. You are my God.

Duties of the People Toward God

19

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell the whole congregation of Israel: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

3 “Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of worship. I am the LORD your God.

4 “Don’t turn to worthless gods or cast metal idols. Never make any gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.

5 “When you bring a fellowship offering to the LORD, sacrifice it ⌞properly⌟ so that you will be accepted. 6 Eat your sacrifice on the day you bring it and on the next day. On the third day burn whatever is left over. 7 If you eat any of it on the third day, it is repulsive and will not be accepted. 8 Those who eat it will be punished because they have dishonored what is holy to the LORD. They must be excluded from the people.

19:1–8   I’ll be holy because you are holy. I’ll follow all of your commands.

Duties of the People Toward Each Other

9 “When you harvest the grain in your land, don’t harvest the grain in the corners of your fields or gather what is left after you’re finished. 10 Don’t harvest your vineyard a second time or pick up fallen grapes. Leave them for poor people and foreigners. I am the LORD your God.

11 “Never steal, lie, or deceive your neighbor.

12 “Never swear by my name in order to deceive anyone. This dishonors the name of your God. I am the LORD.

13 “Never oppress or rob your neighbor. Never keep the pay you owe a hired worker overnight. 14 Never curse deaf people or put anything in the way of blind people to make them stumble. Instead, fear your God. I am the LORD.

19:9–14   I’ll show kindness to those who have little. I’ll not take advantage of my neighbors.

15 “Don’t be corrupt when administering justice. Never give special favors to poor people, and never show preference to important people. Judge your neighbor fairly. 16 Never gossip. Never endanger your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.

17 “Never hate another Israelite. Be sure to correct your neighbor so that you will not be guilty of sinning along with him. 18 Never get revenge. Never hold a grudge against any of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the LORD.

19:15–18   I’ll stand on the side of justice. I won’t play favorites. I’ll love my neighbor as I love myself. You are the Lord.

Other Duties

19 “Obey my laws. Never crossbreed different kinds of animals. Never plant two kinds of crops in your field. Never wear clothes made from two kinds of material.

20 “If a man has sexual intercourse with a female slave who is engaged to another man and if her freedom was never bought or given to her, they should not be put to death. He will only pay a fine because she is a slave. 21 He must bring a ram for his guilt offering to the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 22 In the LORD’s presence the priest will use them to make peace with the LORD for this sin. The man will be forgiven for this sin.

23 “When you come into the land and plant all kinds of fruit trees, you must not eat the fruit for ⌞the first⌟ three years. 24 In the fourth year all the fruit will be a holy offering of praise to the LORD. 25 In the fifth year you may eat the fruit. Do this to make the trees produce more for you. I am the LORD your God.

26 “Never eat any meat with blood still in it.

“Never cast evil spells, and never consult fortunetellers.

27 “Never shave the hair on your foreheads, and never cut the edges of your beard. 28 Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am the LORD.

29 “Never dishonor your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the country will turn to prostitution and be filled with people who are perverted.

30 “Observe my days of worship and respect my holy tent. I am the LORD.

31 “Don’t turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am the LORD your God.

32 “Show respect to the elderly, and honor older people. In this way you show respect for your God. I am the LORD.

33 “Never mistreat a foreigner living in your land. 34 Foreigners living among you will be like your own people. Love them as you love yourself, because you were foreigners living in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

35 “Don’t be corrupt when administering justice concerning length, weight, or measuring liquid. 36 Use honest scales, honest weights, and honest measures. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt.

37 “Obey all my laws and all my rules, and live by them. I am the LORD.”

19:19–37   I’ll obey all your laws and enjoy all their benefits. I’ll treat people with love and rely on you for help. You are the Lord.

Punishment for Serious Crimes

20

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites: If Israelites or foreigners living among you give one of their children as a sacrifice to ⌞the god⌟ Molech, they must be put to death. The common people must stone them to death. 3 I will condemn them and exclude them from the people. They gave one of their children to Molech, made my holy tent unclean, and dishonored my holy name. 4 If the common people ignore those who give their children to Molech and do not put them to death, 5 I will condemn them and their families. I will exclude them from the people. I will exclude from the people everyone who chases after Molech as if he were a prostitute.

6 “I will condemn people who turn to mediums and psychics and chase after them as though they were prostitutes. I will exclude them from the people.

7 “Live holy lives. Be holy because I am the LORD your God. 8 Obey my laws, and live by them. I am the LORD who sets you apart as holy.

9 “Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother and deserves to die.

20:1–9   Because you are holy, you expect me to live a holy life. You set me apart as your own. I won’t ever give my children to another god.

10 “If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife or with his neighbor’s wife, both he and the woman must be put to death for their adultery. 11 Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife has violated his father’s marriage. Both he and his father’s wife must be put to death. They deserve to die. 12 If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have done a disgusting thing and deserve to die. 13 When a man has sexual intercourse with another man as with a woman, both men are doing something disgusting and must be put to death. They deserve to die. 14 When a man marries a woman and her mother, they have done a perverted thing. The man and the two women must be burned. Never do this perverted thing. 15 A man who has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death. You must kill the animal, too. 16 When a woman offers herself sexually to any animal, you must kill both the woman and the animal. They must be put to death. They deserve to die. 17 Whoever takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and has sexual intercourse does a shameful thing. They both must be publicly excluded from the people. He has had sexual intercourse with his sister and must be punished. 18 If a man has sexual intercourse with a woman while she has her monthly period, both of them have had sexual intercourse in blood. They must be excluded from the people. 19 Never have sexual intercourse with your mother’s sister or your father’s sister. Whoever has sexual intercourse with a close relative must be punished. 20 Whoever has sexual intercourse with his uncle’s wife violates his uncle’s marriage. That man and woman are guilty of sin. They will die without children. 21 Whoever marries his brother’s wife violates his brother’s marriage and does an unclean thing. That man and woman will have no children.

20:10–21   I pledge my body to you and your commands. My heart belongs to you alone.

22 “If you carefully obey all my laws and my rules, the land I am bringing you to live in will not vomit you out. 23 Never follow the practices of the people I am forcing out of your way. I cannot stand them because they did all these things. 24 I have told you that you will take their land. I will give it to you as your own. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God who separated you from other people. 25 Separate clean and unclean[10] animals and birds. Never become disgusting by eating any animal or bird or anything that crawls on the ground. I have separated you from every unclean thing. 26 Be my holy people because I, the LORD, am holy. I have separated you from other people to be my very own.

20:22–26   If I break your rules you’ll vomit me out. You separate me from every unclean thing—all to make me your very own.

27 “Every man or woman who is a medium or a psychic must be put to death. They must be stoned to death because they deserve to die.”

Holiness for All the Priests

21

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, “Tell the priests, Aaron’s sons: None of you should become unclean by touching one of your relatives who has died. 2 However, you are allowed to become unclean when one of your nearest relatives dies. These relatives include your mother, father, son, daughter, or brother, 3 and especially an unmarried virgin sister who is still close to you. 4 As the head of your people, you should never become unclean. That would make you unholy.

5 “You should never mourn by shaving bald spots on your heads, shaving the edges of your beards, or slashing your bodies.

6 “Be God’s holy men, and don’t dishonor the name of your God. Be holy because you bring sacrifices by fire to the LORD. It is the food of your God. 7 You should never marry prostitutes, those who have lost their virginity, or divorced women because a priest is God’s holy man. 8 Be holy because you offer the food of your God. Be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I set you apart as holy. 9 When a priest’s daughter dishonors herself by becoming a prostitute, she dishonors her father. She must be burned.

Holiness for the Chief Priest

10 “The priest who is anointed with oil and wears the chief priest’s clothes is chief over his brothers. He must never mourn by leaving his hair uncombed or by tearing his clothes. 11 He must never go near any dead bodies or become unclean, even for his father or mother. 12 He must not leave the holy tent of his God. If he does, he will be dishonoring it, because he is dedicated with the anointing oil of his God. I am the LORD.

13 “The anointed priest must marry a virgin. 14 He must never marry a widow, a divorced woman, a woman who has lost her virginity, or a prostitute. He may only marry a virgin from his own people. 15 He must not dishonor his children among his people because I, the LORD, set him apart as holy.”

16 The LORD spoke to Moses, 17 “Tell Aaron: If any of your descendants (now or in future generations) has a physical defect, he must never bring food to offer to God. 18 Indeed, no one who has a physical defect may ever come near ⌞the altar⌟. That means anyone who is blind or lame, who has a disfigured face, a deformity, 19 or a crippled hand or foot, 20 who is a hunchback or dwarf, who has defective sight, skin diseases, or crushed testicles. 21 If a descendant of the priest Aaron has a physical defect, he must never bring sacrifices by fire to the LORD. He has a defect. He must never bring food to offer to God. 22 He may eat the food of his God—what is holy and what is very holy. 23 However, he must never come up to the canopy or to the altar, since he has a physical defect. He must never dishonor the holy places because I, the LORD, set them apart as holy.”

24 So Moses spoke to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

21:1–24   You have high expectations of spiritual leaders. You command them to be holy and not dishonor your name. You set them apart. Help me live up to my own calling.

Eating the Priests’ Share of the Sacrifice

22

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell Aaron and his sons that they must respect the holy offerings which the Israelites set apart for me. In this way they will not dishonor my holy name. I am the LORD.

3 “Tell them: In future generations if any of your descendants, while unclean, comes near the holy offerings the Israelites set apart for the LORD, that person must be excluded from my presence. I am the LORD.

4 “No descendant of Aaron who has a skin disease or a discharge may eat any of the holy offerings until he is clean. Any person who has an emission of semen or touches a dead body, 5 an unclean swarming creature or an unclean person 6 will be unclean until evening. He must not eat any of the holy offerings unless he has washed himself. 7 When the sun has set, he will be clean. Then he may eat the holy offerings because they are his food. 8 He must never eat the meat of an animal that dies naturally or is killed by wild animals. It will make him unclean. I am the LORD. 9 The priests must do what I order, or their sin will bring them death because they dishonored a holy offering. I am the LORD, who sets them apart as holy.

10 “Laypeople must never eat any holy offering, even if they are visiting a priest or are working for him. 11 But if a priest buys a slave, the slave and anyone born in his household may eat the priest’s food. 12 However, if a priest’s daughter marries a layman, she must never eat the food taken from the holy contributions. 13 If a priest’s daughter is widowed or divorced, doesn’t have any children, and comes back to live in her father’s home, she may eat her father’s food. But a layperson must never eat it.

14 “Those who eat a holy offering by mistake must give another holy offering to the priest and add one-fifth more to it. 15 Priests must not dishonor the holy offerings that the Israelites contribute to the LORD. 16 They must make those people pay the penalty for their guilt because they have eaten the priests’ holy offerings. I am the LORD, who sets them apart as holy.”

22:1–16   You command perfection in those who lead your people. I won’t give you anything less than my best.

Animals Accepted for Sacrifice

17 The LORD spoke to Moses, 18 “Tell Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites: Israelites or foreigners may bring burnt offerings to the LORD for anything they vowed or as freewill offerings. 19 The offering must be a male that has no defects from your cattle, sheep, or goats in order to be accepted. 20 Never bring any animal with a physical defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. 21 A person may bring the LORD a fellowship offering to fulfill a vow or for a freewill offering. Whether it is from the cattle, sheep, or goats, it must be an animal that has no defects in order to be accepted. It must never be an animal that has defects. 22 Never bring the LORD an animal that is blind, has broken bones, cuts, warts, scabs, or ringworm. Never give the LORD any of these in a sacrifice by fire on the altar. 23 You may use a bull or a sheep with a deformity or one that is stunted in growth as a freewill offering. However, it will not be accepted for a vow. 24 Never bring the LORD an animal that has bruised, crushed, torn out, or cut out testicles. Never do any of these things to an animal in your land. 25 Never bring any kind of castrated animal received from a foreigner as a food offering for your God. A castrated animal will not be accepted on your behalf because castration is a physical defect.”

26 The LORD spoke to Moses, 27 “When a calf, a lamb, or a goat is born, it must stay with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on it may be accepted as a sacrifice by fire to the LORD. 28 Never slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young the same day.

22:17–28   You don’t accept defective sacrifices. I won’t try to fool you with half-hearted offerings.

29 “When you sacrifice a thank offering to the LORD, do it in the proper way. 30 Eat it the same day. Never leave any of it until morning. I am the LORD.

31 “Carefully obey my commands. I am the LORD. 32 Never dishonor my holy name. I will show my holiness among the Israelites. I am the LORD, who sets you apart as holy. 33 I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.”

22:29–33   I want to offer myself to you in every right way. I’ll carefully obey your commands. You rescued me. You are God.

The Day of Worship

23

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites: These are the appointed festivals with the LORD, which you must announce as holy assemblies. 3 You may work for six days. But the seventh day is a day of worship, a day when you don’t work, a holy assembly. Don’t do any work. It is the LORD’s day of worship wherever you live.

4 “The following are the LORD’s appointed festivals with holy assemblies, which you must announce at their appointed times.

The Spring Festivals

5 “The fourteenth day of the first month, in the evening, is the LORD’s Passover. 6 The fifteenth day of this same month is the LORD’s Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day there will be a holy assembly. Don’t do any regular work. 8 Bring the LORD a sacrifice by fire for seven days. On the seventh day there will be a holy assembly. Don’t do any regular work.”

9 The LORD spoke to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: When you come to the land I am going to give you and you harvest grain, bring the priest a bundle of the first grain you harvest. 11 He will present it to the LORD so that you will be accepted. He will present it on the day after Passover. 12 On the day you present the bundle, you must sacrifice a one-year-old male lamb that has no defects as a burnt offering to the LORD. 13 Bring a grain offering of four quarts of flour mixed with olive oil with it. This will be a sacrifice by fire made to the LORD, a soothing aroma. Use one quart of wine for the wine offering. 14 Don’t eat bread, roasted grain, or fresh grain until this same day, when you bring the offering to your God. It is a permanent law for generations to come wherever you live.

15 “Count seven full weeks from the day after Passover (the day you bring the bundle of grain as an offering presented to the LORD) 16 until the day after the seventh week. This is a total of fifty days. Then bring a new grain offering to the LORD. 17 Bring two loaves of bread from your homes to present to the LORD. Bake them with four quarts of flour. They are the first harvested grain for the LORD. 18 With the bread bring seven one-year-old lambs that have no defects, one bull, and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD. With these offerings also bring grain and wine offerings. They will be a sacrifice by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD. 19 Also sacrifice one male goat as an offering for sin and two one-year-old lambs as a fellowship offering. 20 The priest must present them along with the bread of the first harvested grain as an offering to the LORD. All this, along with the two lambs, will be holy and will belong to the LORD’s priests. 21 Make an announcement that there will be a holy assembly on that same day. Don’t do any regular work. It is a permanent law for generations to come wherever you live.

22 “When you harvest the grain in your land, don’t harvest the grain in the corners of your fields or gather what is left after you’re finished. Leave it for poor people and foreigners. I am the LORD your God.”

The Fall Festivals

23 The LORD spoke to Moses, 24 “Tell the Israelites: On the first day of the seventh month hold a worship festival. It will be a memorial day, a holy assembly announced by the blowing of rams’ horns. 25 Don’t do any regular work. Bring a sacrifice by fire to the LORD.”

26 The LORD spoke to Moses, 27 “In addition, the tenth day of this seventh month is a special day for the payment for sins. There will be a holy assembly. Humble yourselves, and bring the LORD a sacrifice by fire. 28 Don’t do any work that day. It is a special day for the payment for sins. It is a time when you make peace with the LORD your God. 29 Those who do not humble themselves on that day will be excluded from the people. 30 I will kill those who do any work on that day. 31 Don’t do any work. It is a permanent law for generations to come wherever you live. 32 It is a day of worship, a day when you don’t work. Humble yourselves starting on the evening of the ninth day of the month. From that evening to the next, observe the day of worship.”

33 The LORD spoke to Moses, 34 “Tell the Israelites: The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Booths to the LORD. It will last seven days. 35 On the first day there will be a holy assembly. Don’t do any regular work. 36 For seven consecutive days bring a sacrifice by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day there will be a holy assembly. Bring the LORD a sacrifice by fire. This is the last festival of the year. Don’t do any regular work.

37 “These are the LORD’s appointed festivals. Announce them as holy assemblies for bringing sacrifices by fire to the LORD. Bring burnt offerings, grain offerings, other sacrifices, and wine offerings—each one on its special day. 38 This is in addition to the LORD’s days of worship, your gifts, all your vows, and your freewill offerings to the LORD.

39 “However, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered what the land produces, celebrate the LORD’s festival for seven days. The first and the eighth days will be worship festivals. 40 On the first day take the best fruits, palm branches, the branches of leafy trees and poplars, and celebrate in the presence of the LORD your God for seven days. 41 It is the LORD’s festival. Celebrate it for seven days each year. This is a permanent law for generations to come. Celebrate this festival in the seventh month. 42 Live in booths for seven days. Everyone born in Israel must live in booths 43 so that generations to come may learn how I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”

44 So Moses told the Israelites about the LORD’s appointed festivals.

23:1–44   You set days and seasons for worship. I’ll mark out times to focus on you and not let anything push you aside. I’ll celebrate your salvation and bring you my best.

Duties in the Tent of Meeting—Exodus 27:20–21

24

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to bring you pure, virgin olive oil for the lamp stand so that the lamps won’t go out. 3 In the tent of meeting, outside the canopy where the words of my promise are, Aaron must keep the lamps lit in the LORD’s presence from evening until morning. It is a permanent law for generations to come. 4 Aaron must keep the lamps on the pure gold lamp stand lit in the LORD’s presence.

5 “Also take flour and bake twelve rings of bread. Each ring will contain four quarts of flour. 6 Put them in two stacks of six each on the gold table in the LORD’s presence. 7 Lay pure incense on top of each stack. The incense on the bread will be a reminder, an offering by fire to the LORD. 8 Every day of worship ⌞a priest⌟ must arrange the bread in the LORD’s presence. It is a continual reminder of my promise[11] to the Israelites. 9 The bread will belong to Aaron and his sons. They will eat it in a holy place. It is very holy, set apart from the LORD’s offering by fire. This is a permanent law.”

24:1–9   You kept lamps lit in your presence and bread on the table. The bread was a continual reminder of your agreement with the Israelites. You are the bread of life.

The Man Who Cursed the LORD’s Name

10 A man, whose mother was Shelomith (daughter of Dibri, from the tribe of Dan in Israel) and whose father was from Egypt, got into a quarrel with an Israelite in the camp. 11 The Israelite woman’s son began cursing the LORD’s name and treating it with contempt. So they brought him to Moses.[12] 12 They kept him in custody until the LORD told them what to do.

13 The LORD spoke to Moses, 14 “The man who cursed ⌞my name⌟ must be taken outside the camp. All who heard him curse ⌞my name⌟ must lay their hands on his head. Then the whole congregation must stone him to death.

15 “Also tell the Israelites: Those who treat their God with contempt will be punished for their sin. 16 But those who curse the LORD’s name must be put to death. The whole congregation must stone them to death. It makes no difference whether they are Israelites or foreigners. Whoever curses the LORD’s name must die.

17 “Whoever kills another person must be put to death. 18 Whoever kills an animal must replace it, life for life. 19 Whoever injures a neighbor must receive the same injury in return—20 a broken bone for a broken bone, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whoever injures another person must receive the same injury in return. 21 Whoever kills an animal must replace it. Whoever kills a person must be put to death. 22 The same rule applies to every one of you. It makes no difference whether you are a foreigner or an Israelite, because I am the LORD your God.”

23 Moses spoke to the people of Israel. So the man who had cursed the LORD’s name was taken outside the camp. There they stoned him to death as the LORD commanded Moses. The Israelites did as the LORD commanded Moses.

24:10–23   You hate when people curse your name and treat you with contempt. Help me love both justice and mercy.

The Year to Honor the LORD

25

1 The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, 2 “Tell the Israelites: When you come into the land I’m giving you, the land will celebrate a year to honor the LORD. 3 Then, for six years you may plant crops in your fields, prune your vineyards, and gather what they produce. 4 However, the seventh year will be a festival year for the land. It will be a year to honor the LORD. Don’t plant crops in your fields or prune your vineyards. 5 Don’t harvest what grows by itself or harvest grapes from your vines. That year will be a festival for the land. 6 Whatever the land produces during that year is for all of you to eat—for you, your male and female slaves, your hired workers, foreigners among you, 7 your animals and the wild animals in your land. Everything the land produces will be yours to eat.

The Jubilee for the Land

8 “Count seven of these years seven times for a total of 49 years. 9 On the tenth day of the seventh month, the special day for the payment for sin, sound rams’ horns throughout the country. 10 Set apart the fiftieth year as holy, and proclaim liberty to everyone living in the land. This is your jubilee year. Every slave will be freed in order to return to his property and to his family. 11 That fiftieth year will be your jubilee year. Don’t plant or harvest what grows by itself or pick grapes from the vines in the land. 12 The jubilee ⌞year⌟ will be holy to you. You will eat what the field itself produces.

13 “In this jubilee year every slave will be freed in order to return to his property. 14 If you sell anything to your neighbor or buy anything from him, don’t take advantage of him. 15 When you buy property from your neighbor, take into account the number of years since the jubilee. Your neighbor must sell it to you taking into account the number of crops ⌞until the next jubilee⌟. 16 If there are still many years ⌞until the jubilee⌟, you will pay more for it. If there are only a few years ⌞until the jubilee⌟, you will pay less for it because he is selling you only the number of crops. 17 Never take advantage of each other. Fear your God, because I am the LORD your God.

25:1–17   Every seventh year you set aside a festival year for the land—a year to honor you. Every fiftieth year you called a jubilee to proclaim liberty to everyone in the land—a year of canceling debt, returning property, and setting people free.

18 “Obey my laws, and carefully follow my rules. Then you will live securely in the land. 19 The land will give you its products, and you will eat all you want and live there securely. 20 You may ask, ‘What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or bring in our crops?’ 21 I will give you my blessing in the sixth year so that the land will produce enough for three years. 22 You will plant ⌞again⌟ in the eighth year but live on what the land already produced. You will eat it, even in the ninth year, until the land produces more.

23 “Land must never be sold permanently, because the land is mine. To me you are strangers without permanent homes. 24 People must always have the right to buy their property back. 25 If your brother becomes poor and sells some of his property, then the one who can assume responsibility, his nearest relative, must buy back what he sold. 26 If a man doesn’t have anyone to buy it back for him, but if he prospers and earns enough to buy it back himself, 27 he must count the years from its sale. Then he will pay what is left to the man to whom he sold it, and it will be his property again. 28 However, if he cannot earn enough to buy it back, what he sold stays in the hands of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee it will be released, and he will own it again.

29 “If anyone sells a home in a walled city, for one year after selling it he has the right to buy it back. He may buy it back only within that time. 30 If he does not buy it back during that year, the house in the city belongs to the buyer for generations to come. It will not be released in the jubilee. 31 However, houses in villages without walls are regarded as belonging to the fields of the land. They can be bought back. They will be released in the jubilee.

32 “The Levites always have the right to buy back their property in the cities they own. 33 If any Levite buys back ⌞a house⌟, in the jubilee the purchased house in the city will be released, because the houses in the Levite cities are their property among the Israelites. 34 But a field that belongs to their cities must not be sold, because it is their permanent property.

25:18–34   I pledge to obey you and carefully follow your rules. I trust you to keep me safe and give me food to eat. I know everything belongs to you.

The Jubilee for the People

35 “If an Israelite becomes poor and cannot support himself, help him. He must live with you as a stranger without a permanent home. 36 Don’t collect interest or make any profit from him. Fear your God by respecting other Israelites’ lives. 37 Never collect any kind of interest on your money or on the food you give them. 38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you Canaan and to be your God.

39 “If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, don’t work him like a slave. 40 He will be like a hired worker or a visitor to you. He may work with you until the year of jubilee. 41 Then you will release him and his children to go back to their family and the property of their ancestors. 42 They are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. They must never be sold as slaves. 43 Do not treat them harshly. Fear your God.

44 “You may have male and female slaves, but buy them from the nations around you. 45 You may also buy them from the foreigners living among you and from their families born in your country. They will be your property. 46 You may acquire them for yourselves and for your descendants as permanent property. You may work them as slaves. However, do not treat the Israelites harshly. They are your relatives.

47 “Someone who is a foreigner without a permanent home among you may become rich, and your relative living with him may be poor. The poor Israelite may sell himself to that foreigner or a member of his family. 48 After he has sold himself, he has the right to be bought back. One of his brothers may buy him back. 49 His uncle, his cousin, or some other relative could also buy him back. If he becomes rich, he could buy his own freedom. 50 Then he and his buyer must take into account the number of years from the year he was bought until the year of jubilee. His sale price will be adjusted based on the number of years he was with his buyer, like the wages of a hired worker. 51 If there are many years left, he must refund from his purchase price an amount equal ⌞to those years⌟. 52 If there are only a few years left until the year of jubilee, he must take them into account. He must refund from his purchase price an amount equal to those years. 53 During those years he should serve his buyer as a hired worker. His buyer should not treat him harshly. 54 If he cannot buy his freedom in these ways, he and his children will be released in the year of jubilee.

55 “The Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”

25:35–55   You buy me back from bondage. I’ll set others free. I’ll fear you by showing others respect. I’ll deal fairly with everyone I meet. I am your servant. You are my Lord and God.

God’s Promises for Those Who Keep His Laws

26

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Never make worthless idols or set up a carved statue or a sacred stone for yourselves. Never cut figures in stone to worship them in your country, because I am the LORD your God. 2 Observe my days of worship and respect my holy tent. I am the LORD.

3 “This is what I will do if you will live by my laws and carefully obey my commands:

4 “I will give you rain at the right time. The land will produce its crops, and the trees in the field will produce their fruit. 5 Threshing[13] time will last until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until planting. You will eat all you want and live securely in your land.

6 “I will bring peace to your land. You will lie down with no one to scare you. I will remove dangerous animals, and there will be no war in your land. 7 You will chase your enemies, and you will defeat them. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred of them, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand of them. You will defeat your enemies, 9 and I will be pleased with you. Your families will be large, and I will keep my promise[14] to you. 10 You will clear out old food supplies to make room for new ones.

11 “I will put my tent among you, and I will never look at you with disgust. 12 So I will live among you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt so that you are no longer slaves of the Egyptians. I have broken their power over you and made you live as a free people.

26:1–13   You promise blessings for all who obey you. You’ll give rain at the right time and bring peace to the land. You’ll live with your people and be our God.

God’s Curses for Those Who Break His Laws

14 “If you will not listen to me and obey all these commands, 15 if you reject my laws and look at my rules with disgust, if you reject my promise by disobeying my commands, 16 then this is what I will do to you: I will terrorize you with disease and fever. You will suffer from eye problems and depression. You will plant your crops and get nothing because your enemies will eat them. 17 I will condemn you so that you will go down in defeat in front of your enemies. Those who hate you will be your rulers. You will run away even when no one is chasing you.

18 “If you still will not listen to me, I will discipline you seven times for your sins. 19 I will crush your arrogance. You will have no rain, and your land will be as hard as cement. 20 You will work hard for nothing because your land will produce no crops and the trees will produce no fruit.

21 “If you resist and don’t listen to me, I will increase the punishment for your sins seven times. 22 I will send wild animals among you. They will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle, and make you so few that your roads will be deserted.

23 “If this discipline does not help and you still resist, 24 then I, too, will resist you. I will punish you seven times for your sins. 25 I will bring war on you to get revenge for my promise ⌞that you rejected⌟. When you gather in your cities, I will send plagues on you and you will fall under the control of your enemy. 26 I will destroy your food supply. Ten women will need only one oven to prepare your food. You will eat and go away hungry.

27 “If in spite of this you do not listen to me and still resist me, 28 I will fiercely resist you. I will discipline you seven times for your sins. 29 You will eat the bodies of your sons and daughters. 30 I will destroy your worship sites, cut down your incense altars, and pile your dead bodies on top of your dead idols. I will look at you with disgust. 31 I will make your cities deserted and ruin your sacred places. I will no longer accept the soothing aroma from your sacrifices. 32 I will make your land so deserted that your enemies will be shocked as they settle in it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations. War will follow you. Your country will be in ruins. Your cities will be deserted.

34 “Then the land will enjoy its time ⌞to honor the LORD⌟ while it lies deserted and you are in your enemies’ land. Then the land will joyfully celebrate its time ⌞to honor the LORD⌟. 35 All the days it lies deserted, it will celebrate the time ⌞to honor the LORD⌟ it never celebrated while you lived there. 36 I will fill with despair those who are left in the land of their enemies. The sound of a windblown leaf will make them run. They will run away and fall, but no one will be chasing them. 37 They will stumble over each other, but no one will be after them. They will not be able to stand up to their enemies. 38 They will be destroyed among the nations. The land of their enemies will devour them. 39 Those who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins and the sins of their ancestors.

26:14–39   You threaten curses for all who look on your rules with disgust. Their bodies and minds will suffer. They’ll go down in defeat. You’ll discipline them for their sins, and they’ll waste away in exile.

God Will Remember His Promise

40 “But if they confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—the treacherous things they did to oppose me—41 I will oppose them and bring them into the lands of their enemies. Then, if they humble their uncircumcised hearts and accept their guilt, 42 I will remember my promise to Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. I will also remember the land. 43 The land, abandoned by them, will enjoy its time to honor the LORD while it lies deserted without them. They must accept their guilt because they rejected my rules and looked at my laws with disgust. 44 Even when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or look at them with disgust. I will not reject or cancel my promise to them, because I am the LORD their God. 45 But for their sake, I will remember the promise to their ancestors. I brought them out of Egypt to be their God while nations looked on. I am the LORD.”

46 These are the laws, rules, and instructions that the LORD gave to the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.

26:41–46   I’ll confess my sins and humbly accept my guilt. Then you’ll remember your gracious promises, all the undeserved blessings you bestow. You rescued me from bondage to be my Lord.

Special Vows

27

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites: If any of you makes a special vow ⌞to give a person⌟ to the LORD, you may give money instead of the person. 3 The amount you must give for a man from 20 to 60 years old is 20 ounces of silver. Use the standard weight of the holy place. 4 If it is a woman, give 12 ounces. 5 For a boy from 5 to 20 years old, give 8 ounces and for a girl give 4 ounces. 6 For a boy from one month to five years old, give 2 ounces of silver and for a girl give about one ounce. 7 For a man 60 years or over, give 6 ounces and for a woman give 4 ounces. 8 But the person who is too poor to pay the required amount must stand in front of the priest. The priest will determine the amount based on what the person can afford.

9 “If ⌞the vow⌟ is to give the kind of animal that people offer to the LORD, it will be considered holy. 10 Don’t exchange or substitute animals, a good one for a bad one or a bad one for a good one. If you do exchange one animal for another, then both animals will be holy. 11 If it is an unclean animal that cannot be brought to the LORD as an offering, bring it in front of the priest. 12 The priest will determine what its value is. The value will be whatever the priest decides. 13 If you want to buy it back, you must pay its full value plus one-fifth more.

14 “If you give your house to the LORD as something holy, the priest will determine what its value is. The value will be whatever the priest decides. 15 If you want to buy it back, you must pay its full value plus one-fifth more.

16 “If a person gives part of a field to the LORD as something holy, its value will be based on the seed planted on it. Ground planted with 2 quarts of barley will be worth 20 ounces of silver. 17 If you give your field in the jubilee year, it will have its full value. 18 But if you give the field after the jubilee year, the priest will estimate its value based on the number of years left until the next jubilee year. 19 If you want to buy it back, you must pay its full value plus one-fifth more. 20 But if you don’t buy it back and it is sold to someone else, you cannot buy it back. 21 When the field is released in the jubilee year, it will be holy like a field claimed by the LORD. It will become the property of the priest. 22 You may give a field you bought (not one that was a part of your family property) to the LORD as something holy. 23 The priest must figure out the field’s value until the jubilee year. You will pay its value on that day as something holy, belonging to the LORD. 24 In the jubilee year the field will go back to the person from whom it was bought, to whom it belongs as family property.

25 “All values will be set using the standard weight of the holy place.[15]

26 “A firstborn animal already belongs to the LORD because it was born first. Therefore, it cannot be set apart as holy. Whether it is a bull or a sheep, it belongs to the LORD. 27 But if it is an unclean animal, it must be bought back. The payment will be its full value plus one-fifth more. If it is not bought back, it must be sold at the value given it.

28 “However, everything dedicated to the LORD for destruction—a person, an animal, or a field that belongs to you—must not be sold or bought back. Everything dedicated in that way is very holy. It belongs to the LORD. 29 People dedicated this way cannot be bought back. They must be put to death.

30 “One-tenth of what comes from the land, whether grain or fruit, is holy and belongs to the LORD. 31 If you buy back any part of it, you must add one-fifth more to it. 32 Every tenth head of cattle or sheep that you counted is holy and belongs to the LORD. 33 You must not look to see if it is good or bad or exchange it. But if you do exchange it, both the first animal and its substitute will be holy. They cannot be bought back.”

34 These are the commands the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

27:1–34   I’ll be careful to keep my promises to you. Don’t let me make rash deals with you I’ll later regret. But I offer all of myself to you.

NUMBERS

INTRODUCTION

Numbers encourages you to believe God. This book gets its name from two censuses that counted Israel’s fighting men. While Numbers presents that data and more, it also follows God’s people during the time between those dual roll calls, bringing them to the edge of the land promised to them centuries before.

For two years after the slaves’ escape from Egypt, the Lord led his people on a long desert walk, teaching them his laws and training them to trust his care. Along the way he endured loud, frequent complaints, doubts that he will provide for them and bring them to a new home. As the people prepare to enter the land, a dozen men go ahead to scout the terrain. They report the beautiful land overflows with food, just as God said.

Nevertheless, all but two of those spies argue the escaped slaves can’t conquer the land’s inhabitants. They persuade the crowds to turn back. Right when the Lord dares his people to enter the land, they refuse to move ahead. So he sentences them to wander in the wilderness for forty years, until all the defiant adults die off.

The people ignored God’s promise. They didn’t count on his help, and they gave up their dreams of the good things he planned for them. This stunning portrait of disbelief shows the consequences of letting fear overshadow faith. Praying this book asks you to trust God’s intentions for you. It teaches you to cling to his promises. He has a bold plan to lead you through life.

NUMBERS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20

21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | 29  | 30

31  | 32  | 33  | 34  | 35  | 36

Moses Takes a Census of Israel

1

1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt. He said, 2 “Take a census of the whole community of Israel by families and households. List every man by name 3 who is at least 20 years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions. 4 One man from each tribe will help you. Each of these men must be the head of a household.

5 “Here are the names of the men who will help you:

Elizur, son of Shedeur, from the tribe of Reuben;

6 Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, from the tribe of Simeon;

7 Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah;

8 Nethanel, son of Zuar, from the tribe of Issachar;

9 Eliab, son of Helon, from the tribe of Zebulun;

10 Elishama, son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Ephraim;

Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, from the tribe of Manasseh;

(Ephraim and Manasseh are Joseph’s descendants.)

11 Abidan, son of Gideoni, from the tribe of Benjamin;

12 Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, from the tribe of Dan;

13 Pagiel, son of Ochran, from the tribe of Asher;

14 Eliasaph, son of Deuel, from the tribe of Gad;

15 Ahira, son of Enan, from the tribe of Naphtali.”

16 These were the men chosen from the community, the leaders of their ancestors’ tribes, and heads of the divisions of Israel.

17 Moses and Aaron took the men who had been named 18 and assembled the whole community on the first day of the second month. Each man at least 20 years old provided his genealogy by family and household. Then his name was listed. 19 So Moses registered the men of Israel in the Desert of Sinai as the LORD had commanded him.

20 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn son, listed every man by name who was at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 21 The total for the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.

22 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Simeon registered and listed every man by name who was at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 23 The total for the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.

24 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Gad listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 25 The total for the tribe of Gad was 45,650.

26 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Judah listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 27 The total for the tribe of Judah was 74,600.

28 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Issachar listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 29 The total for the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.

30 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Zebulun listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 31 The total for the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.

32 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Joseph—those from Ephraim—listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 33 The total for the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.

34 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Manasseh listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 35 The total for the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

36 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Benjamin listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 37 The total for the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.

38 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Dan listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 39 The total for the tribe of Dan was 62,700.

40 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Asher listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 41 The total for the tribe of Asher was 41,500.

42 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Naphtali listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 43 The total for the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.

44 Moses, Aaron, and the 12 leaders of Israel, each representing his own family, added up these totals. 45 So the Israelites were registered by households. The grand total of men who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty 46 was 603,550.

47 But the households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites. 48 The LORD had said to Moses, 49 “Don’t register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites. 50 Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God’s words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. 51 When the tent has to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death.

52 “The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. 53 The Levites will camp all around the tent of God’s words. In this way ⌞the LORD⌟ won’t be angry with the community of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God’s words.”

54 The Israelites did everything as the LORD commanded Moses.

1:1–54   You spoke to Moses and told him to count the people tribe by tribe to number the men of military age. You kept your promise to Abraham to make his descendants a mighty nation.

The Arrangement of Israel’s Camp

2

1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 2 “The Israelites will put up their tents with each family under the flag that symbolizes its household. They will put their tents around the tent of meeting, facing it.

3 “On the east side, facing the rising sun, the armies led by Judah will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Judah is Nahshon, son of Amminadab. 4 The total number of men in his army is 74,600.

5 “Next to them will be the tribe of Issachar. The leader for the people of Issachar is Nethanel, son of Zuar. 6 The total number of men in his army is 54,400.

7 “Then ⌞will be⌟ the tribe of Zebulun. The leader for the people of Zebulun is Eliab, son of Helon. 8 The total number of men in his army is 57,400.

9 “The grand total of all the troops in Judah’s camp is 186,400. They will be the first group to move out.

10 “On the south side the armies led by Reuben will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Reuben is Elizur, son of Shedeur. 11 The total number of men in his army is 46,500.

12 “Next to them will be the tribe of Simeon. The leader for the people of Simeon is Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai. 13 The total number of men in his army is 59,300.

14 “Then ⌞will be⌟ the tribe of Gad. The leader for the people of Gad is Eliasaph, son of Deuel. 15 The total number of men in his army is 45,650.

16 “The grand total of all the troops in Reuben’s camp is 151,450. They will be the second group to move out.

17 “When the tent of meeting is moved, the Levites will stay in the middle of the groups. The tribes will move out in the same order as they are in the camp, everyone in place under his own flag.

18 “On the west side the armies led by Ephraim will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Ephraim is Elishama, son of Ammihud. 19 The total number of men in his army is 40,500.

20 “Next to them will be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader for the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur. 21 The total number of men in his army is 32,200.

22 “Then ⌞will be⌟ the tribe of Benjamin. The leader for the people of Benjamin is Abidan, son of Gideoni. 23 The total number of men in his army is 35,400.

24 “The grand total of all the troops in Ephraim’s camp is 108,100. They will be the third group to move out.

25 “On the north side the armies led by Dan will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Dan is Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai. 26 The total number of men in his army is 62,700.

27 “Next to them will be the tribe of Asher. The leader for the people of Asher is Pagiel, son of Ochran. 28 The total number of men in his army is 41,500.

29 “Then ⌞will be⌟ the tribe of Naphtali. The leader for the people of Naphtali is Ahira, son of Enan. 30 The total number of men in his army is 53,400.

31 “The grand total of all the men in Dan’s camp is 157,600. They will be the last group to move out. They will travel under their own flag.”

32 This is the total number of Israelites, counted by households. The grand total of all the troops in the camps was 603,550. 33 As the LORD had commanded Moses, the Levites were not registered along with the other Israelites.

34 So the Israelites did everything as the LORD had commanded Moses. They set up camp under their flags, and each person traveled with his own family and household.

2:1–34   You arranged your people tribe by tribe around the tent of meeting. They did everything you commanded.

The Tribe of Levi Is Registered and Assigned Duties

3

1 This is the list of Aaron and Moses’ descendants at the time when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.

2 The names of Aaron’s sons are Nadab (the firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD’s presence because they offered unauthorized fire in his presence in the Desert of Sinai. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

5 The LORD said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him. 7 They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. 8 They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests’ duties must be put to death.”

11 The LORD said to Moses, 12 “Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine, 13 because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am the LORD.”

14 The LORD said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, 15 “Count the Levites by households and families. Count every male who is at least one month old.” 16 So Moses did what the LORD said and registered them as he had been commanded.

17 Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were the sons of Levi.

18 Libni and Shimei were the sons of Gershon. Their families were named after them.

19 Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were the sons of Kohath. Their families were named after them.

20 Mahli and Mushi were the sons of Merari. Their families were named after them.

These were the households of Levite families.

21 To Gershon belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon. 22 The total number of all the males at least one month old was 7,500. 23 The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting. 24 The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things.

27 To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath. 28 The number of all the males at least one month old was 8,600. They were in charge of the holy place. 29 The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. 30 The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. 31 They were in charge of the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things.

32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron. It was Eleazar’s duty to supervise those who were in charge of the holy place.

33 To Merari belonged the families descended from Mahli and Mushi. These were the families descended from Merari. 34 The total number of all the males at least one month old was 6,200. 35 The leader of the Merarite families and households was Zuriel, son of Abihail. They put up their tents on the north side of the tent of meeting. 36 It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of all these things. 37 They also took care of the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes.

38 Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites’ duties had to be put to death.

39 The grand total of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command, by families, every male who was at least one month old, was 22,000.

40 The LORD said to Moses, “Register every firstborn male of the Israelites who is at least one month old, and make a list of their names. 41 I am the LORD. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites.”

42 So Moses registered all the firstborn Israelites as the LORD commanded him. 43 The total of all the firstborn males at least one month old was 22,273. They were listed by name.

44 The LORD said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am the LORD. 46 There are 273 more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites. 47 It will cost you two ounces of silver per person (using the standard weight of the holy place) to buy them back. 48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites.”

49 So Moses took this ransom money from the Israelites who outnumbered the Levites. 50 The silver Moses collected for the firstborn Israelites weighed 34 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. 51 Then Moses did what the LORD said and gave Aaron and his sons this ransom money as he had been commanded.

3:1–51   You counted the tribe of Levi, the men who cared for the tent of meeting. You set the Levites apart as your own.

The Duties of the Families Descended from Levi’s Sons

4

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households. 3 Register all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting.

4 “This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things. 5 When the camp is supposed to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the ark containing the words of God’s promise. First they will cover the ark with the canopy. 6 Over this they will put a covering of fine leather.[1] On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place.

7 “They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in the LORD’s presence will also be on it. 8 They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place.

9 “They will take a violet cloth and cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, tongs, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. 10 Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them.

11 “They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place.

12 “They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place, put them in a violet cloth, cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them.

13 “After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar. 14 Next, they will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls—all the altar’s accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather over all this. Then they will put the poles in place.

15 “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

16 “Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents.”

17 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “Don’t let the Kohathite families from Levi’s tribe be destroyed. 19 This is what you must do so that they won’t die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

21 The LORD said to Moses, 22 “Also take a census of the Gershonites. List them by households and families. 23 Register all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting.

24 “This is what the Gershonite families will do and what they will carry: 25 They will carry the sheets that are part of the inner tent and the tent of meeting. They will also carry the inner cover for the tent of meeting, the outer cover of fine leather that goes over it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains for the courtyard around the tent and the altar, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the equipment used to set up the curtains. The Gershonites will do everything that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their work, whatever they carry and all their duties, will be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You are in charge of telling them everything they’re supposed to carry. 28 This is the work of the Gershonite families in the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.

29 “Register the Merarites by families and households. 30 Register all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting. 31 These are their duties as they work at the tent of meeting: They will carry the framework for the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, and sockets, 32 the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes. They must take care of all this equipment. Tell each man by name the things he will carry. 33 This is what the Merarite families will do as they work at the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.”

34 Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community registered the Kohathites by their families and households. 35 They registered all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who were qualified to work at the tent of meeting. 36 The total of those who were registered was 2,750. They were listed by families. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite families who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as the LORD had commanded Moses and registered the Kohathites.

38 The Gershonites were registered by families and households. 39 All the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered. 40 The total of those who were registered was 2,630. They were listed by families and households. 41 This was the total of all those in the Gershonite families who worked at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as the LORD had commanded Moses and registered the Gershonites.

42 The Merarites were registered by families and households. 43 All the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered. 44 The total of all those who were registered was 3,200. They were listed by families. 45 This was the total of those registered in the Merarite families. Moses and Aaron did as the LORD had commanded Moses and registered the Merarites.

46 The grand total of all the Levites whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel registered was 8,580. They were listed by families and households. 47 These were the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who were qualified to do the work of serving and who carried the tent of meeting.[2] 49 At the LORD’s command through Moses each man was registered and told what to do and what to carry.

So they were registered as the LORD commanded Moses.

4:1–49   You took a census of the Kohathites and gave them jobs in the tent of meeting. They took care of the most holy things. You assigned tasks to the Gershonites and Merarites. Everyone did what you said.

Removing Unclean People from the Camp

5

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to send outside the camp anyone who has a serious skin disease or a discharge or anyone who is unclean[3] from touching a dead body. 3 Send all of these unclean men and women outside the camp. They must not make this camp where I live among you unclean.” 4 So the Israelites did as the LORD had told Moses. They sent these unclean people outside the camp.

5:1–4   You sent unclean people outside the camp. You aimed to teach your people the importance of purity.

Confessing and Paying for Sins

5 The LORD said to Moses, 6 “Tell the Israelites: If you do something wrong to another person, you have been unfaithful to the LORD. When you realize your guilt, 7 you must confess your sin, pay in full for what you did wrong, add one-fifth to it, and give it to the person who was wronged. 8 But there may be no heir to whom the payment can be made. In that case, the payment for what you did wrong must be given to the LORD for the priest ⌞to use⌟. This payment is in addition to the ram which makes peace with the LORD.

9 “Any contribution over and above the holy offerings that the Israelites bring to the priest will belong to the priest. 10 Each person’s holy offerings will belong to that person, but whatever is given to the priest will belong to the priest.”

5:5–10   You commanded your people to confess their sin and to pay in full for what they did wrong, giving above and beyond the damage they did.

When a Husband Suspects That His Wife Has Been Unfaithful

11 The LORD said to Moses: 12 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: A man’s wife may have been unfaithful to him 13 and may have had sexual intercourse with another man without her husband’s knowledge. She may have kept it secret if there were no witnesses to accuse her and she wasn’t caught in the act.

14 “A husband may have a fit of jealousy and suspect his wife, whether she was actually unfaithful or not. 15 He must then take his wife to the priest along with eight cups of barley flour as an offering for her. He must not pour olive oil on the flour or put frankincense on it, since it is a grain offering brought because of the husband’s jealousy, an offering used for a confession—to remind someone of a sin that was committed.

16 “The priest will have the woman come forward and stand in the LORD’s presence. 17 Then the priest will take holy water in a piece of pottery and put some dust from the floor of the tent into the water. 18 The priest will bring the woman into the LORD’s presence and loosen her hair. In her hands he will put the offering used for a confession (that is, the grain offering brought because of the husband’s jealousy). The priest will hold in his hands the bitter water that can bring a curse.[4]

19 “Then the priest will say to her, ‘If no other man has had sexual intercourse with you and you haven’t been unfaithful to your husband, you’re not guilty. This bitter water that can bring a curse will not harm you. 20 If, in fact, you have been unfaithful and have had sexual intercourse with another man, 21 may the LORD make you an example for your people to see what happens when the curse of this oath comes true: The LORD will make your uterus drop and your stomach swell.’[5]

“Then the priest will administer the oath and the curse by saying: 22 ‘May this water that can bring a curse go into your body and make your stomach swell and your uterus drop!’

“Then the woman will say, ‘Amen, amen!’

23 “The priest will write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. 24 Then he will have the woman drink the bitter water that can bring the curse. This water will go into her ⌞and⌟ become bitter. 25 The priest will take the grain offering she was holding, present it to the LORD, and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest will take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar. Then he will have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has become unclean by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that can bring the curse will go into her and become bitter. Her stomach will swell, her uterus will drop, and she will become cursed among her people. 28 But if the woman is not unclean and is pure, she is not guilty and will be able to have children.

29 “These are the instructions for how to deal with jealousy. They tell you what to do when a woman is unfaithful to her husband and becomes unclean. 30 They also tell you what to do when a husband has a fit of jealousy and is suspicious of his wife. He will make his wife stand in the LORD’s presence, and the priest will do everything these instructions tell him to do. 31 The husband isn’t guilty of doing anything wrong, but the woman will suffer the consequences of her sin.”

5:11–31   You demanded faithfulness between husbands and wives. You said you would determine the innocent and the guilty.

Taking a Special Vow

6

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: A man or a woman may make a special vow to live as a Nazirite dedicated to the LORD. 3 Nazirites must never drink wine, liquor, vinegar made from wine or liquor, or any kind of grape juice, and they must never eat fresh grapes or raisins. 4 As long as they are Nazirites, they must never eat anything that comes from a grapevine, not even grape seeds or skins.

5 “As long as they are under the Nazirite vow, no razor may touch their heads. During the entire time that they are dedicated to the LORD as Nazirites, they will be holy. They must let their hair grow long. 6 While they are dedicated to the LORD as Nazirites, they must never go near a dead body. 7 Even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister dies, they must not make themselves unclean[6] by going near them. Nazarites show their vow to God with their long hair. 8 As long as they are Nazirites, they will be holy to the LORD.

9 “Someone might suddenly drop dead next to a Nazirite and make the Nazirite’s hair unclean. Seven days later he must shave his head in order to be declared clean.[7] 10 On the eighth day he must bring two mourning doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 11 The priest will sacrifice one as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering. The priest will make peace with the LORD for the person who touched the dead body. That same day the person must dedicate his head again. 12 Once again he will dedicate himself to the LORD as a Nazirite for the same length of time as before. He must bring a one-year-old male lamb as an offering for guilt. The first time period won’t count. He has to start over from when he became unclean.

13 “These are the instructions for Nazirites who complete their vows: They must come to the entrance of the tent of meeting. 14 They must bring these offerings to the LORD: a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, a one-year-old female lamb as an offering for sin, and a ram as a fellowship offering. All of these animals must have no defects. 15 They must also bring a basket of unleavened bread containing some rings of bread made with olive oil and wafers of unleavened bread brushed with olive oil, along with other grain offerings and wine offerings.

16 “The priest will bring these offerings to the LORD and make the offering for sin and the burnt offering. 17 He will sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, offer the basket of unleavened bread along with it, and make the grain offerings and wine offerings.

18 “Then the Nazirites will shave their heads at the entrance to the tent of meeting, take the hair as proof that they had made this vow, and put it on the fire under the fellowship offering.

19 “Then the priest will take one of the shoulders from a boiled ram, one ring of unleavened bread from the basket, and one wafer of unleavened bread and hand them to the Nazirites after they have shaved off their hair. 20 The priest will present them as an offering to the LORD. They are holy and belong to the priest, along with the ram’s breast that is presented and the thigh that is given. After that, the Nazirites may drink wine.

21 “These are the instructions for those who have vowed to bring their offerings to the LORD because they were Nazirites. They must bring these offerings in addition to anything else they can afford. They must fulfill the requirements of these instructions for Nazirites and finish whatever they vowed to do.”

6:1–21   You gave rules for men and women making special vows. The Nazirites promised to live dedicated to you. Teach me to finish what I say I’ll do.

How Aaron and His Sons Will Bless the Israelites

22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you will bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 The LORD will bless you and watch over you.

25 The LORD will smile on you and be kind to you.

26 The LORD will look on you with favor and give you peace.’

27 “So whenever they use my name to bless the Israelites, I will bless them.”

6:22–27   Bless me and watch over me. Smile on me and be kind to me. Look on me with favor and give me peace.

Offerings for the Dedication of the Altar

7

1 When Moses finished setting up the tent, he anointed it and dedicated it and all the furnishings. He also anointed and dedicated the altar and all the utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of the households—those tribal leaders who helped in the census—came to give their offerings. 3 They brought these gifts to the LORD: six freight wagons and twelve oxen, one wagon from every two leaders and one ox from each leader. They brought them in front of the tent.

4 The LORD said to Moses, 5 “Accept these gifts from them to use in the work done for the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites to use wherever they need these gifts for their work.” 6 Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites for the work they had to do. 8 He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites for the work they had to do under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron. 9 But Moses gave none of these gifts to the Kohathites, because they took care of the holy things. They had to carry the holy things on their own shoulders.

10 The leaders also brought offerings for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed. They presented their gifts in front of the altar. 11 The LORD said to Moses, “Each day a different leader will bring his gift for the dedication of the altar.”

12 The one who brought his gifts on the first day was Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah. 13 He brought a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 14 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 15 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 16 a male goat as an offering for sin; 17 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nahshon, son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel, son of Zuar, the leader from the tribe of Issachar, brought his gifts. 19 He brought a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 20 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 21 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 22 a male goat as an offering for sin; 23 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nethanel, son of Zuar.

24 On the third day the leader of the descendants of Zebulun, Eliab, son of Helon, 25 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 26 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 27 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 28 a male goat as an offering for sin; 29 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliab, son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day the leader of the descendants of Reuben, Elizur, son of Shedeur, 31 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 32 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 33 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 34 a male goat as an offering for sin; 35 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elizur, son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day the leader of the descendants of Simeon, Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, 37 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 38 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 39 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 40 a male goat as an offering for sin; 41 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day the leader of the descendants of Gad, Eliasaph, son of Deuel, 43 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 44 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 45 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 46 a male goat as an offering for sin; 47 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliasaph, son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day the leader of the descendants of Ephraim, Elishama, son of Ammihud, 49 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 50 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 51 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 52 a male goat as an offering for sin; 53 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elishama, son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day the leader of the descendants of Manasseh, Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, 55 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 56 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 57 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 58 a male goat as an offering for sin; 59 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day the leader of the descendants of Benjamin, Abidan, son of Gideoni, 61 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 62 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 63 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 64 a male goat as an offering for sin; 65 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Abidan, son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day the leader of the descendants of Dan, Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai, 67 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 68 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 69 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 70 a male goat as an offering for sin; 71 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day the leader of the descendants of Asher, Pagiel, son of Ochran, 73 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 74 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 75 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 76 a male goat as an offering for sin; 77 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Pagiel, son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth day the leader of the descendants of Naphtali, Ahira, son of Enan, 79 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 80 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 81 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 82 a male goat as an offering for sin; 83 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahira, son of Enan.

84 These were the gifts from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: 12 silver plates, 12 silver bowls, and 12 gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed 3¼ pounds, and each bowl weighed 1¾ pounds. Together all the silver dishes weighed 60 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. 86 The 12 gold dishes filled with incense weighed 4 ounces each, using the standard weight of the holy place. Together all the gold dishes weighed about 3 pounds. 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offerings was 12 young bulls, 12 rams, 12 one-year-old male lambs, along with their grain offerings. Twelve male goats were used as offerings for sin. 88 The total number of animals for fellowship offerings was 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 one-year-old male lambs. These were the gifts for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

7:1–88   Your people brought you gifts for the tent of meeting. Each tribe brought gifts for the dedication of the altar.

89 Whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the throne of mercy on the ark containing the words of God’s promise, from between the two angels.[8] This is how the LORD spoke with Moses.

7:89   Whenever Moses went into the tent to speak with you, he heard you from above the throne of mercy. Tune my ears to your voice!

The Lamp Stand in the Tent

8

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the seven lamps on the lamp stand, they should light up the area in front of it.”

3 So Aaron set up the lamps on the lamp stand to light up the area in front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses.

4 This is how the lamp stand was made: The whole lamp stand, from top to bottom, was hammered out of gold. It was made exactly like the one the LORD had shown Moses.

The Levites Are Made Ready to Do the LORD’s Work

5 The LORD said to Moses, 6 “Separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and make them clean.[9] 7 This is what you must do to make them clean: Sprinkle them with water to take away their sins. Make them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. Then they will be clean. 8 Next, they must take a young bull and the grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil that is offered with it. You must take a second young bull as an offering for sin. 9 Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting, and assemble the whole community of Israel. 10 Then bring the Levites into the LORD’s presence, and the Israelites will place their hands on them. 11 Aaron will present the Levites to the LORD as an offering from the Israelites. Then they will be ready to do the LORD’s work.

12 “The Levites will place their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Sacrifice one of them as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering to the LORD. These sacrifices will make peace with the LORD for the Levites. 13 Make the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as an offering to the LORD. 14 In this way you will separate the Levites from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.

15 “Once you have made them clean and presented them as an offering, the Levites may come and do their work at the tent of meeting. 16 They will be the only Israelites given to me. I have taken them to be mine as substitutes for every firstborn male offspring of the Israelites. 17 Every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set them apart as holy to me. 18 So I have taken the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the Israelites. 19 The Levites will be the only Israelites I give to Aaron and his sons. They will work for the Israelites at the tent of meeting. They will make peace with the LORD for the Israelites. Then no plague will strike the Israelites when they come near the holy place.”

20 Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel did what the LORD commanded Moses to do to the Levites. 21 The Levites performed the ceremonies to take away their sins and washed their clothes. Aaron presented them as an offering to the LORD and made peace with the LORD for them in order to make them clean. 22 After that, the Levites came and did their work at the tent of meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. They did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

23 The LORD said to Moses, 24 “These are the instructions for the Levites: Men 25 years old or older are eligible to serve at the tent of meeting. 25 But when they’re 50 years old, they must retire from active service and not work anymore. 26 They may assist the other Levites in their duties at the tent of meeting, but they may not do any regular work. This is how you will handle the Levites’ duties.”

8:5–26   Moses prepared the Levites by making them clean—scrubbing, shaving, and sacrificing. Then they were ready to do your work. Set me apart to you.

The Second Passover

9

1 In the first month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. He said, 2 “The Israelites must celebrate the Passover at the same time every year. 3 You must celebrate it on the fourteenth day of this month at dusk. Follow all the rules and regulations for the celebration of the Passover.”

4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they celebrated it on the fourteenth day of the first month at dusk while they were in the Desert of Sinai. The Israelites did everything as the LORD had commanded Moses.

6 But there were some men who had become unclean[10] from touching a dead body, and they couldn’t celebrate the Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron 7 and said, “We are unclean because we touched a dead body. Why won’t you let us bring our offerings to the LORD at the same time the rest of the Israelites bring their offerings?”

8 Moses answered them, “Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands you to do.”

9 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites: 10 Suppose you or any of your descendants is unclean from touching a dead body or is away on a long trip. You may still celebrate the Passover. 11 You will celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at dusk. You must eat the Passover animal along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 You must never leave any of the meat until morning or break any of the animal’s bones. You must follow all the rules for the Passover when you celebrate it. 13 But if you are clean[11] and not on a trip and yet don’t bother to celebrate the Passover, you must be excluded from the people. You didn’t bring your offering to the LORD at the right time. You must suffer the consequences for your sin.

14 “Foreigners living with you may want to celebrate the LORD’s Passover. They must follow these same rules and regulations. The same rules will apply to foreigners and native-born Israelites.”

9:1–14   The Israelites celebrated the second Passover while they camped in the desert. I won’t forget how you rescued me from bondage. I’ll do everything you command.

The Column of Smoke Leads Israel through the Desert

15 On the day the tent of the words of God’s promise was set up, the ⌞column of⌟ smoke covered it. From evening until morning, the smoke over the tent glowed like fire. 16 The smoke always glowed this way. At night the smoke covering the tentglowed like fire. 17 Whenever the smoke moved from the tent, the Israelites would break camp, and wherever it stopped, the Israelites would set up camp. 18 At the LORD’s command the Israelites would break camp, and at his command they would set up camp. As long as the ⌞column of⌟ smoke stayed over the tent, they would stay in the same place. 19 When the smoke stayed over the tent for a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD’s command and wouldn’t break camp. 20 The same thing happened when the smoke stayed only a few days over the tent: At the LORD’s command they would set up camp, and at his command they would break camp. 21 Sometimes the ⌞column of⌟ smoke stayed only from evening until morning. When the smoke moved in the morning, they broke camp. Day or night, when the smoke moved, they broke camp. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year, as long as the ⌞column of⌟ smoke stayed over the tent, the Israelites would stay in the same place and not break camp. But when the smoke moved, they would break camp. 23 At the LORD’s command they set up camp, and at his command they broke camp. They obeyed the command that the LORD had given through Moses.

9:15–23   You led your people with a glowing column of smoke. The people obeyed you and stayed or moved with the column. Please keep your promises to lead me.

Two Silver Signal Trumpets

10

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Make two trumpets out of hammered silver. Use them to call the community together and as a signal to break camp. 3 When you blow both trumpets, the whole community will meet with you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 4 If only one trumpet blows, the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, will meet with you. 5 When they hear the trumpet fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the east side will break camp first. 6 When the trumpets sound a second fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the south will break camp. The fanfare is the signal to break camp. 7 But when you gather the assembly, the trumpets will blow without sounding a fanfare. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, will blow the trumpets. This will be a permanent law for you and your descendants.

9 “When you go to war in your own country against an enemy who is oppressing you, the trumpets will sound a fanfare. Then the LORD your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies. 10 Also, on your festival days and on the first day of the month, blow the trumpets when you sacrifice your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. The trumpets will be a reminder for you in God’s presence. I am the LORD your God.”

10:1–10   Your people hammered trumpets out of silver to call the community together or tell the people to break camp. The trumpets sounded fanfares in battle and in worship. Give me loud reminders of your presence.

Israel Leaves Mount Sinai

11 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the ⌞column of⌟ smoke left the tent of the words of God’s promise. 12 So the Israelites moved from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the ⌞column of⌟ smoke stopped in the Desert of Paran.

13 This was the first time they moved, following the command that the LORD had given through Moses. 14 With their flag in front, the armies led by Judah’s descendants broke camp first. Nahshon, son of Amminadab, was in command. 15 Nethanel, son of Zuar, commanded the army of Issachar. 16 Eliab, son of Helon, commanded the army of Zebulun. 17 Then the tent ⌞of meeting⌟ was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, broke camp.

18 With their flag in front, the armies led by Reuben’s descendants broke camp next. Elizur, son of Shedeur, was in command. 19 Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, commanded the army of Simeon. 20 Eliasaph, son of Deuel, commanded the army of Gad. 21 Then the Kohathites, who carried the holy things, broke camp. By the time they arrived, the tent ⌞of meeting⌟ would already be set up.

22 With their flag in front, the armies led by Ephraim’s descendants broke camp next. Elisha, son of Ammihud, was in command. 23 Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, commanded the army of Manasseh. 24 Abidan, son of Gideoni, commanded the army of Benjamin.

25 As a rear guard for the whole camp, the armies led by Dan’s descendants broke camp last with their flag in front. Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, was in command. 26 Pagiel, son of Ochran, commanded the army of Asher. 27 Ahira, son of Enan, commanded the army of Naphtali.

28 This was the order in which the Israelite armies broke camp when they went from place to place.

29 Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are going to the place the LORD promised to give us. Come with us. We will be good to you, because the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”

30 Hobab answered, “No, I won’t go. I want to go back to my own country where my relatives are.”

31 But Moses said, “Please don’t leave us. You know where we can set up camp in the desert, and you could be our guide. 32 If you come with us, we will share with you all the good things the LORD gives us.”

10:11–32   You sent your people across the desert from Sinai to Paran. They followed the commands you gave through Moses. I’ll move when you say move.

33 So they left the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days. The ark of the LORD’s promise went ahead of them a distance of three days’ journey to find them a place to rest. 34 The LORD’s ⌞column of⌟ smoke was over them by day when they moved the camp.

35 Whenever the ark started to move, Moses would say,

“Arise, O LORD!

Scatter your enemies!

Make those who hate you run away from you!”

36 And whenever it stopped, he would say,

“Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!”

10:33–36   You led your people in a column of smoke. Arise, O Lord! Scatter your enemies! And be present with all your followers!

The People of Israel Demand Meat to Eat

11

1 The people began complaining out loud to the LORD about their troubles. When the LORD heard them, he became angry, and fire from the LORD began to burn among them. It destroyed some people on the outskirts of the camp. 2 The people cried out to Moses, Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. 3 That place was called Taberah [Fire] because fire from the LORD burned among them there.

4 Some foreigners among the Israelites had a strong craving for ⌞other kinds of⌟ food. Even the Israelites started crying again and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 Remember all the free fish we ate in Egypt and the cucumbers, watermelons, leeks, onions, and garlic we had? 6 But now we’ve lost our appetite! Everywhere we look there’s nothing but manna!”

7 (Manna was ⌞small⌟ like coriander seeds and looked like resin. 8 The people would go around and gather it, then grind it in a handmill or crush it in a mortar. They would cook it in a pot or make round loaves of bread out of it. It tasted like rich pastry made with olive oil. 9 When dew fell on the camp at night, manna fell with it.)

11:1–9   People began complaining about all their troubles. Those escaped slaves craved the food they enjoyed back in Egypt. Everywhere they looked it was nothing but manna!

10 Moses heard people from every family crying at the entrance to their tents. The LORD became very angry, and Moses didn’t like it either. 11 So he asked, “LORD, why have you brought me this trouble? How have I displeased you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Am I their mother? Did I give birth to them? Are you really asking me to carry them in my arms—as a nurse carries a baby—all the way to the land you promised their ancestors with an oath? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep crying for me to give them meat to eat. 14 I can’t take care of all these people by myself. This is too much work for me! 15 If this is how you’re going to treat me, why don’t you just kill me? I can’t face this trouble anymore.”

11:10–15   You heard the people’s cries and became angry. So did Moses. Were you really asking him to carry them to the land you promised? Why didn’t you just kill him?

16 The LORD answered Moses, “Bring me 70 Israelite men who you know are leaders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting, and have them stand with you. 17 I’ll come down and speak with you there. I’ll take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will help you take care of the people. You won’t have to take care of the people alone. 18 Tell the people to get ready for tomorrow. They must be set apart as holy. Then they will eat meat. I, the LORD, heard them crying and saying, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!’ So I will give them meat. 19 They won’t eat it just for one or two days, or five, or ten, or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month, until it comes out of their ears and they’re sick of it. This is because they rejected the LORD who is here among them and cried in front of him, asking, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”

11:16–20   You gave Moses 70 helpers. Then you announced you would send meat until it spilled out of everyone’s ears. Forgive me when I grumble and reject you!

21 But Moses said, “Here I am with 600,000 foot soldiers around me. Yet, you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ 22 Would they have enough if all the flocks and herds were butchered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”

23 The LORD asked Moses, “Is there a limit to the LORD’s power? Now you will see whether or not my words come true.”

24 Moses went out and told the people what the LORD said. He gathered 70 of the leaders of the people and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the LORD came down in the ⌞column of⌟ smoke and spoke with him. He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the 70 leaders. When the Spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied, but they never prophesied again.

26 Two men, named Eldad and Medad, had stayed in the camp. They were on the list with the other leaders but hadn’t gone with them to the tent. The Spirit came to rest on them, too, and they prophesied in the camp.

27 Then a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 So Joshua, son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant ever since he was a young man, spoke up and said, “Stop them, sir!”

29 But Moses asked him, “Do you think you need to stand up for me? I wish all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them.”

30 Then Moses and the leaders went back to the camp.

31 The LORD sent a wind from the sea that brought quails and dropped them all around the camp. There were quails on the ground about three feet deep as far as you could walk in a day in any direction.

32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered the quails. No one gathered less than 60 bushels. Then they spread the quails out all around the camp.

33 While the meat was still in their mouths—before they had even had a chance to chew it—the LORD became angry with the people and struck them with a severe plague. 34 That place was called Kibroth Hattaavah [Graves of Those Who Craved ⌞Meat⌟] because there they buried the people who had a strong craving ⌞for meat⌟.

35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people moved to Hazeroth, and they stayed there.

11:21–35   You did exactly what you said, dropping quail three feet deep in every direction. You sent some of the complainers to the grave. There’s no limit to your power.

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

12

1 Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan. 2 They asked, “Did the LORD speak only through Moses? Didn’t he also speak through us?” The LORD heard their complaint.

3 (Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.)

4 Suddenly, the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “All three of you come to the tent of meeting.” So all three of them came. 5 Then the LORD came down in the column of smoke and stood at the entrance to the tent. He called to Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

6 He said, “Listen to my words: When there are prophets of the LORD among you, I make myself known to them in visions or speak to them in dreams. 7 But this is not the way I treat my servant Moses. He is the most faithful person in my household.[12] 8I speak with him face to face, plainly and not in riddles. He even sees the form of the LORD. Why weren’t you afraid to criticize my servant Moses?”

12:1–7   Moses was more humble than anyone on earth—the most faithful person in your household. Make me a servant like Moses.

9 The LORD was angry with them, so he left.

10 When the smoke left the tent, Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease. She was as white as snow. Aaron turned to her and saw she was covered with the disease. 11 So he said to Moses, “Please, sir, don’t punish us for this foolish sin we committed. 12 Don’t let her be like a stillborn baby that’s not completely developed.”

13 So Moses cried to the LORD, “Please, God, heal her!”

14 The LORD replied to Moses, “If her own father had spit in her face, wouldn’t she be excluded from the community for seven days? She must be put in isolation outside the camp for seven days. Then she can be brought back.” 15 So Miriam was put in isolation outside the camp for seven days. The people didn’t break camp until she was brought back.

16 After that, the people moved from Hazeroth and set up camp in the Desert of Paran.

12:8–16   You spoke with Moses face to face. He even saw your form. Yet his siblings weren’t afraid to criticize him. You turned his sister white as snow. Make me quick to repent like Miriam and Aaron.

Moses Sends Out 12 Spies

13

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Send men to explore Canaan, which I’m giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of their ancestors’ tribes.”

3 So at the LORD’s command, Moses sent these men from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

4 These are their names:

Shammua, son of Zaccur, from the tribe of Reuben;

5 Shaphat, son of Hori, from the tribe of Simeon;

6 Caleb, son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah;

7 Igal, son of Joseph, from the tribe of Issachar;

8 Hoshea, son of Nun, from the tribe of Ephraim;

9 Palti, son of Raphu, from the tribe of Benjamin;

10 Gaddiel, son of Sodi, from the tribe of Zebulun;

11 Gaddi, son of Susi, from the tribe of Joseph (that is, the tribe of Manasseh);

12 Ammiel, son of Gemalli, from the tribe of Dan;

13 Sethur, son of Michael, from the tribe of Asher;

14 Nahbi, son of Vophsi, from the tribe of Naphtali;

15 Geuel, son of Machi, from the tribe of Gad.

16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. But Moses gave Hoshea, son of Nun, the name Joshua.

17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he told them, “Go through the Negev and then into the mountain region. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 Is the land they live in good or bad? Do their cities have walls around them or not? 20 Is the soil rich or poor? Does the land have trees or not? Do your best to bring back some fruit from the land.” (It was the season when grapes were beginning to ripen.)

13:1–20   Into the land you promised, you sent twelve men to spy what it was like—whether the soil was good and the people strong.

21 So the men explored the land from the Desert of Zin to the border of Hamath. 22 They went through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai lived. They are descendants of Anak. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they came to the Eshcol Valley, they cut off a branch with only one bunch of grapes on it. They carried it on a pole between two of them. They also brought some pomegranates and figs. 24 So they called that valley Eshcol [Bunch of Grapes] because of the bunch of grapes the Israelites cut off there.

25 Forty days later, they came back from exploring the land. 26 They came back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. They gave their report and showed them the fruit from the land.

27 This is what they reported to Moses: “We went to the land where you sent us. It really is a land flowing with milk and honey. Here’s some of its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are strong, and the cities have walls and are very large. We even saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev. The Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the mountain region. And the Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and all along the Jordan River.”

13:21–29   The spies came back with a bad report. They saw a land just like you promised, flowing with milk and honey. But the people and cities were strong.

30 Caleb told the people to be quiet and listen to Moses. Caleb said, “Let’s go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it.”

31 But the men who had gone with him said, “We can’t attack those people! They’re too strong for us!” 32 So they began to spread lies among the Israelites about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored is one that devours those who live there. All the people we saw there are very tall. 33 We saw Nephilim there. (The descendants of Anak are Nephilim.) We felt as small as grasshoppers, and that’s how we must have looked to them.”

13:30–33   Caleb declared they could take and hold the land. But the others said the inhabitants were too strong. They spread lies about the land.

The People Rebel against the LORD

14

1 Then all the people in the Israelite community raised their voices and cried out loud all that night. 2 They complained to Moses and Aaron, “If only we had died in Egypt or this desert! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land—just to have us die in battle? Our wives and children will be taken as prisoners of war! Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 They said to each other, “Let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

14:1–4   All the Israelites cried out, wishing they had died in the desert. They thought you rescued them just to get them killed. They wanted to go back to Egypt.

5 Immediately, Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces touching the ground in front of the whole community of Israel assembled there. 6 At the same time, two of those who had explored the land, Joshua (son of Nun) and Caleb (son of Jephunneh), tore their clothes in despair. 7 They said to the whole community of Israel, “The land we explored is very good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. This is a land flowing with milk and honey! 9 Don’t rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will devour them like bread. They have no protection, and the LORD is with us. So don’t be afraid of them.”

10 But when the whole community of Israel talked about stoning Moses and Aaron to death, they all saw the glory of the LORD ⌞shining⌟ at the tent of meeting. 11 The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to trust me in spite of all the miraculous signs I have done among them? 12 I’ll strike them with a plague, I’ll destroy them,[13] and I’ll make you into a nation larger and stronger than they are.”

14:5–10   Caleb and Joshua tore their clothes in despair. They knew you would lead your people into the land. I believe you’ll take me all the places you promise. Because you go with me, I won’t be afraid.

13 But Moses said to the LORD, “What if the Egyptians hear about it? (You used your power to take these people away from them.) 14 What if the Egyptians tell the people who live in this land? LORD, they have already heard that you are with these people, that they have seen you with their own eyes, that your column of smoke stays over them, and that you go ahead of them in a column of smoke by day and in a column of fire by night. 15 But if you kill all these people at the same time, then the nations who have heard these reports about you will say, 16 ‘The LORD wasn’t able to bring these people into the land he promised them, so he slaughtered them in the desert.’

14:11–16   You tired of being treated with contempt. You threatened to destroy all those rescued slaves. But Moses pleaded for mercy.

17 “Lord, let your power be as great as when you said, 18 ‘The LORD . . . patient, forever loving. . . . He forgives wrongdoing and disobedience. . . . He never lets the guilty go unpunished, punishing children . . . for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation. . . .’ 19 By your great love, please forgive these people’s sins, as you have been forgiving them from the time they left Egypt until now.”

14:17–19   Let your power be great. You are patient. Forever loving. By your great love, forgive me now and always.

20 The LORD said, “I forgive them, as you have asked. 21 But as I live and as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, I solemnly swear that 22 none of the people who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I did in Egypt and in the desert will see the land which I promised their ancestors. They have tested me now ten times and refused to obey me.[14] 23 None of those who treat me with contempt will see it! 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has wholeheartedly followed me, I’ll bring him to the land he already explored. His descendants will possess it. 25 (The Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys.) Tomorrow you must turn around, go back into the desert, and follow the road that goes to the Red Sea.”

Authentic Prayer

Numbers 14:10–25

Remembering

Lord, let your power be as great as when you said, “The LORD . . . patient, forever loving. . . . He forgives wrongdoing and disobedience.” Numbers 14:17–18

God never forgets anything he says or does. But it encourages your heart and emboldens your mind to recall his words and deeds.

Moses had led a mass of escaped slaves to the edge of the land the Lord had promised to Abraham centuries before. Spies who scouted the territory agreed it was beautiful and brimming with food. But they feared the land’s powerful inhabitants. The people refused to act on God’s command.

Now Moses stands between a stubborn people and an irate God. He envisions old Egyptian slavemasters mocking the Lord’s failure to plant his people in a new home. He recites Exodus 34:6–7, reminding God of his patient love and ready forgiveness, probing the Lord’s commitment to his promises. He finds God’s past actions prove he can be trusted in the present.

Through prayer you can recall the Lord’s words and declare his past deeds in Scripture and your own life, informing yourself and the universe that your God remains forever faithful. He never wavers from his kind plans. As you remember the Lord, count on him to remember you.

Pray the Scriptures Remembering: Psalm 18:1–52, Psalm 78:1–72, Psalm 119:49–50, Daniel 9:1–19

26 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 27 “How long must I put up with this wicked community that keeps complaining about me? I’ve heard the complaints the Israelites are making about me. 28 So tell them, ‘As I live, declares the LORD, I solemnly swear I will do everything to you that you said I would do. 29 Your bodies will drop dead in this desert. All of you who are at least 20 years old, who were registered and listed, and who complained about me will die. 30 I raised my hand and swore an oath to give you this land to live in. But none of you will enter it except Caleb (son of Jephunneh) and Joshua (son of Nun). 31 You said your children would be taken as prisoners of war. Instead, I will bring them into the land you rejected, and they will enjoy it. 32 However, your bodies will drop dead in this desert. 33 Your children will be shepherds in the desert for 40 years. They will suffer for your unfaithfulness until the last of your bodies lies dead in the desert. 34 For 40 days you explored the land. So for 40 years—one year for each day—you will suffer for your sins and know what it means for me to be against you.’ 35 I, the LORD, have spoken. I swear I will do these things to all the people in this whole wicked community who have joined forces against me. They will meet their end in this desert. Here they will die!”

14:20–35   You forgave your people. But you swore by your glory that none would enter the land.

36 So the men Moses sent to explore the land died in front of the LORD from a plague. 37 They died because they had returned and made the whole community complain about Moses by spreading lies about the land.[15] 38 Of all the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua (son of Nun) and Caleb (son of Jephunneh) survived.

The Amalekites and Canaanites Defeat Israel

39 When Moses told these things to all the Israelites, the people mourned bitterly, as if someone had died. 40 Early the next morning they headed into the mountain region. They said, “We have sinned. Now we’ll go to the place the LORD promised.”

41 But Moses asked, “Why are you disobeying the LORD’s command? Your plan won’t work! 42 Don’t go! You will be defeated by your enemies because the LORD is not with you. 43 The Amalekites and Canaanites are there, and you will die in battle. Now that you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.”

44 But they headed into the mountain region anyway, even though the ark of the LORD’s promise and Moses stayed in the camp. 45 The Amalekites and Canaanites who lived there came down from those mountains, attacked the Israelites, and defeated them at Hormah.[16]

Grain and Wine Made Part of the Sacrifices to the LORD

15

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: Once you’re settled in the land I’m giving you, 3 you may bring offerings by fire to the LORD. They may be burnt offerings or any other kind of sacrifice. They may be offered to fulfill a vow, as a freewill offering, or as one of your festival offerings. They may be cattle, sheep, or goats—offerings that are a soothing aroma to the LORD. 4 Whoever brings the offering must also give the LORD a grain offering of eight cups of flour mixed with one quart of olive oil. 5 With each sheep or goat for the burnt offering or any other sacrifice, also give an offering of one quart of wine.

6 “With a ram, give a grain offering of 16 cups of flour mixed with 1¼ quarts of oil 7 and an offering of 1¼ quarts of wine. Offer them as a soothing aroma to the LORD.

8 “Suppose you sacrifice a young bull as a burnt offering to the LORD or make any other kind of sacrifice—to keep a vow or as a fellowship offering. 9 Offer with the young bull a grain offering of 24 cups of flour mixed with two quarts of olive oil. 10 Also give an offering of two quarts of wine. It is an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD. 11 Do this for each bull, each ram, and each sheep or goat. 12 Do it for each animal, however many you sacrifice. 13 All native-born Israelites must do it this way when they bring an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD.

14 “Suppose foreigners are visiting you or living among you in future generations. If they bring an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD, they must do as you do. 15 There is one law for the whole assembly: for you and foreigners who are living with you. It is a permanent law for future generations. As far as the LORD is concerned, you and foreigners are the same. 16 The instructions and rules are the same for you as well as foreigners who are living with you.”

Offering the First Bread Dough to the LORD

17 The LORD said to Moses, 18 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you enter the land where I’m taking you 19 and eat any of the food from the land, give some of it as a contribution to the LORD. 20 Shape one part of your dough into a ring the same way you do with the contribution you make from the threshing floor.[17] 21 For generations to come, you must give one part of your dough as a contribution to the LORD.

15:1–21   You made rules for sacrifices, requiring grain, wine, and dough along with cattle, sheep, or goats. This was a soothing aroma to you.

What Is to Be Done about Unintentional and Intentional Wrongdoings

22 “Suppose you unintentionally do something wrong by not obeying all these commands the LORD gave Moses. 23 (Everything the LORD commanded you through Moses holds as true for generations to come as it did the day the LORD gave the commands.) 24 If it was unintentional and no one else knows about it, the whole community must sacrifice a young bull as a burnt offering, a soothing aroma to the LORD, along with the proper grain and wine offerings, and a male goat as an offering for sin. 25 The priest will make peace with the LORD for the whole community of Israel. Then they will be forgiven because the wrongdoing was unintentional and they brought these two offerings to the LORD for their sin: an offering by fire and an offering for sin. 26 So the whole community of Israel will be forgiven, including foreigners who are living among them, since all the people were involved in the unintentional wrongdoing.

27 “If one person unintentionally does something wrong, a one-year-old female goat must be sacrificed as an offering for sin. 28 The priest will offer the sacrifice to make peace with the LORD for that person, and that person will be forgiven. 29 You must give the same instructions to everyone who does something wrong unintentionally, whether they are native-born Israelites or not.

30 “But any native-born Israelite or foreigner who deliberately does something wrong insults the LORD and must be excluded from the people. 31 That person has despised the word of the LORD and broken the LORD’s command. He must be excluded completely. He remains guilty.”

15:22–31   You made a way to right unintentional wrongs. You hated acts of intentional evil. Your rules applied to everyone.

A Man Breaks the Rules for the Day of Worship

32 While the Israelites were in the desert, they found a man gathering wood on the day of worship. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole community. 34 They kept him in custody until they decided what to do with him.

35 Then the LORD said to Moses, “This man must be put to death. The whole community must take him outside the camp and stone him.” 36 So the whole community took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The Israelites Are Commanded to Wear Tassels

37 The LORD said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: For generations to come they must wear tassels on the corners of their clothes with violet threads in each tassel. 39 Whenever you look at the threads in the tassel, you will remember all the LORD’s commands and obey them. Then you won’t do whatever you want and go after whatever you see, as if you were chasing after prostitutes. 40 You will remember to obey all my commands, and you will be holy to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.”

15:32–41   You judged a man who broke your day of rest. And you made your people wear tassels to remind them of your commands. I want to be holy to my God.

Korah’s Rebellion

16

1 Korah (son of Izhar), Dathan and Abiram (sons of Eliab), and On (son of Peleth) dared to challenge Moses.[18] (Korah was a descendant of Kohath and Levi. Dathan, Abiram, and On were descendants of Reuben.) 2 These four men were joined by 250 Israelite men, well-known leaders of the community, chosen by the assembly. 3 They came together to confront Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You’ve gone far enough! Everyone in the whole community is holy, and the LORD is among them. Why do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?”

4 As soon as Moses heard this, he bowed with his face touching the ground. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “In the morning the LORD will show who belongs to him, who is holy, and who it is that he will allow to come near him. Only the person the LORD chooses will be allowed to come near him. 6 Korah, you and all your followers must do this tomorrow: Take incense burners, 7 and put burning coals and incense in them in the LORD’s presence. Then the LORD will choose the man who is holy. You’ve gone far enough!”

8 Moses also said to Korah, “Listen, you Levites! 9 Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the community of Israel? The LORD has brought you near himself to do the work for his tent and stand in front of the community to serve them. 10 He has brought you and all the other Levites near himself, but now you demand to be priests. 11 So you and all your followers have joined forces against the LORD! Who is Aaron that you should complain about him?”

12 Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab. But they said, “We won’t come! 13 Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey only to kill us in the desert? Do you also have to order us around? 14 Certainly you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us any fields and vineyards to own. Do you think you can still pull the wool over our eyes? We won’t come.”

15 Moses became angry and said to the LORD, “Don’t accept their offering. I haven’t taken anything from them, not even a donkey. And I haven’t mistreated any of them.”

16 Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow you and all your followers must come into the LORD’s presence. Aaron will also be there with you. 17 Each man will take his incense burner and put incense in it. They will offer all 250 incense burners to the LORD. Then you and Aaron offer your incense burners.”

16:1–17   Respected leaders thought Moses had put himself above everyone else. They said you were with everyone. But Moses left it to you to choose who was holy.

18 So each man took his incense burner, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers—those who opposed Moses and Aaron—at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole group.

20 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Move away from these men, and I’ll destroy them in an instant.” 22 Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground and said, “O God, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone! If one man sins, will you be angry with the whole community?”

23 Then the LORD said to Moses, 24 “Tell the community: Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”

25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the leaders of Israel followed him. 26 He said to the community, “Move away from the tents of these wicked men. Don’t touch anything that belongs to them, or you’ll be swept away because of all their sins.” 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children.

28 Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD sent me to do all these things and that it wasn’t my idea: 29 If these men die like all other people—if they die a natural death—then the LORD hasn’t sent me. 30 But if the LORD does something totally new—if the ground opens up, swallows them and everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive to their graves—then you’ll know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.”

16:18–30   Your glory appeared to the whole group. Those who were with you moved away from the rebels. You call me to stand with those who side with you.

31 As soon as he had finished saying all this, the ground under them split, 32 and the earth opened up to swallow them, their families, the followers of Korah, and all their property. 33 They went down alive to their graves with everything that belonged to them. The ground covered them, and so they disappeared from the assembly. 34 All the Israelites around them ran away when they heard their screams. They thought the ground would swallow them, too.

35 Fire came from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering incense.[19]

36 Then the LORD said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, to take the incense burners out of the fire and scatter the coals and incense somewhere else, because the incense burners have become holy. 38 The incense burners of these men who sinned and lost their lives are holy, because they were offered to the LORD. Hammer them into thin metal sheets to cover the altar. This will be a sign to the Israelites.”

39 So the priest Eleazar took the bronze incense burners which had been brought by those who had been burned to death. The incense burners were then hammered into thin metal sheets to cover the altar, 40 following the command that the LORD had given through Moses. The bronze-covered altar will remind Israel that no one but a descendant of Aaron can come near to burn incense to the LORD. Everyone else will die like Korah and his followers.

16:31–40   The ground split and swallowed up the rebels, and your fire consumed 250 men offering unholy fire.

41 The next day the whole community of Israel complained to Moses and Aaron. They said, “You have killed the LORD’s people.” 42 The community came together to confront Moses and Aaron. When they turned toward the tent of meeting, they saw the smoke covering it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting. 44 The LORD said to Moses, 45 “Get away from these people, and let me destroy them in an instant!” Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground.

46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your incense burner, put burning coals from the altar and incense in it, and go quickly into the community to make peace with the LORD for the people. The LORD is showing his anger; a plague has started.”

47 Aaron took his incense burner, as Moses told him, and ran into the middle of the assembly, because the plague had already begun among the people. He put incense on the incense burner to make peace with the LORD for the people. 48 He stood between those who had died and those who were still alive, and the plague stopped. 49 Still, 14,700 died from the plague in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 50 By the time Aaron came back to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the plague had stopped.

16:41–50   The rest of the people complained to Moses and Aaron. You showed your anger and started a plague. You make pride and grumbling a matter of life and death. I’ll make peace with you.

Aaron’s Staff Grows

17  [20]

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites, and get 12 staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their tribes.[21] Write each man’s name on his staff. 3 Write Aaron’s name on the staff for Levi because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe. 4 Put them in the tent of meeting where I meet with you, in front of the words of my promise. 5 The staff from the man I choose will begin to grow. In this way I will silence the frequent complaints the Israelites make against you and Aaron.”

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites. Their leaders gave him 12 staffs, one from the leader of each of their tribes. Aaron’s staff was among them. 7 Moses put the staffs in the LORD’s presence in the tent of the words of God’s promise.

8 The next day Moses went into the tent. He found that Aaron’s staff for the tribe of Levi had not only begun to grow, but it had also blossomed and produced ripe almonds. 9 Moses brought out the staffs from the LORD’s presence and showed them to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his staff.

10 The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the words of my promise, and keep it there as a sign to warn any other rebels. Then you will stop their complaints about me, and they won’t die.”

11 Moses did exactly what the LORD commanded him to do.

12 The Israelites said to Moses, “Now we’re going to die! We’re lost! We’re all lost! 13 Anyone who comes near the LORD’s tent will die! Are we all going to die?”

17:1–13   To silence the people’s complaints you made Aaron’s staff sprout and produce ripe almonds. You made it a sign to warn other rebels. Everyone feared you.

The Duties of the Levites and Priests

18

1 The LORD said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and your family will be responsible for any sins against the holy place. You and your sons will also be responsible for any sins you commit when you work as priests. 2 Bring the other Levites from your ancestor’s tribe to join you and help you and your sons serve in front of the tent of the words of my promise. 3 They will work for you, doing whatever work is necessary for the whole tent. But they must not come near the altar or the furnishings in the holy place, or they will die, and you will die, too. 4 They will join you and do whatever work is necessary for the tent of meeting, including all the maintenance work for the tent. But no one else may come near you.

5 “You must be in charge of the work done at the holy place and at the altar. Then I won’t show my anger against the Israelites again. 6 I have chosen the other Levites from among the Israelites to help you. They are a gift given to the LORD to do whatever work is necessary at the tent of meeting. 7 Only you and your sons may do the work of priests—everything done at the altar and under the canopy. This is my gift to you: You may serve me as priests. Anyone else who comes near ⌞the holy place to do this work⌟ must die.”

18:1–7   You made Aaron and his sons responsible for sins against the holy place—and for the correctness of their own actions. I want to assume the duties you give me as a privilege—not a burden.

Contributions for the Levites and Priests

8 The LORD said to Aaron, “I am putting you in charge of all the contributions given to me. I am giving you and your descendants all the holy gifts from the Israelites as your share. These contributions will always be yours. 9 That part of the most holy offerings which is not burned belongs to you. It may come from a grain offering, an offering for sin, or a guilt offering. Whatever is brought to me as a most holy offering will belong to you and your sons. 10 Eat it in a most holy place. Any male may eat it. You must consider it holy.

11 “The contributions that come as gifts taken from the offerings presented by the Israelites are also yours. I am giving these to you, your sons, and your daughters. They will always be yours. Anyone in your household who is clean[22] may eat them.

12 “I am also giving you the first of the produce they give the LORD: the best of all the olive oil and the best of the new wine and fresh grain. 13 The first of all produce harvested in their land that they bring to the LORD is yours. Anyone in your household who is clean may eat it.

14 “Anything in Israel that is claimed by the LORD is yours. 15 Every firstborn male, human or animal, that is brought to the LORD is yours. But you must buy back every firstborn son and the firstborn male of any unclean animal. 16 When they are one month old, you must buy them back at the fixed price of two ounces of silver, using the standard weight of the holy place.

17 “But you must never buy back a firstborn ox, sheep, or goat. They are holy. Throw the blood from these animals against the altar, and burn the fat as an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD. 18 But the meat is yours, like the breast and the right thigh that are presented. 19 I am giving you, your sons, and your daughters all the holy contributions the Israelites bring to the LORD. These contributions will always be yours. It is an everlasting promise of salt in the LORD’s presence for you and your descendants.”

20 The LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no land or property of your own as the other Israelites will have. I am your possession and your property among the Israelites.

21 “I am giving the Levites one-tenth of every Israelite’s income. This is in return for the work they do at the tent of meeting. 22 The other Israelites must never again come near the tent of meeting. Otherwise, they’ll suffer the consequences of their sin and die. 23 Only the Levites will do the work at the tent of meeting. They will be responsible for their own sins. This is a permanent law for future generations. They will own no property as the other Israelites will. 24 Instead, I will give the Levites what the Israelites contribute to the LORD—one-tenth of the Israelites’ income. This is why I said about them, ‘They will own no property as the other Israelites do.’”

25 The LORD said to Moses, 26 “Speak to the Levites and say to them: You will take one-tenth of the Israelites’ income which I’m giving you as your property. When you do, you must contribute one-tenth of that income as your contribution to the LORD. 27 Your contribution will be considered to be grain from the threshing floor[23] or juice from the winepress. 28 So you, too, will contribute one-tenth of your income to the LORD out of all that you receive from the Israelites’ income. You will give the LORD’s contribution to the priest Aaron. 29 Out of all the gifts you receive, you must contribute the best and holiest parts to the LORD.

30 “Also tell them: When you contribute the best part, your contribution will be considered to be produce from the threshing floor or winepress. 31 So you and your households may eat it anywhere, because it’s the wages you receive for your work at the tent of meeting. 32 When you contribute the best part, you won’t suffer the consequences of any sin. You won’t be dishonoring the holy offerings given by the Israelites, and you won’t die.”

18:8–32   You trusted Aaron to take charge of contributions. Because he had no land or property of his own, you vowed to be his special possession.

Water That Makes Israel Clean After Someone Dies

19

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “This is what the LORD’s teachings have commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red cow that is perfect, with no defects. Also, it must never have worn a yoke.[24] 3 Give it to the priest Eleazar. It must be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. 4 The priest Eleazar will take some of the blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. 5 Then the entire cow (the skin, meat, blood, and excrement) will be burned while he watches. 6 The priest will take some cedar wood, a hyssop sprig, and some red yarn and throw them onto the burning cow. 7 The priest must then wash his clothes and his body. After that, he may go into the camp. But he will be unclean[25] until evening. 8 The person who burned the calf must also wash his clothes and his body. He, too, will be unclean until evening.

9 “A man who is clean[26] will collect the ashes from the cow and put them in a clean place outside the camp. They will be kept by the community of Israel and used in the water that takes away uncleanness. The cow is an offering for sin. 10 The person who collected the ashes from the cow must also wash his clothes. He will be unclean until evening. This will be a permanent law for the Israelites and for the foreigners who live with them.

11 “Whoever touches the dead body of any human being will be unclean for seven days. 12 The unclean person must use this water on the third day and the seventh day to take away his sin. Then he will be clean. But if he doesn’t use this water on the third day and the seventh day, he will not be clean. 13 Whoever touches the dead body of a human being and doesn’t use this water to take away his sin makes the LORD’s tent unclean. That person must be excluded from Israel, because the water that takes away uncleanness wasn’t sprinkled on him. He is unclean; his uncleanness stays with him.

14 “These are your instructions for when a person dies in a tent: Everyone who goes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent will be unclean for seven days. 15 Every container without a lid fastened on it is unclean.

16 “Whoever is outdoors and touches someone who was killed or has died naturally or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave will be unclean for seven days.

17 “ ⌞This is what you must do⌟ for people who become unclean from touching a dead body. Put some of the ashes from the red cow that was burned as an offering for sin into a container. Then pour fresh water on them. 18 A person who is clean will take a sprig of hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and all the people who were in the tent ⌞with the dead body⌟. He must also sprinkle any person who has touched a human bone or a grave and any person who has touched someone who has been killed or who has died naturally. 19 A person who is clean will sprinkle these types of unclean people on the third day and the seventh day. On the seventh day the clean person will finish taking away their sins. Then they must wash their clothes and bodies, and in the evening they will be clean. 20 But if the person who becomes unclean doesn’t have his sin taken away, that person must be excluded from the assembly. He has made the holy place of the LORD unclean. The water to take away uncleanness wasn’t sprinkled on him. He is unclean. 21 This will be a permanent law for them.

“Whoever sprinkles the water to take away uncleanness must wash his clothes. And whoever touches this water will be unclean until evening. 22 Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and the person who touches it will be unclean until evening.”

19:1–22   You explained how people could be made clean and how they could have their sins taken away. Without the cleansing you commanded, they were excluded from your people.

Water from the Rock

20

1 In the first month the whole community of Israel came into the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

2 Since the community was without water, they came together to confront Moses and Aaron. 3 The people complained to Moses and said, “If only we had died when the other Israelites died in the LORD’s presence! 4 Did you bring the LORD’s assembly into this desert just to have us and our animals die here? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us into this terrible place? This is no place to plant crops. Even figs, grapes, and pomegranates won’t grow here. And there’s no water to drink!”

20:1–5   When your people ran out of water, they confronted Moses and Aaron. They thought you intended for them to die. Shake me awake when I dream of going back to slavery.

6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

7 The LORD said to Moses, 8 “Take your staff, then you and your brother Aaron gather the community. Right before their eyes, tell the rock to give up its water. In this way you will give the community water from the rock for them and their animals to drink.”

9 Moses took his staff out of ⌞the tent in⌟ the LORD’s presence as he had been commanded. 10 Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out, and all the people and their animals drank.

12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “You didn’t trust me! You didn’t show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I’m giving them.”

13 This was the oasis of Meribah [Complaining], where the Israelites complained about the LORD and where he showed them he was holy.

20:6–13   Moses ignored your directions to speak to the rock. He struck the rock twice to get water. You were angry he didn’t trust you or show off your holiness. Don’t let me surrender my place in your plans by brashly disobeying you.

Edom Refuses to Allow Israel to Pass through Its Territory

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. He said, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardships we’ve had. 15 Our ancestors went to Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors. 16 When we cried out to the LORD, he heard us, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt.

“Now we’re here in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us go through your country. We won’t go through any of your fields or vineyards, or drink any of the water from your wells. We’ll stay on the king’s highway and never leave it until we’ve passed through your territory.”

18 But the Edomites answered, “You may not pass through our country. If you try, we’ll come out and attack you.”

19 The Israelites replied, “We’ll stay on the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we’ll pay for it. We want to pass through on foot. That’s all.”

20 But the Edomites said, “You may not pass through.” Then they came out and attacked with many well-armed troops. 21 Since the Edomites refused to let Israel go through their territory, the Israelites turned around and went a different way.

20:14–21   Moses testified to your awesome rescue. But the Edomites didn’t want to help your people. They stood in the way of your plan.

Aaron’s Death

22 The whole community of Israel left Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. 23 At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “Aaron must now join his ancestors ⌞in death⌟, since he cannot enter the land I’m giving the Israelites. This is because you both rebelled against my command at the oasis of Meribah. 25 Bring Aaron and his son Eleazar up on Mount Hor. 26 Take off Aaron’s priestly clothes, and put them on his son Eleazar. Then Aaron will die there and join ⌞his ancestors⌟.”

27 Moses did as the Lord commanded. The whole community saw them go up on Mount Hor. 28 Moses took off Aaron’s priestly clothes and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 The whole community saw that Aaron had died, and all the Israelites mourned for Aaron 30 days.

20:22–29   Your people mourned when Aaron died. You didn’t back off on your consequence. He couldn’t enter the land you promised.

The King of Arad Is Defeated

21

1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were coming on the road to Atharim, he fought them and took some of them as prisoners. 2 Then the Israelites made this vow to the LORD: “If you will hand these people over to us, we’ll destroy their cities because you’ve claimed them.” 3 The LORD listened to the Israelites and handed the Canaanites over to them. They destroyed the Canaanites and their cities. So they called the place Hormah [Claimed for Destruction].

21:1–3   The Israelites gained their first victory. You were keeping your promise to give them land of their own.

The Bronze Snake

4 Then they moved from Mount Hor, following the road that goes to the Red Sea, in order to get around Edom. The people became impatient on the trip 5 and criticized God and Moses. They said, “Why did you make us leave Egypt—just to let us die in the desert? There’s no bread or water, and we can’t stand this awful food!”

6 So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people. They bit the people, and many of the Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we criticized the LORD and you. Pray to the Lord so that he will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake, and put it on a pole. Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. People looked at the bronze snake after they were bitten, and they lived.[27]

21:4–9   You sent poisonous snakes to silence criticism. But you told Moses to put a snake on a pole, so that everyone who looked at it could live. You always show mercy when I trust.

Israel Travels Past Edom to Moab

10 The Israelites moved and set up camp at Oboth. 11 Next they moved from Oboth and set up camp at Iye Abarim in the desert west of Moab. 12 From there they moved and set up camp at the Zered River. 13 They moved from there and set up camp on the other side of the Arnon Valley in the desert that extends into Amorite territory. (The Arnon Valley is the border between Moab and the Amorites.) 14 This is how it’s described in the Book of the Wars of the LORD:

“. . . Waheb in Suphah and the valleys,

15 Arnon and the slopes of the valleys

that go down to the site of Ar

and lie along the border of Moab. . . .”

16 From there they went to Beer [Well]. This is the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people, and I will give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song about the well:

“Make your water spring up!

Sing to the well,

18 the well dug by princes,

dug out by the nobles of the people

with their scepters and staffs.”

From the desert they went to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where Mount Pisgah overlooks Jeshimon.

21:10–20   You gathered your people and gave them water. You quench my thirst in dry places.

Sihon and Og Defeated

21 Then Israel sent messengers to say to King Sihon of the Amorites, 22 “Let us go through your country. We won’t go through any of your fields or vineyards or drink any of the water from your wells. We’ll stay on the king’s highway until we’ve passed through your territory.”

23 Sihon wouldn’t let Israel pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his troops and came out into the desert to attack Israel. When Sihon’s troops came to Jahaz, they fought against Israel. 24 But Israel defeated them in battle and took possession of their land from the Arnon Valley to the Jabbok River. ⌞They stopped at⌟ the border of the Ammon because it was fortified. 25 Israel took all those Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its villages, and lived in them. 26 Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites. He had fought the former king of Moab and had taken all his land up to the Arnon Valley.

27 This is why the poets say:

“Come to Heshbon! Rebuild it!

Restore Sihon’s city!

28 Fire came out of Heshbon,

flames from Sihon’s city.

They destroyed Ar of Moab,

the rulers of Arnon’s worship sites.[28]

29 How horrible it is for you, Moab!

You are destroyed, you people of the god Chemosh.

Chemosh let his sons become refugees

and he let his daughters become prisoners

of King Sihon of the Amorites.

30 But we shot the Amorites full of arrows.

From Heshbon to Dibon they all died.

We destroyed everyone and everything

between Nophah and Medeba.”

31 So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. 32 After Moses sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its cities and villages and forced out the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and followed the road that goes to Bashan. King Og of Bashan and all his troops came out to fight the Israelites at Edrei.

34 The LORD said to Moses, “Don’t be afraid of him. I’ll hand him, all his troops, and his land over to you. Do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.” 35 The Israelites defeated him, his sons, and all his troops, leaving no survivors. And they took possession of his land.

21:21–35   Your people defeated Sihon and Og and took their land, destroying places used to worship false gods. I’ll tear down the idols I have let rule me.

Balaam Is Hired to Curse Israel

22

1 Then the Israelites moved and set up camp across from Jericho, on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River.

2 Balak, son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 The Moabites were very afraid because there were so many Israelites. Besides, the Moabites couldn’t stand these people.

4 So the Moabites said to the leaders of Midian, “All those people will eventually eat up everything around us the same way an ox eats up the grass in a field.”

At that time Balak, son of Zippor, was king of Moab. 5 He sent messengers to summon Balaam, son of Beor, who was at Pethor, on the Euphrates River, in the land where his people lived. Balak’s message was, “A nation has just come here from Egypt. They’ve spread out all over the countryside and are setting up their camp here in front of me. 6 Please come and curse these people for me, because they are too strong for me. Maybe then I’ll be able to defeat them and force them out of the country. I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed.”

7 The leaders of Moab and Midian left, taking money with them to pay for Balaam’s services. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.

8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I’ll report to you what the LORD tells me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

10 Balaam answered, “Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, sent them with this message: 11 ‘Some people have just come from Egypt and are spreading out all over the countryside. Now come and curse them for me. Maybe I’ll be able to fight them and force them out.’”

12 But God said to Balaam, “Don’t go with them! Don’t curse these people, because they are blessed.”

13 When Balaam got up in the morning, he said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your own country, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

14 So the Moabite princes went back to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15 Balak sent a larger group of more highly respected princes. 16 When they came to Balaam, they said to him, “This is what Balak, son of Zippor, says: Don’t let anything keep you from coming to me. 17 I will make sure you are richly rewarded, and I will do whatever you ask. Please, come and curse these people for me.”

18 But Balaam answered Balak’s servants, “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I couldn’t disobey the command of the LORD my God no matter whether the request was important or not. 19 Now, why don’t you stay here tonight, as the others did, and I’ll find out what else the LORD may have to tell me.”

20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “If these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”

22:1–20   You wouldn’t let Balaam say anything against your blessed people. I’ll choose to obey you even when I’m offered a palace full of silver and gold. No matter your command, I won’t disobey.

Balaam’s Journey to Moab

21 When Balaam got up in the morning, he saddled his donkey and left with the Moabite princes.

22 God became angry that he was going. So the Messenger of the LORD stood in the road to stop him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants. 23 When the donkey saw the Messenger of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn, the donkey turned off the road into a field. Balaam hit the donkey to get it back on the road.

24 Where the road went through the vineyards, it was narrow, with stone walls on both sides. Now the Messenger of the LORD stood there. 25 When the donkey saw the Messenger of the LORD, it moved over and pinned Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam hit the donkey again.

26 Then the Messenger of the LORD moved ahead and stood in a narrower place where there was no room to turn to the right or the left. 27 When the donkey saw the Messenger of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam. Balaam became so angry he hit the donkey with his stick. 28 Then the LORD made the donkey speak, and it asked Balaam, “What have I done to make you hit me three times?”

29 Balaam answered, “You’ve made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you right now.”

30 The donkey said to Balaam, “I’m your own donkey. You’ve always ridden me. Have I ever done this to you before?”

“No,” he answered.

31 Then the LORD let Balaam see the Messenger of the LORD who was standing in the road with his sword drawn. So Balaam knelt, bowing with his face touching the ground.

22:21–31   You stood in the road to stop Balaam. His donkey took a beating as he tried to force his way forward. When the donkey spoke, the prophet finally saw you. Be patient when I struggle to see or hear you.

32 The Messenger of the LORD asked him, “Why have you hit your donkey three times like this? I’ve come here to stop you because the trip you’re taking is evil.[29] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you by now but spared the donkey.”

34 Balaam said to the Messenger of the LORD, “I’ve sinned. I didn’t know you were standing there in the road to stop me. If you still think this trip is evil, I’ll go back.”

35 The Messenger of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s princes.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at Ir Moab, in the region of the Arnon Valley, right on the border of Moab. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Why didn’t you come when I summoned you? You knew I’d be able to reward you.”

38 Balaam replied, “Well, I’ve come to you now. But I can’t say whatever I want to. I can only say what God tells me to say.”

39 Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle, sheep, and goats, and sent some of the meat to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the Israelites’ camp.

22:32–41   You could have killed Balaam and spared his donkey. But you still sent Balaam to speak for you. I’ll speak only what you tell me to say.

Balaam’s First Prophecy

23

1 Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 2 Balak did what Balaam told him, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I’m gone. Maybe the LORD will come and meet with me. I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” Then Balaam went off to a higher place where there were no trees.

4 God came to him, and Balaam said, “I have set up seven altars, and I offered a bull and a ram on each altar.”

5 The LORD told Balaam, “Go back to Balak, and give him my message.”

6 So he went back to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab. 7 Then Balaam delivered this message:

“Balak brought me from Aram.

The king of Moab summoned me from the eastern mountains.

‘Come, curse Jacob for me,’ he said.

‘Come, condemn Israel.’

8 How can I curse those whom God hasn’t cursed?

How can I condemn those whom the LORD hasn’t condemned?

9 I see them from the top of rocky cliffs,

I look at them from the hills.

I see a nation that lives by itself,

people who do not consider themselves

to be like other nations.

10 The descendants of Jacob are like specks of dust.

Who can count them

or number even one-fourth of the people of Israel?

Let me die the death of innocent people.

Let my end be like theirs.”

11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you’ve done is bless them!”

12 Balaam answered, “I must say what the LORD tells me to say.”

23:1–12   No one can curse those you don’t curse. No one can condemn those you don’t condemn. I’ll count on your unchanging love.

Balaam’s Second Prophecy

13 Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you can see the Israelites. You will see only some of them, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.”

14 So he took him to the Field of Zophim[30] on top of Mount Pisgah, where he built seven altars. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet with God over there.”

16 The LORD came to Balaam and told him, “Go back to Balak, and give him my message.”

23:13–16   Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites from a distance. Balaam listened hard for your word.

17 He came to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. Balak asked him, “What did the LORD say?” 18 Then Balaam delivered this message:

“Stand up, Balak, and listen!

Hear me, son of Zippor!

19 God is not like people. He tells no lies.

He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind.

When he says something, he does it.

When he makes a promise, he keeps it.

20 I have received a command to bless.

He has blessed, and I can’t change it.

21 He doesn’t want any trouble for the descendants of Jacob.

He sees no misfortune for the people of Israel.

The LORD their God is with them,

praised as their king.

22 The God who brought them out of Egypt

has the strength of a wild bull.

23 No spell can curse the descendants of Jacob.

No magic can harm the people of Israel.

Now it will be said of Jacob and Israel:

‘See what God has done!’

24 Here is a nation that attacks like a lioness

and is as ferocious as a lion.

It doesn’t lie down until it eats its prey

and drinks the blood of its victim.”

23:17–24   You aren’t like people. You tell no lies and never change your mind. You say something and do it. You make a promise and keep it. You are the Lord and King.

25 Balak said to Balaam, “If you won’t curse them, then at least don’t bless them!”

26 Balaam answered, “Didn’t I tell you that I must do whatever the LORD says?”

27 Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Maybe God wants you to curse them for me from there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, which overlooks Jeshimon.

29 Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30 Balak did what Balaam told him, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

23:25–30   Balaam did whatever you said. Make me stand firm against others’ demands.

Balaam’s Third Prophecy

24

1 When Balaam saw that the LORD wanted to bless Israel, he didn’t look for omens as he had done before. He turned toward the desert, 2 looked up, and saw Israel’s camp grouped by tribes. The Spirit of God entered him, 3 and he delivered this message:

“This is the message of Balaam, son of Beor.

This is the message of the man whose eyesight is clear.[31]

4 This is the message of the one who hears the words of God,

has a vision from the Almighty,

and falls ⌞into a trance⌟ with his eyes open:

5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,

and the places where you live, Israel.

6 Your tents spread out like rivers,

like gardens by a river,

like aloes planted by the LORD,

like cedars by the water.

7 Water will flow from their buckets,

and their crops will have plenty of water.

Their king will be greater than Agag,

and their kingdom will be considered the best.

8 The God who brought them out of Egypt

has the strength of a wild bull.

He will devour nations that are his enemies,

crush their bones,

and pierce them with arrows.

9 His people lie down ⌞and⌟ rest like a lion.

They are like a lioness. Who dares to disturb them?

Those who bless you will be blessed!

Those who curse you will be cursed!”

24:1–9   You’re the Almighty. You make tents and crops grow. Your people lie down and rest like a lion. No one should mess with them.

Balaam’s Fourth Prophecy

10 Balak became angry with Balaam. He clapped his hands and said, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, and now you have blessed them three times. 11 Get out of here! Go home! I said I’d reward you richly, but the LORD has made you lose your reward.”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “I told the messengers you sent me, 13 ‘Even if Balak would give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I couldn’t disobey the LORD’s command no matter how good or bad the request might seem to me. I must say only what the LORD says.’ 14 Even though I’m going back to my people, I’ll give you some advice. I’ll tell you what these people will do to your people in the days to come.”

15 Then Balaam delivered this message:

“This is the message of Balaam, son of Beor.

This is the message of the man whose eyesight is clear.

16 This is the message of the one who hears the words of God,

receives knowledge from the Most High,

has a vision from the Almighty,

and falls ⌞into a trance⌟ with his eyes open:

17 I see someone who is not here now.

I look at someone who is not nearby.

A star will come from Jacob.

A scepter will rise from Israel.

He will crush the heads of the Moabites

and destroy all the people of Sheth.[32]

18 Edom will be conquered,

and Seir, his enemy, will be conquered.

So Israel will become wealthy.

19 He will rule from Jacob

and destroy whoever is left in their cities.”

20 Then Balaam saw the Amalekites and delivered this message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,

but in the end it will be destroyed.”

21 Then he saw the Kenites and delivered this message:

“You have a permanent place to live.

Your nest is built in a rock.

22 But it is destined to be burned, you ⌞descendants of⌟ Cain,

when Assyria takes you as prisoners of war.”[33]

23 He delivered this message:

“Oh no! Who will live when God decides to do this?

24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus.

They will conquer Assyria and Eber.

But they, too, will be totally destroyed.”

25 Then Balaam got up and went back home, and Balak also went on his way.

24:10–25   Balaam wouldn’t sin in exchange for a palace filled with silver and gold. He would only report what you said. When you rise up and judge, none of the guilty will live.

Israel Commits Idolatry

25

1 While Israel was staying at Shittim, the men began to have sex with Moabite women 2 who invited the people to the sacrifices offered to their gods. The people ate the meat from the sacrifices and worshiped these gods. 3 Since the Israelites joined in worshiping the god Baal of Peor, the LORD became angry with Israel.

4 The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people, and execute them in broad daylight in the LORD’s presence. This will turn the LORD’s anger away from Israel.”

5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill the men who have joined in worshiping the god Baal of Peor.”

6 One of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman to his brothers. He did this right in front of Moses and the whole community of Israel while they were crying at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 7 Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of the priest Aaron, saw this. So he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand, 8 and went into the tent after the Israelite man. He drove the spear through the man and into the woman’s body. Because of this, the plague that the Israelites were experiencing stopped. 9 However, 24,000 people died from that plague.

25:1–9   Israelite men joined Moabite women in sex and sacrifices to false gods. You sent the judges of Israel to kill all who worshiped Baal.

10 Then the LORD said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of the priest Aaron, turned my fury away from the Israelites. Since he stood up for me, I didn’t have to stand up for myself and destroy them. 12 So tell Phinehas that I’m making a promise of peace to him. 13 My promise is that he and his descendants will be priests permanently because he stood up for his God and he made peace with the LORD for the Israelites.”

14 The name of the Israelite man who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri, son of Salu. (Salu was the leader of a family from Simeon.) 15 The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi, daughter of Zur. (Zur was the head of a family from the Midianite tribes.)

16 The LORD said to Moses, 17 “Treat the Midianites as your enemies, and kill them 18 because they treated you as enemies. They plotted to trick you in the incident that took place at Peor. They used their sister Cozbi, daughter of a Midianite leader, who was killed on the day of the plague caused by the incident at Peor.”

25:10–18   Phineas stood up for you and made peace for the people. You made disobedience a matter of life and death. You haven’t made me a judge.

Moses Takes Another Census of Israel

26

1 After the plague the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, 2 “Take a census of the whole community of Israel by households. List those who are at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty.”

3 So Moses and the priest Eleazar spoke to the Israelites on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. They said, 4 “Take a census of those at least 20 years old, as the LORD commanded Moses.”

These are the Israelites who came from Egypt:

5 Reuben was Israel’s firstborn. The descendants of Reuben were the family of Hanoch, the family of Pallu, 6 the family of Hezron, and the family of Carmi.

7 These were the families of Reuben. The total number of men was 43,730.

8 Eliab was the son[34] of Pallu, 9 and Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram were the sons of Eliab. (It was Dathan and Abiram, men chosen by the community, who defied Moses and Aaron’s authority. They joined Korah’s followers when they defied the LORD’s authority. 10 The ground opened up and swallowed them along with Korah. They and their followers died when the fire consumed the 250 men. This was a warning. 11 But the descendants of Korah didn’t die.)

12 The families descended from Simeon were the family of Nemuel, the family of Jamin, the family of Jakin, 13 the family of Zerah, and the family of Shaul.

14 These were the families of Simeon. The total number of men was 22,200.

15 The families descended from Gad were the family of Zephon, the family of Haggi, the family of Shuni, 16 the family of Ozni, the family of Eri, 17 the family of Arodi,[35] and the family of Areli.

18 These were the families of Gad’s descendants. The total number of men was 40,500.

19 Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan. 20 The families descended from Judah were the family of Shelah, the family of Perez, and the family of Zerah.

21 The descendants of Perez were the family of Hezron and the family of Hamul.

22 These were the families of Judah. The total number of men was 76,500.

23 The families descended from Issachar were the family of Tola, the family of Puah,[36] 24 the family of Jashub, and the family of Shimron.

25 These were the families of Issachar. The total number of men was 64,300.

26 The families descended from Zebulun were the family of Sered, the family of Elon, and the family of Jahleel.

27 These were the families of Zebulun. The total number of men was 60,500.

28 The families descended from Joseph ⌞through⌟ Manasseh and Ephraim were 29 (from Manasseh) the family of Machir (Machir was the father of Gilead) and the family of Gilead.

30 The descendants of Gilead were the family of Iezer, the family of Helek, 31 the family of Asriel, the family of Shechem, 32 the family of Shemida, and the family of Hepher. 33 (Zelophehad, son of Hepher, had no sons—only daughters. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.)

34 These were the families of Manasseh. The total number of men was 52,700.

35 The families descended from Ephraim were the family of Shuthelah, the family of Beker, and the family of Tahan.

36 The descendants of Shuthelah were the family of Eran.

37 These were the families of Ephraim’s descendants. The total number of men was 32,500.

These were the families descended from Joseph.

38 The families descended from Benjamin were the family of Bela, the family of Ashbel, the family of Ahiram, 39 the family of Shupham,[37] and the family of Hupham.

40 The descendants of Bela (⌞through⌟ Ard and Naaman) were the family of Ard and the family of Naaman.

41 These were the families descended from Benjamin. The total number of men was 45,600.

42 The family descended from Dan was the family of Shuham.

This was the family descended from Dan. 43 The total number of men in all the family of Shuham was 64,400.

44 The families descended from Asher were the family of Imnah, the family of Ishvi, and the family of Beriah.

45 The descendants Beriah were the family of Heber and the family of Malchiel.

46 (Asher had a daughter named Serah.)

47 These were the families of Asher’s descendants. The total number of men was 53,400.

48 The families descended from Naphtali were the family of Jahzeel, the family of Guni, 49 the family of Jezer, and the family of Shillem.

50 These were the families of Naphtali. The total number of men was 45,400.

51 The total number of Israelite men was 601,730.

52 Then the LORD said to Moses, 53 “The land these people will possess must be divided using the list of names ⌞from the census⌟. 54 Give more land to larger tribes and less land to smaller ones. Use the totals ⌞from the census⌟ in giving land to each tribe. 55 But the land must be divided by drawing lots. The tribes will receive their land based on the names of their ancestors. 56 Whether the tribes are large or small, the land must be divided by drawing lots.”

57 The families descended from Levi were listed as the family of Gershon, the family of Kohath, and the family of Merari.

58 These were the families of Levi: the Libnite family, the Hebronite family, the Mahlite family, the Mushite family, and the Korahite family.

Kohath was the ancestor of Amram. 59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born in Egypt. She gave birth to Amram’s children: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. 60 Aaron was the father of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 61 But Nadab and Abihu had died because they offered unauthorized fire in the LORD’s presence.

62 The total number of all the ⌞Levite⌟ males at least one month old was 23,000. They were not counted along with the other Israelites, because they were given no land of their own.

63 Moses and the priest Eleazar added up the total number of Israelites on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. 64 Among them there wasn’t a single one of the Israelites Moses and the priest Aaron had counted in the Desert of Sinai. 65 The LORD had said, “They must all die in the desert.” The only ones left were Caleb (son of Jephunneh) and Joshua (son of Nun).

26:1–65   You again spoke to Moses and told him to count the people tribe by tribe to number men of military age. You kept your promise to Abraham to make his descendants a mighty nation. You never forget your words to me.

A Request from Zelophehad’s Daughters

27

1 The daughters of Zelophehad, son of Hepher, grandson of Gilead, descendant of Machir, whose father was Manasseh, belonged to the families of Manasseh, son of Joseph. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They came 2 to Moses and stood in front of him, the priest Eleazar, the leaders, and the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting. They said, 3 “Our father died in the desert. He was not a part of Korah’s followers who joined forces against the LORD. He died for his own sin and left no sons. 4 Why should our father’s name be allowed to die out in his family because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

5 So Moses brought their case to the LORD, 6 and the LORD said to him, 7 “Zelophehad’s daughters are right. You must give them property of their own among their father’s relatives. Turn their father’s property over to them.

8 “Tell the Israelites: If a man dies and leaves no sons, turn his property over to his daughters. 9 If he has no daughters, give his property to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his property to his uncles on his father’s side of the family. 11 If he has no uncles, give his property to the nearest relative in his family, and that relative will take possession of it. This will be a rule for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.”

27:1–11   Zelophehad’s daughters fought for their family name—and for their own survival. You gave daughters rights and land—a rule for your people.

The LORD Appoints Joshua to Succeed Moses

12 The LORD said to Moses, “Go up into the Abarim Mountains, and take a look at the land I will give the Israelites. 13 After you see it, you, too, will join your ancestors ⌞in death⌟, as your brother Aaron did. 14 You both rebelled against my command in the Desert of Zin. You didn’t show the people how holy I am when they were complaining at the oasis.” (This was the oasis of Meribah at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin.)

15 Moses said to the LORD, 16 “LORD, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone. Please appoint someone over the community 17 who will lead them in and out ⌞of battle⌟ so that the LORD’s community will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

18 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit, and place your hand on him. 19 Make him stand in front of the priest Eleazar and the whole community, and give him his instructions in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so that the whole community of Israel will obey him. 21 He will stand in front of the priest Eleazar, who will use the Urim[38] to make decisions in the LORD’s presence. At his command Joshua and the whole community of Israel will go into battle. And at his command they will return.”

22 Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand in front of the priest Eleazar and the whole community. 23 Moses placed his hands on Joshua and gave him his instructions as the LORD had told him.

27:12–23   Moses did as you said and appointed Joshua as his successor. Give your people leaders so we aren’t like sheep without a shepherd. You’re the God who gives the breath of life to everyone.

Daily Sacrifices

28

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Give this command to the Israelites: Be sure to bring me my offerings at the right times. They are my food. They are offerings by fire, a soothing aroma. 3 These are the offerings by fire that you must bring to the LORD. Every day you must bring as a daily burnt offering two one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 4 Offer one in the morning and the other at dusk. 5  ⌞With each of them⌟ also bring a grain offering of eight cups of flour mixed with one quart of virgin olive oil. 6 This is the daily burnt offering which was established on Mount Sinai. This offering is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD. 7 Also bring a wine offering of one quart of wine for each lamb. Pour it out to the LORD in a holy place. 8 Offer the other lamb at dusk along with the same grain offering and wine offering as you brought in the morning. This is an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD.

Weekly Sacrifices

9 “On the day of worship offer two one-year-old lambs that have no defects, a grain offering of 16 cups of flour mixed with olive oil, and the wine offering that goes with it. 10 This burnt offering is for every day of worship in addition to the daily burnt offerings and the wine offerings that go with them.

Monthly Sacrifices

11 “On the first of every month bring the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 12 With each bull there will be a grain offering of 24 cups of flour mixed with olive oil, with each ram a grain offering of 16 cups of flour mixed with olive oil, 13 and with each one-year-old lamb a grain offering of 8 cups of flour mixed with olive oil. This is a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD. 14 The wine offering that goes with each bull will be 2 quarts of wine, with each ram 1½ quarts of wine, and with each lamb 1 quart of wine. This will be the monthly burnt offering for every month of the year. 15 In addition to the daily burnt offering with its wine offering, one male goat must be offered to the LORD as an offering for sin.

Annual Sacrifices

16 “The fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD’s Passover. 17 The fifteenth of this same month is a pilgrimage festival. For seven days you must eat only unleavened bread. 18 On the first day there will be a holy assembly. Don’t do any regular work. 19 Instead, bring the LORD an offering by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs, all of them without defects. 20 Along with them bring grain offerings of flour mixed with olive oil. Bring 24 cups for each bull, 16 cups for each ram, 21 and 8 cups for each of the seven lambs. 22 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin to make peace with the LORD. 23 Offer these in addition to the morning burnt offering. 24 Bring all these offerings on each of the seven days. They are food. They are offerings by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD. They will be offered in addition to the daily burnt offering and the wine offering that goes with it. 25 On the seventh day you must have a holy assembly. You must not do any regular work.

26 “During the Festival of Weeks, you must have a holy assembly. On that day you must not do any regular work. Bring the LORD your new grain offering, the first produce harvested from your fields. 27 Bring a burnt offering as a soothing aroma to the LORD—two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs. 28 Along with them bring grain offerings of flour mixed with olive oil. Bring 24 cups for each bull, 16 cups for each ram, 29 and 8 cups for each of the seven lambs. 30 Also bring one male goat to make peace with the LORD. 31 Offer these animals that have no defects along with their wine offerings, in addition to the daily burnt offerings and their grain offerings.”

28:1–31   You commanded daily, weekly, monthly, and annual sacrifices. I want to worship you in the way you prescribe.

29

1  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “On the first day of the seventh month you must have a holy assembly. You must not do any regular work. It is a day for ⌞the trumpets to sound⌟ a fanfare. 2 As a burnt offering, a soothing aroma to the LORD, bring one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 3 Along with them bring grain offerings of flour mixed with olive oil. Bring 24 cups for each bull, 16 cups for each ram, 4 and 8 cups for each of the seven lambs. 5 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin to make peace with the LORD. 6 Offer these in addition to the monthly burnt offering with its grain offering, and the daily burnt offerings with their proper grain offerings and wine offerings. They are a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

7 “On the tenth day of the seventh month you must have a holy assembly. You must humble yourselves. You must not do any work. 8 As a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, bring one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs, all of them without defects. 9 Along with them bring grain offerings of flour mixed with olive oil. Bring 24 cups for each bull, 16 cups for each ram, 10 and 8 cups for each of the seven lambs. 11 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin (in addition to the ⌞other⌟ offering for sin to make peace with the LORD) and the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

12 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you must have a holy assembly. You must not do any regular work. Instead, celebrate a festival to the LORD for seven days. 13 As a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD, bring 13 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 one-year-old lambs, all of them without defects. 14 Along with them bring grain offerings of flour mixed with olive oil. Bring 24 cups for each of the 13 bulls, 16 cups for each of the 2 rams, 15 and 8 cups for each of the 14 one-year-old lambs. 16 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

17 “On the second day bring 12 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 18 Along with them bring the proper amount of grain offerings and wine offerings for each of the bulls, rams, and lambs. 19 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

20 “On the third day bring 11 bulls, 2 rams, and 14 one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 21 Along with them bring the proper amount of grain offerings and wine offerings for each of the bulls, rams, and lambs. 22 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

23 “On the fourth day bring 10 bulls, 2 rams, and 14 one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 24 Along with them bring the proper amount of grain offerings and wine offerings for each of the bulls, rams, and lambs. 25 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

26 “On the fifth day bring 9 bulls, 2 rams, and 14 one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 27 Along with them bring the proper amount of grain offerings and wine offerings for each of the bulls, rams, and lambs. 28 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

29 “On the sixth day bring 8 bulls, 2 rams, and 14 one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 30 Along with them bring the proper amount of grain offerings and wine offerings for each of the bulls, rams, and lambs. 31 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

32 “On the seventh day bring 7 bulls, 2 rams, and 14 one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 33 Along with them bring the proper amount of grain offerings and wine offerings for each of the bulls, rams, and lambs. 34 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

35 “On the eighth day you must hold a religious assembly. You must not do any daily work. 36 As a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD, bring one bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs that have no defects. 37 Along with them bring the proper amount of grain offerings and wine offerings for the bull, the ram, and the lambs. 38 Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

39 “These are the offerings you must bring to the LORD at your festivals. They are the offerings you must bring in addition to the offerings for anything you vowed to give to the LORD, your freewill offerings, your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your wine offerings, and your fellowship offerings.”[39]

40 Moses told the Israelites everything the LORD had commanded him.

29:1–40   You commanded Israel to gather for holy assemblies. I won’t ignore your voice to gather with your people.

Teachings about Vows

30  [40]

1 Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded ⌞about vows⌟: 2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD that he will do something or swears an oath that he won’t do something, he must not break his word. He must do everything he said he would do.

3 “A young girl, who still lives in her father’s house, might make a vow to the LORD that she will do something or swear an oath that she won’t do something. 4 If her father says nothing to her when he hears about it, her vow or oath must be kept. 5 But if her father objects when he hears about it, her vow or oath doesn’t have to be kept. The LORD will free her ⌞from this vow or oath⌟ because her father objected.

6 “An unmarried woman might make a vow that she will do something or carelessly promise that she won’t do something. When she marries, 7 her husband may hear about it but say nothing to her. Then her vow or oath must be kept. 8 But if her husband objects when he hears about it, he can cancel the vow or promise she made. The LORD will free her ⌞from this vow or promise⌟.

9 “But a widow or a divorced woman must keep her vow or her promise.

10 “A married woman might make a vow that she will do something or swear an oath that she won’t do something. 11 Her husband may hear about it but may say nothing and not object. Then her vow or oath must be kept. 12 But if her husband cancels it when he hears about it, nothing she said in her vow or oath has to be kept. Her husband has canceled it, and the LORD will free her ⌞from this vow or oath⌟.

13 “A husband decides whether or not his wife has to keep any vow to do something or any oath to do without something. 14 If he says nothing to her about it day after day, this means he’s decided that she must keep her vow or oath. She must keep it because he said nothing to her when he heard about it. 15 But if he cancels it later, he will suffer the consequences.”

16 These are the laws the LORD gave Moses for husbands and wives, and for fathers with young daughters still living at home.

30:1–16   I’ll be careful to keep my promises to you. Don’t let me make rash deals with you I’ll later regret. But I offer all of myself to you.

The LORD Commands Israel to Defeat Midian

31

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Get even with the Midianites for what they did to the Israelites. After that you will join your ancestors ⌞in death⌟.”

3 Moses said to the people, “Some of your men must get ready to go to war against the Midianites. The LORD will use them to get even with Midian. 4 Send 1,000 men from each of the tribes of Israel.”

5 So 1,000 men from each tribe were supplied from the divisions of Israel—12,000 men ready for war. 6 Then Moses sent them off to war, 1,000 men from each tribe along with Phinehas, son of the priest Eleazar. Phinehas took with him the holy articles and the trumpets for the fanfare.

7 They went to war against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among those killed were the five kings of Midian—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They also killed Balaam, son of Beor, in battle. 9 The Israelites took the Midianite women and children as prisoners of war. They also took all their animals, their livestock, and their valuables as loot. 10 They burned all the cities where the Midianites lived and all their settlements. 11 Then they took everything as loot, including all the people and animals, 12 and brought the prisoners of war, the loot, and everything to Moses, the priest Eleazar, and the community of Israel at the camp on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho.

13 Moses, the priest Eleazar, and all the leaders of the community went outside the camp to meet them. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of the companies and battalions, who were returning from battle.

15 “Why did you let all the women live?” he asked them. 16 “Remember, they were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused[41] the Israelites to be unfaithful to the LORD in the incident that took place at Peor. The LORD’s community experienced a plague at that time. 17 So kill all the Midianite boys and every Midianite woman who has gone to bed with a man. 18 But save for yourselves every girl who has never gone to bed with a man.

19 “Everyone who killed a person or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp seven days. You and your prisoners of war must use the ritual water on the third and seventh days in order to take away your sin. 20 Do the same for all the clothes and everything made of leather, goats’ hair, or wood.”

21 Then the priest Eleazar said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what the LORD’s teachings told Moses to do: 22 Any gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead—23 anything that won’t burn—must be put through fire in order to make it clean.[42] Then it must also be put through the ritual water in order to take away its sin. Whatever might burn must ⌞only⌟ be put through the ritual water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes, and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp.”

25 The LORD said to Moses, 26 “You, the priest Eleazar, and the heads of the families of the community need to count all the loot, including the people and animals you captured. 27 Divide the loot between the soldiers who served in the war and the rest of the community. 28 Collect a tax for the LORD. From the soldiers who served in the war collect one out of every 500 things. This includes people, cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats. 29 Collect all these things from the soldiers’ half of the loot, and give them to the priest Eleazar as a contribution to the LORD. 30 From the Israelites’ half of the loot, collect one out of every 50 things. This includes people, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, and every other kind of animal. Give them to the Levites who are in charge of the work done at the LORD’s tent.” 31 Moses and the priest Eleazar did as the LORD commanded Moses.

32 This is the loot that was left from everything that the troops took: 675,000 sheep and goats, 33 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys, and 35 32,000 women who had never gone to bed with a man.

36 Half of it went to the soldiers who served in the war. Of the 337,500 sheep and goats they received, 37 675 went to the LORD as taxes. 38 Of the 36,000 cattle they received, 72 went to the LORD as taxes. 39 Of the 30,500 donkeys they received, 61 went to the LORD as taxes. 40 Of the 16,000 people they received, 32 went to the LORD as taxes.

41 Moses gave the LORD’s taxes to the priest Eleazar, as the LORD had commanded him.

42 Moses took the Israelites’ half of the loot from the soldiers. 43 The community received 337,500 sheep and goats, 44 36,000 cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys, 46 and 16,000 people.

47 From the Israelites’ half Moses collected one out of every 50 things, including people and animals, as the LORD commanded him. Then he gave all this to the Levites who were in charge of the work done at the LORD’s tent.

48 Then the officers from the military divisions, the commanders of the companies and battalions of men, came to Moses. 49 They said to him, “Sir, we have counted all the soldiers under our command, and not one of them is missing. 50 So we have brought as gifts to the LORD the gold jewelry that each of us found—arm bands, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and pendants. We offer them to make peace with the LORD.”

51 Moses and the priest Eleazar took all the hand-crafted gold articles from them. 52 All the gold contributed to the LORD by the commanders weighed about 420 pounds. 53 Each soldier kept his own loot. 54 Moses and the priest Eleazar took the gold from the commanders and brought it into the LORD’s presence at the tent of meeting as a reminder to the Israelites.

31:1–54   You sent your people to conquer those who had led them into sin. You cleansed loot taken in battle.

The Tribes of Reuben and Gad Request Land East of the Jordan River

32

1 The tribes of Reuben and Gad had a large number of livestock. They saw that the regions of Jazer and Gilead were a good place for livestock. 2 So they came to Moses, the priest Eleazar, and the leaders of the community, and said to them, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the land that the LORD won for the community of Israel, is a good place for livestock. Gentlemen, we have livestock. 5 Please give us this land as our property. Don’t make us cross the Jordan River.”

6 Moses asked the tribes of Gad and Reuben, “Are you going to stay here while the rest of the Israelites go to war? 7 That might discourage them from entering the land the LORD has given them. 8 That’s what your ancestors did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to take a look at the land. 9 They went as far as the Eshcol Valley and saw the land. But then they discouraged the rest of the Israelites from entering the land that the LORD had given them. 10 That day the LORD became angry and swore this oath, 11 ‘None of the people 20 years old or older, who came from Egypt, will see the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath. This is because they didn’t wholeheartedly follow me.’ 12 Only Caleb (son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite) and Joshua (son of Nun) will get to see the land. This is because they wholeheartedly followed the LORD. 13 Since the LORD was angry with the Israelites, he made them wander in the desert for 40 years until the whole generation of those who had done evil in the LORD’s presence was gone.

32:1–13   You made your people wander in the desert for 40 years because they were scared to enter the land you promised. I want to wholeheartedly follow you.

14 “You’re just like your parents! You’re a bunch of sinners trying to make the LORD angry with Israel again. 15 If you turn away from him, he will abandon all these people in the desert. You would be responsible for their destruction.”

16 Then the tribes of Gad and Reuben came up to Moses and said, “Allow us to build stone fences for our livestock and cities for our families here. 17 Then we’ll be ready ⌞to march⌟ in battle formation[43] ahead of the other Israelites until we have brought them to their land. Meanwhile our families will live in walled cities, safe from the other people who live here. 18 We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his own land. 19 We won’t take possession of any land on the other side of the Jordan River, to the west and beyond. We already have our land here, east of the Jordan.”

20 Moses answered, “Do what you have said. In the LORD’s presence have all your armed men get ready for battle. 21 Have them cross the Jordan, and fight until the LORD forces out his enemies 22 and the land is conquered. Then you may come back. You will have fulfilled your military duty to the LORD and Israel. This land will be your own property in the LORD’s presence.

23 “If you don’t do all these things, you will be sinning against the LORD. You can be sure that you will be punished for your sin. 24 Build cities for your families and stone fences for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”

25 Then the tribes of Gad and Reuben said to Moses, “Sir, we will do as you command. 26 Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our other animals will stay here in the cities of Gilead. 27 But in the LORD’s presence we will all get ready for battle and go with you, as you have said.”

28 So Moses gave orders about them to the priest Eleazar, Joshua (son of Nun), and the family heads of the tribes of Israel. 29 Moses told them, “If the tribes of Gad and Reuben get ready for battle in the LORD’s presence and cross the Jordan River with you and you conquer the land, give them Gilead as their own property. 30 If they don’t get ready for battle and go with you, the land they will take possession of must be in Canaan with yours.”

31 The tribes of Gad and Reuben answered, “Sir, we will do as the LORD has said. 32 We will enter Canaan as armed troops in the LORD’s presence, but the land we will take possession of is here, east of the Jordan.”

33 So Moses gave the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph, the kingdoms of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and its surrounding territory.

34 The tribe of Gad rebuilt the cities of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran as walled cities. They also built stone fences for their flocks.

37 The tribe of Reuben rebuilt the cities of Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, Baal Meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. These are the names they gave the cities they rebuilt.

39 The descendants of Machir, son of Manasseh, went to Gilead, captured it, and forced out the Amorites who were there. 40 So Moses gave Gilead to the people of Machir (the descendants of Manasseh), and they lived there. 41 Then Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured the settlements in Gilead. He called them Havvoth Jair [Settlements of Jair]. 42 Nobah captured Kenath and its villages. He named it Nobah after himself.

32:14–42   The tribes of Reuben and Gad sounded just like their parents—sinners trying to make you angry again. But they vowed to do what you commanded—to take possession of the land.

A Summary of Israel’s Journeys after Leaving Egypt

33

1 This is a list of all the places where the Israelites set up camp after they left Egypt in organized groups under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the LORD’s command Moses wrote down the places where they went as they traveled. This is the list:

3 They moved from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. The Israelites boldly left in full view of all the Egyptians. 4 The Egyptians were burying all their firstborn sons, whom the LORD had killed in a mighty act of judgment on their gods.

5 The Israelites moved from Rameses and set up camp at Succoth.

6 They moved from Succoth and set up camp at Etham, on the edge of the desert.

7 They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, east of Baal Zephon, and set up camp near Migdol.

8 They moved from Pi Hahiroth[44] and went through the middle of the sea into the desert. After they traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they set up camp at Marah.

9 They moved from Marah and came to Elim. Elim had 12 springs and 70 palm trees, so they set up camp there.

10 They moved from Elim and set up camp by the Red Sea.

11 They moved from the Red Sea and set up camp in the Desert of Sin.

12 They moved from the Desert of Sin and set up camp at Dophkah.

13 They moved from Dophkah and set up camp at Alush.

14 They moved from Alush and set up camp at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

15 They moved from Rephidim and set up camp in the Desert of Sinai.

16 They moved from the Desert of Sinai and set up camp at Kibroth Hattaavah.

17 They moved from Kibroth Hattaavah and set up camp at Hazeroth.

18 They moved from Hazeroth and set up camp at Rithmah.

19 They moved from Rithmah and set up camp at Rimmon Perez.

20 They moved from Rimmon Perez and set up camp at Libnah.

21 They moved from Libnah and set up camp at Rissah.

22 They moved from Rissah and set up camp at Kehelathah.

23 They moved from Kehelathah and set up camp at Mount Shepher.

24 They moved from Mount Shepher and set up camp at Haradah.

25 They moved from Haradah and set up camp at Makheloth.

26 They moved from Makheloth and set up camp at Tahath.

27 They moved from Tahath and set up camp at Terah.

28 They moved from Terah and set up camp at Mithcah.

29 They moved from Mithcah and set up camp at Hashmonah.

30 They moved from Hashmonah and set up camp at Moseroth.

31 They moved from Moseroth and set up camp at Bene Jaakan.

32 They moved from Bene Jaakan and set up camp at Hor Haggidgad.

33 They moved from Hor Haggidgad and set up camp at Jotbathah.

34 They moved from Jotbathah and set up camp at Abronah.

35 They moved from Abronah and set up camp at Ezion Geber.

36 They moved from Ezion Geber and set up camp at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin.

37 They moved from Kadesh and set up camp at Mount Hor on the border of Edom. 38 At the LORD’s command the priest Aaron went up on Mount Hor. He died there on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year after the Israelites had left Egypt. 39 Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.

40 (The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, which was in Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.)

41 They moved from Mount Hor and set up camp at Zalmonah.

will be your land and the borders^42 They moved from Zalmonah and set up camp at Punon.

43 They moved from Punon and set up camp at Oboth.

44 They moved from Oboth and set up camp at Iye Abarim on the border of Moab.

45 They moved from Iyim[45] and set up camp at Dibon Gad.

46 They moved from Dibon Gad and set up camp at Almon Diblathaim.

47 They moved from Almon Diblathaim and set up camp in the Abarim Mountains east of Nebo.

48 They moved from the Abarim Mountains and set up camp on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. 49 They set up camp on the plains of Moab along the Jordan. Their camp extended from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.

33:1–49   You set your people free from slavery in Egypt. Then you sent them camping across the desert when they refused to follow you. I aim to obey your directions.

The Canaanites Must Be Forced Out

50 The LORD said to Moses on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho, 51 “Tell the Israelites, ‘You will be crossing the Jordan River and entering Canaan. 52 As you advance, force out all the people who live there. Get rid of all their stone and metal idols, and destroy all their places of worship. 53 Take possession of the land and live there, because I will give it to you for your own. 54 Divide the land among your families by drawing lots. Give more land to larger families and less land to smaller ones. The land must be given to each family by drawing lots. Divide it among your ancestors’ tribes.

55 “‘But if you do not force out those who live in the land, they will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will constantly fight with you over the land you live in. 56 Then I will do to you what I planned to do to them.’”

33:50–56   You commanded the Israelites to rid the land of every sinful thing—or the evil there would be like splinters in their eyes and thorns in their sides. I’ll get rid of my own sinful habits.

The Boundaries of Israel’s Land

34

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Give the Israelites these instructions. When you enter Canaan, the land that will be given to you as your inheritance has these borders:

3 “The southern side includes part of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. In the east the southern border starts from the end of the Dead Sea 4 and turns south of the Akrabbim Pass. It then goes past Zin and ends at Kadesh Barnea. From there it goes to Hazar Addar and on to Azmon. 5 From Azmon it turns toward the River of Egypt so that the border ends at the Mediterranean Sea.

6 “The western border is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.

7 “The northern border extends from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor, 8 and from Mount Hor to the border of Hamath so that it ends at Zedad. 9 From there the border goes to Ziphron and ends at Hazar Enan.

10 “The eastern border extends from Hazar Enan to Shepham. 11 From Shepham the border goes down to Riblah, east of Ain, and continues along the eastern slope of the Sea of Galilee. 12 Then the border goes along the Jordan River so that it ends at the Dead Sea.

“This will be your land and the borders around it.”

13 Moses commanded the Israelites, “This is the land you will divide by drawing lots. The LORD has commanded that this land will be given to the nine-and-a-half tribes. 14 The households from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh have already received their land. 15 Those two-and-a-half tribes received land east of the Jordan River across from Jericho.”

Men Are Appointed to Divide the Land

16 The LORD said to Moses, 17 “These are the names of the men who will divide the land for you: the priest Eleazar and Joshua, son of Nun. 18 You must also take one leader from each tribe to divide the land. 19 These are their names:

Caleb, son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah;

20 Shemuel, son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Simeon;

21 Elidad, son of Kislon, from the tribe of Benjamin;

22 Bukki, son of Jogli, the leader of the tribe of Dan;

23 Hanniel, son of Ephod, the leader of the tribe of Manasseh;

24 Kemuel, son of Shiphtan, the leader of the tribe of Ephraim;

(Manasseh and Ephraim are Joseph’s descendants.)[46]

25 Elizaphan, son of Parnach, the leader of the tribe of Zebulun;

26 Paltiel, son of Azzan, the leader of the tribe of Issachar;

27 Ahihud, son of Shelomi, the leader of the tribe of Asher;

28 Pedahel, son of Ammihud, the leader of the tribe of Naphtali.”

29 These are the men the LORD commanded to divide Canaan for the Israelites.

34:1–29   You kept your promise to Abraham to make his descendants a mighty nation. You gave them a land to call their own.

Cities for the Levites

35

1 The LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. He said, 2 “Tell the Israelites to give the Levites some cities from their own property. They must also give the Levites the pastureland around those cities. 3 Then the Levites will have cities to live in and pastureland for their cattle, the flocks they own, and any other animals they have.

4 “The land around the cities that you give the Levites will extend 1,500 feet from the city wall. 5 Outside the city measure off 3,000 feet on the east side, 3,000 feet on the south side, 3,000 feet on the west side, and 3,000 feet on the north side, with the city in the center. This will be their pastureland around the city.

6 “Six of the cities you give the Levites will be cities of refuge. You must allow murderers to escape to these cities. In addition, you must also give the Levites 42 other cities. 7 So you will give a total of 48 cities with pastureland to the Levites. 8 The cities you give the Levites from the property of the other Israelites must be given based on the amount of land each tribe owns. Take more cities from larger tribes and fewer from smaller tribes.”

35:1–8   The Levites lived in cities you provided. You care for the people who serve you.

Cities of Refuge

9 The LORD said to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan, 11 select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them. 12 These cities will be places of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death. So anyone accused of murder will not have to die until he has had a trial in front of the community. 13 There will be six cities you select as places of refuge, 14 three on the east side of the Jordan River and three in Canaan. 15 These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities.

16 “But if any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death. 17 If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death. 18 Or if any of you picks up a piece of wood as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death. 19 The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him. 20 If any of you kills someone you hate by shoving him or by deliberately throwing something at him, 21 or if you beat your enemy to death with your bare hands, you must be put to death. You are a murderer. The relative who can avenge the death must kill you when he catches up with you, because you are a murderer.

22 “But suppose you accidentally kill someone who wasn’t your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but didn’t mean to kill him. 23 Or suppose you drop a big stone, and someone is killed. However, you didn’t know the person was there, he wasn’t your enemy, and you weren’t trying to harm him. 24 Then the community must use these rules in order to decide if you ⌞are innocent⌟ or if the dead person’s relative can avenge the death. 25  ⌞If you are innocent,⌟ the community must protect you from that relative. They must take you back to the city of refuge you fled to. You must live there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.

26 “But don’t go outside the city of refuge you fled to. 27 If the relative who can avenge the death finds you outside the city of refuge and kills you, the relative is not guilty of murder. 28 Accused murderers must stay in their city of refuge until the death of the high priest. They may go back to their own property only after his death.

29 “These will be the rules for future generations wherever you live.

30 “Whoever kills another person will be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of more than one witness. No one can be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

31 “Never accept a cash payment in exchange for the life of a convicted murderer who has been given the death penalty. Murderers must be put to death.

32 “An accused murderer who has fled to a city of refuge must never go back and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. Don’t accept a cash payment to allow him to do this.

33 “You must not pollute the land where you live. Murder is what pollutes the land. The land where a murder was committed can never make peace with the LORD except through the death of the murderer. 34 Never make the land where you and I live unclean.[47] I, the LORD, live among the Israelites.”

35:9–34   You set aside cities of refuge for unintentional killers. You call for justice for the guilty and shelter for the innocent. You never let people be condemned by a lone witness.

The Rights of Women to Inherit Land

36

1 The heads of the households whose families were descended from Gilead, son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh, (families of Joseph’s descendants) came and spoke to Moses and the leaders of the other Israelite households. 2 They said, “Sir, the LORD commanded you to give the Israelites their land by drawing lots. The LORD also commanded you to give the land of our relative Zelophehad to his daughters. 3 Suppose they marry men from the other tribes of Israel. Their land will be taken away from that of our ancestors and added to the land of the tribe they marry into. Then we will have lost part of our land. 4 When the Israelites’ jubilee year comes, their land will be added to that of the tribe they married into. Then part of the land of our ancestors’ tribe will be gone.”

5 So Moses gave the Israelites a command from the LORD. “The tribe of Joseph’s descendants is right. 6 This is what the LORD commands for Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they want to, but only within a family of their ancestor’s tribe. 7 In this way no land of the Israelites will pass from one tribe to another. Every Israelite must keep the tribal land inherited from his ancestors. 8 A woman who inherits land in any of the tribes of Israel may marry a man from any family in her ancestor’s tribe. In this way every Israelite keeps the land inherited from his ancestors. 9 No land may pass from one tribe to another. Each Israelite tribe must keep the land it inherits.”

10 Zelophehad’s daughters did as the LORD commanded Moses. 11 Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah married their cousins on their father’s side of the family. 12 They married within the families of the descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph. So their land stayed in the tribe of their father’s family.

13 These are the commands and rules the LORD gave the Israelites through Moses on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho.

36:1–13   You gave daughters rights and land—a rule for your people.

DEUTERONOMY

INTRODUCTION

Deuteronomy urges you to stay on your journey with God. By the start of the book, the generation that refused to enter the promised land has died off one by one during forty years of desert wandering. Now a new generation stands poised to take hold of their new home.

At this critical moment, Moses gathers the people on the plains east of the Jordan River and delivers three messages reminding the people where they came from—and where they are going. He outlines crucial events of the past, recalling hard lessons of disobedience as well as moments of astonishing success. Through everything, God had proven himself faithful. As Moses tells his listeners, “The LORD your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched over you as you traveled through this vast desert. For 40 years now the LORD your God has been with you, and you haven’t needed a thing” (Deuteronomy 2:7).

Moses reminds everyone of God’s blessings, but he also warns them of the consequences of neglecting God as they move ahead. As they enter a bountiful land, they could easily forget the Lord. Moses directs them to obey Scripture’s greatest command, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

As you journey through life, you face no greater challenge than to stay close to God. Praying Deuteronomy reminds you to recall his care for you and to renew your commitment to him.

DEUTERONOMY

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Moses Speaks to the People 40 Years after Leaving Egypt

1

1 This is the speech Moses gave in the desert east of the Jordan River, on the plains, near Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and near Laban, Hazeroth, and Di Zahab. He spoke to all the Israelites. 2 (It takes 11 days to go from Mount Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by way of Mount Seir.)

3 On the first day of the eleventh month in the fortieth year ⌞after they had left Egypt⌟, Moses told the Israelites everything the LORD had commanded him to tell them. 4 This was after he had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and[1] in Edrei. 5 The Israelites were east of the Jordan River in Moab when Moses began to review God’s teachings.

1:1–5   Moses didn’t let the Israelites forget your words—everything you taught them in their desert wanderings. I’ll put your words in the front of my mind.

Moses Reminds Israel of the Events at Mount Horeb

This is what he said:

6 At Mount Horeb the LORD our God said to us, “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7 Break camp, and get ready! Go to the mountain region of the Amorites, and go to everyone living on the plains, in the mountains, in the foothills, in the Negev, on the whole Mediterranean coast (the land of the Canaanites), and into Lebanon as far as the Euphrates River. 8 I’m giving you this land. Enter, and take possession of the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to you, their descendants.”

1:6–8   Your people had been at your mountain long enough. I want to possess everything promised!

9 At that time I said to you, “I’m not able to take care of you by myself. 10 The LORD your God has made your population increase so that you are now as numerous as the stars in the sky. 11 May the LORD God of your ancestors make you a thousand times more numerous, and may he bless you as he has promised. 12 How can I take care of your problems, your troubles, and your disagreements all by myself? 13 From each of your tribes, choose some men who are wise, intelligent, and experienced, and I’ll appoint them to be your leaders.”

14 You agreed that this was a good idea.

15 So I took the heads of your tribes who were wise and experienced men and made them officers for each of your tribes. I put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. 16 Also at that time I gave these instructions to your judges: “Hear the cases that your people bring. Judge each case fairly, no matter whether it is ⌞a dispute⌟ between two Israelites or ⌞a dispute⌟ between an Israelite and a non-Israelite. 17 Be impartial in your decisions. Listen to the least important people the same way you listen to the most important people. Never be afraid of anyone, since your decisions come from God. You may bring me any case that’s too hard for you, and I will hear it.” 18 So I told you how to handle these situations.

1:9–18   Moses couldn’t care for your people alone. You gave him experienced leaders to communicate your decisions. Put wise people in my life to guide me.

Moses Reminds Israel of the Events at Kadesh Barnea

19 So we left Mount Horeb, as the LORD our God had commanded. We traveled through all that vast and dangerous desert you saw on the way to the mountain region of the Amorites. At last we came to Kadesh Barnea. 20 Then I said to you, “We have come to the mountain region of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. 21 The LORD your God is giving you this land. Go ahead! Take possession of it, as the LORD God of your ancestors told you. Don’t be afraid or terrified.”

22 All of you came to me and said, “Let’s send men ahead of us to gather information about the land for us. Have them report to us about the route we should take and the cities we’ll come to.”

23 It seemed like a good idea to me. So I chose 12 of your men, one from each tribe. 24 They left and went into the mountains. When they came to the Eshcol Valley, they explored it. 25 They took some of the region’s fruit with them and brought it back to us. They reported, “The land that the LORD our God is giving us is good.”

1:19–25   You commanded your people to possess the land you set aside for them. Help me to fearlessly take hold of all your promises.

26 But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God and refused to go. 27 You complained in your tents and said, “The LORD hates us! That’s why he brought us out of Egypt. He wanted to hand us over to the Amorites so that they could destroy us! 28 Where are we going anyway? Our own men have discouraged us by saying, ‘The people there are taller and stronger than we are. The cities are big with sky-high walls! We even saw the people of Anak there.’”

29 Then I said to you, “Don’t tremble. Don’t be afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God, who is going ahead of you, will fight for you as you saw him fight for you in Egypt 31 and in the desert.” There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as parents carry their children. He carried you wherever you went until you came to this place.

1:26–31   Your people thought you hated them. How could they say you wanted them dead? Take away my trembling. Go ahead of me always. Carry me from place to place.

32 In spite of this, you didn’t trust the LORD your God, 33 who went ahead of you to find places for you to camp. He appeared in a column of fire at night and in a column of smoke during the day to show you which route to take.

34 When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and took this oath: 35 “Not one of these evil people will ever see the good land that I swore to give to your ancestors, 36 except Caleb, son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give the land that he set his feet on to him and his descendants, because he wholeheartedly followed the LORD.”

37 The LORD became angry with me because of you. He said, “You won’t go there either. 38 But your assistant Joshua, son of Nun, will go there. Encourage him, because he will help Israel take possession of the land. 39 Although you thought the little children would be captured in war, your children, who are still too young to know the difference between good and evil, will enter that land. I will give it to them, and they will take possession of it. 40 Turn around, go back into the desert, and follow the road that goes to the Red Sea.”

41 You responded, “We have sinned against the LORD. We’ll go and fight, as the LORD our God commanded us to do.” Each of you armed yourself for war, thinking you could easily invade the mountain region.

42 But the LORD said to me, “Tell them, ‘Don’t go and fight, because I won’t be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.’”

43 I told you, but you wouldn’t listen. You defied the LORD’s command and invaded the mountain region. 44 The Amorites who lived there came out and attacked you and chased you like a swarm of bees. They defeated you, chasing you from Seir all the way to Hormah. 45 When you came back, you cried to the LORD, but the LORD didn’t listen to you or hear you. 46 That’s why you stayed in Kadesh as long as you did.

1:32–46   I want to trust you when others don’t. I intend to follow you with my whole heart. Don’t send me back into the desert. Listen to me when I cry to you.

Moses Reminds Israel of the Events at Mount Seir

2

1 We went back into the desert, following the road that goes to the Red Sea as the LORD had told me. For a long time we traveled around the region of Mount Seir.

2 The LORD said to me, 3 “You’ve traveled around this region long enough. Now go north. 4 Give the people these instructions: ‘You’re going to pass through the territory of your relatives, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They’ll be afraid of you, but be very careful. 5 Don’t start a fight with them, because I’m not giving you any of their land—not even enough to stand on. I’ve given Esau’s descendants the region of Mount Seir as their property. 6 You must pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”

7 The LORD your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched over you as you traveled through this vast desert. For 40 years now the LORD your God has been with you, and you haven’t needed a thing.

8 So we passed by our relatives, the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir. We turned off the road that goes through the plains to Elath and Ezion Geber and took the road that goes through the desert of Moab.

9 The LORD said to me, “Don’t bother the people of Moab or start a war with them. I’m not giving you any of Ar as your property. I have given it to the descendants of Lot.”

10 The Emites used to live there. These people were as strong, as numerous, and as tall as the people of Anak. 11 They were thought to be Rephaim, like the people of Anak, but the Moabites called them Emites. 12 The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau claimed their land, wiped them out, and took their place, as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them.

13 Then the LORD said, “Now cross the Zered River.”

So we crossed the Zered River. 14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered River. During that time all our soldiers from that generation died, as the LORD had sworn they would. 15 In fact, it was the LORD himself who got rid of all of them until none were left in the camp.

2:1–15   Bless me in everything I do. Watch over me as I travel this vast desert. As long as you’re with me, I won’t lack anything I need.

Moses Reminds Israel about Ammon

16 When the last of these soldiers had died, 17 the LORD said to me, 18 “Today you are going to pass by the border of Moab at Ar. 19 When you come near the Ammonites, don’t bother them or start a fight with them. I’m not giving you any of the land that I have already given to the descendants of Lot as their property.”

20 This land was thought of as the land of the Rephaim who used to live there, but the Ammonites called them Zamzummim. 21 These people were as strong, as numerous, and as tall as the people of Anak. But the LORD wiped them out before the Ammonites came so that the Ammonites claimed their land and took their place. 22 The LORD did the same thing for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir. Before the descendants of Esau came, he wiped out the Horites so that Esau’s descendants claimed their land and took their place. Esau’s descendants are still there today. 23 The same thing happened to the Avvites who lived in villages as far away as Gaza. The Caphtorites, who came from Crete, wiped them out and took their place.

Moses Reminds Israel about King Og and King Sihon

24  ⌞The LORD continued,⌟ “Now break camp. Cross the Arnon Valley. I’m going to hand King Sihon of Heshbon, the Amorite, over to you. Fight him, and take possession of his country. 25 Today I will start to make all the people under heaven terrified of you. When they hear about you, they will tremble and shake because of you.”

26 From the desert of Kedemoth, I sent messengers to King Sihon of Heshbon with the following offer of peace: 27 “If you allow us to travel through your country, we’ll go straight through and won’t ever leave the road. 28 We’ll pay you in silver for the food we eat and the water we drink. Please let us go through, 29 as the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, and the Moabites, who live in Ar, did for us. We’ll keep going until we cross the Jordan River into the land the LORD our God is giving us.”

30 But King Sihon of Heshbon wouldn’t allow us to pass through. The LORD your God made him stubborn and overconfident in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done. 31 The LORD said to me, “I have begun to give you Sihon and his country. Go ahead! Take possession of his land.”

32 Sihon and all his troops came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz. 33 The LORD our God gave Sihon to us, and we defeated him, his sons, and all his troops. 34 At that time we captured all his cities and claimed them for God by destroying men, women, and children. There were no survivors. 35 However, we did loot the cities that we captured, taking the cattle and goods. 36 From Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley and the city in that valley as far as Gilead, no city had walls that could keep us out. The LORD our God gave us all of them. 37 But the LORD our God had forbidden you to go anywhere near the land of the Ammonites. So you didn’t enter the land along the bank of the Jabbok River or capture the cities in the mountains.

2:16–37   I won’t go anywhere you don’t lead me. I won’t take anything you don’t give me. I’ll never pick pointless fights. I’ll fearlessly grab hold of your promises.

Moses Reminds Israel of How They Defeated King Og of Bashan

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1 Next we turned and followed the road that goes to Bashan. King Og of Bashan and all his troops came to fight us at Edrei. 2 The LORD said to me, “Don’t be afraid of him. I’ll hand him, all his troops, and his land over to you. Do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.”

3 So the LORD our God also handed King Og of Bashan and all his troops over to us. We defeated him, leaving no survivors. 4 At that time we captured all of his cities. There wasn’t a city we didn’t take. We captured a total of 60 cities—the whole territory of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All of these cities were fortified with high walls and double-door gates with bars across the gates. We also captured a large number of unwalled villages. 6 We claimed them all for God, destroying every city, including men, women, and children—as we did to King Sihon of Heshbon. 7 However, we did loot the cities, taking all of the cattle and goods.

8 We took the land of the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon. 9 (The Sidonians call Mount Hermon by the name Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir.) 10 We took all of the cities of the plateau, all of Gilead, and all of Bashan as far as Salcah and Edrei, cities of Og’s kingdom in Bashan. 11 (Of the Rephaim only King Og of Bashan was left. His bed was made of iron and was more than 13 feet long and 6 feet wide. It is still in the Ammonite city of Rabbah.)

12 At that time we took possession of this land. I gave the tribes of Reuben and Gad the land north of Aroer near the Arnon Valley and half of the mountain region of Gilead with its cities. 13 I gave the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan ruled by Og to half of the tribe of Manasseh. (The whole territory of Argob in Bashan used to be called the land of the Rephaim. 14 Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole territory of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites. The settlements in Bashan he named Havvoth Jair after himself. This is still their name today.) 15 I gave Gilead to Machir. 16 I gave the tribes of Reuben and Gad some of Gilead from the Arnon Valley (the middle of the valley is the border) to the Jabbok River, which is the border of Ammon. 17 Their land included the plains around the Jordan River. The western border was the river, from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Plains (the Dead Sea), which is near Mount Pisgah on the east.

18 I gave the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh this command: “The LORD your God has given you this land so that you can take possession of it. All your soldiers must be ready for battle when they cross ⌞the Jordan River⌟ ahead of the other Israelites. 19 I know you have a lot of livestock. Your wives, children, and livestock must stay here in the cities that I gave you. 20 Your soldiers will go with the other Israelites until they take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them on the other side of the Jordan River. Then they will have a place to rest as you have. After that each of you may go back to the land I gave you.”

21 I also gave Joshua this command: “You have seen with your own eyes everything that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all of the kingdoms on the other side ⌞of the Jordan River⌟ where you’re going. 22 Don’t be afraid of them, because the LORD your God himself will fight for you.”

3:1–22   You gave victory over Sihon and Og. You assigned lands to Reuben and Gad. And you told your people to stay ready for battle. With you on my side, I have nothing to fear.

Moses Reminds Israel Why He Will Not Enter Canaan

23 Then I pleaded with the LORD: 24 “Almighty LORD, you have ⌞only⌟ begun to show me how great and powerful you are. What kind of god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and the mighty acts you have done? 25 Please let me go over and see the beautiful land on the other side of the Jordan River—those beautiful mountains in Lebanon.”

3:23–25   You’re great and powerful. There’s no god in heaven or earth who can do your mighty acts.

26 The LORD was angry with me because of you, so he wouldn’t listen to me. He said, “That’s enough out of you! Don’t talk to me anymore about this. 27 Go to the top of Mount Pisgah, and look west, north, south, and east. You may look at the land, but you will never cross the Jordan River. 28 Give instructions to Joshua. Encourage and strengthen him, because he will lead these people across ⌞the Jordan River⌟, and he will help them take possession of the land you see.”

29 So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.

3:26–29   You wouldn’t allow Moses to enter the land. Don’t let me lose my place in your plans by sinning against you.

Moses Reminds Israel to Be Loyal to the LORD

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1 Israel, listen to the laws and rules I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you will live and be able to enter and take possession of the land that the LORD God of your ancestors is giving you. 2 Never add anything to what I command you, or take anything away from it. Then you will be able to obey the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

3 With your own eyes you saw what the LORD did at Baal Peor. The LORD your God destroyed everyone among you who worshiped the god Baal while you were at Peor. 4 But you were loyal to the LORD your God and are still alive today.

5 I have taught you laws and rules as the LORD my God commanded me. You must obey them when you’ve entered the land and taken possession of it. 6 Faithfully obey these laws. This will show the people of the world your wisdom and insight. When they hear about all these laws, they will say, “What wise and insightful people there are in this great nation!”

7 What great nation ever had their gods as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we pray to him? 8 Or what other great nation has such fair laws and rules as all these teachings I am giving you today?

4:1–8   You intend for your laws to be obeyed. With my own eyes I’ve seen you punish those who worship other gods, so I choose to stay loyal to you. You’re always near when I pray.

9 However, be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you don’t forget the things which you have seen with your own eyes. Don’t let them fade from your memory as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren. 10 Never forget the day you stood in front of the LORD your God at Mount Horeb. The LORD had said to me, “Assemble the people in front of me, and I will let them hear my words. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live on earth, and they will teach their children the same thing.”

4:9–10   I won’t forget the things you’ve shown me. I’ll teach them to my children and grandchildren.

11 So you came and stood at the foot of the mountain, which was on fire with flames shooting into the sky. It was dark, cloudy, and gloomy. 12 The LORD spoke to you from the fire. You heard a voice speaking but saw no one. There was only a voice. 13 The LORD told you about the terms of his promise, the ten commandments, which he commanded you to do. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 The LORD also commanded me to teach you the laws and rules you must obey after you cross ⌞the Jordan River⌟ and take possession of the land.

15 You didn’t see the LORD the day he spoke to you from the fire at Mount Horeb. So be very careful 16 that you don’t become corrupt and make your own carved idols. Don’t make statues that represent men or women, 17 any animal on earth, any creature with wings that flies, 18 any creature that crawls on the ground, or any fish in the water. 19 Don’t let yourselves be tempted to worship and serve what you see in the sky—the sun, the moon, the stars, or anything else. The LORD your God has given them to all people everywhere. 20 But you are the people the LORD brought out of Egypt, the iron smelter, in order to make you his own people as you still are today.

21 The LORD was angry with me because of you. So the LORD your God took an oath that I wouldn’t cross the Jordan River and enter the good land he is giving you as your property. 22 I’m going to die in this land and not cross the Jordan River, but you’re going to go across and take possession of that good land. 23 Be careful that you don’t forget the promise[2] that the LORD your God made to you. Don’t make your own carved idols or statues that represent anything the LORD your God has forbidden. 24 The LORD your God is a raging fire, a God who does not tolerate rivals.

4:11–24   You laid down your terms—laws for your people to follow in the land you promised. You’re a raging fire and won’t tolerate rivals. I’ll never serve any other god.

25 Even when you have children and grandchildren and have grown old in that land, don’t become corrupt and make carved idols or statues that represent anything. I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today:[3] If you do this thing that the LORD your God considers evil, making him furious, 26 you will quickly disappear from the land you’re going to possess on the other side of the Jordan River. You won’t live very long there. You’ll be completely wiped out. 27 The LORD will scatter you among the people of the world, and only a few of you will be left among the nations where the LORD will force you to live. 28 There you will worship wooden and stone gods made by human hands. These gods can’t see, hear, eat, or smell.

4:25–28   If I do evil I won’t live in your promises. I’ll end up a slave to gods made by human hands—gods who can’t see, hear, eat, or smell.

29 But if you look for the LORD your God when you are among those nations, you will find him whenever you search for him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you’re in distress and all these things happen to you, then you will finally come back to the LORD your God and obey him. 31 The LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon you, destroy you, or forget the promise to your ancestors that he swore he would keep.

4:29–31   Be merciful when I search for you with all my soul. Don’t abandon me or destroy me or forget your promises.

32 Search the distant past, long before your time. Start from the very day God created people on earth. Search from one end of heaven to the other. Has anything as great as this ever happened before, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Have any ⌞other⌟ people ever heard God speak from a fire and lived? You did! 34 Or has any god ever tried to come and take one nation away from another for himself? The LORD your God used his mighty hand and powerful arm to do this for you in Egypt. He did this using plagues, miraculous signs, amazing things, and war. He did his great and awe-inspiring deeds in front of you.

35 You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God. There is no other god. 36 He let you hear his voice from heaven so that he could instruct you. He showed you his great fire on earth, and you heard him speak from the column of fire. 37 Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants, he was with you as he brought you out of Egypt by his great power. 38 He forced nations greater and stronger than you out of your way to bring you into their land and give it to you. This land is your own possession today.

39 Remember today, and never forget that the LORD is God in heaven above and here on earth. There is no other god. 40 Obey his laws and commands which I’m giving you today. Then things will go well for you and your descendants. You will live for a long time in the land. The LORD your God is giving you the land for as long as you live.

4:32–40   Israel heard you speak yet lived. You rescued them from slavery and made nations get out of their way, doing awe-inspiring deeds so everyone could see you are God. You make things go well when I obey you.

Three Cities of Refuge East of the Jordan River

41 Then Moses set aside three cities on the east side of the Jordan River. 42 Those who unintentionally killed someone whom they had never hated could flee to one of these cities and save their lives. 43 The cities were Bezer on the desert plateau for the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.

Introduction to Moses’ Teachings

44 This is what Moses taught the people of Israel. 45 These are the commandments, laws, and rules Moses gave the Israelites after they had left Egypt. 46 He gave these to the people when they were east of the Jordan River in the valley near Beth Peor, in the land of King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon. Moses and Israel defeated him after they left Egypt. 47 They took possession of his land and the land of King Og of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites who were east of the Jordan River. 48 This land went from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley to Mount Siyon (that is, Mount Hermon). 49 It included all the plains on the east side of the Jordan River as far as the Dead Sea at the foot of the slopes of Mount Pisgah.

The Ten Commandments—Exodus 20:1–21

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1 Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: Israel, listen to the laws and rules I’m telling you today. Learn them and faithfully obey them.

2 The LORD our God made a promise[4] to us at Mount Horeb. 3 He didn’t make this promise to our ancestors, but to all of us who are alive here today. 4 The LORD spoke to you face to face from the fire on the mountain. 5 I stood between the LORD and you to tell you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and didn’t go up on the mountain. The LORD said:

5:1–5   Moses summoned Israel and reminded them of all your rules—the words you spoke from the fire at Mount Horeb. I’ll hear and obey your commands.

6 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

7 “Never have any other gods. 8 Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water. 9 Never worship them or serve them, because I, the LORD your God, am a God who does not tolerate rivals. I punish children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. 10 But I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.

5:6–10   You are the Lord my God. You don’t tolerate rivals, so I won’t give my heart to other gods. I’ll worship only you, so show your mercy to me and my children.

11 “Never use the name of the LORD your God carelessly. The LORD will make sure that anyone who uses his name carelessly will be punished.

12 “Observe the day of worship as a holy day. This is what the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 You have six days to do all your work. 14 The seventh day is the day of worship dedicated to the LORD your God. You, your sons, your daughters, your male and female slaves, your oxen, your donkeys—all of your animals—even the foreigners living in your city must never do any work ⌞on that day⌟. In this way your male and female slaves can rest as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring you out of there. This is why the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the day of worship.

5:11–15   I won’t use your name carelessly. I’ll worship you on the day you claim as your own.

16 “Honor your father and your mother as the LORD your God has commanded you. Then you will live for a long time, and things will go well for you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

17 “Never murder.

18 “Never commit adultery.

19 “Never steal.

20 “Never avoid the truth when you testify about your neighbor.[5]

21 “Never desire to take your neighbor’s wife away from him.

“Never long for your neighbor’s household, his field, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to him.”

5:16–21   I’ll honor my father and mother. I won’t commit murder. I won’t break faith with my spouse. I won’t steal or lie. I’ll quiet my urge to take what my neighbor has.

22 These are the commandments the LORD spoke to your whole assembly on the mountain. He spoke in a loud voice from the fire, the cloud, and the gloomy darkness. Then he stopped speaking. He wrote the commandments on two stone tablets and gave them to me.

23 But when you heard the voice coming from the darkness and saw the mountain blazing with fire, all the leaders and heads of your tribes came to me. 24 You said, “The LORD our God has let us see how great and glorious he is. We’ve heard his voice come from the fire. Today we’ve seen that people can live even if God speaks to them. 25 Why should we die? This great fire will consume us! If we continue to hear the voice of the LORD our God, we’ll die! 26 Who has ever heard the voice of the living God speak from a fire, as we did, and lived? 27  ⌞Moses,⌟ go and listen to everything that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We’ll listen and obey.”

5:22–27   You let your people see how great and glorious you are. They heard your voice from the fire and lived.

28 When the LORD heard the words that you spoke to me, he said, “I have heard what these people said to you. Everything they said was good. 29 If only they would fear me and obey all my commandments as long as they live! Then things would go well for them and their children forever.

30 “Tell the people to go back to their tents. 31 But you stay here with me. I will give you all the commands, laws, and rules that you must teach them to obey in the land which I’m giving them to possess.”

32 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you. Never stop living this way. 33 Follow all the directions the LORD your God has given you. Then you will continue to live, life will go well for you, and you will live for a long time in the land that you are going to possess.

5:28–33   I’ll fear and obey you as long as I live. I’ll be careful to keep your commands and live your way. Life goes better when I follow all your directions.

Love the LORD

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1 These are the commands, laws, and rules the LORD your God commanded me to teach you. Obey them after you enter the land and take possession of it. 2 As long as you live, you, your children, and your grandchildren must fear the LORD your God. All of you must obey all his laws and commands that I’m giving you, and you will live a long time. 3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to obey these laws. Then things will go well for you and your population will increase in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD God of your ancestors promised you.

6:1–3   My family and I will always live in awe of you. You’ve brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God. The LORD is the only God. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 Take to heart these words that I give you today. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up. 8  ⌞Write them down, and⌟ tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands as a reminder. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

6:4–9   You are the Lord—the one and only God. I’ll love you with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength. I’ll take your words to heart and repeat them to my children.

10 The LORD your God will bring you into the land and give it to you, as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This land will have large, prosperous cities that you didn’t build. 11 Your houses will be filled with all kinds of things that you didn’t put there. You will have cisterns that you didn’t dig and vineyards and olive trees that you didn’t plant. After you have eaten all that you want, 12 be careful that you don’t forget the LORD, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt. 13 You must fear the LORD your God, serve him, and take your oaths only in his name. 14 Never worship any of the gods worshiped by the people around you. 15 If you do, the LORD your God will become very angry with you and will wipe you off the face of the earth, because the LORD your God, who is with you, is a God who does not tolerate rivals.

6:10–15   When you fill my life with good things, I’ll remember you freed me from bondage. I’ll only worship you, because you don’t tolerate rivals.

16 Never test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to obey the commands of the LORD your God and the regulations and laws he has given you. 18 Do what the LORD considers right and good. Then things will go well for you, and you will enter and take possession of that good land which the LORD promised to your ancestors with an oath. 19 You will see the LORD expel your enemies as he said he would.

20 In the future your children will ask you, “What do these regulations, laws, and rules which the LORD our God commanded you mean to you?” 21 Tell them, “We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the LORD used his mighty hand to bring us out of there. 22 Right before our eyes the LORD did miraculous signs and amazing things that were spectacular but terrible for Egypt, Pharaoh, and his whole family. 23 The LORD led us out of there to bring us here and give us this land he promised to our ancestors with an oath. 24 The LORD our God commanded us to obey all these laws and to fear him. These laws are for our own good as long as we live so that he will preserve our lives. It’s still true today. 25 This is how we’ll have the LORD’s approval: If we faithfully obey all these laws in the presence of the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.”

6:16–25   I won’t test you. Because your laws are for my own good, I’ll do what you consider right. I’ll tell my children the story of how you rescued me from bondage with spectacular deeds.

Israel Is Commanded to Destroy the Canaanites and Their Idols

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1 The LORD your God will bring you to the land you’re about to enter and take possession of. He will force many nations out of your way: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—seven nations larger and more powerful than you. 2 When the LORD your God gives them to you and you defeat them, destroy every one of them because they have been claimed by the LORD. Don’t make any treaties with them or show them any mercy. 3 Never marry any of them. Never let your daughters marry their sons or your sons marry their daughters. 4 These people will turn your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the LORD will get very angry with you and will quickly destroy you.

5 But this is what you must do to these people: Tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, and burn their idols. 6 You are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. He chose you to be his own special possession out of all the nations on earth.

7:1–6   You told Israel to destroy your enemies and all their idols. Help me rid my life of everything that leads me to sin, because you’ve made me one of your holy people.

7 The LORD set his heart on you and chose you, even though you didn’t outnumber all the other people. You were the smallest of all nations. 8 You were chosen because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors. So he used his mighty hand to bring you out. He freed you from slavery under Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). 9 Keep in mind that the LORD your God is ⌞the only⌟ God. He is a faithful God, who keeps his promise[6] and is merciful to thousands of generations of those who love him and obey his commands. 10 But he sends destruction to pay back everyone who hates him. He never takes long to pay back anyone who hates him.

7:7–10   You set your heart on Israel, loving her as your own special choice. You’ll show mercy to thousands of generations who love you and follow your commands.

11 So obey the commands, laws, and rules I’m giving you today.

12 If you listen to these rules and faithfully obey them, the LORD your God will keep his promise to you and be merciful to you, as he swore to your ancestors. 13 He will love you, bless you, and increase the number of your descendants. He will bless you with children. He will bless your land with produce: grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will bless your herds with calves, and your flocks with lambs and kids. This will all happen in the land the LORD will give you, as he swore to your ancestors. 14 You will be blessed more than any other people. Your men and women will be able to have children, and your animals will be able to have offspring. 15 The LORD will keep you from having any kind of illness. He will not strike you with any of the terrible diseases you experienced in Egypt. Instead, he will strike all those who hate you. 16 You must destroy all the people the LORD your God hands over to you. Have no pity on them, and never worship their gods, because they will be a trap for you.

7:11–16   I stay in your blessing when I obey your words. You meet my needs and keep me whole. I won’t let myself be trapped into worshiping other gods.

17 You may say to yourselves, “These nations outnumber us. How can we force them out?” 18 Don’t be afraid of them. Remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all of Egypt. 19 You saw with your own eyes the terrible plagues, the miraculous signs, and the amazing things the LORD did. He used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring you out. He will do the same thing to all the people you’re afraid of. 20 The LORD your God will spread panic among them until they all die. There will be no one left—not even those who were hiding from you. 21 Don’t be afraid of them, because the LORD your God is with you. He is a great and awe-inspiring God. 22 Little by little he will force these nations out of your way. You won’t be able to wipe them out quickly. Otherwise, you would be overrun with wild animals. 23 The LORD your God will hand these people over to you and will throw them into a great panic until they’re destroyed. 24 He will hand their kings over to you, and no one on earth will even remember their names. No one will be able to stop you. You will destroy them all. 25 Burn their idols. Don’t ever long for the silver and gold on these idols or take any of it for yourselves. It might be a trap for you. Besides, these idols are disgusting to the LORD your God. 26 Never bring a disgusting idol into your house. If you do, you and the idol will be destroyed. Consider it detestable and disgusting. It must be destroyed.”

7:17–24   You told Israel not to fear bigger nations. They had seen with their own eyes the amazing way you rescued them from slavery. You’re always with your people—and you throw your enemies into a panic.

7:25–26   I won’t long for the silver or gold of other gods. I won’t serve detestable things.

Israel Told Never to Forget God

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1 Be careful to obey every command I give you today. Then you will live, and your population will increase. You will enter and take possession of the land that the LORD promised to your ancestors with an oath.

8:1   I’ll never enjoy the life you promised if I disobey your commands.

2 Remember that for 40 years the LORD your God led you on your journey in the desert. He did this in order to humble you and test you. He wanted to know whether or not you would wholeheartedly obey his commands. 3 So he made you suffer from hunger and then fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had seen before. He did this to teach you that a person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that the LORD speaks. 4 Your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t swell these past 40 years. 5 Learn this lesson by heart: The LORD your God was disciplining you as parents discipline their children. 6 Obey the commands of the LORD your God. Follow his directions, and fear him.

8:2–6   You send me on a desert journey to humble and test me. You let me feel hunger, then miraculously feed me. My life comes from every word you speak. I count on you to discipline me as a parent corrects a child.

7 The LORD your God is bringing you into a good land. It is a land with rivers that don’t dry up. There are springs and underground streams flowing through the valleys and hills. 8 The land has wheat and barley, grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates. The land has honey and olive trees for olive oil. 9 The land will have enough food for you, and you will have everything you need. The land has rocks with iron ore, and you will be able to mine copper ore in the hills. 10 When you have eaten all you want, thank the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

8:7–10   You bring me into a good land with rivers that never dry up. It’s a place full of food and fine oil. Thanks for giving me everything I need.

11 Be careful that you don’t forget the LORD your God. Don’t fail to obey his commands, rules, and laws that I’m giving you today. 12 You will eat all you want. You will build nice houses and live in them. 13 Your herds and flocks, silver and gold, and everything else you have will increase. 14 When this happens, be careful that you don’t become arrogant and forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt. 15 He was the one who led you through that vast and dangerous desert—a thirsty and arid land, with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He was the one who made water come out of solid rock for you. 16 He was the one who fed you in the desert with manna, which your ancestors had never seen. He did this in order to humble you and test you. But he also did this so that things would go well for you in the end. 17 You may say to yourselves, “I became wealthy because of my own ability and strength.” 18 But remember the LORD your God is the one who makes you wealthy. He’s confirming the promise[7] which he swore to your ancestors. It’s still in effect today.

8:11–16   I won’t forget you when I’m full of food and live in a nice house. You rescued me from bondage and brought me through a thirsty desert.

19 I warn you today that if you forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, and if you serve them and bow down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. 20 The LORD is going to destroy other nations as you enter the land. You will be destroyed like them if you don’t obey the LORD your God.

8:17–20   My possessions aren’t the result of my own ability. Everything I have confirms your promise.

Israel Has Been Given Canaan because of God’s Mercy

9

1 Listen, Israel, you’re about to cross the Jordan River. You’ll be forcing out nations that are larger and stronger than you, with big cities that have sky-high walls. 2 Their people are tall and strong. They’re descendants of Anak. You know all about them. You’ve also heard it said, “Who can oppose the descendants of Anak?” 3 Realize today that the LORD your God is the one who is going ahead of you like a raging fire. He will wipe them out and will use you to crush their power. You will take possession of their land and will quickly destroy them as the LORD promised you.

9:1–3   You said Israel would force stronger nations from the land. You went ahead of your people like a raging fire to give your people what you promised.

4 When the LORD your God expels these people in front of you, don’t say to yourselves, “Because we’ve been living right, the LORD brought us here to take possession of this land.” No, it’s because these nations are so wicked that the LORD is forcing them out of your way. 5 It’s not because you’ve been living right or because you’re so honest that you’re entering to take possession of their land. It’s because these people are so wicked that the LORD your God is forcing them out of your way. It’s also because the LORD wants to confirm the promise he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 So understand this: It’s not because you’ve been living right that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess. You are impossible to deal with!

9:4–6   You didn’t bless your people because they lived right. It was because other nations were so wicked.

7 Never forget how you made the LORD your God angry in the desert. You’ve rebelled against the LORD from the day you left Egypt until you came here. 8 Even at Mount Horeb you made the LORD so angry that he wanted to destroy you. 9 When I went up on the mountain to get the stone tablets, the tablets of the promise that the LORD made to you, I stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights without food or water. 10 Then the LORD gave me the two stone tablets inscribed by God himself. On them were written all the words that the LORD spoke to you from the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly.

11 At the end of the 40 days and 40 nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets with his promise on them. 12 He told me, “Leave right away. Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have ruined ⌞everything⌟. They’ve quickly turned from the way I commanded them to live. They’ve made an idol for themselves.”

9:7–12   My rebellion makes you angry. I don’t want to give you fresh reasons to destroy me. Teach me your words and forgive me.

13 The LORD also said to me, “I’ve seen these people, and they are impossible to deal with. 14 Leave me alone! I’ll destroy them and wipe their name off the earth. Then I’ll make you into a nation larger and stronger than they are.”

15 So I turned and went down the mountain while it was still burning with fire. I was carrying the two tablets with the promise on them. 16 Then I saw that you had sinned against the LORD your God. You had made a statue of a calf for yourselves. You had quickly turned from the way the LORD commanded you to live. 17 I took the two tablets, threw them down, and smashed them in front of you.

18 Once again I threw myself down in front of the LORD. I went without food and water for 40 days and 40 nights because of the sin you committed. You did what the LORD considered evil and made him furious. 19 I was terrified of the LORD’s anger and fury. He was so angry he wanted to destroy you. But once more the LORD listened to me.

20 The LORD also became very angry with Aaron and wanted to destroy him. But at that time I prayed for Aaron, too.

21 I took that sinful calf you made and burned it. I crushed it, grinding it thoroughly until it was as fine as powder. Then I threw the powder into the river that flowed down the mountain.

22 You also made the LORD angry at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth Hattaavah.

9:13–22   I know I’m impossible to deal with! I sin against you and make false gods. Give me your commands and show me mercy.

23 When the LORD sent you from Kadesh Barnea, he said, “Go and take possession of the land I’m giving you.” But you rebelled against the word of the LORD your God. You didn’t believe him or obey him. 24 You’ve rebelled against the LORD as long as I’ve known you.

25 I threw myself down in front of the LORD for 40 days and 40 nights because the LORD said he would destroy you. 26 I prayed to the LORD and said, “Almighty LORD, don’t destroy your people. They belong to you. You saved them by your great power and used your mighty hand to bring them out of Egypt. 27 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Disregard the stubbornness, wickedness, and sin of these people. 28 Otherwise, the country we left will say, “The LORD wasn’t able to bring them to the land he promised them. He hated them. That’s why he brought them out—to let them die in the desert.” 29 They are your people. They belong to you. You used your great strength and powerful arm to bring them out ⌞of Egypt⌟.

9:23–29   You invite me to live in your blessing, but I rebel against your word. I don’t believe or obey you. But you saved me. Disregard my stubbornness and forgive my sin. I belong to you.

10

1 At that time the LORD said to me, “Cut two ⌞more⌟ stone tablets like the first ones, and come up to me on the mountain. Also make an ark out of wood. 2 I will write on the tablets the same words that were on the first tablets, which you smashed. Then you will put them in the ark.”

3 I made an ark out of acacia wood. I cut two ⌞more⌟ stone tablets like the first ones. I carried the two tablets up the mountain. 4 The LORD wrote on these tablets the same words as before, the ten commandments. He had spoken these words to you from the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly. Then the LORD gave them to me. 5 I came back down the mountain and put the tablets in the ark I had made. They are still there, where the LORD commanded me to put them.

6 The Israelites moved from the wells of the Jaakanites to Moserah. Aaron died there and was buried, and his son Eleazar succeeded him as priest. 7 They moved from there to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with rivers that don’t dry up. 8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the LORD’s promise, to stand in the LORD’s presence when they serve him as priests, and to praise his name, as they still do today. 9 This is why the tribe of Levi has no land of their own as the other tribes have. The LORD your God is their only possession, as he promised them.

10 I stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights as I did the first time. Once again the LORD listened to me and agreed not to destroy you. 11 The LORD said to me, “Lead the people on their journey. They will enter and take possession of the land I will give them, as I swore to their ancestors.”

10:1–11   You wrote your commandments on new stone tablets. Show me the mercy you showed your people back then. Lead me on this journey and let me possess everything you promise.

Israel Encouraged to Follow God’s Guidance

12 Israel, what does the LORD your God want you to do? He wants you to fear him, follow all his directions, love him, and worship him with all your heart and with all your soul. 13 The LORD wants you to obey his commands and laws that I’m giving you today for your own good. 14 Remember that the sky, the highest heaven, the earth and everything it contains belong to the LORD your God. 15 The LORD set his heart on your ancestors and loved them. Because of this, today he chooses you, their descendants, out of all the people of the world.

10:12–14   What do you want from me? For me to fear you and follow all your directions—to love you and worship you with all my being. I’ll obey the commands you give for my own good. I’ll remember that everything in sky and earth belongs to you.

16 So circumcise your uncircumcised hearts, and don’t be impossible to deal with any longer. 17 The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, powerful, and awe-inspiring God. He never plays favorites and never takes a bribe. 18 He makes sure orphans and widows receive justice. He loves foreigners and gives them food and clothes. 19 So you should love foreigners, because you were foreigners living in Egypt. 20 Fear the LORD your God, worship him, be loyal to him, and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is your glory. He is your God, who did for you these spectacular and awe-inspiring deeds you saw with your own eyes. 22 When your ancestors went to Egypt, there were 70 of them. Now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

10:16–22   I’ll dedicate my heart to you and quit being impossible. You’re great, powerful, and awe-inspiring. You’re my glory and my God. You do spectacular deeds I see with my own eyes.

11

1 Love the LORD your God, and do what he wants you to do. Always obey his laws, rules, and commands. 2 Remember today the discipline you learned from the LORD your God. (⌞I’m not talking⌟ to your children. They didn’t see or experience any of this.) You saw and experienced his great power—his mighty hand and powerful arm. 3 You saw the miraculous signs and deeds he did in Egypt to Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) and to his whole country. 4 You saw what he did to the Egyptian army, its horses and chariots. He drowned them in the Red Sea when they pursued you. So the LORD destroyed them forever. 5 You saw what he did for you in the desert until you came here. 6 You also saw what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, from the tribe of Reuben. In the middle of all the Israelites the ground opened up and swallowed them, their families, their tents, and every living creature with them. 7 You saw with your own eyes all these spectacular things that the LORD did.

11:1–7   I need to remember your acts I’ve seen for myself—your hand of discipline and your mighty power. You deal with the enemies all around me.

8 Obey all the commands I’m giving you today. Then you will have the strength to enter and take possession of the land once you’ve crossed ⌞the Jordan River⌟. 9 Then you will also live for a long time in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors and their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey.

10 The land you’re about to enter and take possession of isn’t like the land you left in Egypt. There you used to plant your seed, and you had to water it like a vegetable garden. 11 The land you’re about to enter is a land with hills and valleys, watered by rain from the sky. 12 It is a land the LORD your God cares about. He watches over it all year long.

13 If you faithfully obey the commands that I’m giving you today, love the LORD your God, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 I will send rain on your land at the right time, both in the fall and in the spring. Then you will gather your own grain, new wine, and olive oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your animals, and you will be able to eat all you want.

11:8–15   Obedience lets me live near you and enjoy you. You care for the land and send rain at the right time. You give me grain, wine, and oil.

16 Be careful, or you’ll be tempted to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 The LORD will become angry with you. He’ll shut the sky so that there’ll be no rain. Then the ground won’t grow any crops, and you’ll quickly disappear from this good land the LORD is giving you.

11:16–17   If I bow to other gods, you’ll angrily shut the sky. The ground won’t grow crops, and I’ll disappear from your good land.

18 Take these words of mine to heart and keep them in mind. ⌞Write them down,⌟ tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands as a reminder. 19 Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 21 Then you and your children will live for a long time in this land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors—as long as there’s a sky above the earth.

11:18–21   I’ll take your words to heart and keep them in mind. I’ll teach them to my children. They’ll experience your life as long as there’s a sky above the earth.

22 Faithfully obey all these commands I’m giving you. Love the LORD your God, follow all his directions, and be loyal to him. 23 Then the LORD will force all these people out of your way. Then you will take possession of ⌞the land belonging to⌟ people taller and stronger than you. 24 I will give you every place on which you set foot. Your borders will be from the desert to Lebanon, from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. 25 No one will be able to stop you. As the LORD your God promised, he will make people terrified of you wherever you go in this land.

11:22–25   If I faithfully follow you, I’ll take hold of every one of your gifts.

Choose the Blessing or the Curse

26 Today I’m giving you the choice of a blessing or a curse. 27 You’ll be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I’m giving you today. 28 You’ll be cursed if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God, if you turn from the way I’m commanding you to live today, and if you worship other gods you never knew. 29 When the LORD your God brings you into the land you’re about to enter, recite the blessing from Mount Gerizim and the curse from Mount Ebal. 30 (These mountains are on the west side of the Jordan, beyond the road that goes west, in the region of the Canaanites who live on the plains facing Gilgal, next to the oak trees of Moreh.) 31 You’re about to cross the Jordan River to enter and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you take possession of it and live there, 32 be careful to obey all the laws and rules I’m giving you today.

11:26–32   You let me choose to experience blessings or curses. I want to obey your laws and live in your promises.

The Proper Place to Worship

12

1 Here are the laws and rules you must faithfully obey in the land that the LORD God of your ancestors is giving you as your own. You must obey them as long as you live in the land.

2 Completely destroy all the worship sites on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every large tree. The people you’re forcing out worship their gods in these places. 3 Tear down their altars, crush their sacred stones, burn their poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, cut down their idols, and wipe out the names of their gods from those places.

4 Never worship the LORD your God in the way they worship their gods. 5 The LORD your God will choose a place out of all your tribes to live and put his name. Go there and worship him. 6 Bring him your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, one-tenth of your income, your contributions, the offerings you vow to bring, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats. 7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families will eat and enjoy everything you’ve worked for, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

12:1–7   I won’t serve my neighbors’ gods. I’ll bring you everything you command. I’ll enter your presence and enjoy your blessings.

8 Never worship in the way that it’s being done here today, where everyone does whatever he considers right. 9 Up until now you haven’t come to your place of rest, the property the LORD your God is giving you. 10 But you will cross the Jordan River and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your own property. He will give you peace from all your enemies around you so that you will live securely. 11 Then the LORD your God will choose a place where his name will live. You must bring everything I command you to that place. Bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, one-tenth of your income, your contributions, and all the best offerings you vow to bring to the LORD. 12 Enjoy yourselves in the presence of the LORD your God along with your sons, daughters, male and female slaves, and the Levites. (The Levites live in your cities because they have no land of their own as you have.) 13 Be careful that you don’t sacrifice your burnt offerings wherever you want. 14 Instead, sacrifice them ⌞only⌟ at the place that the LORD will choose in one of your tribes. There you must do everything I command you.

12:8–14   I won’t make up my own ways to worship. I’ll praise you in the place and time you desire.

15 In whatever city you live, you may slaughter and eat as much meat as you want from what the LORD your God has blessed you with. Clean and unclean[8] people may eat it as if they were eating a gazelle or a deer. 16 But never eat the blood. Pour it on the ground like water. 17 You may not eat ⌞the LORD’s offerings⌟ in your cities. Those offerings are: one-tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil; the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, or goats; the offerings you vow to bring; your freewill offerings; and your contributions. 18 Instead, you, your sons and daughters, male and female slaves, and the Levites who live in your cities must eat these in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose. There in the presence of the LORD your God enjoy everything you’ve worked for. 19 Don’t forget to take care of the Levites as long as you live in your land.

20 The LORD your God will expand your ⌞country’s⌟ borders as he promised. You will say, “I’m hungry for meat.” Then eat as much meat as you want. 21 If the place the LORD your God chooses to put his name is too far away from you, you may slaughter an animal from the herds or flocks that the LORD has given you. Eat as much as you want in your city. I have commanded you to do this. 22 Eat it as you would eat a gazelle or a deer: Clean and unclean people may eat it together. 23 However, be sure you never eat blood, because blood contains life. Never eat the life with the meat. 24 Never eat blood. Pour it on the ground like water. 25 If you don’t eat blood, things will go well for you and your descendants. You will be doing what the LORD considers right.

26 Take the holy things and the offerings you have vowed to bring, and go to the place the LORD will choose. 27 Sacrifice the meat and the blood of your burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD your God. The blood of your sacrifices is to be poured out beside the altar of the LORD your God, but you may eat the meat. 28 Be sure you obey all these instructions I’m giving you. Then things will always go well for you and your descendants because you will be doing what the LORD your God considers good and right.

12:15–28   You banned eating of blood, because the life of any creature is in its blood. Blood is necessary to make peace with you!

29 The LORD your God will destroy the nations where you’re going and force them out of your way. You will take possession of their land and live there. 30 After they’ve been destroyed, be careful you aren’t tempted to follow their customs. Don’t even ask about their gods and say, “How did these people worship their gods? We want to do what they did.” 31 Never worship the LORD your God in the way they worship their gods, because everything they do for their gods is disgusting to the LORD. He hates it! They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods.[9]

12:29–31   I’ll rid my life of every temptation. I won’t follow the customs of neighbors who don’t know you. I won’t sacrifice my children to their gods.

32 Be sure to do everything I command you. Never add anything to it or take anything away from it.

How Israel Is to Deal with False Prophets

13  [10]

1 One of your people, claiming to be a prophet or to have prophetic dreams, may predict a miraculous sign or an amazing thing. 2 What he predicts may even take place. But don’t listen to that prophet or dreamer[11] if he says, “Let’s worship and serve other gods.” (Those gods may be gods you’ve never heard of.) 3 The LORD your God is testing you to find out if you really love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Worship the LORD your God, fear him, obey his commands, listen to what he says, serve him, and be loyal to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and freed you from slavery. He was trying to lead you away from following the directions the LORD your God gave you. You must get rid of this evil.

13:1–5   You forbid your people to listen to prophets or dreamers who say, “Let’s worship other gods.” When this happens, it’s a test to find out if I really love you with all my heart and soul.

6 Your own brother, son, or daughter, the wife you love, or your best friend may secretly tempt you, saying, “Let’s go worship other gods.” (Those gods may be gods that you and your ancestors never knew. 7 They may be the gods of the people around you, who live near or far, from one end of the land to the other.) 8 Don’t be influenced by any of these people or listen to them. Have no pity on them. Don’t feel sorry for them or protect them. 9 You must put them to death. You must start the execution. Then all the other people will join you in putting them to death. 10 Stone them to death because they were trying to lead you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt. 11 All Israel will hear about it and be afraid. Then no one among you will ever do such a wicked thing again.

12 You may hear that the residents in one of the cities which the LORD your God is giving you to live in 13 have been led away from the LORD your God by worthless people. You may hear that these people have been saying, “Let’s worship other gods.” (Those gods may be gods you’ve never heard of.) 14 Then make a thorough investigation. If it is true, and you can prove that this disgusting thing has been done among you, 15 you must kill the residents of that city with swords and destroy that city and everyone in it, including the animals, because they are claimed by God. 16 Gather their goods into the middle of the city square. Then burn their city and all their goods as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. It must remain a mound of ruins and never be rebuilt. 17 Don’t ever take any of the things claimed for destruction. Then the LORD will stop being angry and will show you mercy. In his mercy he will make your population increase, as he swore to your ancestors. 18 The LORD your God will do this if you listen to him, obey all the commands that I’m giving you today, and do what he considers right.

13:6–18   I’ll shut my ears to family or friends or strangers who tell me to serve anyone but you. I won’t let them influence me. I’ll answer their claims and let you deal with their rebellion.

Religious Practices—Leviticus 11:1–23

14

1 You are the children of the LORD your God. So when someone dies, don’t ⌞mourn⌟ by cutting yourselves or shaving bald spots on your head. 2 You are people who are holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the people who live on earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his own special possession.

3 Never eat anything that is disgusting to the LORD. 4 Here are the ⌞kinds of⌟ animals you may eat: oxen, sheep, goats, 5 deer, gazelles, fallow deer,[12] wild goats, mountain goats, antelope, and mountain sheep. 6 You may eat all animals that have completely divided hoofs and that also chew their cud. 7 But some animals chew their cud, while others have completely divided hoofs. You may not eat these ⌞kinds of⌟ animals. They include camels, rabbits, and rock badgers. (Although they chew their cud, they don’t have divided hoofs. They are unclean[13] for you.) 8 Also, you may not eat pigs. (Although their hoofs are divided, they don’t chew their cud.) Never eat their meat or touch their dead bodies.

9 Here’s what you may eat of every creature that lives in the water: You may eat any creature that has fins and scales. 10 But never eat anything that doesn’t have fins and scales. It is unclean for you.

11 You may eat any clean bird. 12 But here are the birds that you should never eat: eagles, bearded vultures, black vultures, 13 buzzards, all types of kites, 14 all types of crows, 15 ostriches, nighthawks, seagulls, all types of falcons, 16 little owls, great owls, barn owls, 17 pelicans, ospreys, cormorants, 18 storks, all types of herons, hoopoes, and bats.

19 Every swarming, winged insect is also unclean for you. They must never be eaten. 20 However, you may eat any ⌞other kind of⌟ flying creature that is clean.

21 Never eat any creature that dies naturally. You may give it to the foreigners who live in your cities, and they may eat it. You may also sell it to foreigners who are visiting. But you are people who are holy to the LORD your God.

Never cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

14:1–21   You divided animals as clean and unclean—some good for eating and some not. Teach me to distinguish between clean and unclean.

Giving God One-Tenth of Everything

22 Every year be sure to save a tenth of the crops harvested from whatever you plant in your fields. 23 Eat the tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil, and eat the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats in the presence of the LORD your God in the place he will choose to put his name. Then you will learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live.

24 But the place the LORD your God will choose to put his name may be too far away. He may bless you with so much that you can’t carry a tenth of your income that far. 25 If so, exchange the tenth part of your income for silver. Take the silver with you, and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you want: cattle, sheep, goats, wine, liquor—whatever you choose. Then you and your family will eat and enjoy yourselves there in the presence of the LORD your God. 27 Never forget to take care of the Levites who live in your cities. They have no land of their own as you have.

28 At the end of every third year bring a tenth of that year’s crop, and store it in your cities. 29 Foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your cities may come to eat all they want. The Levites may also come because they have no land of their own as you have. Then the LORD your God will bless you in whatever work you do.

14:22–29   I’ll give what you command, bringing it into your presence and living in awe of you. I won’t forget to feed the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.

The Seventh-Year Celebration

15

1 At the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts. 2 This is what you will do: If you’ve made a loan, don’t collect payment on the debt your neighbor still owes you. Don’t demand that your neighbor or relative pay you, because the ⌞time⌟ for suspending payments on debts has been proclaimed in the LORD’s honor. 3 You may demand that a foreigner pay, but don’t collect payment on the debt another Israelite still owes you. 4 In any case, there shouldn’t be any poor people among you, because the LORD your God will certainly bless you in the land he is giving you as your own possession. 5 He will bless you only if you listen carefully to the LORD your God and faithfully obey all these commands I’m giving you today. 6 The LORD your God will bless you, as he promised. You will make loans to many nations, but you will not have to borrow from any of them. You will rule many nations, but no nation will ever rule you.

7 This is what you must do whenever there are poor Israelites in one of your cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 8 Be generous to these poor people, and freely lend them as much as they need. Never be hard-hearted and tight-fisted with them.[14]

9 When the seventh year—the year when payments on debts are canceled—is near, you might be stingy toward poor Israelites and give them nothing. Be careful not to think these worthless thoughts. The poor will complain to the LORD about you, and you will be condemned for your sin. 10 Be sure to give to them without any hesitation. When you do this, the LORD your God will bless you in everything you work for and set out to do. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. That’s why I command you to be generous to other Israelites who are poor and needy.

12 Whenever Hebrew men or women are sold to you as slaves, they will be your slaves for six years. In the seventh year you must let them go free. 13 But when you let them go, don’t send them away empty-handed. 14 Generously give them provisions—sheep from your flocks, grain from your threshing floor,[15] and wine from your winepress. Be as generous to them as the LORD your God has been to you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God freed you. That’s why I’m giving you this command today.

15:1–15   You declared every seventh year a celebration—a year of canceling debts and setting people free. I won’t be stingy toward the poor. I’ll give to them without hesitation.

16 But suppose a male slave says to you, “I don’t want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is happy with you. 17 Then take an awl and pierce it through his ear lobe into a door, and he will be your slave for life. Do the same to a female slave ⌞if she doesn’t want to leave⌟.

18 If you have to let your slave go free, it won’t be a hardship for you. It would have cost you twice as much to hire someone to do the same work for those six years. Besides, the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.

15:16–18   I swear my love for you and won’t ever leave you. Take me to your door and pierce my ear. I’ll be your servant for life.

Setting Aside Firstborn Males for God

19 You must dedicate every firstborn male from your herds and flocks to the LORD your God. Never use a firstborn ox for work, and never shear a firstborn sheep. 20 Every year you and your family must eat these animals in the presence of the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose. 21 But if an animal is lame or blind or has any other serious defect—never sacrifice it to the LORD your God. 22 Eat it in your city. Clean and unclean[16] people may eat them together as if they were eating a gazelle or a deer. 23 But never eat the blood. Pour it on the ground like water.

Three Major Festivals

16

1 Honor the LORD your God by celebrating Passover in the month of Abib. In the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt at night. 2 Slaughter an animal from your flock or herd as the Passover sacrifice to the LORD your God. Do this at the place where the LORD will choose for his name to live. 3 Never eat leavened bread with the meat from this sacrifice. Instead, for seven days you must eat unleavened bread at this festival. (It is the bread of misery because you left Egypt in a hurry.) Eat this bread so that, as long as you live, you will remember the day you left Egypt. 4 There should be no yeast anywhere in your land for seven days. Never leave until morning any of the meat you slaughter on the evening of the first day.

5 You’re not allowed to slaughter the animals for Passover in any of the cities the LORD your God is giving you. 6 Instead, slaughter your animals for Passover in the place where the LORD your God will choose for his name to live. Do this in the evening as the sun goes down. This is the same time you did it when you left Egypt. 7 Cook the meat, and eat it at the place the LORD your God will choose. In the morning you may go back to your tents. 8 For six days eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day hold a religious assembly dedicated to the LORD your God. Don’t do any work that day.

9 Count seven weeks from the time you start harvesting grain. 10 Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the LORD your God. Bring a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you. 11 Enjoy yourselves in the presence of the LORD your God along with your sons, daughters, male and female slaves, the Levites who live in your cities, the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you. Enjoy yourselves at the place the LORD your God will choose for his name to live. 12 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and obey these laws carefully.

13 After you have gathered the grain from your threshing floor[17] and made your wine, celebrate the Festival of Booths for seven days. 14 Enjoy yourselves at the festival along with your sons, daughters, male and female slaves, the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your cities. 15 For seven days you will celebrate this festival dedicated to the LORD your God in the place he will choose. You will enjoy yourselves, because the LORD your God will bless all your harvest and all your work.

16 Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. But no one may come into the presence of the LORD without an offering. 17 Each man must bring a gift in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given him.

16:1–17   You set days and seasons to honor you. I’ll mark out times to focus on you and not let anything push you aside. I’ll celebrate you and enjoy your presence.

Administering Justice

18 Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people fairly. 19 Never pervert justice. Instead, be impartial. Never take a bribe, because bribes blind wise people and deny justice to those who are in the right. 20 Strive for nothing but justice so that you will live and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

16:18–20   You love justice and true worship. I won’t play favorites. I’ll strive for nothing but justice.

21 When you build the altar for the LORD your God, never plant beside it any tree dedicated to the goddess Asherah. 22 Never set up a sacred stone. These are things the LORD your God hates.

17

1 Never offer an ox or a sheep that has a defect or anything seriously wrong with it as a sacrifice to the LORD your God. That would be disgusting to him.

2 In one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you, there may be a man or woman among you who is doing what the LORD considers evil. This person may be disregarding the conditions of the LORD’s promise[18] 3 by worshiping and bowing down to other gods, the sun, the moon, or the whole army of heaven. I have forbidden this. 4 When you are told about it, investigate it thoroughly. If it’s true and it can be proven that this disgusting thing has been done in Israel, 5 then bring the man or woman who did this evil thing to the gates of your city, and stone that person to death. 6 The person can only be sentenced to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses, but no one should ever be sentenced to death on the testimony of only one witness. 7 The witnesses must start the execution, then all the other people will join them in putting the person to death. You must get rid of this evil.

8 There may be a case that is too hard for you to decide. It may involve murder, assault, or a dispute—any case which may be brought to court in your cities. Take this case to the place that the LORD your God will choose. 9 Go to the Levitical priests and the judge who is serving at that time. Ask for their opinion, and they will give you their verdict 10 at the place that the LORD will choose. Do what they tell you. Follow all their instructions carefully, 11 and do what they tell you to do in their verdict. Do exactly what they tell you to do in their decision. 12 If anyone deliberately disobeys the priest (who serves the LORD your God) or the judge, that person must die. You must get rid of this evil in Israel. 13 When all the people hear about it, they will be afraid and will never defy ⌞God’s law⌟ again.

17:1–13   You demand nothing less than perfect offerings. You command your people to avoid doing anything evil. You require willing obedience.

14 You will enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you. You will take possession of it and live there. You will say, “Let’s have our own king like all the other nations around us.” 15 Be sure to appoint the king the LORD your God will choose. He must be one of your own people. Never let a foreigner be king, because he’s not one of your own people.

16 The king must never own a large number of horses or make the people return to Egypt to get more horses. The LORD has told you, “You will never go back there again.” 17 The king must never have a large number of wives, or he will turn away ⌞from God⌟. And he must never own a lot of gold and silver.

18 When he becomes king, he should have the Levitical priests make him a copy of these teachings on a scroll. 19 He must keep it with him and read it his entire life. He will learn to fear the LORD his God and faithfully obey everything found in these teachings and laws. 20 Then he won’t think he’s better than the rest of his people, and he won’t disobey these commands in any way. So he and his sons will rule for a long time in Israel.

17:14–20   I won’t let sex or money sway me. I won’t think I’m better than others and quit obeying you. I’ll study your teachings my entire life.

Laws for the Levites

18

1 The Levitical priests—in fact, the whole tribe of Levi—will receive no land or property of their own like the rest of the Israelites. They will eat what has been sacrificed to the LORD. These sacrifices will be what they receive.[19] 2 So the Levites will have no land of their own like the other Israelites. The LORD will be their inheritance, as he promised them.

3 This is what the people owe the priests whenever they sacrifice an ox, a sheep, or a goat: the shoulder, jaws, and stomach. 4 Also, give them the first produce harvested: grain, new wine, olive oil, and the first wool you shear from your sheep. 5 Out of all your tribes, the LORD your God has chosen the Levites and their descendants to do the work of serving in the name of the LORD forever.

6 A Levite from any of your cities in Israel may come from where he has been living to the place the LORD will choose. He may come as often as he wants 7 and may serve in the name of the LORD his God like all the other Levites who do their work in the LORD’s presence. 8 If he does, he’ll get the same amount of food as they do, in addition to what he gets from selling his family’s goods.[20]

18:1–8   You care for the people who serve you. You make yourself their inheritance, and they serve in your name.

Laws about Prophets

9 When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, never learn the disgusting practices of those nations. 10 You must never sacrifice your sons or daughters by burning them alive, practice black magic, be a fortuneteller, witch, or sorcerer, 11 cast spells, ask ghosts or spirits for help, or consult the dead. 12 Whoever does these things is disgusting to the LORD. The LORD your God is forcing these nations out of your way because of their disgusting practices. 13 You must have integrity ⌞in dealing⌟ with the LORD your God. 14 These nations you are forcing out listen to fortunetellers and to those who practice black magic. But the LORD your God won’t let you do anything like that.

18:9–14   I won’t turn to dark arts. You don’t let your people do anything like that.

15 The LORD your God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me. You must listen to him. 16 This is what you asked the LORD your God to give you on the day of the assembly at Mount Horeb. You said, “We never want to hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this raging fire again. If we do, we’ll die!”

18:15–22   I’ll listen to people who speak your commands and test their words for truth. I’ll answer to you if I don’t.

17 The LORD told me, “What they’ve said is good. 18 So I will send them a prophet, an Israelite like you. I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 Whoever refuses to listen to the words that prophet speaks in my name will answer to me. 20 But any prophet who dares to say something in my name that I didn’t command him to say or who speaks in the name of other gods must die.”

21 You may be wondering, “How can we recognize that the LORD didn’t speak this message?” 22 If a prophet speaks in the LORD’s name and what he says doesn’t happen or come true, then it didn’t come from the LORD. That prophet has spoken on his own authority. Never be afraid of him.

Criminal Laws

19

1 The LORD your God will destroy all the nations that are living in the land that he’s giving you. You will force them out and live in their cities and houses. 2 When all this is done, set aside three cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 3 Provide a route to each of these cities and divide the land that the LORD your God is giving you into three regions. Whoever kills someone may run to one of these cities.

4 A person who unintentionally kills someone he never hated in the past may run to one of these cities to save his life. 5 Suppose two people go into the woods to cut wood. As one of them swings the ax to cut down a tree, the head flies off the handle, hits, and kills the other person. The one who accidentally killed the other person may run to one of these cities and save his life. 6 Otherwise, in a rage the relative who has the authority to avenge the death will pursue him. If the place is too far away, the relative may catch up with him and take his life even though he didn’t deserve the death penalty, because in the past he never hated the person he killed. 7 This is why I’m commanding you to set aside three cities for yourselves.

8 The LORD your God may expand your country’s borders as he promised your ancestors with an oath. He may give you the whole land he promised to give them. 9 He may do this because you faithfully obey all these commands I am now giving you—to love the LORD your God and follow his directions as long as you live. If this happens, you may add three more cities of refuge to these three. 10 That way, innocent people won’t be killed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you won’t be guilty of murder.

11 Suppose someone hates another person, waits in ambush for him, attacks him, takes his life, and runs to one of these cities. 12 If someone does this, the leaders of your city must send for that person. They must take him from that city and hand him over to the relative who has the authority to avenge the death. He must die. 13 They must have no pity on him. The guilt of murdering an innocent person must be removed from Israel. Then things will go well for Israel.

14 Never move your neighbor’s original boundary marker on any property in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

15 One witness is never enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

16 This is what you must do whenever a witness takes the stand to accuse a person falsely of a crime. 17 The two people involved must stand in the LORD’s presence, in front of the priests and judges who are serving at that time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation. If it is found that the witness lied when he testified against the other Israelite, 19 then do to him what he planned to do to the other person. You must get rid of this evil. 20 When the rest of the people hear about this, they will be afraid. Never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Have no pity on him: ⌞Take⌟ a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.

19:1–21   You set aside cities of refuge for unintentional killers. You call for justice for the guilty and shelter for the innocent. You never let people be condemned by a lone witness.

Laws for Warfare

20

1 When you go to war against your enemies, you may see horses, chariots, and armies larger than yours. Don’t be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you. 2 Before the battle starts, a priest must come and speak to the troops. 3 He should tell them, “Listen, Israel, today you’re going into battle against your enemies. Don’t lose your courage! Don’t be afraid or alarmed or tremble because of them. 4 The LORD your God is going with you. He will fight for you against your enemies and give you victory.”

20:1–4   You’re with me when enemies loom. You make me bold because you fight for me.

5 The officers should tell the troops, “If you have built a new house but not dedicated it, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will dedicate it. 6 If you have planted a vineyard and not enjoyed the grapes, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will enjoy the grapes. 7 If you are engaged to a woman but have not married her, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will marry her.”

8 The officers should also tell the troops, “If you are afraid or have lost your courage, you may go home. Then you won’t ruin the morale of the other Israelites.” 9 When the officers finish speaking to the troops, they should appoint commanders to lead them.

10 When you approach a city to attack it, offer its people a peaceful way to surrender. 11 If they accept it and open ⌞their gates⌟ to you, then all the people there will be made to do forced labor and serve you. 12 If they won’t accept your offer of peace but declare war on you, set up a blockade around the city. 13 When the LORD your God hands the city over to you, kill every man in that city with your swords. 14 But take the women and children, the cattle and everything else in the city, including all its goods, as your loot. You may enjoy your enemies’ goods that the LORD your God has given you. 15 This is what you must do to all the cities that are far away which don’t belong to the nations nearby.

20:5–15   You show compassion to soldiers with special circumstances and set free the fearful. You offer peace before you choose war.

16 However, you must not spare anyone’s life in the cities of these nations that the LORD your God is giving you as your property. 17 You must claim the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites for the LORD and completely destroy them, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 18 Otherwise, they will teach you to do all the disgusting things they do for their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God.

19 This is what you must do whenever you blockade a city for a long time in order to capture it in war. Don’t harm any of its fruit trees with an ax. You can eat the fruit. Never cut those trees down, because the trees of the field are not people you have come to blockade. 20 You may destroy trees that you know are not fruit trees. You may cut them down and use them in your blockade until you capture the city.

20:16–20   You judged the inhabitants of the land so your people wouldn’t be tempted. I’ll rid my life of easy ways to do evil.

When a Murder Is Committed, but the Murderer Can’t Be Found

21

1 This is what you must do if you find a murder victim lying in a field in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. If no one knows who committed the murder, 2 your leaders and judges must go and measure the distance from the body to each of the neighboring cities. 3 When it has been determined which city is nearest the body, the leaders from that city must choose a heifer that has never been put to work and never worn a yoke.[21] 4 The leaders of that city will bring the heifer down to a river, to a location where the land hasn’t been plowed or planted. At the river they must break the heifer’s neck. 5 The priests, the descendants of Levi, must come forward. The LORD your God has chosen them to serve him as priests and to bless people in the LORD’s name. Their decision is final in all cases involving a disagreement or an assault. 6 All the leaders from the city which was nearest the murder victim must wash their hands over the dead heifer. 7 Then they must make this formal statement: “We didn’t commit this murder, and we didn’t witness it. 8 LORD, make peace with your people Israel, whom you freed. Don’t let the guilt of this unsolved murder remain among your people Israel.” Then there will be peace with the LORD despite the murder. 9 This is how you will get rid of the guilt of an unsolved murder by doing what the LORD considers right.

21:1–9   You made a way to cleanse the guilt of unsolved murders. You call your people to truthfulness and peace.

Laws about Marriage and Family

10 When you go to war with your enemies and the LORD your God hands them over to you, you may take them captive. 11 If you see a beautiful woman among the captives and have your heart set on her, you may marry her. 12 Bring her into your home. She must shave her head, cut her nails, 13 and no longer wear the clothes she was wearing when you captured her. Then she may live in your house and mourn ⌞the loss of⌟ her father and mother for one month. After that, you may sleep with her. Then you will become husband and wife.

14 But if it happens that you are no longer pleased with her, let her go wherever she wants. You must never sell her or mistreat her as if she were a slave,[22] since you’ve already had sex with her.

15 A man might have two wives and love one but not the other. Both wives might have children, and the firstborn son might belong to the wife that the man doesn’t love. 16 When the day comes for the father to give his sons their inheritance, he can’t treat the son of the wife he loves as if that son were the firstborn. This would show a total disregard for the real firstborn (the son of the wife he doesn’t love). 17 Instead, he must recognize the son of the wife he doesn’t love as the firstborn. He must give that son a double portion of whatever he owns. That son is the very first son he had. The rights of the firstborn son are his.

18 Parents might have a stubborn and rebellious son who doesn’t obey them. Even though they punish him, he still won’t listen to them. 19 His father and mother must take him to the leaders of the city at the city gate. 20 They will say to the leaders of the city, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He won’t obey us. He eats too much and is a drunk.” 21 All the men of the city should stone him to death. You must get rid of this evil. When all Israel hears about it, they will be afraid.

21:10–21   You made rules for ancient wars. You expected fairness in complicated families. And you made obedience a matter of life and death.

Various Laws

22 When a convicted person is put to death, 23 never leave his dead body hung on a pole overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone whose body is hung on a pole is cursed by God. The land that the LORD your God is giving you must never become unclean.[23]

21:22–23   Anyone whose body is hung on a pole is cursed by you. You bear the curse for me.

22

1 If you see another Israelite’s ox or sheep out where it doesn’t belong, don’t pretend that you don’t see it. Make sure you take it back. 2 If the owner doesn’t live near you or you don’t know who owns it, take the animal home with you. Keep it until the owner comes looking for it. Then give it back. 3 Do the same if you find a donkey, some clothes, or anything else that another Israelite may have lost. Don’t pretend that you don’t know what to do.

4 If you see another Israelite’s donkey or ox lying on the road, don’t pretend that you don’t see it. Make sure you help him get it back on its feet.

5 A woman must never wear anything men would wear, and a man must never wear women’s clothes. Whoever does this is disgusting to the LORD your God.

6 Whenever you’re traveling and find a nest containing chicks or eggs, this is what you must do. If the mother bird is sitting on the nest, never take her with the chicks. 7 You may take the chicks, but make sure you let the mother go. Then things will go well for you, and you will live for a long time.

8 Whenever you build a new house, put a railing around the edge of the roof. Then you won’t be responsible for a death at your home if someone falls off the roof.

9 Never plant anything between the rows in your vineyard. Otherwise, you will have to give everything that grows there to the holy place. This includes the crop you planted and the grapes from the vineyard.

10 Never plow with an ox and a donkey harnessed together.

11 Never wear clothes made of wool and linen woven together.

12 Make tassels on the four corners of the shawl you wear over your clothes.

22:1–12   You expect honesty and neighborly helpfulness. You urge carefulness in traveling and at home. You demand purity in every area of life.

Laws about Sex and Marriage

13 A man might marry a woman, sleep with her, and decide he doesn’t like her. 14 Then he might make up charges against her and ruin her reputation by saying, “I married this woman. But when I slept with her, I found out she wasn’t a virgin.” 15 The girl’s father and mother must go to the city gate where the leaders of the city are and submit the evidence that their daughter was a virgin. 16 The girl’s father will tell the leaders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he doesn’t like her. 17 Now he has made up charges against her. He says he found out that my daughter wasn’t a virgin. But here’s the evidence!” Then the girl’s parents must spread out the cloth in front of the leaders of the city. 18 The leaders of that city must take the man and punish him. 19 They will fine him 2¼ pounds of silver and give it to the girl’s father. The husband ruined the reputation of an Israelite virgin. She will continue to be his wife, and he can never divorce her as long as he lives.

20 But if the charge is true, and no evidence that the girl was a virgin can be found, 21 they must take the girl to the entrance of her father’s house. The men of her city must stone her to death because she has committed such a godless act in Israel: She had sex before marriage, while she was still living in her father’s house. You must get rid of this evil.

22 If a man is caught having sexual intercourse with a married woman, both that man and the woman must die. You must get rid of this evil in Israel.

23 This is what you must do when a man has sexual intercourse with a virgin who is engaged to another man. If this happens in a city, 24 take them to the gate of the city and stone them to death. The girl must die because she was in a city and didn’t scream for help. The man must die because he had sex with another man’s wife. You must get rid of this evil.

25 But if a man rapes an engaged girl out in the country, then only the man must die. 26 Don’t do anything to the girl. She has not committed a sin for which she deserves to die. This is like the case of someone who attacks and murders another person. 27 The man found the girl out in the country. She may have screamed for help, but no one was there to rescue her.

28 This is what you must do when a man rapes a virgin who isn’t engaged. When the crime is discovered, 29 the man who had sexual intercourse with her must give the girl’s father 1¼ pounds of silver, and she will become his wife. Since he raped her, he can never divorce her as long as he lives.[24]

30 A man must never marry his father’s wife because this would disgrace his father.

22:13–30   You said sexual sin was ripe for punishment. I choose to hold myself to your standards.

Various Laws

23  [25]

1 A man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off may never join the assembly of the LORD.

2 A man born from an illicit union may not join the assembly of the LORD. No descendant of his may join the assembly of the LORD for ten generations.

3 Ammonites or Moabites may not join the assembly of the LORD. Not one descendant of theirs may join the assembly of the LORD for ten generations. 4 They cannot join because they didn’t greet you with food and water on your trip from Egypt. They even hired Balaam, son of Beor, from Pethor in Aram Naharaim, to curse you. 5 But the LORD your God refused to listen to Balaam. Instead, he turned Balaam’s curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you. 6 Never offer them peace or friendship as long as you live.

7 Never consider the Edomites disgusting. They’re your relatives. Never consider the Egyptians disgusting. You once were foreigners living in their country. 8 Their grandchildren may join the assembly of the LORD.

9 When you’re at war and have set up camp to fight your enemies, stay away from anything that will make you unclean.[26] 10 If one of your men becomes unclean from a nocturnal emission, he must go outside the camp and stay there. 11 Toward evening he must wash, and at sunset he may come back to camp.

12 Choose a place outside the camp where you can go ⌞to relieve yourself⌟. 13 You must carry a pointed stick as part of your equipment. When you go outside to squat, dig a hole with it. When you’re done, cover up your excrement. 14 The LORD your God moves around in your camp to protect you and hand your enemies over to you. So your camp must always be holy. This way, the LORD will never see anything offensive among you and turn away from you.

23:1–14   You named your enemies and friends. You expected your people to be ritually clean. You taught your people your holiness.

15 If a slave escapes from his master and comes to you, don’t return him to his master. 16 Let him stay with you ⌞and live⌟ among your people wherever he chooses, in any of your cities that seems best to him. Never mistreat him.

17 No Israelite man or woman should ever become a temple prostitute. 18 Never bring gifts or money earned by prostitution into the house of the LORD your God as an offering you vowed to give. These earnings are disgusting to the LORD your God.

19 Never charge another Israelite any interest on money, food, or anything else that is borrowed. 20 You may charge a foreigner interest, but not an Israelite. Then the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do once you’ve entered the land and taken possession of it.

21 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, don’t avoid keeping it. The LORD your God expects you to keep it. You would be guilty of a sin if you didn’t. 22 If you didn’t make a vow, you would not be guilty. 23 Make sure you do what you said you would do ⌞in your vow⌟. You freely chose to make your vow to the LORD your God.

24 If you go into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat as many grapes as you like until you’re full. But never put any in your basket. 25 If you go into your neighbor’s grain field, you may pick grain by hand. But never use a sickle to cut your neighbor’s grain.

23:15–25   You gave freedom to escaped slaves. You forbid sexual sin and greed. Keep me honest with you and my neighbor.

Various Laws

24

1 This is what you must do if a husband writes out a certificate of divorce, gives it to his wife, and makes her leave his house. (He divorced her because he found out something indecent about her and she no longer pleased him.) 2 She might marry another man after she leaves his house. 3 If her second husband doesn’t love her and divorces her, or if he dies, 4 her first husband is not allowed to marry her again. She has become unclean.[27] This would be disgusting in the LORD’s presence. Don’t pollute with sin the land that the LORD your God is giving you as your property.

5 A man who has recently been married will be free from military duty or any other public service. For one year he is free to stay at home and make his new wife happy.

6 Never let a family’s handmill for grinding flour—or even part of a handmill—be taken to guarantee a loan. The family wouldn’t be able to prepare food in order to stay alive.

7 Whoever kidnaps another Israelite must die. The kidnapper must die, whether he treated the other person like a slave[28] or sold him. You must get rid of this evil.

8 Guard against outbreaks of serious skin diseases. Be very careful to do exactly as the Levitical priests instruct you. Make sure you do what I commanded them. 9 Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on your trip from Egypt.

10 When you make a loan to your neighbor, don’t go into his house to take a security deposit. 11 Wait outside, and the person to whom you’re making the loan will bring the deposit out to you. 12 If the person is poor, don’t keep the coat you took as a deposit overnight. 13 Make sure you bring it back to him at sunset. When he wears his coat to bed ⌞that night⌟, he’ll bless you. You will have done the right thing in the presence of the LORD your God.

24:1–13   You tolerated divorce but commanded purity. You demanded compassion for the needy. I won’t take away their food or warmth.

14 Don’t withhold pay from hired workers who are poor and needy, whether they are Israelites or foreigners living in one of your cities. 15 Pay them each day before sunset because they are poor and need their pay. Otherwise, they will complain to the LORD about you, and you will be condemned for your sin.

16 Parents must never be put to death for the crimes of their children, and children must never be put to death for the crimes of their parents. Each person must be put to death for his own crime.

17 Never deprive foreigners and orphans of justice. And never take widows’ clothes to guarantee a loan. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God freed you from slavery. So I’m commanding you to do this.

19 This is what you must do when you’re harvesting wheat in your field. If you forget to bring in one of the bundles of wheat, don’t go back to get it. Leave it there for foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.

20 When you harvest olives from your trees, never knock down all of them. Leave some for foreigners, orphans, and widows.

21 When you pick the grapes in your vineyard, don’t pick all of them. Leave some for foreigners, orphans, and widows. 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. So I’m commanding you to do this.

24:14–22   You expect mercy from bosses and generosity from all. You don’t blame anyone for other people’s sins. I’ll join you in caring for foreigners, orphans, and widows.

Various Laws

25

1 This is what you must do whenever ⌞two⌟ people have a disagreement that is brought into court. The judges will hear the case and decide who’s right and who’s wrong. 2 If the person who’s in the wrong deserves to be beaten, the judge will order him to lie down. Then the judge will have him beaten with as many lashes as the crime deserves. 3 Forty lashes may be given, but no more. If an Israelite were given more than that, he would be publicly humiliated.

4 Never muzzle an ox when it’s threshing[29] grain.

25:1–4   You commanded justice for crimes but forbid humiliation. You even make sure animals get the pay they deserve.

5 When brothers live together and one of them dies without having a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother must marry her and sleep with her. He must do his duty as her brother-in-law. 6 Then the first son she has will carry the dead brother’s name so that his name won’t die out in Israel.

7 But if the man doesn’t want to marry his brother’s widow, she must go to the leaders of the city at the city gate. She must say, “My brother-in-law refuses to let his brother’s name continue in Israel. He doesn’t want to do his duty as my brother-in-law.” 8 Then the leaders of the city must summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying that he doesn’t want to marry her, 9 his brother’s widow must go up to him in the presence of the leaders. She must take off one of his sandals and spit in his face. She must make this formal statement: “This is what happens to a man who refuses to continue his brother’s family line.” 10 Then in Israel his family will be called the Family of the Man Without a Sandal.

25:5–10   You called families to duty and heaped shame on those who shirked responsibility.

11 This is what you must do when two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from the man who is beating him. If she tries to stop the fight by grabbing the other man’s genitals, 12 cut off her hand. Have no pity on her.

13 Never carry two sets of weights, a heavier one and a lighter one. 14 Never have two kinds of measures in your house, a larger one and a smaller one. 15 Use accurate and honest weights and measures. Then you will live for a long time in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 16 Everyone who uses dishonest weights and measures is disgusting to the LORD.

25:11–16   You demanded fair fights and honest business. Anything else disgusts you.

17 Remember what the Amalekites did to you on your trip from Egypt. 18 They attacked you when you were tired and exhausted and killed all those who were lagging behind. They weren’t afraid of God. 19 So when the LORD your God gives you peace from all your enemies around you in the land that he is giving you as your own property, don’t forget to erase every memory of the Amalekites from the earth.

A Reminder to Keep God’s Laws

26

1 Soon you will enter and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you as your property. When you have settled there, 2 take some of the first produce harvested from the fields in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and put it in a basket. Then go to the place where the LORD your God will choose for his name to live. 3 Go to the priest who is serving at that time, and tell him, “I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land that the LORD is giving us, as he swore to our ancestors.” 4 Then the priest will take the basket from you and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. 5 You will make this formal statement in the presence of the LORD your God: “My ancestors were wandering Arameans. There were only a few of them when they went to Egypt and lived as foreigners. But then they became a great, powerful, and large nation. 6 So the Egyptians treated us cruelly, oppressed us, and made us do back-breaking work for them. 7 We cried out to the LORD God of our ancestors, and he heard us. He saw our misery, suffering, and oppression. 8 Then the LORD used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring us out of Egypt. He used spectacular and awe-inspiring deeds, miraculous signs, and amazing things. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. 10 So now I’ve brought the first produce harvested from the fields you gave me, LORD.”

26:1–4   You fulfill all of your promises to me. I’ll offer you my first and best as thanks for bringing me home.

You will place the basket in the presence of the LORD your God and bow down in front of him. 11 Then you, the Levites, and the foreigners who live among you can enjoy all the good things which the LORD your God has given you and your family.

26:5–11   I was in bondage when you heard my cries and saw my misery. You rescued me with awe-inspiring deeds. You brought me to a land flowing with milk and honey.

12 Every third year is the year when you will store a tenth of that year’s crops ⌞in your houses⌟. During that year distribute what you have stored to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows in your cities, and they may eat all they want. 13 When you have distributed all that was stored, say to the LORD your God, “Nothing is left of the holy offering stored in my house. I distributed it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows as you commanded me. I disobeyed none of your commands, and I didn’t forget to do what you commanded. 14 I didn’t eat any of this holy offering while I was in mourning. I didn’t distribute any of it while I was unclean.[30] I didn’t offer any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God. I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy place in heaven. Bless your people Israel and the land flowing with milk and honey that you have given us, as you promised with an oath to our ancestors.”

26:12–15   I’ll make sure I share with foreigners and orphans and widows—and with people who serve you. I’ll obey you in every way I know how.

16 Today the LORD your God is commanding you to obey these laws and rules. You must faithfully obey them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 Today you have declared that the LORD is your God and that you will follow his directions, obey his laws, commands, and rules, and listen to him. 18 Today the LORD has declared that you are his people, his own special possession, as he told you. But you must be sure to obey his commands. 19 Then he will place you high above all the other nations he has made. He will give you praise, fame, and honor, and you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.

26:16–19   You are my Lord—and I’ll follow your directions. You declare me one of your people—your own special possession. I’m holy to you.

Write the Law on Stones

27

1 Moses and the leaders of Israel told the people, “Obey every command I’m giving you today.

2 “The day you cross the Jordan River and enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and cover them with plaster. 3 The LORD God of your ancestors is giving you a land flowing with milk and honey, as he promised you. After you’re in that land, write all the words of these teachings on the stones. 4 After you cross the Jordan River, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, and cover them with plaster, following the command I’m giving you today. 5 Build an altar of stones there dedicated to the LORD your God. Don’t use an iron chisel on the stones. 6 You must use uncut stones to build the altar of the LORD your God. Sacrifice burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God. 7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat them there, and enjoy yourselves in the presence of the LORD your God. 8 Write clearly and carefully all the words of these teachings on the stones you set up.”

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be quiet and listen, Israel. Today you have become the people of the LORD your God. 10 Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and laws which I’m giving you today.”

27:1–9   I’ll obey your every command. I’ll remember your words and enjoy myself in your presence. I’ll be still and listen to you.

Curses Which Are to Be Recited

11 That same day Moses gave the people this command: 12 After you cross the Jordan River, these are the tribes that will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 These are the tribes that will stand on Mount Ebal to announce the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 The Levites will declare to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:

15 “Whoever has a carved or metal statue, anything disgusting to the LORD that was made by a craftsman, and sets it up in secret will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

16 “Whoever curses his father or mother will himself be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

17 “Whoever moves his neighbor’s boundary marker will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

18 “Whoever leads blind people in the wrong direction will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

19 “Whoever deprives foreigners, orphans, or widows of justice will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

20 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife will be cursed. He has disgraced his father.” Then all the people will say amen.

21 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with any animal will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

22 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

23 “Whoever has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

24 “Whoever kills another person secretly will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

25 “Whoever accepts money to kill an innocent person will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

26 “Whoever doesn’t obey every word of these teachings will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.

27:11–26   You announced curses for disobeying your commands. Teach me to obey you.

Blessings from the LORD

28

1 Carefully obey the LORD your God, and faithfully follow all his commands that I’m giving you today. If you do, the LORD your God will place you high above all the other nations in the world. 2 These are all the blessings that will come to you and stay close to you because you obey the LORD your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 You will be blessed. You will have children. Your land will have crops. Your animals will have offspring. Your cattle will have calves, and your flocks will have lambs and kids.

5 The grain you harvest and the bread you bake will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come and blessed when you go.

7 The LORD will defeat your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction but run away from you in seven directions.

8 The LORD will bless your barns and everything you do. The LORD your God will bless you in the land that he is giving you.

9 You will be the LORD’s holy people, as he promised you with an oath. He will do this if you obey the commands of the LORD your God and follow his directions. 10 Then all the people in the world will see that you are the LORD’s people, and they will be afraid of you. 11 The LORD will give you plenty of blessings: You will have many children. Your animals will have many offspring. Your soil will produce many crops in the land the LORD will give you, as he swore to your ancestors.

12 The LORD will open the heavens, his rich storehouse, for you. He will send rain on your land at the right time and bless everything you do. You will be able to make loans to many nations but won’t need to borrow from any. 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. You will always be at the top, never at the bottom, if you faithfully obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. 14 Do everything I’m commanding you today. Never worship other gods or serve them.

28:1–14   Your people live in your love when they obey your commands. You spread blessings to them and their world. Open your storehouse and meet my needs.

Curses from the LORD

15 Obey the LORD your God, and faithfully follow all his commands and laws that I am giving you today. If you don’t, all these curses will come to you and stay close to you:

16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.

17 The grain you harvest and the bread you bake will be cursed.

18 You will be cursed. You will have few children. Your land will have few crops. Your cattle will be cursed with few calves, and your flocks will have few lambs and kids.

19 You will be cursed when you come and cursed when you go.

20 The LORD will send you curses, panic, and frustration in everything you do until you’re destroyed and quickly disappear for the evil you will do by abandoning the LORD. 21 The LORD will send one plague after another on you until he wipes you out of the land you’re about to enter and take possession of. 22 The LORD will strike you with disease, fever, and inflammation; heat waves,[31] drought,[32] scorching winds,[33] and ruined crops. They will pursue you until you die. 23 The sky above will look like bronze, and the ground below will be as hard as iron. 24 The LORD will send dust storms and sandstorms on you from the sky until you’re destroyed.

25 The LORD will let your enemies defeat you. You will attack them from one direction but run away from them in seven directions. You will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms in the world. 26 Your dead bodies will be food for all the birds and wild animals. There will be no one to scare them away. 27 The LORD will strike you with the same boils that plagued the Egyptians. He will strike you with hemorrhoids,[34] sores,[35] and itching[36] that won’t go away. 28 The LORD will strike you with madness, blindness, and panic. 29 You will grope in broad daylight as blind people grope in their blindness. You won’t be successful in anything you do.[37] As long as you live, you will be oppressed and robbed with no one to rescue you.

30 You will be engaged to a woman, but another man will have sex with her. You will build a house, but you won’t live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you won’t enjoy the grapes. 31 Your ox will be butchered as you watch, but you won’t eat any of its meat. You will watch as your donkey is stolen from you, but you’ll never get it back. Your flock will be given to your enemies, and no one will rescue it. 32 You will watch with your own eyes as your sons and daughters are given to another nation. You will strain your eyes looking for them all day long, but there will be nothing you can do. 33 People you never knew will eat what your land and your hard work have produced. As long as you live, you will know nothing but oppression and abuse. 34 The things you see will drive you mad. 35 The LORD will afflict your knees and legs with severe boils that can’t be cured. The boils will cover your whole body from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.

36 The LORD will lead you and the king you choose to a nation that you and your ancestors never knew. There you will worship gods made of wood and stone. 37 You will become a thing of horror. All the nations where the LORD will send you will make an example of you and ridicule you.

38 You will plant many crops in your fields, but harvest little because locusts will destroy your crops. 39 You will plant vineyards and take care of them, but you won’t drink any wine or gather any grapes, because worms will eat them. 40 You will have olive trees everywhere in your country but no olive oil to rub on your skin, because the olives will fall off the trees. 41 You will have sons and daughters, but you won’t be able to keep them because they will be taken as prisoners of war. 42 Crickets will swarm all over your trees and the crops in your fields.

43 The ⌞standard of living for the⌟ foreigners who live among you will rise higher and higher, while your ⌞standard of living⌟ will sink lower and lower. 44 They will be able to make loans to you, but you won’t be able to make loans to them. They will be the head, and you will be the tail.

28:15–44   Your people experience your discipline when they disobey your commands. Trouble invades their lives from start to finish. They can’t shake off all the frustrations you send.

45 All these curses will come to you. They will pursue you and stay close to you until you’re destroyed, because you didn’t obey the LORD your God or follow his commands and laws, which I’m giving you. 46 These curses will be a sign and an amazing thing to warn you and your descendants forever. 47 You didn’t serve the LORD your God with a joyful and happy heart when you had so much. 48 So you will serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you. You will serve them even though you are already hungry, thirsty, naked, and in need of everything. The LORD will put a heavy burden of hard work on you until he destroys you.

49 The LORD will bring against you a nation from far away, from the ends of the earth. The nation will swoop down on you like an eagle. It will be a nation whose language you won’t understand. 50 Its people will be fierce-looking. They will show no respect for the old and no pity for the young. 51 They’ll eat the offspring of your animals and the crops from your fields until you’re destroyed. They’ll leave you no grain, no new wine, no olive oil, no calves from your herds, and no lambs or kids from your flocks. They’ll continue to do this until they’ve completely ruined you. 52 They will blockade all your cities until the high, fortified walls in which you trust come down everywhere in your land. They’ll blockade all the cities everywhere in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

53 Because of the hardships your enemies will make you suffer during the blockade, you will eat the flesh of your own children, the sons and daughters, whom the LORD your God has given you. 54 Even the most tender and sensitive man among you will become stingy toward his brother, the wife he loves, and the children he still has left. 55 He will give none of them any of the flesh of his children that he is eating. It will be all that he has left, because of the hardships your enemies will make you suffer during the blockade of all your cities. 56 The most tender and sensitive woman among you—so sensitive and tender that she wouldn’t even step on an ant—will become stingy toward the husband she loves or toward her own son or daughter. 57 She won’t share with them the afterbirth from her body and the children she gives birth to. She will secretly eat them out of dire necessity, because of the hardships your enemies will make you suffer during the blockade of your cities.

58 You might not faithfully obey every word of the teachings that are written in this book. You might not fear this glorious and awe-inspiring name: the LORD your God. 59 If so, the LORD will strike you and your descendants with unimaginable plagues. They will be terrible and continuing plagues and severe and lingering diseases. 60 He will again bring all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. 61 The LORD will also bring you every kind of sickness and plague not written in this Book of Teachings. They will continue until you’re dead. 62 At one time you were as numerous as the stars in the sky. But only a few of you will be left, because you didn’t obey the LORD your God. 63 At one time the LORD was more than glad to make you prosperous and numerous. Now the LORD will be more than glad to destroy you and wipe you out. You will be torn out of the land you’re about to enter and take possession of.

64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all the people of the world, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will serve gods made of wood and stone that neither you nor your ancestors ever knew. 65 Among those nations you will find no peace, no place to call your own. There the LORD will give you an unsettled mind, failing eyesight, and despair. 66 Your life will always be hanging by a thread. You will live in terror day and night. You will never feel sure of your life. 67 In the morning you’ll say, “If only it were evening!” And in the evening you’ll say, “If only it were morning!” You’ll talk this way because of the things that will terrify you and because of the things you’ll see. 68 The LORD will bring you back to Egypt in ships[38] on a journey that I said you would never take again. There you will try to sell yourselves as slaves to your enemies, but no one will buy you.

28:45–68   Don’t send your wrath anywhere near me. I’ll serve you with a joyful heart because you’ve given me so much. I’ll respect your glorious and awe-inspiring name: the Lord my God!

Israel’s Past, Present, and Future

29  [39]

1 These are the terms of the promise[40] that the LORD commanded Moses to give to the Israelites in Moab. This was in addition to the promise the LORD gave them at Mount Horeb.

2 Moses summoned all the people of Israel and said to them:

You’ve seen with your own eyes everything that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to his whole country. 3 You also saw those terrible plagues, those miraculous signs, and those spectacular, amazing things. 4 But to this day the LORD hasn’t given you a mind that understands, eyes that see, or ears that hear. 5 For 40 years I led you through the desert. During that time your clothes and shoes never wore out. 6 You ate no bread and drank no wine or liquor. I did this so that you would know that I am the LORD your God.

7 When you came to this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to fight us, but we defeated them. 8 We took their land and gave it to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh as their property. 9 Faithfully obey the terms of this promise. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

29:1–9   You reminded your people of your commands and your care. You showed all Israel that you are the Lord. You expect obedience to the terms of your promise.

10 All of you are standing here today in the presence of the LORD your God. The heads of your tribes,[41] your leaders, your officers, and all the men of Israel are here. 11 Your children, your wives, and the foreigners who cut wood and carry water in your camp are also here. 12 You are ready to accept the terms and conditions of the promise that the LORD your God is giving you today. 13 With this promise the LORD will confirm today that you are his people and that he is your God. This is what he told you, and this is what he promised your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath. 14 You aren’t the only people to receive this promise and its conditions. 15 It is for those of you who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God and also for those who are not here today.

16 You know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through other countries on our way here. 17 You saw their disgusting gods and idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold. 18 Make sure there is no man, woman, family, or tribe among you today who turns from the LORD our God to worship the gods of those nations. Make sure that no one among you is the source of this kind of bitter poison.

29:10–18   You confirmed the words of your promise. You made the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob your people.

19 Someone may hear the conditions of this promise. He may think that he is so blessed that he can say, “I’ll be safe even if I go my own stubborn way. After all, ⌞the LORD would never⌟ sweep away well-watered ground along with dry[42] ground.” 20 The LORD will never be willing to forgive that person, because the LORD’s burning anger will smolder against him. All the curses described in this book will happen to him. The LORD will erase ⌞every memory of⌟ that person’s name from the earth. 21 And the LORD will single him out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster based on all the conditions of the promise written in this Book of the Teachings.

22 Then the next generation of your children and foreigners who come from distant countries will see the plagues that have happened in this land and the diseases the LORD sent here. 23 They will see all the soil poisoned with sulfur and salt. Nothing will be planted. Nothing will be growing. There will be no plants in sight. It will be as desolate as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, cities the LORD destroyed in fierce anger. 24 Then all the other nations in the world will ask, “Why has the LORD done this to their land? Why is he so angry?”

29:19–24   I won’t be safe if I go my own stubborn way. I’ll risk your burning anger and others will wonder why my life disintegrated.

25 The answer will be, “Because they abandoned the promise of the LORD God of their ancestors. He made this promise to them when he brought them out of Egypt. 26 They worshiped other gods and bowed down to them. These were gods they never heard of, gods the LORD didn’t permit them to have. 27 So the LORD became angry with this land and brought on it all the curses described in this book. 28 In his fierce anger and fury the LORD uprooted these people from their land and deported them to another country, where they still are today.”

29 Some things are hidden. They belong to the LORD our God. But the things that have been revealed in these teachings belong to us and to our children forever. We must obey every word of these teachings.

29:25–29   You chose me to live in your blessing. I won’t abandon the good place of your promises. I’ll obey your every command.

30

1 All these blessings and curses I have spoken about will happen to you. Take them to heart when you are among all the nations where the LORD your God will scatter you. 2 If you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, doing everything I command you today, 3 he will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you from all the nations of the world where he will scatter you. 4 Even if you are scattered to the most distant country in the world, the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back from there. 5 The LORD your God will bring you to the land your ancestors owned. You will take possession of it, and the LORD will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors were.

30:1–5   You called Israel back from their sins. You promised to gather them from the place where you scattered them. Show me mercy and bring me home to you.

6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants. You will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and you will live. 7 Then the LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies, those who hate you and persecute you. 8 You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands that I’m giving you today. 9 The LORD your God will give you many blessings in everything you do: You will have many children. Your animals will have many offspring. Your soil will produce many crops. The LORD will again delight in making you as prosperous as he made your ancestors. 10 He will do this if you obey him and follow his commands and laws that are written in this Book of Teachings and return to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

11 This command I’m giving you today isn’t too hard for you or beyond your reach. 12 It’s not in heaven. You don’t have to ask, “Who will go to heaven to get this command for us so that we can hear it and obey it?” 13 This command isn’t on the other side of the sea. You don’t have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it for us so that we can hear it and obey it?” 14 No, these words are very near you. They’re in your mouth and in your heart so that you will obey them.

30:6–14   I’ve run from you. But I want to return to the place of your blessings. Your command isn’t beyond my reach. It isn’t hard to understand.

Choose between Life and Death

15 Today I offer you life and prosperity or death and destruction. 16 This is what I’m commanding you today: Love the LORD your God, follow his directions, and obey his commands, laws, and rules. Then you will live, your population will increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you’re about to enter and take possession of.

17 But your hearts might turn away, and you might not listen. You might be tempted to bow down to other gods and worship them. 18 If you do, I tell you today that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live for a long time in the land that you’re going to take possession of when you cross the Jordan River.

30:15–18   You invite me to live in your gracious promise—to experience your best instead of enduring your destruction. I’ll love you and follow your directions. I won’t bow to other gods.

19 I call on heaven and earth as witnesses today that I have offered you life or death, blessings or curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants will live. 20 Love the LORD your God, obey him, and be loyal to him. This will be your way of life, and it will mean a long life for you[43] in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

30:19–20   I choose life for me and my family. Loving you will be my way of life.

Joshua Becomes Israel’s Leader to Replace Moses

31

1 Moses continued to speak to all the Israelites:

2 “I’m 120 years old now, and I’m not able to lead you anymore. Besides, the LORD has told me that I cannot cross the Jordan River. 3 The LORD your God is the one who will cross the river ahead of you. He will destroy those nations as you arrive, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua will also cross the river ahead of you, as the LORD told you. 4 The LORD will do to those nations what he did to King Sihon and King Og of the Amorites and to their lands when he destroyed them. 5 The LORD will hand them over to you, and you must do to them everything that I commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Don’t tremble! Don’t be afraid of them! The LORD your God is the one who is going with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you.”

7 Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous. You will go with these people into the land that the LORD will give them, as he swore to their ancestors. You will help them take possession of the land.[44] 8 The LORD is the one who is going ahead of you. He will be with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you. So don’t be afraid or terrified.”

31:1–8   Moses couldn’t lead the Israelites any further. But you would go with them. I won’t be terrified. You won’t abandon me.

9 Moses wrote down these teachings and gave them to the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the LORD’s promise and to all the leaders of Israel. 10 Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seventh year you must cancel debts. At that time, during the Festival of Booths, 11 all the Israelites will come into the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose. Read these teachings so that they can hear them. 12 Assemble the men, women, and children, as well as the foreigners who live in your cities. Have them listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and faithfully obey every word of these teachings. 13 Their children, who don’t know these teachings, must hear them and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land that you are going to take possession of when you cross the Jordan River.”

31:9–13   You command your people to hear your teachings again and again—to live in awe of you and faithfully follow you.

14 The LORD said to Moses, “The time of your death is coming soon. Call for Joshua. Both of you come to the tent of meeting, and I will give him his instructions.” Moses and Joshua came to the tent of meeting. 15 Then the LORD appeared in a column of smoke at the entrance to the tent.

16 The LORD said to Moses, “Soon you are going to lie down in death with your ancestors. When these people enter the land and are living among the foreigners there, they will chase after foreign gods as though they were prostitutes. They will abandon me and reject the promise[45] I made to them. 17 On that day I will become angry with them. I will abandon them and turn away from them. They will be destroyed, and many terrible disasters will happen to them. On that day they will ask, ‘Haven’t these disasters happened to us because our God isn’t with us?’ 18 On that day I will certainly turn away from them because of all the evil they’ve done in turning to other gods.

19 “Write down this song, teach it to the Israelites, and have them sing it. This song will be a witness for me against the Israelites. 20 I will bring them into the land that I swore to give to their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey. When they have eaten all they want and have become fat,[46] they will turn to other gods and worship them. They will despise me and reject my promise. 21 When many terrible disasters happen to them, this song will testify against them, because it will never be forgotten by their descendants. I know what their hearts are set on doing, even now before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.” 22 That day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites.

31:14–22   You feared your people would chase after foreign gods. You predicted disaster. They would eat and become fat and forget you. Don’t ever turn away from me.

23 The LORD gave this command to Joshua, son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, because you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”

24 Finally, Moses finished writing all the words of these teachings in a book. 25 He gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the LORD’s promise: 26 “Take this Book of Teachings, and put it next to the ark of the promise of the LORD your God, where it will be a witness against you. 27 I know how rebellious you are. You are impossible to deal with. While I am alive and still with you, you are rebelling against the LORD. How much more rebellious will you be after I die? 28 Assemble all the leaders of your tribes and your officers in front of me. As they listen, I will speak these words and call on heaven and earth to testify against them. 29 I know that after I die you will become thoroughly corrupt and turn from the way I have commanded you to live. In the days to come disasters will happen to you because you will make the LORD furious by doing what he considers evil.”

31:23–29   Moses wrote down all your words. He warned that your people are impossible to deal with. Their evil deeds would make you furious.

The Song of Moses

30 Then, as the whole congregation of Israel listened, Moses recited all the words of this song:

32

1 Listen, heaven, and I will speak.

Earth, hear the words from my mouth.

2 Let my teachings come down like raindrops.

Let my words drip like dew,

like gentle rain on grass,

like showers on green plants.

3 I will proclaim the name of the LORD.

Give our God the greatness he deserves!

4 He is a rock.

What he does is perfect.

All his ways are fair.

He is a faithful God, who does no wrong.

He is honorable and reliable.

32:1–5   I’ll proclaim your name and give you the greatness you deserve. Everything you do is perfect. You’re always fair and faithful.

5 He recognizes that his people are corrupt.

To their shame they are no longer his children.

They are devious and scheming.

6 Is this how you repay the LORD,

you foolish and silly people?

Isn’t he your Father and Owner,

who made you and formed you?

7 Remember a time long ago.

Think about all the past generations.

Ask your fathers to remind you,

and your leaders to tell you.

8 When the Most High gave nations their land,

when he divided the descendants of Adam,

he set up borders for the tribes

corresponding to the number of the sons of Israel.

32:6   I’ll repay your love with obedience. You’re my Father and Owner. You made me and formed me.

9 But the LORD’s people were his property.

Jacob was his own possession.

10 He found his people in a desert land,

in a barren place where animals howl.

He guarded them, took care of them,

and protected them because they were helpless.

11 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,

hovers over its young,

spreads its wings to catch them,

and carries them on its feathers,

12 so the LORD alone led his people.

No foreign god was with him.

13 He made them ride on the heights of the earth

and fed them with the produce of the fields.

He gave them honey from rocks

and olive oil from solid rock.

14 They ate cheese from cows

and drank milk from sheep and goats.

He gave them fat from lambs,

rams from the stock of Bashan,

male goats, and the best wheat.

They drank the blood-red wine of grapes.

32:7–12   You made Israel your possession. You found your people in a desert land. You protected them like an eagle hovering over its young, because they were helpless.

15 Jeshurun[47] got fat and disrespectful.

(You got fat! You were stuffed! You were gorged!)

They abandoned the God who made them

and treated the rock of their salvation like a fool.

16 They made him furious because they worshiped foreign gods

and angered him because they worshiped worthless idols.

17 They sacrificed to demons that are not God,

to gods they never heard of.

These were new gods, who came from nearby,

gods your ancestors never worshiped.

18 (You ignored the rock who fathered you

and forgot the God who gave you life.)

32:13–18   You fed your people and quenched their thirst. But Israel gorged and got fat and worshiped foreign gods. They sacrificed to demons and forgot you gave them life.

19 The LORD saw this and rejected them,

because his own sons and daughters had made him angry.

20 He said, “I will turn away from them

and find out what will happen to them.

They are devious people,

children who can’t be trusted.

21 They made him furious because they worshiped foreign gods

and angered him because they worshiped worthless idols.

So I will use those who are not my people to make them jealous

and a nation of godless fools to make them angry.

22 My anger has started a fire

that will burn to the depths of hell.

It will consume the earth and its crops

and set the foundations of the mountains on fire.

23 I will bring one disaster after another on them.

I will use up all my arrows on them.

24 They will be starved by famines

and ravaged by pestilence and deadly epidemics.

I will send vicious animals against them

along with poisonous animals that crawl on the ground.

25 Foreign wars will kill off their children,

and even at home there will be horrors.

Young men and young women alike will die

as well as nursing babies and gray-haired men.

26 I said that I would cut them in pieces[48]

and erase everyone’s memory of them.

27 But I didn’t want their enemies to make me angry.

I didn’t want their opponents to misunderstand and say,

‘We won this victory!

It wasn’t the LORD who did all this!’”

32:19–21   You turned away from your devious people. They made you furious by worshiping worthless idols.

28 My people have lost their good sense.

They are not able to understand.

29 If only they were wise enough to understand this

and realize what will happen to them!

30 How could one person chase a thousand

or two people make ten thousand flee?

Their rock used these people to defeat them

and the LORD gave them no help.

31 Their rock isn’t like our rock.

Even our enemies will agree with this.

32 Their grapevines come from the vineyards of Sodom

and from the fields of Gomorrah.

Their grapes are poisonous,

and their clusters are bitter.

33 Their wine is snake venom,

the deadly poison of cobras.

32:22–27   Your anger started a fire that burned to the depths of hell. You sent them one disaster after another. But you didn’t want their opponents to take credit for their demise.

34 Isn’t this what I’ve stored

under lock and key in my storehouses?

35 I will take revenge and be satisfied.

In due time their foot will slip,

because their day of disaster is near.

Their doom is coming quickly.

36 The LORD will judge his people

and have compassion on his servants

when he sees that their strength is gone

and that no one is left, neither slaves nor free people.

37 Then he will ask, “Where are their gods?

Where is the rock they took refuge in?

38 Where are the gods who ate the fat from their sacrifices

and drank the wine from their wine offerings?

Let them come to help you!

Let them be your refuge!”

32:28–35   Don’t let me lose my good sense or misplace my understanding. Help me foresee the doom in store for me when I disobey you.

32:36–38   Have compassion on me when my strength is gone.

39 See, I am the only God.

There are no others.

I kill, and I make alive.

I wound, and I heal,

and no one can rescue you from my power.

40 I raise my hand toward heaven and solemnly swear:

As surely as I live forever,

41 I will sharpen my flashing sword

and take justice into my own hands.

Then I will take revenge on my enemies

and pay back those who hate me.

42 My arrows will drip with blood

from those who were killed and taken captive.

My sword will cut off the heads

of the enemy who vowed to fight.

43 Joyfully sing with the LORD’s people, you nations,

because he will take revenge for the death of his servants.

He will get even with his enemies

and make peace for his people’s land.[49]

32:39–43   You are the only God. There are no others. You kill and you make alive. You wound and you heal. You get even with your enemies and make peace for your people.

Moses Is Allowed to See Canaan

44 Moses came with Hoshea,[50] son of Nun, and recited all the words of this song as the people listened. 45 When Moses had finished reciting all these words to Israel, 46 he said to them, “Pay attention to all these warnings I’ve given you today. Then you will command your children to faithfully obey every word of these teachings. 47 Don’t think these words are idle talk. They are your life! By these words you will be able to live for a long time in the land that you are going to take possession of when you cross the Jordan River.”

48 That same day the LORD said to Moses, 49 “Go into the Abarim Mountains, to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho. Take a look at the land of Canaan that I’m giving the Israelites as their own property. 50 On this mountain where you’re going, you will die and join your ancestors in death, as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor. 51 This is because both of you were unfaithful to me at the oasis of Meribah at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin. You didn’t show the Israelites how holy I am. 52 You may see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I’m giving the Israelites.”

32:44–52   Moses sung your people this song—this list of warnings. These words aren’t idle talk. They are my life!

Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes

33

1 Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelites with this blessing before he died. 2 He said,

“The LORD came from Sinai.

For his people he rose from Seir ⌞like the sun⌟.

He appeared like sunshine from Mount Paran.

He came with tens of thousands of holy ones.

On his right was a raging fire for them.[51]

3 You certainly love your people.

All your holy ones are in your hands.

They bow at your feet

to receive your instructions.[52]

4 Moses gave us these teachings.

They belong to the assembly of Jacob.

33:1–3   You certainly love your people, all the holy ones in your hands. I’ll bow at your feet and receive your instructions.

5 The LORD was king of Jeshurun[53]

when the leaders of the people assembled

together with all the tribes of Israel.

6 “May the tribe of Reuben live and not die out,

though their people are few in number.”

7 This is what he said about the tribe of Judah:

“Hear the cry of Judah, O LORD,

and bring them to their people.

They must defend themselves.

Help them against their enemies.”

8 About the tribe of Levi he said,

“Your Thummim and Urim[54] belong to your faithful people.

You tested your people at Massah.

You quarreled with them at the oasis of Meribah.

9 They said that they didn’t know their father and mother.

They didn’t recognize their own brothers.

They didn’t acknowledge their own children.

But they obeyed your word

and were faithful to the terms of your promise.[55]

10 They teach Jacob your rules

and give Israel your teachings.

They burn incense for you to smell

and sacrifice burnt offerings on your altar.

11 LORD, bless them with strength

and be pleased with the work they do.

Break the backs of those who attack them and hate them

so that they can never get up again.”

33:4–11   You spoke your blessings to Israel. Every tribe heard kind words from your mouth.

12 About the tribe of Benjamin he said,

“The LORD’s beloved people will live securely with him.

The LORD will shelter them all day long,

since he, too, lives on the mountain slopes.”

13 About the tribes of Joseph he said,

“May the LORD bless their land with ⌞water,⌟

the best gift heaven can send,

with dew and deep springs below the ground.

14 May the LORD bless their land with crops,

the best gift the sun can give,

the best produce of each month,

15 the finest fruits from the oldest mountains,

the best from the ancient hills,

16 and the most plentiful crops of the earth.

May the LORD bless their land with the favor

of the one who was in the burning bush.

May these blessings come to the tribes of Joseph.

May they crown the people who are like princes in Israel.

17 They will be as majestic as a firstborn bull.

Their horns will be like the horns of a wild ox.

They will use them to push away nations

including those at the ends of the earth.

The tens of thousands from the tribe of Ephraim

and the thousands from the tribe of Manasseh will be like this.”

18 About the tribe of Zebulun he said,

“People of Zebulun, enjoy yourselves when you go to war,

and you people of Issachar, enjoy yourselves when you stay at home.

19 They will invite nations to their mountain,

and there they will offer the proper sacrifices.

They will be nourished by the abundance from the seas

and the treasures hidden in the sand.”

20 About the tribe of Gad he said,

“Blessed is the one who gives the people of Gad more land.

They wait there like a lion.

They can tear off an arm or a head.

21 They chose the best land for themselves.

Indeed, a commander’s piece of land was reserved for them.

They were leaders of the people

and did for Israel what the LORD considers fair and honorable.”[56]

22 About the tribe of Dan he said,

“The people of Dan are a lion cub.

Out of Bashan they pounce ⌞on their enemies⌟.”

23 About the tribe of Naphtali he said,

“The people of Naphtali enjoy the LORD’s favor

and are filled with the LORD’s blessings.

They will take possession of the lake and the land south of it.”

24 About the tribe of Asher he said,

“The people of Asher are the most blessed of the sons of Israel.

May they be the Israelites’ favorite tribe

and wash their feet in olive oil.

25 May the locks and bolts of your gates be made of iron and copper.

May your strength last as long as you live.

33:12–25   Let me live securely with you. Shelter me all day long. Bless my life with everything I need, the best you choose for me. I enjoy your favor.

26 “There’s no one like your God, Jeshurun!

He rides through the heavens to help you.

In majesty he rides through the clouds.

27 The eternal God is your shelter,

and his everlasting arms support you.

He will force your enemies out of your way

and tell you to destroy them.

28 So Israel will live securely.

Jacob’s spring will be ⌞left⌟ alone

in a land of grain and new wine.

Dew will drip from Israel’s skies.

29 You are blessed, Israel!

Who is like you,

a nation saved by the LORD?

He is a shield that helps you

and a sword that wins your victories.

Your enemies will come crawling to you,

and you will stomp on their backs.”

33:26–29   There’s no one like you! You ride through the heavens to help me. Your everlasting arms support me. You make me live securely. I’m blessed!

Moses’ Death and Burial

34

1 Then Moses went up on Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab. He went to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. The LORD showed him the whole land. He could see Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the territory of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev, and the Jordan Plain—the valley of Jericho (the City of Palms)—as far as Zoar.

4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised with an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I said I would give it to their descendants. I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you may not go there.”

5 As the LORD had predicted, the LORD’s servant Moses died in Moab. 6 He was buried in a valley in Moab, near Beth Peor. Even today no one knows where his grave is.

7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight never became poor, and he never lost his physical strength. 8 The Israelites mourned for Moses in the plains of Moab for 30 days. Then the time of mourning for him was over.

9 Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the Spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him. The Israelites obeyed him and did what the LORD had commanded through Moses.

10 There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD dealt with face to face. 11 He was the one the LORD sent to do all the miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to his whole country. 12 Moses used his mighty hand to do all the spectacular and awe-inspiring deeds that were seen by all the Israelites.

34:1–12   Even Moses didn’t escape your discipline. You let him look on the promised land, then he died. There’s never been another prophet like Moses. You talked with him face to face. Let me see you up close!

JOSHUA

INTRODUCTION

Joshua teaches you to live courageously. Moses had died just short of the promised land, not allowed to cross into the land because of a public display of disrespect for the Lord years before. With his assistant Joshua now in charge of the people, God promises to give them every place they tread, pushing their borders far to the north, south, east, and west.

Fear caused the previous generation to refuse to enter the land, and Joshua had just assumed command of an unruly nation. So the Lord reasserts his intention to go with his people as they enter the land and battle its inhabitants. He says, “I have commanded you, ‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go’” (Joshua 1:9).

The book of Joshua outlines the conquest of the promised land from the people’s miraculous Jordan River crossing to their overwhelming military victories. Much of the book’s second half lists land parcels distributed to each Israelite tribe, seemingly small details that in fact demonstrate the fulfillment of God’s grand promise. As the book closes, Joshua bids farewell to the crowds, but not before challenging them to stay faithful to God. Suspicious of their oaths, he vows that he and his family will forever obey the Lord even if no one else does (Joshua 24:15).

Wherever God sends you, praying this book trains you to search for his leading and count on his presence and power.

JOSHUA

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The LORD Instructs Joshua

1

1 After the death of the LORD’s servant Moses, the LORD said to Moses’ assistant Joshua, son of Nun, 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now you and all these people must cross the Jordan River into the land that I am going to give the people of Israel. 3 I will give you every place on which you set foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your borders will be the desert ⌞on the south⌟, nearby Lebanon to the Euphrates River (the country of the Hittites) ⌞on the north⌟, and the Mediterranean Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to oppose you successfully as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will never neglect you or abandon you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will help these people take possession of the land I swore to give their ancestors.

1:1–6   You told Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land. You command me now to take my place in your plan.

7 “Only be strong and very courageous, faithfully doing everything in the teachings that my servant Moses commanded you. Don’t turn away from them. Then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.

9 “I have commanded you, ‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.’”

1:7–9   I’ll be strong and courageous and faithfully follow your teachings. I’ll think about them night and day. I won’t be terrified, because you’re with me wherever I follow your commands.

The People Promise to Obey Joshua

10 Then Joshua ordered the officers of the people, 11 “Go through the camp. Tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River to take possession of the land the LORD your God is going to give you.’”

12 Next, Joshua said to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh, 13 “Remember what the LORD’s servant Moses commanded you. Moses said, ‘The LORD your God will give you this land—a place to rest.’ 14 Your wives, children, and livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan River. However, all your best soldiers must march in battle formation ahead of your relatives. You must help your relatives 15 take possession of the land the LORD your God is going to give them. Then they will have a place to rest like you do. After that, you may go back and take possession of the land east of the Jordan River which the LORD’s servant Moses gave you.”

16 The people responded to Joshua, “We’ll do everything you tell us and go wherever you send us. 17 We will obey you as we obeyed Moses. May the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your authority or does not obey your orders will be put to death. Just be strong and courageous!”

1:10–18   You roused the camp to cross the Jordan—to possess the land you promised. You swore to give them the land. They vowed to do everything you said.

Joshua Sends Spies to Jericho

2

1 From Shittim Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent out two men as spies. He told them, “Go, look at that country, especially the city of Jericho.” So they went to Jericho and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab to spend the night there.

2:1   The Israelites sent spies to look at the land. Give me understanding of where you plan to lead me.

2 The king of Jericho was told, “Some Israelites have entered the city tonight. They came to gather information about our land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent messengers to Rahab, who told her, “Bring out the men who came to your house. They came here to gather information about the entire land.”

4 But the woman had already taken the two men inside and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come here. But I didn’t know where they had come from. 5 When it was dark and the gate was just about to close, they left. I don’t know where they went. If you hurry, you’ll catch up with them.” 6 (She had taken them up to the roof and covered them with the flax which she had laid up there.)

7 The king’s men pursued them on the road leading to a shallow place to cross the Jordan River. As soon as the king’s men had left, the gate was closed.

8 Before the spies fell asleep, Rahab went up to them on the roof. 9 She said to them, “I know the LORD will give you this land. Your presence terrifies us. All the people in this country are deathly afraid of you. 10 We’ve heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea in front of you when you left Egypt. We’ve also heard what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites, who ruled east of the Jordan River. We’ve heard how you destroyed them for the LORD. 11 When we heard about it, we lost heart. There was no courage left in any of us because of you. The LORD your God is the God of heaven and earth. 12 Please swear by the LORD that you’ll be as kind to my father’s family as I’ve been to you. Also give me some proof 13 that you’ll protect my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and their households, and that you’ll save us from death.”

2:2–13   Rahab risked the king’s wrath to shelter the spies—all because she knew your mighty acts. She respected you as the God of heaven and earth.

14 The men promised her, “We pledge our lives for your lives. If you don’t tell anyone what we’re doing here, we’ll treat you kindly and honestly when the LORD gives us this land.”

15 So she let them down by a rope from her window since her house was built into the city wall. (She lived in the city wall.) 16 She told them, “Go to the mountains so that the men who are pursuing you will not find you. Hide there for three days until they return to Jericho. Then you can go on your way.”

17 The men told her, “We will be free from the oath which you made us swear, ⌞if you tell anyone what we’re doing here⌟. 18 When we invade your land, tie this red cord in the window through which you let us down. Also, gather your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house. 19 Whoever leaves your house will be responsible for his own life. We will be free from that responsibility. But we will take responsibility if anyone inside your house is harmed. 20 If you tell anyone what we’re doing here, we will be free from the oath which you made us swear.”

21 “I agree,” she said. So she let them go and tied the red cord in the window.

22 The men went to the mountains and stayed there for three days until the king’s men returned to Jericho. The king’s men had searched for them all along the road but had not found them. 23 Then the two spies came down out of the mountains, crossed the Jordan River, and returned to Joshua, son of Nun. They told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They told Joshua, “The LORD has given us the whole country. The people who live there are deathly afraid of us.”

2:14–24   The people who lived in the land were deathly afraid of you. I tremble at the thought of standing on the wrong side of your plan.

Crossing the Jordan River

3

1 Joshua got up early the next morning. He and all the Israelites left Shittim. They came to the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing.

2 Three days later the officers went through the camp. 3 They told the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the promise of the LORD your God and the Levitical priests who carry it, break camp and follow them. 4 However, stay about half a mile behind them. Don’t come any closer to them so that you will know which way to go because you have not gone this way before.”

5 Joshua told the people, “Perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy because tomorrow the LORD will do miracles among you.”

6 Joshua also told the priests, “Take the ark of the promise, and go ahead of the people.” They did as they were told.

3:1–6   Your people made themselves holy. Like them, I’m ready for you to do miracles. I’ll let your presence and promises lead me.

7 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to honor you in front of all the people of Israel. I will do this to let them know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. 8 Order the priests who carry the ark of the promise, ‘When you step into the water of the Jordan River, stand there.’”

9 So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here, and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” 10 Joshua continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly force the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites out of your way. 11 Watch the ark of the promise of the Lord of the whole earth as it goes ahead of you into the Jordan River. 12 Choose one man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. 13 The priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, will stand in the water of the Jordan. Then the water flowing from upstream will stop and stand up like a dam.”

3:7–13   You honored Joshua in front of the people. You wanted him to be sure you were with him. He made your people listen to your words.

14 So they broke camp to cross the Jordan River. The priests who carried the ark of the promise went ahead of the people. 15 (The Jordan overflows all its banks during the harvest season.)[1] When the priests who were carrying the ark came to the edge of the Jordan River and set foot in 16 the water, the water stopped flowing from upstream. The water rose up like a dam as far away as the city of Adam near Zarethan. The water flowing down toward the Sea of the Plains (the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. Then the people crossed from the east side ⌞of the Jordan River⌟ directly opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the LORD’s promise stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.

3:14–17   You stopped up the Jordan so your people could cross into the land. You kept your promise to Abraham to give his descendants a land to call home.

A Reminder of the Crossing

4

1 The whole nation finished crossing the Jordan River. The LORD had told Joshua, 2 “Choose one man from each of the 12 tribes. 3 Order them to pick up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, where the priests’ feet stood firmly. Take the stones along with you, and set them down where you will camp tonight.”

4 Joshua called the 12 men whom he had selected (one from each tribe). 5 He said to them, “Go to the middle of the Jordan River in front of the ark of the LORD your God. Each man must take a stone on his shoulder, one for each tribe of Israel. 6 This will be a sign for you. In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 You should answer, ‘The water of the Jordan River was cut off in front of the ark of the LORD’s promise. When the ark crossed the Jordan, the river stopped flowing. These stones are a permanent reminder for the people of Israel.’”

8 The people of Israel did as Joshua had ordered. They took 12 stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel. They took them from the middle of the Jordan as the LORD had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there.

9 Joshua also set 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan River, where the priests who carried the ark of the promise had stood. The stones are still there today.

10 The priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan. They stood there until everything the LORD had ordered Joshua to tell the people had been carried out. This was as Moses had told Joshua. The people hurried to the other side. 11 As soon as everyone had crossed, the priests with the LORD’s ark crossed and went ahead of them.

12 The men of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh did as Moses had told them. They marched across in battle formation ahead of the people of Israel. 13 About 40,000 armed men crossed the river in front of the LORD to the plains of Jericho for battle.

4:1–13   The whole nation finished crossing the Jordan. They set up stones to remember what you had done. I’ll create reminders of the good things you do for me.

14 On that day the LORD honored Joshua in the presence of all the Israelites. As long as Joshua lived, the Israelites respected him in the same way they had respected Moses.

15 The LORD said to Joshua, 16 “Order the priests who carry the ark of the testimony to come out of the Jordan River.”

17 So Joshua ordered the priests, “Come out of the Jordan.”

18 The priests who carried the ark of the LORD’s promise came out of the middle of the Jordan. When their feet stepped onto dry land, the water of the Jordan returned to its seasonal flood level.

19 On the tenth day of the first month, the people came out of the Jordan River. They made their camp at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. 20 At Gilgal Joshua set up the 12 stones they had taken from the Jordan. 21 He said to the people of Israel, “In the future when children ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 the children should be told that Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. 23 The LORD your God dried up the Jordan ahead of you until you had crossed, as he did to the Red Sea until we had crossed. 24 The LORD did this so that everyone in the world would know his mighty power and that you would fear the LORD your God every day of your life.”

4:14–24   The waters rushed back—but not before all your people crossed on dry ground. I’ll tell my children how you rescue me and lead me to good places. I’ll live in awe of you every day of my life.

Preparations for the First Passover in Canaan

5

1 All the Amorite kings west of the Jordan River and all the Canaanite kings along the Mediterranean Sea heard that the LORD had dried up the Jordan River so that the Israelites could cross. So they lost heart and had no courage left to face the people of Israel.

2 At that time the LORD spoke to Joshua, “Make flint knives, and circumcise the men of Israel.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the men of Israel at the Hill of Circumcision.[2]

4 This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: All the soldiers had died on the way through the desert after they left Egypt. 5 The men who left Egypt had been circumcised. However, the men born later, on the way through the desert, were not circumcised. 6 For 40 years the Israelites wandered through the desert until all their soldiers who left Egypt died. They died because they disobeyed the LORD. The LORD swore that he would not let them see this land flowing with milk and honey which he had sworn to give our ancestors.

7 The sons who took their place had not been circumcised on the way. So Joshua circumcised them. 8 When all the men had been circumcised, they remained in the camp until they recovered.

9 The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the disgrace of Egypt from you.” So Joshua named the place Gilgal,[3] the name it still has today.

5:1–9   You expected the descendants of Abraham to keep the conditions of your covenant. You gave them an unmistakable mark of your unchanging blessing.

10 The people of Israel camped at Gilgal in the Jericho plain. There they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. 11 On the day after the Passover, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The day after that, the manna stopped. The people of Israel never had manna again. That year they began to eat the crops that grew in Canaan.

5:10–12   The Israelites celebrated their rescue from slavery. I’ll remember how you fed me with manna. I’m grateful you show me how to grow food.

The Commander of the LORD’s Army Speaks with Joshua

13 When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you one of us or one of our enemies?” 14 He answered, “Neither one! I am here as the commander of the LORD’s army.” Immediately, Joshua bowed with his face touching the ground and worshiped. He asked, “Sir, what do you want to tell me?” 15 The commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy.” So Joshua did as he was told.

5:13–15   You stood before Joshua with sword in hand. You make the ground holy. I bow to you.

Jericho Is Destroyed

6

1 Jericho was bolted and barred shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one could enter or leave.

2 The LORD said to Joshua, “I am about to hand Jericho, its king, and its warriors over to you. 3 All the soldiers will march around the city once a day for six days. 4 Seven priests will carry rams’ horns ahead of the ark. But on the seventh day you must march around the city seven times while the priests blow their horns. 5 When you hear a long blast on the horn, all the troops must shout very loudly. The wall around the city will collapse. Then the troops must charge straight ahead into the city.”

6 Joshua, son of Nun, summoned the priests. He said to them, “Pick up the ark of the promise, and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns ahead of the LORD’s ark.”

7 He told the troops, “March around the city. Let the armed men march ahead of the LORD’s ark.”

8 After Joshua had given orders to the troops, the seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns ahead of the LORD marched off as they blew their horns. The ark of the LORD’s promise followed them. 9 The armed men went ahead of the priests, who blew their horns. The rear guard followed the ark while the priests continued to blow their horns.

10 Joshua ordered the troops, “Don’t shout, make any noise, or let one word come out of your mouth until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11 So the LORD’s ark went around the city once. Then they went back to the camp and stayed there for the night.

6:1–11   Jericho was bolted shut in fear. So you sent your people marching around the city.

12 Joshua got up early in the morning. The priests carried the LORD’s ark. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns were ahead of it. The priests blew their horns as they went. The armed men were ahead of them, and the rear guard followed the LORD’s ark while the horns blew continually. 14 They went around the city once on the second day and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

15 On the seventh day they got up at dawn. They marched around the city seven times the same way they had done it before. That was the only day they marched around it seven times. 16 When they went around the seventh time, the priests blew their rams’ horns.

Joshua said to the troops, “Shout, because the LORD has given you the city! 17 The city has been claimed by the LORD. Everything in it belongs to the LORD. Only the prostitute Rahab and all who are in the house with her will live because she hid the messengers we sent. 18 But stay away from what has been claimed by the LORD for destruction, or you, too, will be destroyed by the LORD. If you take anything that is claimed by the LORD, you will bring destruction and disaster on the camp of Israel. 19 All the silver and gold and everything made of bronze and iron are holy and belong to the LORD. They must go into the LORD’s treasury.”

6:12–19   The people got up early to obey your orders. The priests blew horns and your ark went with your people.

20 So the troops shouted very loudly when they heard the blast of the rams’ horns, and the wall collapsed. The troops charged straight ahead and captured the city. 21 They claimed everything in it for the LORD. With their swords they killed men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys.

22 But Joshua said to the two spies, “Go to the prostitute’s house. Bring the woman out, along with everything she has, as you swore you would do for her.”

23 The spies went and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, everything she had, and even all of her relatives. They gave them a place outside the camp of Israel. 24 Then Israel burned the city and everything in it. But they put the silver and gold and everything made of bronze and iron into the LORD’s treasury. 25 Joshua spared the prostitute Rahab, her father’s family, and everything she had. She still lives in Israel today because she hid the messengers Joshua had sent to look at Jericho.

26 At that time Joshua pronounced this curse:

“The LORD will curse

whoever comes to rebuild the city of Jericho.

It will cost him his firstborn son

to lay the foundation.

It will cost him his youngest son

to set up the city doors.”

27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

6:20–27   The troops shouted, but you made the wall collapse. Your people captured the city, but they kept their promise to spare Rahab. Go with me like you went with Joshua.

Achan’s Sin and Its Consequences

7

1 The people of Israel proved to be disloyal about the things claimed by the LORD. Achan, son of Carmi, grandson of Zabdi, great-grandson of Zerah, and a member of the tribe of Judah, took something that had been claimed by the LORD. So the LORD became angry with the people of Israel.

2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai. Ai is near Beth Aven, east of Bethel. He said to them, “Go, look at that country.” So the men went and looked at Ai.

3 They came back to Joshua and told him, “You don’t need to send all the troops. Only about two or three thousand men are needed to destroy Ai. Don’t tire the troops out by sending all of them. There are only a few troops in Ai.”

4 So about three thousand men were sent. However, they fled from the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the city gate to the slope of the stone quarries. Israel’s troops lost heart and were scared stiff.

7:1–5   A few men of Ai chased thousands of Israelite men. Your troops lost heart. They were scared stiff.

6 Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothes in grief. They put dust on their heads and bowed down to the ground in front of the LORD’s ark. They stayed there until evening. 7 Joshua said, “Almighty LORD, why did you bring these people across the Jordan River? Was it to hand us over to the Amorites so that they could destroy us? I wish we had been content to live on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Lord, what else can I say after Israel ran away from its enemy? 9 When the Canaanites and everyone who lives in the land hears about it, they will surround us and remove every memory of us from the earth. What will you do then so that your great name ⌞will be remembered⌟?”

10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! What are you doing bowing on the ground? 11 Israel has sinned. They have ignored the requirements[4] that I have placed on them. They have taken what I claimed for myself and put it among their own goods. They have not only stolen, but they have also lied.

12 “The people of Israel will not be able to defend themselves against their enemies. They will run away from their enemies because the people of Israel are now claimed for destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy what I have claimed for myself.

7:6–12   Israel stole the things you claimed for yourself. And then they lied about it. You won’t go with me when I disobey you.

13 “Get up! Tell the people, ‘Get ready for tomorrow by performing the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. This is what the LORD God of Israel says: You have what I claimed for myself, Israel. You will not be able to defend yourselves against your enemies until you get rid of what I have claimed. 14 In the morning come forward by tribes ⌞to the tent of meeting⌟. The tribe the LORD selects will come forward by families. Then the family the LORD selects will come forward by households, and the household the LORD selects will come forward man by man. 15 The man who is selected, along with everything he has, must be burned because he has ⌞stolen⌟ what the LORD has claimed. He has ignored the LORD’s requirements and done a godless thing in Israel.’”

16 Joshua got up early in the morning. He had Israel come forward by tribes. The tribe of Judah was selected. 17 Then he had the families of Judah come forward, and the family of Zerah was selected. Then he had the family of Zerah come forward man by man, and Zabdi was selected. 18 Then he had Zabdi’s household come forward man by man, and Achan was selected. Achan from the tribe of Judah was the son of Carmi, grandson of Zabdi, and great-grandson of Zerah.

19 Joshua said to Achan, “Son, give honor and praise to the LORD God of Israel! Tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.”

20 Then Achan answered Joshua, “It’s true. I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel. This is what I did: 21 I saw a fine robe from Babylonia, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing about one pound among the loot. I wanted them, so I took them. You will find them buried inside my tent with the silver beneath them.”

22 Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. The loot was buried inside with the silver beneath it. 23 They took the loot from the tent and brought it to Joshua and all the people of Israel. Then they laid it out in the presence of the LORD.

24 Joshua and all Israel took Achan (son of Zerah), the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, and his tent—everything he had—and brought them to the valley of Achor [Disaster].

25 Then Joshua said, “Why did you bring this disaster on us? The LORD will bring disaster on you today!” And all Israel stoned Achan and his family to death. Then they burned the bodies and piled stones over them. 26 They made such a large pile of stones over Achan that it is still there today. Then the LORD withdrew his burning anger. For this reason that place is still called the valley of Achor today.

7:13–26   You called out Achan and he admitted his sin. You made obedience a matter of life and death. Spare me from meeting you in the valley of disaster.

Israel’s Victory at Ai

8

1 The LORD said to Joshua, “Don’t be terrified or afraid. Take all the troops with you, and march against Ai. I am about to hand the king of Ai, his people, city, and land over to you. 2 You will do the same thing to Ai and its king that you did to Jericho and its king. However, you may take its loot and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”

3 So Joshua and all the soldiers started to march against Ai. Joshua picked 30,000 of his best soldiers and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: “Set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far away from the city. Everyone must be ready. 5 I’ll approach the city with the rest of the troops. When they come out to attack us as they did the first time, we will run away from them. 6 They’ll come out after us, and we will lure them away from the city. They’ll say, ‘They’re running away from us just like the first time.’ As we run away from them, 7 you come out of hiding and capture the city. The LORD your God will hand it over to you. 8 When you have captured the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD says. These are your orders.”

8:1–8   Your troops set an ambush for the city of Ai. Joshua got the troops ready to do what you ordered.

9 So Joshua sent them out, and they hid. They took their position west of Ai, between Bethel and Ai. Joshua spent the night with the troops.

10 Joshua got up early in the morning and assembled the troops. Then he and the leaders of Israel led the army to Ai. 11 All the troops with him marched until they were near the city. They camped north of Ai with the ravine between them and Ai.

12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and had them hide between Bethel and Ai, west of the city. 13 All the troops were positioned. The main camp was north of the city, and the other troops were hiding west of the city. That night Joshua went down into the middle of the valley.

14 When the king of Ai saw the main camp, he and all his troops got up early in the morning. They rushed out toward the plains to meet Israel for battle, just where ⌞Joshua⌟ expected. However, the king didn’t know there were troops behind the city waiting to attack him.

15 Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated. They ran away toward the desert. 16 All the troops in the city were called out to chase them. As they chased Joshua, they were lured away from the city. 17 Not one man was left in Ai or Bethel; they all went after Israel. So the city was left unprotected as they chased Israel.

8:9–17   The king of Ai and his army fell into your trap. They left the city unprotected as they chased Israel. I tremble at the thought of standing on the wrong side of your plan.

18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Hold out the spear in your hand toward the city, because I am handing Ai over to you.” So Joshua held out his spear. 19 The men who were hiding got up as soon as he stretched out his hand. They entered the city, captured it, and quickly set it on fire. 20 When the men of Ai looked back, they could see the city going up in smoke. They had no place to go, since the Israelites, who had been running toward the desert, had now turned back on them. 21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men who had been hiding had captured the city and that it was going up in smoke, they turned and attacked the men of Ai. 22 The men who had captured the city also came out and attacked them. The men of Ai were caught between the battle lines of Israel. So Israel attacked them on both sides. None of them survived or escaped. 23 But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

24 Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the fields and in the desert where they had been pursued. They put them all to death; not one person survived. Then the Israelites went back to Ai and killed everyone left there. 25 Twelve thousand men and women from Ai died that day. 26 Joshua did not lower his hand holding the spear until he had completely destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. 27 Israel took the loot and the livestock of that city for themselves, as the LORD had commanded Joshua. 28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a deserted mound of ruins.[5] It is still in ruins today.

29 Joshua hung the king of Ai’s ⌞dead body⌟ on a pole and left him there until evening. When the sun went down, Joshua gave the order to take his body down. They threw it in the entrance of the city and made a large pile of stones over it. That pile is still there today.

8:18–29   Your army captured the city and set it on fire. None of the people escaped. Your judgment made Ai a deserted mound of ruins.

The LORD Renews His Promise with Israel

30 At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD God of Israel. 31 He built an altar with uncut stones on which no iron chisels had been used. This was as the LORD’s servant Moses had commanded the people of Israel in the Book of Moses’ Teachings. They made burnt offerings to the LORD and sacrificed fellowship offerings on the altar. 32 There in front of the people of Israel he wrote on stone slabs a copy of the Teachings which Moses had written down.

33 All the people of Israel, whether foreigners or native Israelites, the leaders, officers, and judges were standing on opposite sides of the ark. They faced the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the LORD’s promise. Half of the people were in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal. Right from the beginning, the LORD’s servant Moses had commanded the priests to bless the people of Israel this way. 34 Afterwards, Joshua read all the Teachings—the blessings and curses—as they had all been written down by Moses. 35 Joshua read ⌞Moses’ Teachings⌟ in front of the whole assembly of Israel, including women, children, and foreigners living among them. He did not leave out one word from everything Moses had commanded.

8:30–35   Israel built an altar to you and worshiped. Then every man, woman, and child heard your teachings. Not a word was left out. Teach me too. I’m listening.

The People from Gibeon Deceive Joshua

9

1 When all the kings west of the Jordan River heard about these events, 2 they joined together to fight Joshua and Israel. (They were the kings in the mountains, the foothills, and along the whole Mediterranean coast as far as Lebanon, the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.)[6]

3 When the people living in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they devised a scheme. They posed as messengers. They took worn-out sacks on their donkeys. Their wineskins were old, split, and patched. 5 Their sandals were worn-out and repaired, and their clothes were tattered. All their bread was dried out and crumbling. 6 They came to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal. They told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country. Make a treaty with us right now.”

7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you’re living in this area? We wouldn’t be able to make a treaty with you.”

8 They responded to Joshua, “We’re at your mercy.”

Joshua asked them, “Who are you, and where did you come from?”

9 They answered him, “We came from a country very far away because the LORD your God has become famous. We heard stories about him and everything he did in Egypt. 10 We also heard everything he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth. 11 Our leaders and everyone who lives in our country told us, ‘Take what you need for the trip, and go meet them. Tell them, “We’re at your mercy. Make a treaty with us right now.” ’ 12 Our bread was warm when we left home to meet with you. Look at it now! It’s dry and crumbling. 13 These were new wineskins when we filled them. Look at them now! See how they are splitting! Our clothes and sandals are also worn-out because we have come such a long way.”

9:1–13   Your enemies banded together to fight Israel. The Gibeonites tricked Joshua into a peace treaty.

14 The men believed the evidence they were shown, but they did not ask the LORD about it. 15 So Joshua made peace with them by making a treaty which allowed them to live. The leaders of the congregation swore to it with an oath.

9:14–15   I won’t be quick to believe everything people tell me. I promise to check the facts with you.

16 But three days after the treaty was made, the Israelites heard that these people were their neighbors and lived with them. 17 The Israelites broke camp. They came to the cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim two days later. 18 The Israelites didn’t destroy these other people, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath about them to the LORD God of Israel. The whole congregation complained about the leaders. 19 But all the leaders said to them, “We have sworn an oath about them to the LORD God of Israel, so we cannot touch them now. 20 We must let them live to avoid ⌞the LORD’s⌟ anger because of the oath we swore.” 21 The leaders said that they should be allowed to live. So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation, as the leaders had said.

22 Joshua sent for the people of Gibeon and asked, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live very far away from you,’ when you live here with us? 23 You are under a curse now. You will always be servants. You will be woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, “We were told that the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and destroy all who live there. We deceived you because we feared for our lives. 25 Now we’re at your mercy. Do to us what you think is good and right.”

26 So Joshua rescued them and did not let the people of Israel kill them. 27 But that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation. They served the LORD’s altar, wherever he chose to put it. They still serve today.

9:16–27   The Israelites kept the oath they swore. They let the Gibeonites live to avoid your anger. Save me from being gullible. Help me to not get played.

The Day the Sun Stood Still

10

1 King Adoni Zedek of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and claimed it for the LORD the same way he had destroyed Jericho and its king. He also heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with the people of Israel and were living with them. 2 He and his people were terribly afraid because Gibeon was a large city. It was like one of the royal cities, larger than Ai. All its men were warriors. 3 So King Adoni Zedek of Jerusalem sent ⌞this message⌟ to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon: 4 “Come, help me destroy Gibeon because it has made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.” 5 So the five Amorite kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon combined their armies. They marched to Gibeon, camped there, and attacked it.

6 The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: “Don’t abandon us! Come quickly, and save us. Help us because all the Amorite kings who live in the mountains have united against us.”

10:1–6   Five Amorite kings marched against Gibeon. I cry to you when I’m surrounded. Come quickly to help me!

7 So Joshua, with all his soldiers and best warriors, set out from Gilgal. 8 The LORD told Joshua, “Don’t be afraid of them. I have handed them over to you. None of them can stand up to you.” 9 So Joshua marched all night from Gilgal and took them by surprise. 10 The LORD threw the enemy into disorder in front of Israel and defeated them decisively at Gibeon. He chased them along the road that goes to the slope of Beth Horon and continued to defeat them all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.

10:7–10   Joshua had nothing to fear. No one can stand against you. You throw the enemy into disorder. You defeat them decisively.

11 As they fled from the Israelites down the slope of Beth Horon toward Azekah, the LORD threw huge hailstones on them. More died from the hailstones than from Israelite swords.

12 The day the LORD handed the Amorites over to the people of Israel, Joshua spoke to the LORD while Israel was watching,

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,

and moon, stand still over the valley of Aijalon!”

13 The sun stood still,

and the moon stopped

until a nation got revenge on its enemies.

Isn’t this recorded in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and for nearly a day the sun was in no hurry to set. 14 Never before or after this day was there anything like it. The LORD did what a man told him to do, because the LORD fought for Israel.

10:11–14   You threw huge hailstones at your enemies. You heard Joshua’s plea and stopped the sun in the sky to give victory to Israel. Act with power on my behalf!

15 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.

16 The five kings ran away and hid in the cave at Makkedah. 17 Someone told Joshua, “The five kings have been found. They are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”

18 Joshua replied, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post a guard there. 19 But don’t stop. Chase your enemies! Cut off their rear guard. Don’t let them get back into their own cities, because the LORD your God has handed them over to you.”

20 Joshua and the Israelites defeated them decisively, almost destroying them. But some who survived got back into the fortified cities. 21 Then the whole army returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a single person dared to speak against any of the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, “Open the cave, and bring me the five kings!” 23 So they brought him the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

24 When they brought them to Joshua, he called for all the men of Israel. He told the officers who had gone with him, “Come forward and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So that’s what they did. 25 Joshua told them, “Don’t be afraid or terrified! Be strong and courageous, because this is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you’re fighting against.”

26 After this, Joshua put them to death and hung their bodies on five poles until evening. 27 When the sun went down, Joshua gave the order to take them down from the poles. Then they threw them into the cave where they had been hiding and put large stones over the mouth of the cave. These stones are still there today.

10:15–27   You flushed out your nation’s enemies. Israel stood on the necks of her foes. You handed them over and none survived.

Joshua Defeats the Southern Kings

28 That same day Joshua captured Makkedah, and the Israelites killed its people and king with swords. He claimed them for the LORD by destroying them. There were no survivors. He did the same thing to the king of Makkedah that he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 Joshua and all Israel marched from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30 The LORD also handed Libnah and its king over to Israel. He killed all the people. There were no survivors. He did the same thing to the king of Libnah that he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Joshua and all Israel marched from Libnah to Lachish, camped there, and attacked it. 32 The LORD handed Lachish over to Israel. He captured it on the next day and killed all the people, the same way he had captured Libnah. 33 At that time King Horam of Gezer had come to help Lachish. But Joshua killed him and his troops. There were no survivors.

34 Joshua and all Israel marched from Lachish to Eglon, camped there, and attacked it. 35 They captured it that day and killed everyone in it. He claimed it for the LORD by destroying it the same way he had destroyed Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel marched from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. 37 They captured it and its neighboring villages and killed its king and all the people. There were no survivors, the same as at Eglon. He claimed the city and all its people for the LORD by destroying them.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel went back to Debir and attacked it. 39 He captured it and its king and all its neighboring villages and killed everyone. So they claimed them all for the LORD by destroying them. There were no survivors. He did the same thing to Debir and its king that he had done to Hebron and Libnah and their kings.

40 So Joshua captured the whole land—the mountains, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes. There were no survivors. He claimed every living creature for the LORD by destroying it, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded. 41 So Joshua defeated the people from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from all the country of Goshen as far as Gibeon. 42 Joshua captured all these kings and their territories in one campaign because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.

10:28–43   Joshua and Israel defeated the kings of the south, claiming every living creature for you. I tremble at the thought of your judgment.

Joshua Defeats the Northern Kings

11

1 King Jabin of Hazor heard ⌞what had happened⌟. So he sent messengers to King Jobab of Madon and to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph. 2 He also sent messengers to the northern kings in the mountains, the plains south of Chinneroth, the foothills, and Naphoth Dor in the west, 3 the Canaanites from east and west, the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, the Jebusites in the mountains, and the Hivites at the foot of Mount Hermon in Mizpah. 4 They came out with all their armies. Their troops were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. They also had horses and chariots. 5 All these kings camped together by the Springs of Merom in order to fight Israel.

6 The LORD told Joshua, “Don’t be afraid of them because I am going to give them to Israel. About this time tomorrow they will all be dead. You must disable their horses so that they cannot be used in battle. You must burn their chariots.” 7 Joshua and all his troops arrived suddenly at the Springs of Merom and attacked the Canaanite armies. 8 The LORD handed them over to Israel, and the Israelites defeated them. The Israelites chased them as far as Great Sidon, Misrephoth Maim, and the valley of Mizpah in the east. There were no survivors. 9 Joshua disabled their horses and burned their chariots, as the LORD had told him.

10 Then Joshua turned back and captured Hazor. He killed its king with a sword. (Hazor was formerly the head of all these kingdoms.) 11 They claimed everyone for the LORD by destroying them with swords. Not one person survived. Joshua also burned Hazor.

12 So Joshua captured all these cities and their kings. He claimed them for the LORD by destroying them, as the LORD’s servant Moses had commanded him. 13 Israel did not burn cities built on mounds. However, Joshua made an exception and burned Hazor. 14 The people of Israel took all the loot and livestock from these cities. But they put everyone to death until they were all destroyed. Not one person survived. 15 So Joshua carried out what the LORD had commanded his servant Moses and what Moses had commanded him. He did not leave out anything the LORD had commanded Moses.

16 Joshua took all this land, the mountains, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the foothills, the plains, and the mountains and foothills of Israel. 17 The land extended from Mount Halak which ascends to Seir as far as Baal Gad in the Lebanon Valley at the foot of Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and killed them. 18 Joshua waged war with all these kings for a long time. 19 Not one city had made a peace treaty with the people of Israel except Gibeon, where the Hivites lived. Israel captured everything in battle. 20 The LORD made their enemies stubborn enough to continue fighting against Israel so that he could claim them all for destruction without mercy, as he had commanded Moses.

21 At that time Joshua also wiped out the people of Anak in the mountains, in Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and in all the hills of Judah and Israel. Joshua claimed them for the LORD by destroying them and their cities. 22 None of the people of Anak remained in Israel. Some of them were left in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. 23 Joshua captured the whole land as the LORD had promised Moses. He gave it to Israel as a possession, dividing it among the tribes. So the land had peace.

11:1–23   Joshua and Israel defeated the kings of the north, carrying out everything you commanded them. I don’t want to be on the wrong side of your wrath.

Kings East of the Jordan River Defeated by Moses

12

1 These are the kings of the land east of the Jordan River that the people of Israel defeated. Israel also took possession of their lands from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern plains.

2 Sihon was the Amorite king who lived in Heshbon. His rule extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley to the Jabbok River, which is the border of Ammon. This included the middle of the valley and half of Gilead. 3 It included the eastern plains from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Plains (the Dead Sea) and the road that goes south from Beth Jeshimoth to the foot of the slopes of Pisgah.

4 The territory of King Og of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei was captured. He was the last of the Rephaim. 5 He ruled Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan to the border of Geshur and Maacath, and half of Gilead to the border of King Sihon of Heshbon.

6 The LORD’s servant Moses and the people of Israel defeated them. Then he gave their land as a possession to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

Kings West of the Jordan River Defeated by Joshua

7 These are the kings of the land west of the Jordan River that Joshua and the people of Israel defeated. ⌞Their lands extended⌟ from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave it as a possession to Israel, dividing it among the tribes. 8 It included the mountains, foothills, plains, slopes, desert, and the Negev ⌞that the⌟ Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites ⌞had possessed⌟.

The kings were

9 the king of Jericho, the king of Ai (near Bethel),

10 the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron,

11 the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish,

12 the king of Eglon, the king of Gezer,

13 the king of Debir, the king of Geder,

14 the king of Hormah, the king of Arad,

15 the king of Libnah, the king of Adullam,

16 the king of Makkedah, the king of Bethel,

17 the king of Tappuah, the king of Hepher,

18 the king of Aphek, the king of Sharon,[7]

19 the king of Madon, the king of Hazor,

20 the king of Shimron Meron, the king of Achshaph,

21 the king of Taanach, the king of Megiddo,

22 the king of Kedesh, the king of Jokneam in Carmel,

23 the king of Dor in Naphoth Dor, the king of Goiim in Gilgal,[8]

24 the king of Tirzah.

12:1–24   Moses and Israel defeated the kings of the east, giving their lands to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. You judged every king who stood between your people and your promise—rulers of the mountains, foothills, plains, slopes, and deserts. You kept your promise to Abraham to give his descendants a land to call home.

The total was 31 kings.

Land Yet to Be Conquered

13

1 Joshua was old, near the end of his life. So the LORD said to him, “You are old, near the end of your life, and there is a lot of land left to be conquered. 2 The land that is left includes all the districts that belong to the Philistines and Geshur. 3 It extends from the Shihor River, east of Egypt, northward as far as the border of Ekron. This is considered to be Canaanite territory, even though there are five Philistine rulers over Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvim people 4 in the south. This territory includes all the land of the Canaanites as well as Mearah which belongs to Sidon as far as Aphek, the Amorite border. 5 It also includes the land of the people of Gebal, all Lebanon eastward from Baal Gad at the foot of Mount Hermon to the border of Hamath. 6 I will force out of the way of the people of Israel everyone who lives in the mountains from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim and all the people of Sidon. However, you must distribute the land as an inheritance to Israel by drawing lots, as I commanded you. 7 So divide this land. It will be an inheritance for the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

13:1–7   You vowed to force others from the land—nations you swore to judge long before. You divided their property among your people. You always have an inheritance in store for your children.

Tribes That Received Land East of the Jordan River

8 The tribes of Reuben and Gad with half of the tribe of Manasseh had received their inheritance east of the Jordan River, since the LORD’s servant Moses had already given it to them. 9 The border extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley, including the city in the middle of the valley, and the whole plateau from Medeba to Dibon. 10 It included all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites up to the border of Ammon. Sihon’s capital was Heshbon. 11 It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maacath, all of Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far as Salecah 12 (the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan). Og ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. He was the last of the Rephaim. Moses had defeated them and forced them out. 13 But the Israelites did not force out the people of Geshur and Maacath. So they still live in Israel today.

14 Moses did not give any land as an inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The sacrifices offered to the LORD God of Israel are what the Levites inherited, as the LORD had promised them.

15 Moses gave some land as an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben for their families. 16 Their territory extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley, including the city in the middle of the valley and the whole plateau near Medeba. 17 It included Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau, Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the mountain in the valley, 20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth. 21 It also included all the cities of the plateau, the whole kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and Midian’s leaders—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They were princes of Sihon, who lived in that country. 22 Along with these leaders, the people of Israel also killed Balaam, son of Beor, who used black magic. 23 The border of Reuben’s territory was the Jordan River. This was Reuben’s inheritance for its families. It included cities with their villages.

24 Moses gave some land as an inheritance to the tribe of Gad for its families. 25 Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half of Ammon as far as Aroer, which is by Rabbah. 26 It extended from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim as far as the border of Lidbir. 27 In the Jordan Valley it included Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon. The Jordan River served as its western border, extending to the end of the Sea of Galilee. 28 This was Gad’s inheritance for its families. It included cities with their villages.

29 Moses gave some land as an inheritance to half of the tribe of Manasseh. It was only for the families of that half of the tribe. 30 Their territory extended from Mahanaim and included all of Bashan (the whole kingdom of King Og of Bashan) and all 60 settlements of Jair that were in Bashan. 31 It also included half of Gilead with Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan. They were given to half the families of Machir, son of Manasseh, ⌞for their inheritance⌟.

32 This is the land that Moses distributed on Moab’s plains, east of the Jordan River near Jericho. 33 Moses did not give any land as an inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The LORD God of Israel is what they inherited, as he had promised them.

13:8–32   You distributed land to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and Manasseh. But you didn’t give land to the Levites. You alone were their inheritance. Which would I choose—more land, or more of you?

The First Stage in Dividing the Land

14

1 This is the land that the people of Israel inherited in Canaan. The priest Eleazar, Joshua (son of Nun), and the heads of Israel’s tribes distributed it to the people. 2 The land inherited by the nine-and-a-half tribes was determined by drawing lots as the LORD had commanded through Moses. 3 Moses had given the two-and-a-half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan River. He did not give any land as an inheritance to Levi’s tribe, 4 because Joseph’s descendants, Manasseh and Ephraim, formed two tribes. The Levites were not given a share of the land. Joseph’s descendants gave the Levites cities to live in with pasturelands for their cattle and everything they had. 5 So the people of Israel divided the land as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Special Land for Caleb

6 Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb, son of Jephunneh and grandson of Kenaz, said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses, the man of God, at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was 40 years old when the LORD’s servant Moses sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. I reported to him exactly what I thought. 8 But my companions discouraged the people. However, I was completely loyal to the LORD my God. 9 On that day Moses swore this oath: ‘The land your feet walked on will be a permanent inheritance for you and your descendants because you were completely loyal to the LORD my God.’

10 “So look at me. The LORD has kept me alive as he promised. It’s been 45 years since Israel wandered in the desert when the LORD made this promise to Moses. So now look at me today. I’m 85 years old. 11 I’m still as fit to go to war now as I was when Moses sent me out. 12 Now give me this mountain region which the LORD spoke of that day. You heard that the people of Anak are still there and that they have large, fortified cities. If the LORD is with me, I can force them out, as he promised.”

13 So Joshua blessed Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 Hebron is still the inheritance of Caleb, son of Jephunneh and grandson of Kenaz, because Caleb was completely loyal to the LORD God of Israel. 15 In the past Hebron was called Kiriath Arba. Arba was the greatest man among the people of Anak. So the land had peace.

14:1–15   Israel divided land by lots. They gave Hebron to Caleb, a prize for his loyalty to you. Now there was peace in your land.

Judah’s Land

15

1 The lot was drawn for the families of the tribe of Judah. Their territory extends as far south as the territory of Edom and the desert of Zin. 2 The southern border starts from the south end of the Dead Sea 3 and goes south of the Akrabbim Pass. It then passes Zin and goes up south of Kadesh Barnea. From there it goes to Hezron, up to Addar, around to Karka, 4 and on to Azmon. It comes out at the River of Egypt so that the border ends at the Mediterranean Sea. This is the southern border.

5 The eastern border is the Dead Sea as far north as the mouth of the Jordan River.

The northern border starts from the north end of the Dead Sea at the mouth of the Jordan 6 and goes up to Beth Hoglah. It then passes north to Beth Arabah and goes up to the Rock of Bohan, son of Reuben. 7 From the valley of Achor, the border goes up to Debir and turns north to the region that faces the Adummim Pass, south of the valley. Then the border passes the Springs of En Shemesh and ends at En Rogel. 8 It continues up the valley of Ben Hinnom to the south slope of the Jebusite city Jerusalem. It then goes to the top of the mountain that overlooks the valley of Hinnom to the west at the north end of the valley of Rephaim. 9 From the top of that mountain the border goes around to the spring of Nephtoah. From there it goes to the cities of Mount Ephron and around to Baalah (now called Kiriath Jearim). 10 From Baalah the border turns west to Mount Seir and over to the north slope of Mount Jearim (now called Chesalon). Then it goes down to Beth Shemesh and on to Timnah. 11 From there the border goes on the north side of Ekron and turns to Shikkeron, on to Mount Baalah, and comes out at Jabneel. The border ends at the Mediterranean Sea.

12 The western border is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. These are the borders around Judah that belong to their families.

13 Joshua gave Caleb, son of Jephunneh, a share of land among the people of Judah as the LORD had told them. It was Kiriath Arba (now called Hebron). Arba was the father of Anak. 14 Caleb forced out Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, three descendants of Anak from Hebron. 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir. (In the past Debir was called Kiriath Sepher.)

16 Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Achsah as a wife to anyone who attacks Kiriath Sepher and captures it.” 17 Then Othniel, son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, captured it. So Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as a wife. 18 When she came to Othniel, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?”

19 She answered, “Give me a blessing. Since you’ve given me some dry land, also give me some springs.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

20 This is the land inherited by the families of the tribe of Judah.

21 On the farthest edge of the Negev, on the border of Edom, they gave the tribe of Judah 29 cities with their villages: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (now called Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon.

33 In the foothills they gave Judah 14 cities with their villages: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim.

37 They also gave Judah 16 other cities with their villages: Zenan, Hadashah, Migdalgad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Chitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah.

42 An additional nine cities with their villages were given to Judah: Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah.

45 Judah also received Ekron with its cities and villages. 46 This included all the cities with their villages between Ekron and the Mediterranean Sea and alongside Ashdod. 47 Added to this were Ashdod and Gaza with their cities and villages as far as the River of Egypt and the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

48 In the mountains they gave Judah 11 cities with their villages: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (now called Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh.

52 They also gave Judah nine other cities with their villages: Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (now called Hebron), and Zior.

55 They also received another ten cities with their villages: Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah.

58 Halhul, Bethzur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Bethanoth, and Eltekon were six other cities with their villages that were given to Judah.[9]

60 The two cities of Kiriath Baal (now called Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah with their villages ⌞were given to Judah⌟.

61 In the desert Judah was given six cities with their villages: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, Ir Hamelah, and En Gedi.

63 However, Judah was not able to force out the people of Jebus who lived in Jerusalem. So they still live with Judah in Jerusalem today.

15:1–63   You gave land to the tribe of Judah, including a share to your servant Caleb. But Judah didn’t drive everyone from the land. Warn me when I let people who lure me into evil remain in my life.

Land for Joseph’s Sons

16

1 The lot was drawn for Joseph. The border of Joseph’s territory goes from the Jordan River at Jericho to the springs of Jericho on the east, through the desert that goes up from Jericho, and through the mountains to Bethel. 2 From Bethel the border goes to Luz and over to Ataroth at the border of the Archites. 3 Then it descends west to the border of Japhlet and Lower Beth Horon, on to Gezer, and ends at the Mediterranean Sea. 4 So Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, received this land as their inheritance.

Ephraim’s Land

5 This is the territory for the families descended from Ephraim. The eastern border of the land they inherited is from Ataroth Addar to Upper Beth Horon. 6 From there the border goes west, with Michmethath on the north. The border then turns east to Taanath Shiloh and passes east to Janoah. 7 From Janoah it descends to Ataroth and Naarah, touches Jericho, and ends at the Jordan River. 8 At Tappuah the border goes west along the Kanah River and ends at the Mediterranean Sea. This is the land given as an inheritance to the families of the tribe of Ephraim 9 with all the cities and their villages selected for Ephraim in Manasseh’s territory. 10 However, they did not force out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites still live in Ephraim today, but they are required to do forced labor.

16:1–10   You gave land to Joseph and Ephraim. But Ephraim didn’t force out the Canaanites.

Manasseh’s Land

17

1 The lot was drawn for the tribe of Manasseh, because Manasseh was Joseph’s firstborn. Machir, Manasseh’s firstborn, the ancestor of the people living in Gilead, had received Gilead and Bashan because he was a soldier. 2 The land was given to the rest of the families descended from Manasseh, to the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Joseph’s son Manasseh listed by their families.

3 Zelophehad, son of Hepher, grandson of Gilead, and great-grandson of Machir, whose father was Manasseh, had no sons—only daughters. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 They came to the priest Eleazar, Joshua (son of Nun), and the leaders. They said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us some land as an inheritance among our male relatives.” So they gave them an inheritance among their father’s relatives as the LORD had required. 5 Ten portions of land went to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan River. 6 These portions were distributed because Manasseh’s daughters were given an inheritance along with his sons, while Gilead belonged to Manasseh’s other descendants.

7 Manasseh’s border extends from Asher to Michmethath, which faces Shechem. Then the border goes south toward the people who live in En Tappuah. 8 (The land of Tappuah belongs to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself, on the border of Manasseh, belongs to Ephraim.) 9 The border then descends southward to the Kanah River. These cities belong to Ephraim, although they are among Manasseh’s cities. Manasseh’s ⌞southern⌟ border is the river, which ends at the Mediterranean Sea. 10 What is south ⌞of the river⌟ belongs to Ephraim, and what is north ⌞of it⌟ belongs to Manasseh. So the Mediterranean Sea ⌞is its western border⌟, Asher its northern border, and Issachar its eastern border. 11 In Issachar and Asher, Manasseh possessed Beth Shean and Ibleam with their villages and the people living in Dor, En Dor, Taanach, and Megiddo and their villages. The last three are on mountain ridges.[10]

12 But Manasseh was not able to take possession of these cities since the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 13 When the Israelites became strong enough, they made the Canaanites do forced labor, since they didn’t force all of them out.

14 Joseph’s descendants asked Joshua, “Why did you give us only one region for an inheritance? We have a lot of people because the LORD has blessed us.”

15 Joshua replied, “If there are so many of you, go into the forest! Clear ground for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaim if the mountains of Ephraim are too confining for you.”

16 Joseph’s descendants responded, “The mountains are not enough for us either. Besides, all the Canaanites living in the valley, in Beth Shean and its villages, and in the valley of Jezreel have chariots made of iron.”

17 Then Joshua said to the descendants of Joseph, ⌞the tribes of⌟ Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are an important and very powerful people. One region is really not enough for you. 18 The mountain region will be yours as well. It is a forest, so you will have to clear it. All of it will be yours. But you must force out the Canaanites, even though they are strong and have chariots made of iron.”

17:1–18   You allotted land to Manasseh. But Manasseh didn’t take all of the Canaanite cities.

The Second Stage in Dividing the Land

18

1 The whole congregation of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land was under their control.

2 There were still seven tribes in Israel who had not yet received any land as their inheritance. 3 So Joshua asked the Israelites, “How long are you going to waste time conquering the land which the LORD God of your ancestors has given you? 4 Choose three men from each tribe, and I will send them out. They will survey the land and write a description of it which shows ⌞the borders of⌟ their inheritance. Then they will come back to me. 5 They will divide the land into seven parts. Judah will stay within its territory in the south, and Joseph’s descendants will stay within their territory in the north. 6 You must describe the seven parts of the land and report to me here. I will draw lots for you here in the presence of the LORD our God. 7 Levi’s tribe has no separate region among you, because their inheritance is to serve the LORD as priests. The tribes of Gad and Reuben and half of the tribe of Manasseh have received the inheritance that the LORD’s servant Moses gave them on the east side of the Jordan River.”

8 As the men got ready to go, Joshua ordered them to write a description of the land. He said, “Go survey the land. Write a description of it, and return to me. Then I will draw lots for you in the presence of the LORD here in Shiloh.”

9 The men surveyed the land. They described it in a book. The land was divided into seven parts according to its cities. Then they returned to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh. 10 So Joshua drew lots for them in the presence of the LORD in Shiloh. There Joshua divided the land among the tribes of Israel.

18:1–10   Joshua thought your people were wasting time. Why hadn’t they taken possession of the land? Shake me when I’m slow to take hold of your promises.

Benjamin’s Land

11 The lot was drawn for the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Their territory lies between Judah’s and Joseph’s. 12 Their northern border starts at the Jordan, goes up the slope north of Jericho, west through the mountains, and ends at the desert of Beth Aven. 13 From there the border goes to the south slope of Luz (now called Bethel). Then the border goes down to Ataroth Addar over the mountains south of Lower Beth Horon. 14 The border turns and goes around on the west side, south of the mountain that faces Beth Horon, and ends at Kiriath Baal (now called Kiriath Jearim), a city of Judah. 15 The southern border begins just outside Kiriath Jearim and goes west, to the springs of Nephtoah. 16 Then the border descends to the foot of the mountain that overlooks the valley of Ben Hinnom, in the north end of the valley of Rephaim. It descends to the valley of Hinnom, to the south slope of the city of Jebus, and down to En Rogel. 17 Then it turns north and goes to En Shemesh and from there to the region opposite the Adummim Pass. It descends to the Rock of Bohan, son of Reuben. 18 Then it continues on to the north side of the slope facing the plains and down into the plains. 19 The border continues to the north slope of Beth Hoglah and ends at the northern bay of the Dead Sea at the south end of the Jordan River. This is its southern border. 20 The Jordan River is its eastern border. These are the borders surrounding the inheritance given to Benjamin for its families.

21 These are the 12 cities with their villages that belong to the tribe of Benjamin for its families: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Chephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba. 25 There were 14 other cities with their villages: Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Ir Peel, Taralah, 28 Zela, Eleph, Jebus (now called Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kiriath. This is Benjamin’s inheritance for its families.

18:11–28   You gave land to the tribe of Benjamin, an inheritance for all of its families. Lead me and my family to the places you’ve set aside for us.

Simeon’s Land

19

1 The second lot was drawn for the families of the tribe of Simeon. Their inheritance was within Judah. 2 In their inheritance they received 13 cities and their villages: Beersheba (Sheba), Moladah, 3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen. 7 There were four other cities with their villages: Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan. 8 All the villages around these cities as far as Baalath Beer and Ramath Negev were also included. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon for its families. 9 Simeon’s inheritance was a part of Judah’s because Judah had more land than it needed. So Simeon received its inheritance inside Judah’s borders.

Zebulun’s Land

10 The third lot was drawn for the families descended from Zebulun. The border of their inheritance goes as far as Sarid. 11 Toward the west the border ascends to Maralah and touches Dabbesheth and the river near Jokneam. 12 But from Sarid it turns directly east toward the border of Chisloth Tabor, on to Daberath, and then ascends toward Japhia. 13 From there it goes directly east to Gath Hepher, Eth Kazin, and Rimmon, where it turns to Neah. 14 There the border turns north to Hannathon and ends at the valley of Iphtah El. 15 This also includes Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were 12 cities with their villages. 16 These cities with their villages are the inheritance given to the families descended from Zebulun.

Issachar’s Land

17 The fourth lot was drawn for the families descended from Issachar. 18 Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez. 22 The border touches Tabor, Shahazimah, and Beth Shemesh and ends at the Jordan River. There were 16 cities with their villages. 23 These cities with their villages are the inheritance for the families of the tribe of Issachar.

Asher’s Land

24 The fifth lot was drawn for the families of the tribe of Asher. 25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. The border touches Carmel and Shihor Libnath in the west. 27 Then it turns east to Beth Dagon and touches Zebulun and the valley of Iphtah El in the north and goes to Beth Emek and Neiel. From there it goes northward to Cabul, 28 Abdon,[11] Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, and as far as Great Sidon. 29 Then it turns at Ramah and goes on to the fortified city of Tyre. The border then turns to Hosah and ends at the Mediterranean Sea. The territory includes Meheleb, Achzib, 30 Umma, Acco, Aphek, and Rehob. There were 22 cities with their villages. 31 These cities with their villages are the inheritance for the families of the tribe of Asher.

Naphtali’s Land

32 The sixth lot was drawn for the families descended from the tribe of Naphtali. 33 Their border starts from Heleph at the oak tree at Zaanannim. It continues to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel, to Lakkum, and ends at the Jordan River. 34 The border turns west to Aznoth Tabor, and from there to Hukok. It touches Zebulun in the south, Asher in the west, and Judah in the east at the Jordan. 35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 38 Yiron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemeth. There were 19 cities with their villages. 39 These cities with their villages are the inheritance for the families of the tribe of Naphtali.

Dan’s Land

40 The seventh lot was drawn for the families of the tribe of Dan. 41 The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 46 Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border passing in front of Joppa. 47 The border of Dan extended beyond them. Dan’s descendants went up and attacked Leshem, captured it, and killed everyone there. They took it, settled there, and renamed the city Dan after their ancestor Dan. 48 These cities with their villages are the inheritance for the families of the tribe of Dan.

Special Land for Joshua

49 When they all had finally received the land they were to inherit, the people of Israel also gave land within their territory as an inheritance to Joshua, son of Nun. 50 They gave him the city he asked for, as the LORD had instructed them to do. It was Timnath Serah in the mountains of Ephraim. He rebuilt the city and lived there.

51 This is the land that the tribes of Israel drew by lot. The priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the families divided the land by drawing lots. They did this in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.

19:1–51   You gave an inheritance to the rest of the tribes, including a special land for Joshua. I’ll seek your presence to discover your plans for me.

Six Cities of Refuge

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1 The LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Now choose for yourselves the cities of refuge about which I spoke to you through Moses. 3 Choose them so that anyone who unintentionally kills someone may run to them. They will be a place of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death.

4 “‘A person who kills someone accidentally can run to one of these cities. There he will stand at the entrance to the city, where court is held, and present his case to the leaders of that city. Then they will take him into their city and give him a place to live with them.

5 “‘If the relative who can avenge the death pursues him, the leaders must not hand him over to the relative because he didn’t intend to kill the other person. He didn’t even hate the person he killed. 6 The accused person may remain in that city until he can stand trial in front of the congregation or until whoever is chief priest at that time dies. Then he may go back to his home in the city from which he ran away.’”

7 Kedesh in Galilee in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (now called Hebron) in the mountains of Judah were chosen as cities of refuge. 8 Bezer on the desert plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh were chosen as cities of refuge on the east side of the Jordan River, east of Jericho.

9 These are the cities chosen as cities of refuge for all Israelites, including the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally kills someone may escape to these cities. Then he will not be handed over to the relative who can avenge a death before he stands trial in front of the congregation.

20:1–9   You set aside cities of refuge for unintentional killers. You gave people a chance to present their case. Protect me from vengeance I don’t deserve.

Cities for the Tribe of Levi

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1 Then the leaders of the families of Levi came to the priest Eleazar, to Joshua (son of Nun), and to the leaders of the families of the other Israelite tribes 2 at Shiloh in Canaan. They said to them, “The LORD commanded through Moses that we should receive cities to live in and pasturelands for our livestock.” 3 So, as the LORD had instructed, Levi’s descendants were given the following cities with pasturelands from the Israelites’ inheritance.

4 These are the cities for the families of Kohath that were chosen by drawing lots. These descendants of the priest Aaron the Levite received 13 cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants received 10 cities from the families of the tribes of Ephraim and Dan and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

6 Gershon’s descendants received 13 cities from the families of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and half of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 Merari’s descendants received 12 cities for their families from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 8 The Israelites gave these cities with pasturelands to Levi’s descendants by drawing lots, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

Cities for Kohath’s Descendants

9 These are the names of the cities from the tribes of Judah and Simeon 10 that they gave Aaron’s descendants who were from the families of Kohath in the tribe of Levi. Their lot was the first one drawn. 11 They gave them Kiriath Arba (Arba was Anak’s father) and the pastureland around it. This is the city of Hebron located in the mountains of Judah. 12 But they gave its fields and villages to Caleb, son of Jephunneh, as his possession. 13 So they gave the following cities with pasturelands to the descendants of Aaron, the priest. The nine cities from those two tribes were Hebron (a city of refuge for murderers), Libnah, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh. 17 The tribe of Benjamin also gave them four cities: Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anathoth, and Almon. 19 In all, 13 cities with pasturelands were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

20 Cities were chosen by lot from the tribe of Ephraim to give to the rest of Levi’s descendants who were from the families of Kohath. 21 These four cities with pasturelands were Shechem (a city of refuge for murderers) in the mountains of Ephraim, Gezer, 22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon. 23 The tribe of Dan gave them four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon. 25 Half of the tribe of Manasseh gave them two cities with pasturelands: Taanach and Gath Rimmon. 26 In all, ten cities with pasturelands were given to the rest of the families of Kohath.

Cities for Gershon’s Descendants

27 They gave the families of Gershon’s descendants, who were in the tribe of Levi, two cities with pasturelands from half of the tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for murderers) and Ashtaroth. 28 Four cities with pasturelands were also given to them from the tribe of Issachar: Kishion, Daberath, 29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim. 30 Another four cities with pasturelands were given to them from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkath, and Rehob. 32 Also three cities with pasturelands were given to them from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for murderers), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan. 33 In all, 13 cities with pasturelands were given to Gershon’s families.

Cities for Merari’s Descendants

34 To the families of Merari, who were from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of Zebulun gave four cities with pasturelands: Jokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah, and Nahalal. 36 The tribe of Reuben also gave them four cities with pasturelands: Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath. 38 The tribe of Gad also gave them four cities with pasturelands: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for murderers), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon, and Jazer. 40 All these cities belonged to the families of Merari. They were the last of the families of Levi. These 12 cities were chosen by lot.

41 Within the territory owned by the Israelites there were 48 cities in all for Levi’s descendants. 42 Each of these cities had its own pastureland around it.

21:1–42   You assigned cities to the tribe of Levi—to the families of Kohath and Gershon and Merari. You meet the needs of people who serve you.

43 So the LORD gave Israel the whole land he had sworn to give their ancestors. They took possession of it and settled there. 44 The LORD allowed them to have peace on every side, as he had sworn with an oath to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies stood up to them. The LORD handed all their enemies over to them. 45 Every single good promise that the LORD had given the nation of Israel came true.

21:43–45   You gave Israel the whole land you swore to Abraham. You won them peace on every side. Make every one of your good promises come true for me!

Joshua Blesses the Tribes That Live East of the Jordan River

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1 Joshua summoned the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh. 2 He said to them, “You have done everything the LORD’s servant Moses commanded you. You have also obeyed me in everything I commanded you. 3 All this time, to this day, you have never deserted your relatives. You have carefully kept the commands of the LORD your God.

4 “Now the LORD your God has given your relatives peace, as he promised them. So return home, to the land that is your own possession. It is the land that the LORD’s servant Moses gave you east of the Jordan River. 5 Carefully follow the commands and teachings that the LORD’s servant Moses gave you. Love the LORD your God, follow his directions, and keep his commands. Be loyal to him, and serve him with all your heart and soul.” 6 Then Joshua blessed them. He sent them on their way, and they went to their homes.

7 Moses had given land in Bashan as an inheritance to half of Manasseh, and Joshua had given the other half of the tribe their land with their relatives west of the Jordan. When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them. 8 He also said to them, “Return to your homes with your vast wealth, large herds of livestock, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and loads of clothing. Divide the loot from your enemies with your relatives.”

22:1–8   Joshua praised the people for carefully following your commands. He sent them home to love you fully and follow you carefully. I want to serve you with all my heart and soul.

An Altar for the LORD Is Built East of the Jordan River

9 So the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh left the rest of the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan. They returned to Gilead. This was their own possession which they had captured as the LORD had instructed them through Moses. 10 Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh came to the region of the Jordan that was still in Canaan. They built an altar by the Jordan River. The altar was very large and highly visible. 11 The rest of the Israelites heard about it and said, “See there! Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the border of Canaan. It’s in the region near the Jordan River on Israel’s side.” 12 When the people of Israel heard about it, the whole congregation of Israel gathered at Shiloh. They intended to wage war against them.

13 The Israelites sent Phinehas, son of the priest Eleazar, to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh in Gilead. 14 Ten leaders, one from each tribe in Israel, went with him. Each man was a leader of a household and head of a family division in Israel. 15 When they arrived these leaders said to the people of Gilead, 16 “All of the LORD’s congregation is asking, ‘What is this faithless act you have committed against the God of Israel?’ Today you have turned away from following the LORD by building an altar for yourselves. Today you have rebelled against the LORD! 17 Does the sin we committed at Peor mean nothing to us anymore? Didn’t we cleanse ourselves from it? Because of that sin there was a plague on the LORD’s congregation! 18 You have turned away from following the LORD! Today you rebel against the LORD, and tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. 19 If your land is unclean,[12] come over here to the LORD’s land. The LORD’s tent is standing here. Take some property for yourselves among us. Don’t rebel against the LORD or against us by building an altar for yourselves in addition to the altar of the LORD our God. 20 Didn’t Achan, son of Zerah, act faithlessly with the things claimed by the LORD? Didn’t the LORD become angry with the whole congregation of Israel? Achan wasn’t the only one who died because of his sin.”

21 Then the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the divisions of Israel. 22 They said, “The LORD is ⌞the only true⌟ God! The LORD is ⌞the only true⌟ God! He knows, so let Israel know! If our act is rebellious or unfaithful to the LORD, 23 don’t spare us today. If we built an altar with the intention of no longer following him, and if we built it for making burnt offerings, grain offerings, or fellowship offerings, let the LORD punish us.

24 “We were worried because of the situation we’re in. We thought sometime in the future your children might say to our children, ‘What relationship do you have with the LORD God of Israel? 25 The LORD has made the Jordan River a dividing line between us and you, the descendants of Reuben and Gad. You have no connection with the LORD!’ So your descendants would stop our descendants from worshiping the LORD. 26 Then we said, ‘Let’s build an altar for ourselves. It will not be for burnt offerings or sacrifices, 27 but it will stand as a witness between us for generations to come. It will stand as a witness that we may worship in the presence of the LORD with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings.’ Then your descendants cannot say to our descendants, ‘You have no connection with the LORD!’ 28 So we thought, if this statement is made to us or to our descendants in the future, we will answer, ‘Look at the model of the LORD’s altar our ancestors made. They didn’t make it for burnt offerings or sacrifices but to stand as a witness between us.’ 29 It would be unthinkable for us to rebel against the LORD or to turn back today from following the LORD by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices in addition to the altar of the LORD our God that is in front of his tent.”

22:9–28   The tribes plotted war on brothers who built a distant altar. But those stones were a monument to you—and a witness between the tribes.

30 When the priest Phinehas, the leaders of the congregation, and the heads of the divisions of Israel heard what the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh said, they were satisfied. 31 Then Phinehas, son of the priest Eleazar, said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know the LORD is among us, because you did not commit an unfaithful act against the LORD. Now you have rescued the people of Israel from the LORD’s punishment.”

32 Then Phinehas (son of the priest Eleazar) and the leaders returned from Reuben and Gad in Gilead to Israel in Canaan and gave them the report. 33 The people of Israel were satisfied with the report. So they praised God and didn’t talk anymore about going to war against Reuben and Gad and destroying the land where they were living.

34 The tribes of Reuben and Gad gave the altar a name: Witness Between Us That the LORD Is ⌞the Only True⌟ God.

22:29–34   Turning my back on you is unthinkable. Rebellion isn’t an option. You’re the only true God.

A Reminder to Follow Moses’ Teachings

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1 A long time afterward, the LORD gave the Israelites peace with all their enemies around them. Joshua was old, near the end of his life. 2 So he called all the leaders, chiefs, judges, and officers of Israel together. He said to them, “I am old, near the end of my life. 3 You have seen for yourselves everything the LORD your God did to all those nations. The LORD your God fought for you! 4 I have given you the territory of the nations that still remain as an inheritance for your tribes. This includes the territory of all the nations I have already destroyed from the Jordan River westward to the Mediterranean Sea. 5 The LORD your God will expel them right in front of your eyes and force them out of your way. You will take their land as the LORD your God told you. 6 Now you must be very strong to keep and to do everything written in the Book of Moses’ Teachings. Don’t turn away from them. 7 Don’t get mixed up with the nations left in your territory. Don’t ever mention the names of their gods or swear an oath to them. Don’t ever serve their gods or bow down to them. 8 But you must be loyal to the LORD your God, as you have been until now. 9 The LORD has forced important and powerful nations out of your way. Not one person has ever been able to stand up to you. 10 One of you used to chase a thousand. That was because the LORD your God was fighting for you, as he had promised you. 11 Be very careful to love the LORD your God.

23:1–11   Your people saw everything you did—how you forced your enemies from the land. I’ll be strong and not get mixed up with other gods. I’ll be careful to love you.

12 “But if you turn away and go along with the other nations within your ⌞borders⌟, if you intermarry with them or associate with them, 13 then you should know that the LORD your God will never again force these people out of your way. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap for you, a whip laid to your sides, and thorns in your eyes until none of you are left in this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

23:12–13   I’m surrounded by people who don’t follow you. Their ways are a trap…a whip laid to my sides…thorns in my eyes.

14 “Pay attention, because I will soon die like everyone else. You know with all your heart and soul that not one single promise which the LORD your God has given you has ever failed to come true. Every single word has come true.

15 “Every good word the LORD your God has promised you has come true for you. In the same way the LORD will bring about every evil curse until he has destroyed you from this good land that he has given you. 16 When you ignore the conditions[13] placed on you by the LORD your God and follow other gods, serve them and bow down to them, the LORD will be angry with you. Then you will quickly disappear from the good land he has given you.”

23:14–16   Every good word you’ve promised to me will come true. But if I bow to other gods, I’ll quickly disappear.

Joshua Adds an Agreement to the Book of God’s Teachings

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1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem. He called together Israel’s leaders, chiefs, judges, and officers, and they presented themselves to God.

2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Long ago your ancestors, Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor, lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and served other gods. 3 But I took your ancestor Abraham from the other side of the Euphrates River. I led him through all of Canaan and gave him many descendants. I also gave him Isaac. 4 To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the mountains in Seir as his own. However, Jacob and his sons went to Egypt.

24:1–4   Joshua gathered all the tribes together. They presented themselves to you. Long ago you made a promise to give the land to Abraham and his descendants.

5 “Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt with plagues. Later I led you out. 6 When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, you came to the sea. The Egyptians with their chariots and horsemen chased your ancestors to the Red Sea. 7 When your ancestors cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians. He made the sea flow back and cover them. You saw for yourselves what I did to Egypt. Then you lived in the desert for a long time.

24:5–7   You struck Egypt with plagues and led your people to freedom—across the sea and into the desert.

8 “After that I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived on the east side of the Jordan River. They fought you. However, I handed them over to you. So you took their land, and I destroyed them in front of you. 9 Then Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, fought Israel. He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you. 10 But I refused to listen to Balaam. All he could do was bless you. So I saved you from his power.

11 “Then you crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho, the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites fought you. But I handed them over to you. 12 I sent hornets ahead of you to force out the two kings of the Amorites ahead of you. These things didn’t happen because of your battle skills or fighting ability. 13 So I gave you a land that you hadn’t farmed, cities to live in that you hadn’t built, vineyards and olive groves that you hadn’t planted. So you ate all you wanted!

24:8–13   Your people marched into the land you promised, and you handed over the inhabitants. You gave your people gifts they hadn’t earned, and they ate all they wanted.

14 “Fear the LORD, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only the LORD. 15 But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Even if you choose the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live, my family and I will still serve the LORD.”

24:14–15   I’ll live with utter respect for you and serve you with integrity. I’ll get rid of my old gods. Even if others abandon you, my family and I will still serve you.

16 The people responded, “It would be unthinkable for us to abandon the LORD to serve other gods. 17 The LORD our God brought us and our ancestors out of slavery in Egypt. He did these spectacular signs right before our eyes. He guarded us wherever we went, especially as we passed through other nations. 18 The LORD forced out all the people ahead of us, including the Amorites who lived in this land. We, too, will serve the LORD, because he is our God.”

19 But Joshua answered the people, “Since the LORD is a holy God, you can’t possibly serve him. He is a God who does not tolerate rivals. He will not forgive your rebellious acts and sins. 20 If you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you. He will destroy you, although he has been so good to you.”

21 The people answered Joshua, “No! We will ⌞only⌟ serve the LORD!”

22 Joshua said to the people, “You have testified that you have chosen to serve the LORD.”

They answered, “Yes, we have!”

24:16–22   It’s unthinkable to abandon you. You save your people from slavery and bring them to good places. But you’re a holy God. My own strength isn’t enough to serve you.

23 “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Turn yourselves entirely over to the LORD God of Israel.”

24 The people replied to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.”

25 That day Joshua made an agreement for the people and set up laws and rules for them at Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these things in the Book of God’s Teachings. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree at the LORD’s holy place. 27 Joshua told all the people, “This stone will stand as a witness for us. It has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us. It will stand as a witness for you. You cannot deceive your God.” 28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own property.

24:23–28   I’ll turn myself entirely over to you, the Lord God. I’ll serve and obey you only. I can’t deceive you!

The Deaths of Joshua and Eleazar

29 After these events, the LORD’s servant Joshua, son of Nun, died. He was 110 years old. 30 He was buried on his own land at Timnath Serah in the mountains of Ephraim north of Mount Gaash.

31 Israel served the LORD as long as Joshua and the older leaders, who outlived him and who knew everything the LORD had done for Israel, were alive.

32 Joseph’s bones, which the people of Israel had brought from Egypt, were buried at Shechem. They were placed in the plot of ground Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. The plot was inherited by Joseph’s descendants.

33 Aaron’s son Eleazar also died. He was buried on the hill that had been given to his son Phinehas in the mountains of Ephraim.

24:29–33   Your people served you as long as Joshua and the older leaders were alive—those who knew firsthand everything you had done for Israel. Let me experience you up close.

JUDGES

INTRODUCTION

Judges illustrates what happens when people forget God. The great leader Joshua had pressed hard on the Israelites to vow their allegiance to the Lord alone. Even when they promised to obey God always, Joshua didn’t fully believe them (Joshua 24:16–21).

Judges begins with the people’s failure to drive out the inhabitants of the land as God had commanded, leaving treacherous enemies around and among them. Yet as long as Joshua and his generation of leaders were alive, the people obeyed God. They had all seen firsthand the spectacular acts he did on their behalf. After the death of Joshua, however, God’s people begin a rapid descent.

Judges reports, “That whole generation had joined their ancestors in death. So another generation grew up after them. They had no personal experience with the LORD or with what he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). Without an encounter with the living Lord, Israel chased other gods. As a consequence, the Lord handed them over to enemies. The people continually fell deeper into disobedience and disaster until God raised up a national leader to rescue them. As long as this “judge” lived, they obeyed God. After each judge died, they slid back into sin. The heartbreaking cycle continued for hundreds of years.

Praying the book of Judges helps you recognize the temptations that remain in your own life. It challenges you to get rid of sin once and for all. And it graciously invites you to come back to God when you fail.

JUDGES

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11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20

21

Israel Fails to Force Out the Canaanites

1

1 After Joshua’s death the Israelites asked the LORD, “Who will go first to fight the Canaanites for us?”

2 The LORD answered, “Judah’s troops will go first. I am about to hand the Canaanites over to you.”

3 The tribe of Judah said to the tribe of Simeon, “Come with us into the territory given to us when we drew lots, and together we will fight the people of Canaan. Then we’ll go with you into your territory.” So the tribe of Simeon went along with Judah.

Judah Attempts to Force Out the Canaanites

4 Judah’s troops went into battle, and the LORD handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They defeated 10,000 men at Bezek. 5 At Bezek they also caught up with Adoni Bezek. They fought him and defeated the Canaanites and Perizzites. 6 Adoni Bezek fled. Judah’s troops chased him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7 Adoni Bezek said, “Seventy kings who had their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up food under my table. God has paid me back for what I did to them.” Judah’s troops brought Adoni Bezek to Jerusalem, where he died.

8 The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it. They killed everyone there and set the city on fire. 9 After that, the men of Judah went to fight the Canaanites who lived in the mountains, the Negev, and the foothills. 10 Then they went to fight the Canaanites who lived at Hebron. (In the past Hebron was called Kiriath Arba.) There they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 From there Judah’s troops went to fight the people living at Debir. (In the past Debir was called Kiriath Sepher.) 12 Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Achsah as a wife to whoever defeats Kiriath Sepher and captures it.” 13 Then Othniel, son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz, captured it. So Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as a wife. 14 When she came to Othniel, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?”

15 She answered, “Give me a blessing. Since you’ve given me some dry land, also give me some springs.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

16 The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went with the people of Judah from the City of Palms into the desert of Judah. There they lived with the people of Judah in the Negev near Arad.

17 The tribe of Judah went to fight along with the tribe of Simeon, their close relatives. They defeated the Canaanites who lived in Zephath and claimed it for the LORD by destroying it. So the city was called Hormah [Claimed for Destruction]. 18 Judah also captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron with their territories. 19 The LORD was with the men of Judah so that they were able to take possession of the mountains. But they could not force out the people living in the valley who had chariots made of iron. 20 As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who forced out the three sons of Anak.

1:1–18   You gave Canaan into Judah’s hands, paying back a king for the evil he did to others—thumb-for-thumb and toe-for-toe. Cruel people can’t escape your justice.

21 The men of Benjamin did not force out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. The Jebusites still live with the tribe of Benjamin in Jerusalem today.

22 The descendants of Joseph also went into battle against Bethel, and the LORD was with them. 23 They sent men to spy on Bethel. (In the past the city was called Luz.) 24 The spies saw a man coming out of the city. They told him, “Show us how we can get into the city, and we’ll treat you kindly.” 25 He showed them. So they got into the city and killed everyone there. But they let that man and his whole family go free. 26 The man went to the land of the Hittites. There he built a city and called it Luz. The city still has that name today.

27 Now, the tribe of Manasseh did not force out the people of Beth Shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, and Megiddo or their villages. The Canaanites were determined to live in this land. 28 When the Israelites were strong enough, they made the Canaanites do forced labor. But they did not force all of them out.

29 The tribe of Ephraim did not force out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites continued to live with them in Gezer.

30 The tribe of Zebulun did not force out those who lived at Kitron or Nahalol. So the Canaanites continued to live with them and were made to do forced labor.

31 The tribe of Asher did not force out those who lived at Acco or Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob. 32 So the tribe of Asher continued to live with the Canaanites because they did not force them out.

33 The tribe of Naphtali did not force out those who lived at Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath. So they continued to live with the Canaanites. But the people of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were made to do forced labor.

34 The Amorites forced the tribe of Dan into the mountains and would not let them come down into the valley.

35 The Amorites were determined to live at Har Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the tribes of Joseph became stronger, they made the Amorites do forced labor. 36 The territory of the Amorites extended from the Akrabbim Pass—from Selah northward.

1:19–36   Across the land the Israelites failed to dislodge sinful peoples. Warn me when I leave myself open to spiritual danger.

The Messenger of the LORD Reacts to Israel’s Failure

2

1 The Messenger of the LORD went from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I brought you out of Egypt into the land that I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my promise[1] to you. 2 You must never make a treaty with the people who live in this land. You must tear down their altars.’ But you didn’t obey me. What do you think you’re doing? 3 So I have this to say, ‘I will not force them out of your way. They will be like thorns in your sides, and their gods will become a trap for you.’”

4 While the Messenger of the LORD was saying this to all the people of Israel, they began to cry loudly. 5 So they called that place Bochim [Those Who Cry]. They offered sacrifices there to the LORD.

2:1–5   You saved your people from slavery, but they snubbed your command. What were they thinking? I’ll cry to you when you discipline me.

The Death of Joshua

6 Now, Joshua sent the people of Israel home. So each family went to take possession of the territory they had inherited. 7 The people served the LORD throughout Joshua’s lifetime and throughout the lifetimes of the leaders who had outlived him and who had seen all the spectacular works the LORD had done for Israel. 8 The LORD’s servant Joshua, son of Nun, died at the age of 110. 9 He was buried at Timnath Heres within the territory he had inherited. This was in the mountains of Ephraim north of Mount Gaash. 10 That whole generation had joined their ancestors in death. So another generation grew up after them. They had no personal experience with the LORD or with what he had done for Israel.

2:6–10   Your people served you only as long as Joshua and his generation lived, those who had seen all your spectacular acts. I want my children to have more than a secondhand faith. Give them a personal experience of you.

The Sin of the Next Generation

11 The people of Israel did what the LORD considered evil. They began to serve other gods—the Baals. 12 The Israelites abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors, the God who brought them out of Egypt. They followed the other gods of the people around them. They worshiped these gods, and that made the LORD angry. 13 They abandoned the LORD to serve the god Baal and the goddess Astarte. 14 So the LORD became angry with the people of Israel. He handed them over to people who robbed them. He also used their enemies around them to defeat them. They could no longer stand up against their enemies. 15 Whenever the Israelites went to war, the power of the LORD brought disaster on them. This was what the LORD said he would do in an oath. So he made them suffer a great deal.

2:11–15   Israel did evil, abandoning you to serve other gods. In your anger you handed them over to their enemies. I’ll suffer the consequences if I don’t make you my one and only God.

16 Then the LORD would send judges[2] to rescue them from those who robbed them. 17 But the people wouldn’t listen to the judges. The Israelites chased after other gods as though they were prostitutes and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors who had obeyed the LORD’s commands. They refused to be like their ancestors. 18 But when the LORD appointed judges for the Israelites, he was with each judge. The LORD rescued them from their enemies as long as that judge was alive. The LORD was moved by the groaning of those who were tormented and oppressed. 19 But after each judge died, the people went back to their old ways and acted more corruptly than their parents. They followed, served, and worshiped other gods. They never gave up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

2:16–19   You sent heroes to rescue your people from their suffering. But everyone kept on chasing other gods. I choose to quit my old life. I refuse to go back to my stubborn ways.

The LORD Allows the Nations to Stay in Order to Test His People

20 The LORD became angry with Israel. He said, “Because the people of this nation have rejected the promise I gave their ancestors and have not obeyed me, 21 I will no longer force out the nations Joshua left behind when he died. 22 I will test the people of Israel with these nations to see whether or not they will carefully follow the LORD’s ways as their ancestors did.” 23 So the LORD let these nations stay. He had not handed them over to Joshua or forced them out quickly.

2:20–23   By not obeying your command, your people rejected your promise. Stop me when I turn away from you.

3

1 These are the nations the LORD left behind to test all the Israelites who had not experienced any war in Canaan. 2 The LORD left them to teach Israel’s descendants about war, at least those who had known nothing about it in the past. 3 He left the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon to the border of Hamath. 4 These nations were left to test the Israelites, to find out if they would obey the commands the LORD had given their ancestors through Moses.

The People Fail the Test

5 So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 6 The Israelites allowed their sons and daughters to marry these people. Israel also served their gods.

3:1–6   When you tested the Israelites, they failed. They married their neighbors and served their gods.

Othniel Defeats Cushan Rishathaim

7 The people of Israel did what the LORD considered evil. They forgot the LORD their God and served other gods and goddesses—the Baals and the Asherahs. 8 The LORD became angry with the people of Israel. He used King Cushan Rishathaim of Aram Naharaim to defeat them. So Israel served Cushan Rishathaim for eight years.

9 Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help. The LORD sent a savior to rescue them. It was Othniel, son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz. 10 When the LORD’s Spirit came over him, he became the judge of Israel. He went out to war. The LORD handed King Cushan Rishathaim of Aram Naharaim over to him, and Othniel overpowered him. 11 So there was finally peace in the land for 40 years. Then Othniel, son of Kenaz, died.

3:7–11   When your people cried for help, you sent Othniel, a nephew of Caleb. Send your Spirit over me. Let me experience peace.

Ehud Defeats Moab

12 Once again, the people of Israel did what the LORD considered evil. So the LORD made King Eglon of Moab stronger than Israel, because Israel did what the LORD considered evil. 13 Eglon got the Ammonites and the Amalekites to help him, and they defeated the Israelites and occupied the City of Palms. 14 The Israelites served King Eglon of Moab for 18 years.

15 Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help. The LORD sent a savior to rescue them. It was Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. (Ehud was the son of Gera.)

The people sent him with their tax payment to King Eglon of Moab. 16 Ehud made a two-edged dagger for himself. He fastened it to his right side under his clothes. 17 Then he brought the tax payment to King Eglon. (Eglon was a very fat man.) 18 When Ehud had finished delivering the payment, he sent back the men who had carried it. 19 However, Ehud turned around at the stone idols near Gilgal ⌞and returned to Eglon⌟. He said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”

The king replied, “Keep quiet!” Then all his advisers left the room.

20 Ehud came up to him as he sat alone in his room on the roof. He said to the king, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his throne, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right side, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly. 22 Even the handle went in after the blade. Eglon’s fat covered the blade because Ehud didn’t pull the dagger out. The blade stuck out in back.[3] 23 Ehud left the room.[4] (He had closed and locked the doors of the room before he left.)

24 After Ehud went out, Eglon’s advisers came in. They were surprised that the doors were locked. “He must be using the toilet,” they said. 25 They waited and waited, but Eglon didn’t open the doors. So they took the key and opened the door. They were shocked to see their ruler lying on the floor, dead.

3:12–25   Your people again did evil. When they cried for help, you sent Ehud. He brought King Eglon a message from you.

26 While they had been waiting, Ehud escaped. He went past the stone idols and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived there, he blew a ram’s horn in the mountains of Ephraim ⌞to summon the troops⌟. So the troops of Israel came down from the mountains with him, and he led them. 28 He told them, “Follow me! The LORD will hand your enemy Moab over to you.”

They followed him and captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River that led to Moab and refused to let anyone cross. 29 At that time they killed about ten thousand of Moab’s best fighting men. Not one of them escaped. 30 The power of Moab was crushed by Israel that day. So there was finally peace in the land for 80 years.

Shamgar Defeats the Philistines

31 After Ehud came Shamgar, son of Anath. He killed 600 Philistines with a sharp stick used for herding oxen. So he, too, rescued Israel.

3:26–31   Ehud called for troops and you crushed the enemy. You brought peace to the land for a lifetime. May my obedience bring lasting results.

The LORD Calls Barak Through Deborah

4

1 After Ehud died, the people of Israel again did what the LORD considered evil. 2 So the LORD used King Jabin of Canaan, who ruled at Hazor, to defeat them. The commander of King Jabin’s army was Sisera, who lived at Harosheth Haggoyim. 3 The people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help. King Jabin had 900 chariots made of iron and had cruelly oppressed Israel for 20 years.

4 Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet. She was the judge in Israel at that time. 5 She used to sit under the Palm Tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. The people of Israel would come to her for legal decisions.

6 Deborah summoned Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him, “The LORD God of Israel has given you this order: ‘Gather troops on Mount Tabor. Take 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun with you. 7 I will lead Sisera (the commander of Jabin’s army), his chariots, and troops to you at the Kishon River. I will hand him over to you.’”

8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

9 Deborah replied, “Certainly, I’ll go with you. But you won’t win any honors for the way you’re going about this, because the LORD will use a woman to defeat Sisera.”

4:1–9   You gave Deborah wisdom to hand down decisions for the whole nation. She never doubted you were on Israel’s side.

Barak Defeats Jabin

So Deborah started out for Kedesh with Barak. 10 Barak called the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali together at Kedesh. Ten thousand men went to fight under his command. Deborah also went along with him.

11 Heber the Kenite had separated from the other Kenites (the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ father-in-law). Heber went as far away as the oak tree at Zaanannim near Kedesh and set up his tent.

12 The report reached Sisera that Barak, son of Abinoam, had come to fight at Mount Tabor. 13 So Sisera summoned all his chariots (900 chariots made of iron) and all his troops from Harosheth Haggoyim to come to the Kishon River.

14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Attack! This is the day the LORD will hand Sisera over to you. The LORD will go ahead of you.”

So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men behind him. 15 The LORD threw Sisera, all his chariots, and his whole army into a panic in front of Barak’s deadly assault. Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. 16 Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth Haggoyim. So Sisera’s whole army was killed in combat. Not one man survived.

4:10–16   Ten thousand men attacked at Deborah’s command. Not a single enemy soldier survived.

17 Meanwhile, Sisera fled on foot toward the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Sisera did this because King Jabin of Hazor and Heber’s family were on peaceful terms. 18 When Jael came out ⌞of her tent⌟, she met Sisera. She told him, “Sir, come in here! Come into my tent. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she hid him under a tent curtain.

19 Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink. I’m thirsty.” But instead she gave him milk to drink and covered him up again.

20 He said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent. If anyone comes and asks if there has been a man around here, tell them no.”

21 When Sisera had fallen sound asleep from exhaustion, Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and walked quietly toward him with a hammer in her hand. She hammered the tent peg through his temples into the ground. So Sisera died.

22 Barak was still pursuing Sisera. When Jael came out ⌞of her tent⌟, she met him. She said to him, “Come in! I have something to show you—the man you’ve been looking for.” So Barak went into her tent. He saw Sisera lying there dead with the tent peg through his temples.

23 So on that day, God used the people of Israel to crush the power of King Jabin of Canaan. 24 The Israelites became stronger and stronger until they destroyed him.

4:17–24   One woman led the attack. Another drove victory home. You made your people stronger and stronger. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

The Victory Song of Deborah and Barak

5

1 On that day Deborah and Barak, son of Abinoam, sang this song:

2 Praise the LORD!

Men in Israel vowed to fight,

and people volunteered for service.

3 Listen, you kings!

Open your ears, you princes!

I will sing a song to the LORD.

I will make music to the LORD God of Israel.

4 O LORD,

when you went out from Seir,

when you marched from the country of Edom,

the earth quaked,

the sky poured,

the clouds burst,

5 and the mountains shook

in the presence of the LORD God of Sinai,

in the presence of the LORD God of Israel.

5:1–5   When you go out to fight, you make the earth quake and the sky pour. Clouds burst and mountains shake.

6 In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,

in the days of Jael,

roads were deserted.

Those who traveled took back roads.

7 Villages in Israel were deserted—

deserted until I, Deborah, took a stand—

took a stand as a mother of Israel.

8 When the people chose new gods,

war broke out inside the city gates.

Not a weapon was seen among 40,000 in Israel.

9 My heart goes out to Israel’s commanders,

to those people who volunteered.

Praise the LORD!

10 You people who ride on brown donkeys,

who sit on saddle blankets,

and who walk on the road—think.

11 Listen to the voices of those singing at the wells.[5]

Over and over again they repeat

the victories of the LORD,

the victories for his villages in Israel.

Then the LORD’s people went down to the city gates.

12 Get up! Get up, Deborah!

Get up! Get up and create a song!

5:6–12   The promised land was desolate until Deborah took a stand. I’m not eager to take charge. But make me a willing leader. I’ll shoulder my responsibilities.

Barak, attack! Take your prisoners, son of Abinoam.

13 Then those mighty men who were left came down.

The LORD’s people went into battle for me against the mighty soldiers.

14 Those who had settled in Amalek’s country

came down from Ephraim.

Benjamin came with its troops

after Ephraim.

Commanders from Machir went into battle.

The officers from Zebulun also went.

15 Issachar’s commanders were with Deborah.

They were also with Barak,

sent into the valley under his command.

Among Reuben’s divisions important men had second thoughts.

16 Why did you sit between the saddlebags?

Was it to listen to the shepherds playing their flutes?

Reuben’s divisions of important men had second thoughts.

17 Gilead remained east of the Jordan River.

And Dan . . . Why did he stay by the ships?

Asher sat on the seashore and remained along the inlets.

18 But Zebulun mocked death,

and Naphtali risked his life on the battlefield.

19 Kings came and fought.

Then the kings of Canaan fought.

They fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo.

But they didn’t carry off any rich loot.

20 The stars fought from heaven.

They fought against Sisera from their heavenly paths.

21 The Kishon River swept them away—

that old river, the Kishon.

I must march on with strength!

22 Then the horses’ hoofs pounded.

The mighty war horses galloped on and on.

23 “Curse Meroz!” said the Messenger of the LORD.

“Bitterly curse those who live there!

They did not come to help the LORD,

to help the LORD and his heroes.”

5:13–23   Some sat out the war. But others came and joined the battle. Even your stars fought from heaven.

24 Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite,

should be the most blessed woman,

the most blessed woman living in a tent.

25 Sisera asked for water.

She gave him milk.

She offered him buttermilk in a royal bowl.

26 She reached for a tent peg with one hand,

for a workman’s hammer with the other.

She struck Sisera.

She crushed his head.

She shattered and pierced his temples.

27 He sank.

He fell.

He lay between her feet!

He sank.

He fell between her feet.

Where he sank, he fell dead.

28 Sisera’s mother looked through her window

and cried as she peered through the lattice.

“Why is his chariot taking so long?

Why don’t I hear the clatter of his chariots?”

29 Her wisest servants gave her an answer.

But she kept repeating to herself,

30 “They’re really finding and dividing the loot:

A girl or two for each soldier,

colorful clothes for Sisera,

colorful, embroidered clothes,

and two pieces of colorful, embroidered cloth

for the neck of the looter.”

31 May all your enemies die like that, O LORD.

But may those who love the LORD

be like the sun when it rises in all its brightness.

So the land had peace for 40 years.

5:24–31   Sisera’s mother grieved the son she envisioned carrying home piles of loot. But those who love you were like the sun rising in all its brightness.

Israel Sins Again

6

1 The people of Israel did what the LORD considered evil. So the LORD handed them over to Midian for seven years. 2 Midian’s power was too strong for Israel. The Israelites made hiding places in the mountains, caves, and mountain strongholds ⌞to protect themselves⌟ from Midian. 3 Whenever Israel planted crops, Midian, Amalek, and Kedem came and damaged the crops. 4 The enemy used to camp on the land and destroy the crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to live on—not one sheep, cow, or donkey. 5 Like swarms of locusts, they came with their livestock and their tents. They and their camels could not be counted. They came into the land only to ruin it. 6 So the Israelites became very poor because of Midian and cried out to the LORD for help.

6:1–6   Israel hid in mountain caves. They didn’t have a sheep or cow to live on. I’ll cry to you for help when my enemies swarm like locusts and ruin me.

7 When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help because of what the Midianites had done to them, 8 the LORD sent a prophet to them. He said, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says:

I brought you out of Egypt.

I took you away from slavery.

9 I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians

and from the power of those who oppressed you.

I forced people out of your way.

I gave you their land.

10 I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God.

You must never fear the gods of the Amorites

in whose land you will live.’

But you have not obeyed me.”

6:7–10   You rescued your people from slavery. You forced people out of their way. I won’t miss out on your goodness by choosing to disobey you.

Authentic Prayer

Judges 6:11–40

Guidance

I’ll place some wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the wool while all the ground is dry, then I’ll know that you will rescue Israel through me, as you said. Judges 6:37

God longs to lead your life. Gideon’s fleece might lead you to believe the Lord needs prodding to reveal his plan for your life, but Gideon already knew his next steps.

Gideon went underground to avoid Midian raiders, threshing wheat inside a winepress rather than out in the wind. Scripture makes clear the Lord himself appeared to Gideon (Judges 6:14). He answers the young man’s charge that Israel’s God had gone missing. He gives Gideon a mission. He pledges unassailable power. He meets Gideon’s dare with a fire from a rock. Gideon then tears down his father’s altar to Baal and survives his neighbors’ murderous rage. When he begs once again for assurance, God mercifully answers his request.

Praying for guidance often means asking God about what he wants you to do next. But as often as not it involves pouring out your thoughts and feelings until you finally stand determined to act on what you already know. God invites you to ask for clarity. But rather than demand more proof of his plan, ask for courage to do as he says.

Pray the Scriptures Guidance: Psalm 32:8–9, Proverbs 3:6, Proverbs 16:9, James 1:5

Gideon Is Chosen to Be a Judge

11 The Messenger of the LORD came and sat under the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash from Abiezer’s family. Joash’s son Gideon was beating out wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 The Messenger of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, brave man.”

13 Gideon responded, “Excuse me, sir! But if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracles our ancestors have told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The LORD brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and has handed us over to Midian.”

14 The LORD turned to him and said, “You will rescue Israel from Midian with the strength you have. I am sending you.”

15 Gideon said to him, “Excuse me, sir! How can I rescue Israel? Look at my whole family. It’s the weakest one in Manasseh. And me? I’m the least important member of my family.”

16 The LORD replied, “I will be with you. You will defeat Midian as if it were ⌞only⌟ one man.”

6:11–16   Your people had good reason to feel abandoned—they had left you! You pledged to use Gideon to save them. Put me to work even though I’m weak and unimportant.

17 Gideon said to him, “If you find me acceptable, give me a sign that it is really you speaking to me. 18 Don’t leave until I come back. I want to bring my gift and set it in front of you.”

“I will stay until you come back,” he said.

19 Then Gideon went into ⌞his house⌟ and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread made with 18 quarts of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. Then he went out and presented them to the Messenger of the LORD under the oak tree.

20 The Messenger of the LORD told him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” Gideon did so. 21 Then the Messenger of the LORD touched the meat and the bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared up from the rock and burned the meat and the bread. Then the Messenger of the LORD disappeared. 22 That’s when Gideon realized that this had been the Messenger of the LORD. So he said, “LORD God! I have seen the Messenger of the LORD face to face.”

23 The LORD said to him, “Calm down! Don’t be afraid. You will not die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD. He called it The LORD Calms. To this day it is still in Ophrah, which belongs to Abiezer’s family.

6:17–24   When Gideon begged for a sign, you shot flame from a rock and burned up his gift. Quiet me when I’m scared of your power.

Gideon Destroys an Altar Dedicated to Baal

25 That same night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take a bull from your father’s herd, a bull that is seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar dedicated to the god Baal and cut down the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah that is next to it. 26 Then, in the proper way, build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this fortified place. Take this second bull and sacrifice it as a burnt offering on the wood from the Asherah pole that you have cut down.”

27 Gideon took ten of his servants and did what the LORD had told him to do. However, he didn’t do anything during the day. He was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city, so he did it at night. 28 When the men of the city got up early in the morning, they saw that the Baal altar had been torn down. The Asherah pole next to it had also been cut down. They saw that the second bull had been sacrificed as a burnt offering on the altar that had been built. 29 They asked each other, “Who did this?” While they were investigating the matter, someone said, “Gideon, son of Joash, did this.”

30 Then the men of the city told Joash, “Bring your son out. He must die. He has torn down the Baal altar and cut down the Asherah pole that was beside it.”

31 But Joash said to everyone standing around him, “You’re not going to defend Baal, are you? Do you think you should save him? Whoever defends him will be put to death in the morning. If he’s a god, let him defend himself when someone tears down his altar.” 32 So that day they nicknamed Gideon “Jerubbaal” [Let Baal Defend Himself], because they said, “When someone tears down Baal’s altar, let Baal defend himself.”

6:25–32   Gideon crept through darkness to tear down a pagan altar. He built an altar to you in its place. Baal is big enough to defend himself, right?

Gideon Summons an Army

33 All of Midian, Amalek, and Kedem combined their armies, crossed ⌞the Jordan River⌟, and camped in the valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the LORD’s Spirit gave Gideon strength. So Gideon blew the ram’s horn to summon Abiezer’s family to follow him. 35 He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh to summon the people to follow him. The tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali were also summoned to follow him, and they went to meet the enemy in battle.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “You said that you would rescue Israel through me. 37 I’ll place some wool on the threshing floor.[6] If there is dew on the wool while all the ground is dry, then I’ll know that you will rescue Israel through me, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. The next morning Gideon got up early. He squeezed out a bowl full of water from the wool.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Don’t be angry with me. But let me ask one more thing. Let me make one more test with the wool. Let the wool be dry while all the ground is covered with dew.” 40 During the night, God did what Gideon asked. The wool was dry, but all the ground was covered with dew.

6:33–40   When you promised to rescue Israel through Gideon, he asked for signs. Don’t be angry when I need you to show me something twice.

Gideon Defeats Midian

7

1 Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the troops with him got up early and camped above En Harod. Midian’s camp was north of him at the hill of Moreh in the valley.

2 The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men with you for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag and say, ‘We saved ourselves.’ 3 Announce to the troops, ‘Whoever is scared or frightened should leave Mount Gilead and go back home.’” So 22,000 men went back home, and 10,000 were left.

4 The LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one will go with you,’ he must go with you. And if I say to you, ‘This one won’t go with you,’ he must not go.”

5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. The LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap water with their tongues like dogs from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred men lapped water with their hands to their mouths. All the rest of the men knelt down to drink water. 7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped water I will save you and hand Midian over to you. All the other men should go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the other men of Israel home, but the 300 men who stayed kept all the supplies and rams’ horns.

7:1–8   They called Gideon “Let Baal Defend Himself.” You cut back Gideon’s army to a mere 300 men. You wanted everyone to be clear: The victory belongs to you.

The camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

9 That night the LORD said to Gideon, “Attack! Go into the camp! I will hand it over to you. 10 But if you’re afraid to go, take your servant Purah to the camp with you. 11 Listen to what people are saying. After that, you will have the courage to go into the camp and attack it.”

So Gideon and his servant Purah went to the edge of the camp. 12 Midian, Amalek, and all of Kedem were spread out in the valley like a swarm of locusts. There were so many camels that they could not be counted. They were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore.

13 When Gideon got there, he heard a man telling his friend a dream. The man said, “I had a strange dream. There was a loaf of barley bread rolling around in the camp of Midian. When it got to the command post, the loaf of bread hit that tent so hard that the tent collapsed, turned upside down, and fell flat.”

14 His friend replied, “That can only be the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, from Israel. God is going to hand Midian and the whole camp over to him.”

15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped the LORD. Then he went back to the camp of Israel and said, “Attack! The LORD will hand Midian’s camp over to you.”

7:9–15   You rolled over Midian like an overgrown loaf of bread flattens a tent. I worship when I notice your mighty acts.

16 Gideon divided the 300 men into three companies. He gave them each rams’ horns and jars with torches inside. 17 He said to them, “Watch me, and do what I do. When I come to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and those with me blow our rams’ horns, then the rest of you around the camp do the same and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’”

19 Gideon and his 100 men came to the edge of the camp. It was the beginning of the midnight watch just at the change of the guards. They blew their rams’ horns and smashed the jars they were holding in their hands. 20 The three companies also blew their rams’ horns and broke their jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the rams’ horns in their right hands so that they could blow them. They shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” 21 While each man kept his position around the camp, everyone in the Midianite camp began to run away, screaming as they fled. 22 The 300 men kept on blowing their rams’ horns, and the LORD caused the whole camp of Midian to fight among themselves. They fled as far as Beth Shittah, toward Zererah, and as far as the bank of the stream at Abel Meholah near Tabbath.

23 The men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh to help pursue the troops of Midian. 24 Gideon also sent messengers to the whole mountain region of Ephraim with this message, “Go into battle against Midian. Capture the watering holes as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan River.” All the men of Ephraim were also summoned to help. They captured the watering holes as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan River. 25 They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two Midianite commanders. They killed Oreb at the Rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the Winepress of Zeeb and kept on pursuing Midian. Then they brought the severed heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan River.

7:16–25   The Midianites fled screaming, slaughtering each other as confusion took hold. You turn enemy against enemy.

8

1 The men from Ephraim strongly protested Gideon’s actions. They said, “Why did you do this to us? You didn’t invite us to go fight Midian with you.”

2 Gideon replied, “I haven’t done anything compared with what you have done. Aren’t the grapes that Ephraim picked after the harvest better than all the grapes in Abiezer’s entire harvest? 3 God handed Oreb and Zeeb, Midian’s commanders, over to you. What have I done compared with that?” When they heard what Gideon said, they weren’t angry with him anymore.

4 Gideon and his 300 men headed toward the Jordan River. They were exhausted when they crossed it, but they kept pursuing the enemy. 5 So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give me some food for the men under my command. They’re exhausted, and I’m pursuing King Zebah and King Zalmunna of Midian.”

6 The generals at Succoth replied, “We shouldn’t give your army food. You haven’t captured Zebah and Zalmunna yet.”

7 Gideon responded, “Alright, then. When the LORD hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I’ll whip your bodies with thorns and thistles from the desert.”

8 Then Gideon went to Penuel and asked the people there for the same help. But they gave him the same reply that the men of Succoth gave. 9 So he told them, “When I come back after my victory, I’ll tear down this tower.”

10 Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with an army of about 15,000 men. This was all that was left of Kedem’s entire army. In the battle, 120,000 soldiers died. 11 So Gideon went up Tent Dwellers Road, east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and defeated the unsuspecting Midianite army. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna fled as Gideon pursued them. He captured King Zebah and King Zalmunna of Midian, and the whole Midianite army panicked.

13 Gideon, son of Joash, returned from the battle through the Heres Pass 14 and captured a young man from Succoth. He questioned him, and the young man wrote down for him the names of the 77 officials and leaders of Succoth. 15 Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna! You insulted me when you said, ‘We shouldn’t give your exhausted men food before you’ve captured Zebah and Zalmunna.’” 16 So Gideon took the leaders of the city and taught them a lesson using thorns and thistles from the desert. 17 Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of that city.

18 He asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?”

They answered, “They were like you. Each one looked like a king’s son.”

19 Gideon replied, “They were my brothers, my mother’s sons. I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not have to kill you now.” 20 Then he told Jether, his firstborn son, “Get up and kill them!” But Jether didn’t draw his sword. He was afraid because he was only a young man.

21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and do it yourself! It’s a man’s job!” So Gideon got up and killed them. Then he took the half-moon ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.

8:1–21   Gideon soothed wounded egos. But then he settled a score. Were you part of that battle? Did you intend for the leaders of Succoth to die?

Gideon Makes a Gold Idol

22 The men of Israel said to Gideon, “You, then your son, and then your grandson, must rule us. You rescued us from Midian.”

23 Gideon replied, “I will not rule you nor will my son. The LORD will rule you.” 24 Then Gideon said to them, “Do me a favor. Each of you give me the earrings from your loot.” (Their enemies, the Ishmaelites, wore gold earrings.)

25 The men of Israel answered, “Yes, we’ll give them to you.” So they spread out a coat. Each man took the earrings from his loot and dropped them on it. 26 The gold earrings Gideon had asked for weighed 40 pounds. This did not include the half-moon ornaments, the earrings, the purple clothes worn by the kings of Midian, and the chains from their camels’ necks. 27 Then Gideon used the gold to make an idol[7] and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. All Israel chased after it there as though it were a prostitute. It became a trap for Gideon and his family.

28 The power of Midian was crushed by the people of Israel, and Midian never again became a threat. So the land had peace for 40 years during Gideon’s life.

29 Jerubbaal, son of Joash, went home to live. 30 Gideon had 70 sons because he had many wives. 31 His concubine[8] at Shechem also gave birth to a son. That son was named Abimelech.

32 Gideon, son of Joash, died at a very old age. He was buried in the tomb of his father Joash at Ophrah, the city belonging to Abiezer’s family.

33 As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel chased after other gods—the Baals—as though they were prostitutes. They made Baal Berith their god. 34 The Israelites did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from all the enemies around them. 35 And they were not kind to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) despite all the good he had done for Israel.

8:22–35   Gideon and your people forgot you. They pushed your miraculous rescue from their memories and chased other gods. I’ll recall who you are and what you’ve done for me. Then I’ll stay faithful to you.

Abimelech Kills His Brothers

9

1 Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal [Gideon], went to Shechem to see the uncles on his mother’s side of the family. He spoke to them and his mother’s whole family. 2 He said, “Please ask all citizens of Shechem, ‘What seems best to you? Do you really want all of Jerubbaal’s 70 sons to rule you or just one man? Remember, I’m your own flesh and blood.’”

3 His uncles repeated everything he said to all citizens of Shechem. They were persuaded to follow Abimelech because he was their relative. 4 So they gave him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal Berith. With the silver, Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to follow him. 5 Then he went to his father’s home in Ophrah. There he executed his 70 brothers, Jerubbaal’s sons. But Jotham, Jerubbaal’s youngest son, survived because he hid. 6 All the citizens from Shechem and Beth Millo united. They went to the oak tree that was still standing in Shechem and proclaimed Abimelech king.

Jotham’s Story

7 When Jotham was told about this, he went to a high spot on Mount Gerizim. He shouted to them, “Listen to me, you citizens of Shechem, so that God might listen to you.

8 “The trees went to anoint someone to be king over them.

They said to the olive tree,

‘Be our king!’

9 But the olive tree responded,

‘Should I stop producing oil,

which people use to honor gods and humans,

in order to rule the trees?’

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree,

‘You come and be our king!’

11 But the fig tree responded,

‘Should I stop producing my good, sweet fruit

in order to rule the trees?’

12 Then the trees said to the grapevine,

‘You come and be our king!’

13 But the grapevine responded,

‘Should I stop producing my wine,

which makes gods and humans happy,

in order to rule the trees?’

14 Then all the trees said to the thornbush,

‘You come and be our king!’

15 But the thornbush responded to the trees,

‘If you really want to anoint me to be your king,

then come and take shelter in my shade.

But if not, fire will come out of the thornbush

and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.’

16 “If you acted with sincerity and integrity when you made Abimelech king, ⌞be happy.⌟ If you treated Jerubbaal and his family well, if you treated him as he deserved, be happy. 17 My father fought for you. He risked his life and rescued you from Midian. 18 But today you have attacked my father’s family. You have executed his 70 sons. You have made Abimelech, who is the son of my father’s slave girl, king over the citizens of Shechem just because he’s your brother. 19 So if you are now acting with sincerity and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his family, then be happy with Abimelech and let Abimelech be happy with you. 20 But if that’s not the case, let fire come out of Abimelech and burn up citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo. Also let fire come out of citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo and burn up Abimelech.”

21 Then Jotham ran away quickly. He went to Beerah and lived there ⌞to avoid⌟ his brother Abimelech.

9:1–21   Abimelech hired worthless men to murder his brothers and make himself king. Jotham stood on high ground and shouted for your justice. Abimelech wasn’t your choice to be king. But in the end Jotham could do nothing but flee.

Abimelech’s Battles

22 Abimelech ruled Israel for three years. 23 Then God sent an evil spirit to cause problems between Abimelech and citizens of Shechem. So citizens of Shechem turned against Abimelech. 24 God did this so that the bloody violence committed against Jerubbaal’s 70 sons would happen to Abimelech and citizens of Shechem. Citizens of Shechem had helped Abimelech execute his brothers.

25 So citizens of Shechem set ambushes for Abimelech on top of the mountains. They also robbed everyone who passed by them on the road. This was reported to Abimelech.

26 Then Gaal (son of Ebed) and his brothers moved into Shechem. Citizens of Shechem trusted him. 27 They went into the country and harvested grapes in the vineyards to make wine. Then they made an offering of praise in the temple of their gods. They ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. 28 Gaal (son of Ebed) said, “Who’s Abimelech, and who are we, the people of Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he Jerubbaal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the descendants of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelech? 29 How I wish I controlled these people! Then I’d get rid of Abimelech. I would tell him,[9] ‘Get yourself a big army and come out.’”

30 Zebul, Shechem’s ruler, heard what Gaal (son of Ebed) had said, and he became angry. 31 He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech. “Watch out! Gaal (son of Ebed) and his brothers have come to Shechem. They have turned the city against you. 32 You and your men must start out tonight. Set an ambush ⌞for them⌟ in the fields ⌞around Shechem⌟. 33 In the morning, when the sun rises, get up quickly and raid the city. When Gaal and his men come out to attack you, do whatever you want to him.”

34 Abimelech and all his troops started out at night. He used four companies to set ambushes around Shechem. 35 Gaal (son of Ebed) went out and stood at the entrance to the city. Then Abimelech and his troops rose from their ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the troops, he said to Zebul, “Look, troops are coming down from the mountaintops!”

Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”

37 Gaal spoke again, “No, there are troops coming down from Tabbur Haares. One company is coming along the road by the Fortunetellers’ Tree.”

38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big mouth now? You were the one who said, ‘Who’s Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Aren’t these the troops ⌞whose ruler⌟ you despised? Now go out and fight him.”

39 Then Gaal led citizens of Shechem out to fight Abimelech. 40 Abimelech chased Gaal so that he ran away from him. Many were killed at the entrance of the city. 41 Abimelech continued to live at Arumah. Zebul threw Gaal and his brothers out and would not let them live in Shechem.

42 The next day the people ⌞of Shechem⌟ went into the fields. Abimelech was told about it. 43 So he took his troops, divided them into three companies, and set an ambush in the fields. He watched and saw the people coming out of the city. Then he began to attack them. 44 Abimelech and his company charged the city and captured its entrance. The other two companies charged at everyone in the fields and attacked them. 45 Abimelech attacked the city all day long. He captured the city and killed the people in it. He also tore down the city and scattered salt all over the land.

46 All the citizens of Shechem’s Tower heard about it and went into the basement of the temple of El Berith. 47 When Abimelech was told that they had gathered there, 48 he and all his men went to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took an ax, cut some brushwood, and carried it on his shoulder. He told his men, “Hurry and do what you’ve seen me do!” 49 So all his troops also cut brushwood and followed Abimelech. They piled the brushwood on top of the basement and set it on fire with the people inside. So all the people in Shechem’s Tower died too. There were about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, camped there, and captured it. 51 Now, there was a strong tower inside the town. All the men, women, and leaders of the town fled to it. They locked the door behind them and went up on the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech came to the tower. He began to fight against it and went near the entrance of the tower to burn it down. 53 Then a woman threw a small millstone that hit Abimelech on the head and cracked his skull. 54 He quickly called his armorbearer. He told him, “Take your sword and kill me! I don’t want anyone to say, ‘A woman killed Abimelech.’” His armorbearer did as he said, so Abimelech died. 55 When the people of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

56 So God paid back Abimelech for the evil he had done to his father when he killed his 70 brothers. 57 God also paid back the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal, came true.

9:22–57   You sent an evil spirit to raise havoc between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. You turn allies into enemies. You pay back everyone for their evil actions.

Tola Serves as Judge

10

1 After Abimelech, Tola, who was the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, came to rescue Israel. Tola was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel for 23 years. Tola died and was buried in Shamir.

Jair Serves as Judge

3 After Tola, Jair from Gilead became a judge. He judged Israel for 22 years. 4 Jair had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. He also had 30 towns that are still called Havvoth Jair to this day. They are in the region of Gilead. 5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

Israel Sins Again

6 The people of Israel again did what the LORD considered evil. They began to serve other gods and goddesses—the Baals and the Astartes—and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not serve him.

7 The LORD became angry with the people of Israel. So he used the Philistines and Ammonites to defeat them. 8 They oppressed and crushed the people of Israel that year. For 18 years they oppressed all who lived east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites in Gilead. 9 Ammon also crossed the Jordan River to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. So Israel suffered a great deal.

10:1–9   Israel again did what you consider evil. They abandoned you for other gods. I’m doomed to defeat when I don’t serve you.

10 Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help. They said, “We have sinned against you. We have abandoned our God and served other gods—the Baals.”

11 The LORD said to the people of Israel, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to me for help. Didn’t I rescue you from them? 13 But you still abandoned me and served other gods. That’s why I won’t rescue you again. 14 Cry out for help to the gods you chose. Let them rescue you when you’re in trouble.”

15 The people of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do to us whatever you think is right. But please rescue us today!” 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served the LORD. So the LORD could not bear to have Israel suffer any longer.

17 The troops of Ammon were summoned to fight, and they camped at Gilead. The people of Israel also gathered together and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever starts the fight against Ammon will rule everyone who lives in Gilead.”

10:10–18   You dared Israel to beg their new gods for help. But you stopped their suffering once they got rid of their idols. Be merciful when I flee you. Bring me back when I chase lesser gods.

Jephthah Called to Be Judge

11

1 Jephthah was a soldier from the region of Gilead. Jephthah’s father was named Gilead. His mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also gave birth to sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they threw Jephthah out. They told him, “You’ll get no inheritance from our father. You’re the son of that other woman.” 3 Jephthah fled from his brothers. He went to live in the land of Tob. Worthless men gathered around Jephthah and went out ⌞on raids⌟ with him.

4 Later, Ammon waged war with Israel. 5 When the Ammonites attacked Israel, Gilead’s leaders went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander so that we can wage war against Ammon.”

7 But Jephthah replied to Gilead’s leaders, “Don’t you hate me? Didn’t you throw me out of my father’s house? So why are you coming to me now when you’re in trouble?”

8 Gilead’s leaders answered Jephthah, “The reason we’ve turned to you now is that we want you to go with us and wage war against Ammon. You will be the ruler of everyone who lives in Gilead.”

9 Jephthah told them, “If you take me back to fight against Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, I will be your leader.”

10 Gilead’s leaders said to Jephthah, “The LORD is a witness between us. We will certainly do what you say.” 11 Jephthah went with them, and the people made him their leader and commander. So Jephthah went to Mizpah and repeated all these things in the presence of the LORD.

11:1–11   Jephthah got thrown out of the house, the son of “that other woman.” When the leaders of Gilead wanted him back, Jephthah wanted to know if you were on his side.

The King of Ammon Refuses to Deal with Jephthah

12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon. They asked the king, “Why did you invade my land and wage war against me?”

13 The king of Ammon answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When the people of Israel left Egypt, they took my land. It stretched from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River and the Jordan River. Now give it back peacefully.”

14 Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of Ammon. 15 They said, “This is what Jephthah says: The people of Israel didn’t take away the land belonging to Moab or Ammon. 16 When the people of Israel left Egypt, they went through the desert to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. 17 The people of Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom. They said, ‘Please let us go through your country.’ But the king of Edom wouldn’t listen to them. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab. But he wouldn’t allow it, either. So the people of Israel remained at Kadesh.

18 “Then they went through the desert, by-passing Edom and Moab. They camped east of Moab—east of the Arnon River. They did not cross the Arnon River because it was Moab’s border.

19 “Then the people of Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites. Sihon ruled from Heshbon. The people of Israel said to him, ‘Please let us go through your land to our own.’ 20 But Sihon did not trust the Israelites enough to let them go through his territory. Sihon assembled all his troops. He camped at Jahaz and attacked Israel. 21 But the LORD God of Israel handed Sihon and all his people over to Israel. Israel defeated them and took possession of all the land of the Amorites who lived there. 22 Israel took all the Amorite territory from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River and from the desert to the Jordan River.

23 “The LORD God of Israel forced the Amorites out of the way of his people Israel. So what right do you have to take it back? 24 Shouldn’t you take possession of what your god Chemosh took for you? Shouldn’t we take everything the LORD our God took for us? 25 You’re not any better than Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, are you? Did he ever have a case against Israel? Or did he ever fight against Israel? 26 Israel has now lived in Heshbon, Aroer, all their villages, and in all the cities along the Arnon River for 300 years. Why didn’t you recapture these cities during that time? 27 I haven’t sinned against you. But you have done wrong by waging war against me. The LORD is the judge who will decide today whether Israel or Ammon is right.”

28 But the king of Ammon didn’t listen to the message Jephthah sent him.

11:12–28   Israel took nothing you didn’t give them. It was you who forced people out of their way. Test me and see if I’ve sinned. Tell me if I’ve broken your commands.

Jephthah’s Vow

29 Then the LORD’s Spirit came over Jephthah. Jephthah went through Gilead, Manasseh, and Mizpah in Gilead ⌞to gather an army⌟. From Mizpah in Gilead Jephthah went to attack Ammon.

30 Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, “If you will really hand Ammon over to me, 31 then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from Ammon will belong to the LORD. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”

32 So Jephthah went to fight against Ammon. The LORD handed the people of Ammon over to him. 33 He defeated them from Aroer to Minnith and on to Abel Keramim, 20 cities in all. It was a decisive defeat. So the Ammonites were crushed by the people of Israel.

34 When Jephthah went to his home in Mizpah, he saw his daughter coming out to meet him. She was dancing with tambourines in her hands. She was his only child. Jephthah had no other sons or daughters. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes in grief and said, “Oh no, Daughter! You’ve brought me to my knees! What disaster you’ve brought me! I made a foolish promise to the LORD. Now I can’t break it.”

36 She said to him, “Father, you made a promise to the LORD. Do to me whatever you promised since the LORD has punished your enemy Ammon.” 37 Then she said to her father, “Do me a favor. Give me two months for my friends and me to walk in the mountains and mourn that I will never have an opportunity to get married.”

38 “Go!” he said, and he sent her off for two months. She and her friends went to the mountains, and she cried about never being able to get married. 39 At the end of those two months she came back to her father. He did to her what he had vowed, and she never had a husband. So the custom began in Israel 40 that for four days every year the girls in Israel would go out to sing the praises of the daughter of Jephthah, the man from Gilead.

11:29–40   Jephthah made a vow without thinking. He put his only daughter’s life on the line. Was he really supposed to keep a foolish promise? Spare me from my own stupid words!

Ephraim’s Jealousy

12

1 The men of Ephraim were summoned to fight. They crossed ⌞the Jordan River⌟ to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you fight against Ammon without inviting us to go with you? Now we’re going to burn your house down with you in it.”

2 Jephthah answered, “My people and I were involved in a legal dispute with Ammon. I asked you for help, but you didn’t rescue me from them. 3 When I saw that you would not rescue me, I risked my life and went to fight the people of Ammon. The LORD handed them over to me. So why did you come to fight against me today?”

4 Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim. The men of Gilead defeated Ephraim. ⌞They did this because⌟ Ephraim had said, “You people from Gilead are nothing but fugitives from Ephraim and Manasseh.”

5 The men of Gilead captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River leading back to Ephraim. Whenever a fugitive from Ephraim said, “Let me cross,” the men of Gilead would ask, “Are you from Ephraim?” If he answered, “No,” 6 they would tell him, “Say the word shibboleth.” If the fugitive would say sibboleth, because he couldn’t pronounce the word correctly, they would grab him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Jordan River. At that time 42,000 men from Ephraim died.

7 Jephthah judged Israel for six years. Then Jephthah of Gilead died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

12:1–7   Jephthah did nothing to soothe the wounded egos of the Ephraimites. Brother killed brother until Ephraim was wiped from the land. Teach me to speak calm before conflict gets out of hand.

Ibzan Serves as Judge

8 After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel. 9 He had 30 sons and 30 daughters. His sons and daughters married people from outside their own families. He judged Israel for seven years. 10 When Ibzan died, he was buried in Bethlehem.

Elon Serves as Judge

11 After Ibzan, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun judged Israel. He judged Israel for ten years. 12 When Elon died, he was buried in Aijalon in the territory of Zebulun.

Abdon Serves as Judge

13 After Elon, Abdon, son of Hillel, from Pirathon judged Israel. 14 He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years. 15 When Abdon died, he was buried in Pirathon, in the territory of Ephraim, in the mountains of Amalek.

The Messenger of the LORD Appears to Samson’s Parents

13

1 The people of Israel again did what the LORD considered evil. So the LORD handed them over to the Philistines for 40 years.

2 There was a man from Zorah named Manoah. Manoah was from the family of Dan. His wife was not able to have children. 3 The Messenger of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You’ve never been able to have a child, but now you will become pregnant and have a son. 4 Now you must be careful. Don’t drink any wine or liquor or eat any unclean[10] food. 5 You’re going to become pregnant and have a son. You must never cut his hair because the boy will be a Nazirite dedicated to God from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the power of the Philistines.”

6 The woman went to tell her husband. She said, “A man of God came to me. He had a very frightening appearance like the Messenger of God. So I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. 7 He told me, ‘You’re going to become pregnant and have a son. So don’t drink any wine or liquor or eat any unclean food because the boy will be a Nazirite dedicated to God from the time he is born until he dies.’”

13:1–7   You promised a son to a childless woman. But her boy would belong to you.

8 Then Manoah pleaded with the LORD, “Please, Lord, let the man of God you sent come back to us. Let him teach us what we must do for the boy who will be born.”

9 God did what Manoah asked. The Messenger of God came back to his wife while she was sitting out in the fields. But her husband Manoah was not with her. 10 The woman ran quickly to tell her husband. She said, “The man who came to me the other day has just appeared to me ⌞again⌟.”

11 Manoah immediately followed his wife. When he came to the man, he asked him, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?”

“Yes,” he answered.

12 Then Manoah asked, “When your words come true, how should the boy live and what should he do?”

13 The Messenger of the LORD answered Manoah, “Your wife must be careful to do everything I told her to do. 14 She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevines, drink any wine or liquor, or eat any unclean food. She must be careful to do everything I commanded.”

15 Manoah said to the Messenger of the LORD, “Please stay while we prepare a young goat for you to eat.”

16 But the Messenger of the LORD responded, “If I stay here, I will not eat any of your food. But if you make a burnt offering, sacrifice it to the LORD.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the Messenger of the LORD.)

17 Then Manoah asked the Messenger of the LORD, “What is your name? When your words come true, we will honor you.”

18 The Messenger of the LORD asked him, “Why do you ask for my name? It’s a name that works miracles.”

13:8–18   Manoah asked you how the boy should live. You invited his worship—and he wanted to honor you. You said it yourself—your name works miracles!

19 So Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and sacrificed them to the LORD on a rock he used as an altar. While Manoah and his wife watched, the LORD did something miraculous. 20 As the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the Messenger of the LORD went up in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they immediately bowed down with their faces touching the ground.

21 The Messenger of the LORD didn’t appear again to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah knew that this had been the Messenger of the LORD. 22 So Manoah said to his wife, “We will certainly die because we have seen God.”

23 But Manoah’s wife replied, “If the LORD wanted to kill us, he would not have accepted our burnt offering and grain offering. He would not have let us see or hear all these things just now.”

24 So the woman had a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up, and the LORD blessed him. 25 The LORD’s Spirit began to stir in him while he was at Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

13:19–25   As Manoah and his wife watched, you did something miraculous, rising to heaven in a flame. You allowed them to see and hear you. I’ll bow to worship whenever I meet you.

Samson Marries a Philistine

14

1 When Samson went to Timnah, he saw a young Philistine woman. 2 He went ⌞home⌟ and told his father and mother, “I’ve seen a Philistine woman at Timnah. Now get her for me so that I can marry her.”

3 His father and mother asked him, “Aren’t there any women among our relatives or all our people? Do you have to marry a woman from those godless Philistines?”

But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She’s the one I want!” 4 His father and mother didn’t know that the LORD was behind this. The LORD was looking for an opportunity to do something to the Philistines. (At that time the Philistines were ruling Israel.)

5 Samson went with his father and mother to Timnah. When they were coming to the vineyards of Timnah, a young roaring lion met Samson. 6 The LORD’s Spirit came over him. With his bare hands, he tore the lion apart as if it were a young goat. He didn’t tell his parents what he had done.

7 Then he went to talk to the young woman. She was the one he wanted. 8 Later he went back to marry her. ⌞On his way⌟ he left the road to look at the lion he had killed. He saw a swarm of bees and some honey in the lion’s dead body. 9 He scraped ⌞the honey⌟ into his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he came to his father and mother, he gave them some of the honey to eat. He didn’t tell them he had scraped it out of the lion’s dead body.

14:1–9   Samson fell for a Philistine woman, a wife from their godless enemies. But you had a plan to use his defiant desire. Warn me when I push your limits.

10 After his father went to see the woman, Samson threw a party. (This is what young men used to do.) 11 When ⌞her family⌟ saw him, they chose 30 of their friends to be with him.

12 Then Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle. If you solve it during the seven days of the party, I’ll give you 30 linen shirts and 30 changes of clothes. 13 But if you can’t solve it, you will give me the same things.”

They responded, “Tell us your riddle! Let’s hear it!”

14 So Samson said to them,

“From the eater

came something to eat.

From the strong one

came something sweet.”

For three days they couldn’t solve the riddle. 15 On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Trick your husband into solving the riddle for us. If you don’t, we’ll burn you and your family to death. Did the two of you invite us ⌞just to make us poor⌟?”

16 So Samson’s wife cried on his shoulder. She said, “You hate me! You don’t really love me! You gave my friends a riddle and didn’t tell me the answer.”

Samson replied, “I haven’t even told my father and mother, so why should I tell you?”

17 But she cried on his shoulder for the rest of the seven days of the party. Finally, on the seventh day he told her the answer because she made his life miserable. Then she told her friends the answer to the riddle.

18 So before sundown on the seventh day, the men of the city said to him,

“What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?”

Samson replied,

“If you hadn’t used my cow to plow,

you wouldn’t know my riddle now.”

19 When the LORD’s Spirit came over him, he went to Ashkelon and killed 30 men there. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who solved the riddle. He was angry, and he went to his father’s house. 20 Samson’s wife was given to his best man.

14:10–20   Samson’s wife made him miserable until he gave up the answer to his own riddle. Your Spirit gave Samson strength greater than his enemies. He rewarded his rivals with dead men’s clothes.

Samson Serves as Judge

15

1 Later, during the wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife. He took a young goat along for her. He said, “I’m going to sleep with my wife in her bedroom.”

But her father would not let him go in. 2 Her father said, “I thought you hated her. So I gave her to your best man. Isn’t her younger sister better looking? Marry her instead!”

3 Samson said to him, “This time I won’t be guilty when I get even with the Philistines, even though I’m going to do something terrible to them.” 4 So Samson caught 300 foxes. He tied them together in pairs by their tails. Then he fastened a torch between their tails. 5 He set the torches on fire and released the foxes in the Philistines’ grain fields. So he set fire to all their grain, whether it was stacked or in the fields. Their olive orchards also caught on fire.

6 Some Philistines asked, “Who did this?”

15:1–6   Samson got even with the Philistines, sending foxes to torch their fields. He was picking an enormous fight.

They were told, “Samson! He’s the son-in-law of the man at Timnah. Samson did it because the man at Timnah took Samson’s wife and gave her to his best man.” So the Philistines burned Samson’s wife and her father to death.

7 Samson said to them, “If that’s how you’re going to act, I’ll get even with you before I stop.” 8 So he attacked them violently and slaughtered them. Then he went to live in a cave in the cliff at Etam.

9 The Philistines came, camped in Judah, and overran Lehi. 10 The men of Judah asked, “Why did you come to fight us?”

The Philistines answered, “We’ve come to tie up Samson and do to him what he did to us.”

11 So 3,000 men from Judah went to the cave in the cliff at Etam. They said to Samson, “Don’t you know that the Philistines rule us? Why have you done this to us?”

Samson replied, “I did to them what they did to me.”

12 So the men from Judah told him, “We’ve come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.”

Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you won’t harm me yourselves.”

13 They told him, “We promise we’ll only tie you up and hand you over to them. We certainly won’t kill you.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him back from the cliff.

14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines met him with shouts ⌞of triumph⌟. But the LORD’s Spirit came over him. The ropes on his arms became like strings burned in a fire, and those on his hands snapped.

15 Samson found the jawbone from a donkey that had just died. He picked it up and killed 1,000 men with it. 16 Then Samson said,

“With a jawbone from a donkey,

I’ve made two piles of them.

With a jawbone from a donkey,

I’ve killed a thousand men.”

17 When he finished saying this, he threw the jawbone away. He called that place Ramath Lehi [Jawbone Hill].

18 Samson was very thirsty. So he called out to the LORD and said, “You have given me this great victory. But now I’ll die from thirst and fall into the power of godless men.”

19 So God split open the hollow place at Lehi, and water gushed out. Samson drank some water. Then he was refreshed and revived. So he called the place En Hakkore [Spring of the One Who Calls Out]. It is still there at Lehi today.

20 Samson judged Israel for 20 years during the time of the Philistines.

15:7–20   Samson killed a thousand Philistines at a place he named Jawbone Hill. You gave him victory and gave him drink.

16

1 Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute and slept with her. 2 The people of Gaza were told, “Samson’s here!” So they surrounded the place and waited all night at the city gate to ambush him. They were quiet all night. They thought, “We’ll kill him at dawn.”

3 But Samson was in bed ⌞with the prostitute⌟ only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the doors, door posts, and bar of the city gate and pulled them out. He carried them on his shoulders to the top of the hill facing Hebron.

Samson and Delilah

4 After ⌞leaving Gaza⌟, he fell in love with a woman in the Sorek Valley. Her name was Delilah. 5 The Philistine rulers came to her and said, “Trick him, and find out what makes him so strong. Find out how we can overpower him. We want to tie him up in order to torture him. Each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”

16:1–5   Samson slept with a prostitute, then fell for Delilah. Was this really the man you chose to lead your people?

6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me what makes you so strong. How can you be tied up so that someone could torture you?”

7 Samson told her, “If someone ties me up with seven new bowstrings that are not dried out, I will be like any other man.”

8 The Philistine rulers brought her seven new bowstrings that were not dried out. She tied Samson up with them. 9 Some men were hiding in the bedroom waiting for her ⌞to tie him up⌟. Then she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” Samson snapped the bowstrings as a thread snaps when it touches fire. So no one found out why he was so strong.

10 Delilah told Samson, “Look, you’re making fun of me by telling me lies. Now, tell me how you can be tied up.”

11 Samson told her, “If someone ties me up tightly with new ropes that have never been used, I will be like any other man.”

12 So Delilah took some new ropes and tied him up with them. Then she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” Some men were in her bedroom waiting to ambush him. But Samson tore the ropes off his arms as though they were strings.

13 Delilah told Samson, “You’re still making fun of me by telling me lies. Tell me how you can be tied up.”

Samson replied, “Just weave the seven braids of my hair with the other threads in the loom.”

14 So Delilah tied his braids to the loom shuttle. Then she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” But Samson woke up and tore his braids and the threads out of the loom shuttle.

15 Delilah said to Samson, “How can you say that you love me when your heart isn’t mine? You’ve made fun of me three times now, but you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong.”

16 Every day she made his life miserable with her questions. She pestered him until he wished he were dead. 17 Finally, he told her the truth. He told her, “Because I’m a Nazirite, no one has ever cut the hair on my head. I was dedicated to God before I was born. If my hair is ever shaved off, my strength will leave me. Then I’ll be like any other man.”

18 When Delilah realized that he had told her everything, she sent a message to the Philistine rulers, “Come here once more.” (She did this because Samson had told her everything.) So the Philistine rulers arrived with the money in their hands.

19 Delilah put Samson to sleep on her lap. She called for a man to shave off his seven braids. Then she began to torture him because his strength had left him. 20 She said, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” Samson woke up. He thought, “I’ll get out of this as usual and shake myself free.” (He didn’t realize that the LORD had left him.) 21 The Philistines grabbed him. They poked out his eyes and took him to the prison in Gaza. They tied him up with double chains and made him grind grain in the mill there.

22 But his hair started to grow back as soon as it was shaved off.

16:6–22   Samson whispered the secret of his strength. He was yours before he was born, but now you left him. Stop me before I give away your good gifts!

23 Now, the Philistine rulers gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon and to celebrate. They said, “Our god handed Samson, our enemy, over to us.” 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god. They said,

“Our god gave our enemy,

destroyer of our land

and killer of so many,

into our very hand!”

25 When all the Philistines were enjoying themselves, they said, “Call Samson in to entertain us.”

Samson was called from the prison, and he made them laugh. They made him stand between two columns. 26 Samson told the young man who was leading him by the hand, “Let me rest. Let me touch the columns on which the building stands so that I can lean against them.” 27 The building was filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there. On the roof there were about three thousand men and women who watched Samson entertain them.

28 Then Samson called to the LORD, “Almighty LORD, please remember me! God, give me strength just one more time! Let me get even with the Philistines for at least one of my two eyes.” 29 Samson felt the two middle columns on which the building stood. With his right hand on one column and his left on the other, he pushed hard against them. 30 “Let me die with the Philistines,” he said. With that, he pushed with all his might, and the building fell on the rulers and everyone in it. So he killed more Philistines when he died than he had when he was alive.

31 Then his relatives and his father’s whole family went to Gaza. They took Samson and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah.

16:23–31   The Philistines mocked their captive in the presence of their god. They thought Samson was good entertainment. But you remembered him one last time. Don’t let me forget you—and don’t ever forget me.

Samson had judged Israel for 20 years.

Micah’s Idolatry

17

1 There was a man named Micah from the mountain region of Ephraim. 2 He told his mother, “You were upset about the 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you. I even heard you put a curse on them. Here’s the silver. I took it!”

His mother said, “The LORD bless you, my son!”

3 So Micah gave the 1,100 pieces of silver back to his mother. Then his mother said, “I dedicate this silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit. I want to make a carved idol and a metal idol. So now I’m giving the silver back to you.”

4 When Micah returned the silver to his mother, she took 200 pieces of the silver and gave it to a silversmith. He made a carved idol and a metal idol. Both were placed in Micah’s home. 5 Micah owned a shrine. He also made an ephod[11] and household idols. He ordained one of his sons to be his priest. 6 In those days Israel didn’t have a king. Everyone did whatever he considered right.

7 There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah. (Bethlehem belongs to the family of Judah.) He was a Levite but was living in Bethlehem. 8 This man left Bethlehem in Judah to live wherever he could find ⌞a place⌟. He came to Micah’s house in the mountains of Ephraim to carry on his work.

9 Micah asked him, “Where do you come from?”

The man told him, “I’m a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. I’m going to live wherever I can find ⌞a place⌟.”

10 Micah told him, “Stay with me! Be a father and a priest to me. I’ll give you ten pieces of silver a year, a set of clothes, and your room and board.”

The Levite accepted the offer 11 and agreed to live with Micah. The young man became like one of Micah’s sons. 12 Micah ordained the Levite. So the young man became his priest and a part of his family.

13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me. I have a Levite for my priest.”

17:1–13   Micah and his mother dedicated money to you—then crafted an idol and hired their own priest. Micah thought you would be good to him. Why do I assume you want to bless my sin?

Micah Brings Idolatry to the Tribe of Dan

18

1 In those days Israel didn’t have a king. And in those days the tribe of Dan was looking for a place to live. Up to that time they had not received land as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel as they should have. 2 So all the families of Dan sent out five qualified men from Zorah and Eshtaol. They were sent to spy throughout the land and explore it. They were told, “Go and explore the land!”

They came to Micah’s house in the mountains of Ephraim. They spent the night there. 3 While they were at Micah’s house, they recognized the young Levite’s voice. So they stopped to ask him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing here? Why are you here?”

4 The Levite told them what Micah had done for him and added, “Micah hired me, so I became his priest.”

5 They said to him, “Please find out from God if our journey will be successful.”

6 The priest told them, “Go in peace. The LORD approves of your journey.”

7 The five men left there and came to the city of Laish. They saw that the people there lived without a care. These people were like the people of Sidon. They were peaceful and secure. There was no one around who threatened to take away their property by force. They were far from the people of Sidon and totally independent.

8 The men went back to their relatives in Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, “What did you find?”

9 They replied, “Get up, let’s attack Laish. We saw the land. It’s very good!

“Don’t just sit there! Go at once and take the land. 10 When you get there, you will come to a secure people. The land is wide open to you. God will hand it over to you. It’s a place where you will have everything you could want.”

18:1–10   The tribe of Dan spied out the land of a carefree and peaceful people. They vowed to take the land as their own. Why do I think you go with me when I carry out my selfish desires?

11 So 600 men from the tribe of Dan left Zorah and Eshtaol armed for war. 12 They camped at Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place just west of Kiriath Jearim is still called Mahaneh Dan [The Camp of Dan] today. 13 From there they marched to the mountains of Ephraim as far as Micah’s house. 14 Then the five men who had gone to spy throughout the land around Laish spoke up. They said to the other men of Dan, “Do you know that there’s an ephod, a carved idol, a metal idol, and household idols in these houses? What do you think we should do?”

15 So they stopped and entered Micah’s house and greeted the young Levite. 16 The 600 armed men from Dan stood at the entrance to the city. 17 The five men who had gone to spy throughout the land went inside. They took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the metal idol. The priest stood at the entrance to the city with the 600 armed men. 18 When these men entered Micah’s house and took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the metal idol, the priest asked them, “What are you doing?”

19 They told him, “Keep quiet! Don’t say a word! Come with us and be our father and priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man’s house or for a tribe in Israel and its families?”

20 The priest was content. He took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved idol and went with the people. 21 When they left, they put their children, livestock, and property in front of them.

22 When they had already gone some distance from Micah’s house, Micah’s neighbors were called together to help him catch up to the people of Dan. 23 They shouted at them. But the people of Dan turned around and said to Micah, “What’s your problem? Why did you call your neighbors together to attack us?”

24 Micah answered, “You’ve taken away the gods I made as well as my priest. What do I have left? How can you say to me, ‘What’s your problem?’”

25 The people of Dan replied, “Don’t make another sound, or some violent men will attack you. Then you and your family will lose your lives.” 26 The people of Dan went on their way. Micah saw they were stronger than he was, so he turned around and went home.

18:11–26   The people of Dan didn’t merely plot an attack. They had to have a priest of their own. The young Levite was happy to sell himself to a bigger audience—am I?

27 The people of Dan took what Micah had made and the man who had become his priest and went to the city of Laish. They attacked a peaceful and secure people, killed them all with swords, and burned their city. 28 There was no one to rescue them because their city was far from Sidon and totally independent. The city was in the valley that belonged to Beth Rehob. The people of Dan rebuilt the city and lived in it. 29 They named the city Dan in honor of their ancestor Dan, Israel’s son. Originally, the city was called Laish.

30 The people of Dan set up the carved idol for themselves. Jonathan (son of Gershom and grandson of Moses) and his descendants were priests for Dan’s tribe until the people living in that land were taken captive. 31 So they set up for themselves the carved idol Micah had made. It stayed there the whole time the house of God was at Shiloh.

18:27–31   The people of Dan killed a peaceful people. They burned their city, then set up and worshiped an idol. Help me when I have no idea how far I have wandered from you.

Sexual Immorality

19

1 In those days when Israel didn’t have a king, there was a Levite who lived in a remote area in the mountains of Ephraim. He took a woman from Bethlehem in Judah to be his concubine.[12] 2 But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went to her father’s home, to Bethlehem in Judah. When she had been there four months, 3 her husband went to persuade her to come back home. He took along his servant and two donkeys.

She took her husband into her father’s house. Her father was thrilled to see him. 4 He made the Levite stay there with him, celebrating for three days.

5 On the fourth day they got up early in the morning to leave, but the woman’s father told his son-in-law, “Eat something to keep up your strength and then you can go.” 6 So they both sat down and ate and drank together. The woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Why don’t you spend the night and enjoy yourself?” 7 When the Levite started to leave, his father-in-law urged him to stay another night, so he did.

8 On the morning of the fifth day, the Levite got up early to leave. The woman’s father said, “Eat something to keep up your strength!” So they spent the time eating until late afternoon. 9 The Levite started to leave with his concubine and his servant. But his father-in-law said to him, “It’s already evening. Please stay another night. It’s too late ⌞to leave⌟ now. Stay here, and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can start out early to go home.” 10 But the Levite refused to spend another night.

He left and traveled as far as Jebus (now called Jerusalem). He had with him two saddled donkeys and his concubine. 11 By the time they were near Jebus, it was very late in the day. The Levite’s servant said to him, “Let’s go spend the night in Jebus.”

12 The Levite told him, “We’ll never go into a city of foreigners. They’re not Israelites. We’ll go on to Gibeah.” 13 He told his servant, “Let’s go someplace else. We’ll spend the night either at Gibeah or Ramah.”

14 So they went on. It was sunset by the time they arrived at Gibeah. (Gibeah belonged to the tribe of Benjamin.) 15 They went to spend the night there. The Levite entered Gibeah and sat down in the city square, because no one offered to take them home for the night.

16 That evening an old man came into the city from his work in the fields. He was from the mountain region of Ephraim but lived in Gibeah. The other people who lived there were from the tribe of Benjamin. 17 He saw the traveler in the city square. So the old man asked, “Where do you come from? And where are you going?”

18 The Levite replied, “We’re on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the mountains of Ephraim. That’s where I’m from. I had gone to Bethlehem in Judah. Now I’m going to the LORD’s house, but no one has offered to take me into his home. 19 We have straw and fodder for our donkeys. I even have bread and wine for myself, the woman, and my servant. We have everything we need.”

20 Then the old man said, “Welcome! Let me take care of your needs. Just don’t spend the night in the city square.” 21 So he took the Levite to his house and fed the donkeys. After they washed, they ate and drank.

22 While they were enjoying themselves, some worthless men from the city surrounded the house and pounded on the door. They told the old man, the owner of the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so that we can have sex with him.”

23 The owner went out to them. He told them, “No, my friends! Please don’t do anything so evil! This man is a guest in my home. Don’t do such a godless thing! 24 Here, let me bring out my virgin daughter and this man’s concubine. Rape them, and do with them whatever you want. Just don’t do such a godless thing to this man.”

25 But the men refused to listen to him. So the Levite grabbed his concubine and forced her outside. They had sex with her and abused her all night until morning. They let her go when the sun was coming up. 26 At daybreak, the woman came to the door of the house where her husband was and collapsed. She was still there when it became light.

27 Her husband got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and was about to leave. His wife (that is, his concubine) was lying at the door of the house with her hands on the doorstep. 28 The Levite said to her, “Get up! Let’s go!” But she did not answer. So he put her on the donkey and left for home.

29 When he arrived home, he got a knife. He took his concubine and cut her limb from limb into 12 pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territories of Israel.

30 Everyone who saw it said, “Never has such a thing happened or been seen from the time the people of Israel came out of Egypt until today. Think about it! Form a plan, and speak out!”

19:1–30   Your people shamelessly went looking to commit terrible sin. Nothing like that had happened since you rescued your people from slavery. Things were as bad as Sodom and Gomorrah!

Israel Slaughters the Tribe of Benjamin

20

1 All the people of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from Gilead came to Mizpah. The congregation stood united in the presence of the LORD. 2 The leaders of all Israel’s tribes took their places in the congregation of God’s people. There were 400,000 foot soldiers with swords. 3 The people of Benjamin heard that Israel had come to Mizpah.

The people of Israel said, “Tell us how such an evil thing could happen.”

4 The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered, “My concubine[13] and I went to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. 5 The citizens of Gibeah came to attack me. They surrounded the house ⌞where I was staying⌟ that night. They intended to kill me, but instead, they raped my concubine until she died. 6 So I took my concubine and cut her into pieces. Then I sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel. I did this because the citizens of Gibeah did this perverted and godless thing in Israel. 7 All you people of Israel, tell me what you think. Give me your advice right now!”

8 All the people stood united, saying, “None of us will go to his tent or return to his house. 9 This is what we’ll do to Gibeah. We’ll decide by lot who should attack it.[14] 10 We’ll take one-tenth[15] of all the men from the tribes of Israel to get supplies for the troops. When the troops go to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin they can punish the citizens of Gibeah for the godless thing they did in Israel.” 11 So all the men of Israel assembled. They stood united against the city.

20:1–11   Such an evil thing shouldn’t happen. All your people stood united in your presence. Israel decided to punish Gibeah for the godless thing they did.

12 The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin. They asked, “How could such an evil thing happen among you? 13 Now hand over those worthless men in Gibeah. We must put them to death to rid ourselves of this kind of evil in Israel.”

But the men of Benjamin refused to listen to the men of Israel. 14 So the men of Benjamin went from their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go to war with the men of Israel. 15 That day 26,000 men armed with swords came from Benjamin’s cities and organized for battle along with 700 of Gibeah’s best men. 16 Out of all these troops, the best 700 were left-handed. Each could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17 The men of Israel (Benjamin not included) totaled 400,000 soldiers armed with swords.

18 The men of Israel went to Bethel. They asked God, “Who will go first to fight Benjamin?”

The LORD answered, “Judah will go first.”

19 The Israelites got up early in the morning and camped at Gibeah. 20 So the men of Israel went to war with the men of Benjamin. The Israelites formed their battle line facing Gibeah. 21 That day the men of Benjamin came out from Gibeah. They slaughtered 22,000 of Israel’s men.

22 But Israel’s troops got reinforcements. They formed their battle line where they had formed it on the first day. 23 The Israelites went and cried in the presence of the LORD until evening. They asked the LORD, “Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin?”

The LORD answered, “Go fight them!”

24 On the second day the Israelite troops advanced against Benjamin. 25 Benjamin went out from Gibeah to meet them. This time they slaughtered 18,000 men from Israel who were armed with swords. 26 Then all the men of Israel and all the troops went to Bethel. They sat there and cried in the presence of the LORD and fasted that day until evening. Then they sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.

20:12–26   Benjamin resisted your justice. They picked a battle with the rest of Israel. Brother slaughtered brother until your troops cried in your presence.

27 In those days the ark of God’s promise was at Bethel. 28 (Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, served in front of it.) So the people of Israel asked the LORD, “Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin? Or should we stop?”

The LORD answered, “Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”

29 Then Israel placed troops in ambush around Gibeah. 30 On the third day the men of Israel went to fight the men of Benjamin. They formed their battle line facing Gibeah as they did before. 31 The men of Benjamin went out to attack Israel’s troops and were led away from the city. They started to inflict casualties as before. They killed about 30 men from Israel in the open country and on the roads to Bethel and Gibeah. 32 The men of Benjamin shouted, “They’re defeated as before!”

But the men of Israel had said, “Let’s flee in order to lead them from the city to the roads.” 33 So the men of Israel left their positions. They formed their battle line at Baal Tamar. Meanwhile, those waiting in ambush rushed from their position to the west of Gibeah. 34 Then 10,000 of Israel’s best men attacked Gibeah. The battle was fierce. But Benjamin’s men didn’t realize their own evil was about to overtake them. 35 So the LORD defeated them in front of Israel. On that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 men from Benjamin who were armed with swords. 36 Then the men of Benjamin realized they were defeated.

The Israelites had allowed the men of Benjamin to take back some ground. The Israelites relied on those waiting in ambush near Gibeah. 37 The men in ambush quickly charged toward Gibeah. They spread out in the city and killed everyone. 38 The men of Israel had arranged with those waiting in ambush that they would make a big column of smoke rise from the city as a signal. 39 Then the men of Israel would turn around in the battle.

The men of Benjamin had already killed about 30 men of Israel. They even said, “Israel is completely defeated, just like in the first battle.”

40 But when the column of smoke started to rise from the city, the men of Benjamin turned around and saw the whole city going up in smoke. 41 Then the men of Israel turned around, and the men of Benjamin panicked. They realized that their evil had overtaken them. 42 They turned in front of Israel toward the road to the desert. But the battle caught up with the men of Benjamin. Israel slaughtered whoever came out of the cities on the road to the desert. 43 They closed in on the men of Benjamin and pursued them without stopping. They overtook them east of Gibeah. 44 There were 18,000 experienced men from Benjamin who died in battle. 45 The others turned and fled into the desert to Rimmon Rock. But the men of Israel killed 5,000 more on the roads. They caught up with another 2,000 and killed them near Gidom. 46 In all, 25,000 men from Benjamin who were armed with swords were killed that day. They were all experienced men.

47 But 600 men turned and fled into the desert to Rimmon Rock. They stayed at Rimmon Rock for four months.

48 Then the men of Israel went back to attack the rest of the territory of Benjamin. They killed all the people and cattle they found in every city. They also burned down every city they came to.

20:27–48   The battle was fierce. But you defeated the tribe of Benjamin in front of Israel. What had become of your people? What now?

Israel Provides Wives for the Surviving Men of Benjamin

21

1 The men of Israel had taken this oath in Mizpah: “None of us will ever let our daughters marry anyone from Benjamin.”

2 The people went to Bethel and sat there in the presence of God until evening. They cried very loudly, 3 “LORD God of Israel, why has this happened among us? Why should one tribe be missing today in Israel?”

4 The next day the people got up early. They built an altar there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. 5 The people asked, “Is there any family from Israel that did not take part in the assembly in the presence of the LORD?” They had taken a solemn oath that whoever had not come into the presence of the LORD at Mizpah must be put to death.

6 The people of Israel felt sorry for their close relatives, the men of Benjamin. They said, “Today one tribe has been excluded from Israel. 7 What will we do to provide wives for the men who are left? We swore to the LORD that we would not let any of our daughters marry them.” 8 Then they asked, “Is there any family from Israel that did not come into the presence of the LORD at Mizpah?” No one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the assembly in the camp. 9 So they questioned the people, and there was no one there from Jabesh Gilead.

10 The congregation sent 12,000 soldiers. They ordered them, “Go and kill the people of Jabesh Gilead, including the women and children. 11 These are your directions: Claim every female who has gone to bed with a man, and claim every male. Claim them for the LORD by destroying them.”

12 Among the people of Jabesh Gilead they found 400 unmarried women who had never gone to bed with a man. They brought them to the camp at Shiloh in Canaan.

13 Then the whole congregation sent messengers to the men of Benjamin at Rimmon Rock and offered them peace. 14 So the men of Benjamin came back at that time. These men were given the women from Jabesh Gilead who had been kept alive. However, the congregation had not found enough women for all of them.

15 The congregation felt sorry for the people of Benjamin because the LORD had broken the unity of the tribes of Israel. 16 The leaders of the congregation asked, “What should we do to provide wives for the men who are left, since the women in Benjamin have been killed?”

17 Some said, “Benjamin’s men who survived must be allowed to have families. No tribe of Israel should be wiped out. 18 However, we can’t give them any of our daughters as wives. The people of Israel have taken an oath that whoever gives wives to the men of Benjamin is under a curse.”

19 Others said, “Every year the LORD’s festival is held at Shiloh. Shiloh is north of Bethel, east of the highway going from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.” 20 So they told the men of Benjamin, “Hide in the vineyards and 21 watch. When the young women of Shiloh come out to take part in the dances, come out of the vineyards. Each of you catch a woman from Shiloh to be your wife. Then go back to the territory of Benjamin. 22 When their fathers or brothers come to us to complain, we’ll tell them, ‘Have pity on them, since we didn’t provide a wife for each man in the battle. You won’t be guilty because you didn’t give them the wives yourselves.’”

23 The men of Benjamin did just that. They captured the number of wives they needed from the women who were dancing and went home. So they rebuilt their cities and lived in them.

24 At that time the people of Israel left. Each man went to his tribe and family. They all went home.

21:1–24   The people sat in your presence. They fasted and cried aloud. They built an altar and sacrificed. The tribe of Benjamin was on the edge of destruction. Why had this happened?

25 In those days Israel didn’t have a king. Everyone did whatever he considered right.

21:25   You rescued your people from slavery. But everything in Israel had gone from bad to worse. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

RUTH

INTRODUCTION

Ruth shows the power of human loyalty. A tender love story from the days of the judges, the book of Ruth begins with the woman Naomi alone in the land of Moab. She had fled there ten years earlier with her husband and two sons to escape famine in Israel. Her boys had grown up and married Moabite wives, but within a short time, all three men died.

A widow with no means of supporting herself, Naomi can think of nothing to do but return home. This bitter woman tells her two daughters-in-law to stay with their own people and find new husbands. While one agrees, the other refuses. Ruth vows to stay with Naomi, saying, “Don’t force me to leave you. Don’t make me turn back from following you. Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth pledges to stay with Naomi until death.

The two women journey to Israel, where Ruth manages to scavenge enough food for the women to survive. When a wealthy relative of Naomi’s deceased husband notices her, one of the ancient world’s best known love stories unfolds. The end of the account reveals that Ruth’s loyalty brought her into an honored position as great-grandmother of King David and ancestor of Jesus (Ruth 4:13–22).

Praying this book inspires your own loyalty to the people who need you most. Ask God to teach you Ruth’s untiring love.

RUTH

1  | 2  | 3  | 4

The Move to Moab and Tragedy

1

1 In the days when the judges were ruling, there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah went with his wife and two sons to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of their two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were descendants of Ephrathah from Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. They went to the country of Moab and lived there.

3 Now, Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left alone with her two sons. 4 Each son married a woman from Moab. One son married a woman named Orpah, and the other son married a woman named Ruth. They lived there for about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion died as well. So Naomi was left alone, without her two sons or her husband.

Departure from Moab

6 Naomi and her daughters-in-law started on the way back from the country of Moab. (While they were still in Moab she heard that the LORD had come to help his people and give them food. 7 So she left the place where she had been living, and her two daughters-in-law went with her.) They began to walk back along the road to the territory of Judah.

1:1–7   You came to help and feed your people. So Naomi left behind the deadly years of Moab and went home. Call me back to you when life goes badly.

Naomi’s Appeal to Her Daughters-in-law

8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back! Each of you should go back to your mother’s home. May the LORD be as kind to you as you were to me and to our loved ones who have died. 9 May the LORD repay each of you so that you may find security in a home with a husband.”

When she kissed them goodbye, they began to cry loudly. 10 They said to her, “We are going back with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Do I have any more sons in my womb who could be your husbands? 12 Go back, my daughters. Go, because I am too old to get married again. If I said that I still have hope. . . . And if I had a husband tonight. . . . And even if I gave birth to sons, 13 would you wait until they grew up and stay single just for them? No, my daughters. My bitterness is much worse than yours because the LORD has sent me so much trouble.”

14 They began to cry loudly again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth held on to her tightly. 15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Go back with your sister-in-law.”

16 But Ruth answered, “Don’t force me to leave you. Don’t make me turn back from following you. Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and I will be buried there with you. May the LORD strike me down if anything but death separates you and me!”

18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she ended the conversation.

1:8–18   Ruth refused to return to her own people and gods. She held tight to Naomi and made you her God. Teach me to show her deep loyalty to my family and friends and to you.

Naomi Arrives in Bethlehem

19 So both of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about them. “This can’t be Naomi, can it?” the women asked.

20 She answered them, “Don’t call me Naomi [Sweet]. Call me Mara [Bitter] because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi when the LORD has tormented me and the Almighty has done evil to me?”

22 When Naomi came back from the country of Moab, Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, came along with her. They happened to enter Bethlehem just when the barley harvest began.

1:19–22   Naomi changed her name from “Sweet” to “Bitter” and blamed you for her aching emptiness—as if she’d forgotten about Ruth. Teach me to see your gifts in the midst of my despair.

Ruth Gathers Grain in the Field of Boaz

2

1 Naomi had a relative. He was from Elimelech’s side of the family. He was a man of outstanding character named Boaz.

2 Ruth, who was from Moab, said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field of anyone who will be kind to me. There I will gather the grain left behind by the reapers.”

Naomi told her, “Go, my daughter.”

3 So Ruth went. She entered a field and gathered the grain left behind by the reapers. Now it happened that she ended up in the part of the field that belonged to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.

4 Just then, Boaz was coming from Bethlehem, and he said to his reapers, “May the LORD be with all of you!”

They answered him, “May the LORD bless you!”

5 Boaz asked the young man in charge of his reapers, “Who is this young woman?”

6 The young man answered, “She’s a young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me gather grain. I will only gather among the bundles behind the reapers.’ So she came here and has been on her feet from daybreak until now. She just sat down this minute in the shelter.”

2:1–7   Ruth went searching for kindness and found it. She worked from daybreak to gather food. Teach me to look for your blessings when I’m not sure where I’ll find them.

Boaz Speaks with Ruth

8 Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go in any other field to gather grain, and don’t even leave this one. Stay here with my young women. 9 Watch where my men are reaping, and follow the young women in that field. I have ordered my young men not to touch you. When you’re thirsty, go to the jars and drink some of the water that the young men have drawn.”

10 Ruth immediately bowed down to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so helpful? Why are you paying attention to me? I’m only a foreigner.”

11 Boaz answered her, “People have told me about everything you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband died. They told me how you left your father and mother and the country where you were born. They also told me how you came to people that you didn’t know before. 12 May the LORD reward you for what you have done! May you receive a rich reward from the LORD God of Israel, under whose protection you have come for shelter.”

13 Ruth replied, “Sir, may your kindness to me continue. You have comforted me and reassured me, and I’m not even one of your own servants.”

14 When it was time to eat, Boaz told her, “Come here. Have some bread, and dip it into the sour wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he handed her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.

15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his servants, “Let her gather grain even among the bundles. Don’t give her any problems. 16 Even pull some grain out of the bundles and leave it for her to gather. Don’t give her a hard time about it.”

2:8–16   Boaz offered Ruth food and protection—a reward for holding tight to Naomi. You made sure Ruth gathered plenty to eat. You were the reason no one gave her problems.

Ruth and Naomi Talk about Boaz

17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. Then she separated the grain from its husks. She had about half a bushel of barley. 18 She picked it up and went into the town, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gathered. Ruth also took out what she had left over from lunch and gave it to Naomi.

19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you gather grain today? Just where did you work? May the man who paid attention to you be blessed.”

So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the person with whom she worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.”

20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the LORD bless him. The LORD hasn’t stopped being kind to people—living or dead.” Then Naomi told her, “That man is a relative of ours. He is a close relative, one of those responsible for taking care of us.”

21 Ruth, who was from Moab, told her, “He also said to me, ‘Stay with my younger workers until they have finished the harvest.’”

22 Naomi told her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It’s a good idea, my daughter, that you go out to the fields with his young women. If you go to someone else’s field, you may be molested.”

23 So Ruth stayed with the young women who were working for Boaz. She gathered grain until both the barley harvest and the wheat harvest ended. And she continued to live with her mother-in-law.

2:17–23   Finally Naomi realized you had never stopped being kind—not to her or her husband or sons. I believe that. Your compassion never ceases.

Naomi’s Plan for Ruth’s Marriage

3

1 Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I try to look for a home that would be good for you? 2 Isn’t Boaz, whose young women you’ve been working with, our relative? He will be separating the barley from its husks on the threshing floor[1] tonight. 3 Freshen up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. Don’t let him know that you’re there until he’s finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he is lying. Then uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will make it clear what you must do.”

5 Ruth answered her, “I will do whatever you say.”

Ruth at the Feet of Boaz

6 Ruth went to the threshing floor and did exactly as her mother-in-law had directed her. 7 Boaz had eaten and drunk to his heart’s content, so he went and lay at the edge of a pile of grain. Then she went over to him secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

8 At midnight the man was shivering. When he turned over, he was surprised to see a woman lying at his feet. 9 “Who are you?” he asked.

She answered, “I am Ruth. Spread the corner of your garment over me because you are a close relative who can take care of me.”

10 Boaz replied, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. This last kindness—that you didn’t go after the younger men, whether rich or poor—is better than the first. 11 Don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do whatever you say. The whole town knows that you are a woman who has strength of character. 12 It is true that I am a close relative of yours, but there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay here tonight. In the morning if he will agree to take care of you, that is good. He can take care of you. But if he does not wish to take care of you, then, I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, I will take care of you myself. Lie down until morning.”

3:1–13   Ruth cleaned herself up and sought out Boaz to ask for his care. He gladly vowed to play by your rules and live up to his responsibilities.

Ruth Returns to Bethlehem

14 So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. Then she got up early before anyone could be recognized. At that moment Boaz thought to himself, “I hope that no one will ever know that this woman came to the threshing floor.”

15 Then Boaz told Ruth, “Stretch out the cape you’re wearing and hold it tight.” So she held it tight while he measured out six measures of barley. Then he placed it on her ⌞back⌟ and went into the town.

16 When Ruth returned, her mother-in-law Naomi asked, “How did things go, my daughter?”

Ruth told Naomi everything the man had done for her. 17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley and told me not to come back to you empty-handed.”

18 Naomi replied, “Stay here, my daughter, until you know how it turns out. The man won’t rest unless he settles this matter today.”

3:14–18   You blessed Ruth with more than grain. You led her to a kind man eager for her hand. You always overwhelm me with far more than basic necessities.

Boaz Assumes Responsibility for Ruth

4

1 Boaz went to the city gate and sat there. Just then, the relative about whom he had spoken was passing by. Boaz said, “Please come over here and sit, my friend.” So the man came over and sat down.

2 Then Boaz chose ten men who were leaders of that city and said, “Sit here.” So they also sat down.

3 Boaz said to the man, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the field that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I said that I would inform you. Buy it in the presence of these men sitting here and in the presence of the leaders of our people. If you wish to buy back the property, you can buy back the property. But if you do not wish to buy back the property, tell me. Then I will know that I am next in line because there is no other relative except me.”

The man said, “I’ll buy back the property.”

5 Boaz continued, “When you buy the field from Naomi, you will also assume responsibility for the Moabite Ruth, the dead man’s widow. This keeps the inheritance in the dead man’s name.”

6 The man replied, “In that case I cannot assume responsibility for her. If I did, I would ruin my inheritance. Take all my rights to buy back the property for yourself, because I cannot assume that responsibility.”

7 (This is the way it used to be in Israel concerning buying back property and exchanging goods: In order to make every matter legal, a man would take off his sandal and give it to the other man. This was the way a contract was publicly approved in Israel.) 8 So when the man said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he took off his sandal.

9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and to all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 In addition, I have bought as my wife the Moabite Ruth, Mahlon’s widow, to keep the inheritance in the dead man’s name. In this way the dead man’s name will not be cut off from his relatives or from the public records. Today you are witnesses.”

11 All the people who were at the gate, including the leaders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make this wife, who is coming into your home, like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built our family of Israel. So show your strength of character in Ephrathah and make a name for yourself in Bethlehem. 12 Also, from the descendant whom the LORD will give you from this young woman, may your family become like the family of Perez, the son whom Tamar gave birth to for Judah.”

4:1–12   Boaz didn’t waste time settling his standing with Ruth. He took home a sandal—and the right to take Ruth as his wife. You bring joy to women and men of strong character.

Ruth Gives Birth to David’s Ancestor

13 Then Boaz took Ruth home, and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the LORD gave her the ability to become pregnant. So she gave birth to a son.

14 The women said to Naomi, “Praise the LORD, who has remembered today to give you someone who will take care of you. The child’s name will be famous in Israel. 15 He will bring you a new life and support you in your old age. Your daughter-in-law who loves you is better to you than seven sons, because she has given birth.”

16 Naomi took the child, held him on her lap, and became his guardian.

17 The women in the neighborhood said, “Naomi has a son.” So they gave him the name Obed.

He became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.

The Ancestry of David

18 This is the account of Perez and his family.

Perez was the father of Hezron.

19 Hezron was the father of Ram.

Ram was the father of Amminadab.

20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.

Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

21 Salmon was the father of Boaz.

Boaz was the father of Obed.

22 Obed was the father of Jesse.

Jesse was the father of David.

4:13–22   You gave Ruth a son who would be famous in Israel. You made her David’s great-grandmother—and welcomed her into your own royal line. You unfold amazing plans long before anyone knows what you’re doing.

1 SAMUEL

INTRODUCTION

First Samuel describes the rise of Israel’s first kings. The cycle of sin, disaster, and deliverance in the book of Judges laid waste to God’s people. Each time a judge passed from the scene, the Israelites slid into disobedience and old enemies renewed their attacks. Powerful warring neighbors like the Philistines constantly raided the land to steal crops and drive the Israelites into the barren highlands.

The book of 1 Samuel begins with news that even Israel’s priesthood is corrupt. When the high priest Eli refuses to control his greedy predator sons, God chooses a young boy, Samuel, to become the nation’s spiritual, political, and military leader. He grows up to serve not only as judge but as the Lord’s prophetic voice to his people.

Despite Samuel’s faultless leadership, the people clamor for God to give them a king like their neighbors. Samuel anoints Israel’s first royal, Saul, a brilliant military strategist who stands a head taller than anyone in the land (1 Samuel 10:17–27). His disobedience earns him the Lord’s disfavor, however, and he is replaced by David, a young man with a heart for God (1 Samuel 13:14).

Unlike other national histories that hide the flaws of imperfect leaders, this account has no shortage of either the successes or the sins of Israel’s early monarchy. Praying 1 Samuel allows you to see yourself as you really are, celebrating your God-given strengths and getting help to rise above your weaknesses.

1 SAMUEL

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31

Samuel’s Birth

1

1 There was a man named Elkanah from Ramathaim Zophim in the mountains of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, grandson of Elihu, great-grandson of Tohu, whose father was Zuph from the tribe of Ephraim. 2 Elkanah had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Every year this man would go from his own city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Armies at Shiloh. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served there as priests of the LORD.

4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he would give portions of it to his wife Peninnah and all her sons and daughters. 5 He would also give one portion to Hannah because he loved her, even though the LORD had kept her from having children. 6 Because the LORD had made her unable to have children, her rival ⌞Peninnah⌟ tormented her endlessly in order to make her miserable. 7 This happened year after year. Whenever Hannah went to the LORD’s house, Peninnah would make her miserable, and Hannah would cry and not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would ask her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why haven’t you eaten? Why are you so downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

1:1–8   A serving of meat didn’t interest Hannah. She wept and wouldn’t eat. Her rival wouldn’t let her forget her empty womb.

9 One day, after Hannah had something to eat and drink in Shiloh, she got up. (The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the door of the Lord’s temple.) 10 Though she was resentful, she prayed to the LORD while she cried. 11 She made this vow, “LORD of Armies, if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives. A razor will never be used on his head.” 12 While Hannah was praying a long time in front of the LORD, Eli was watching her mouth. 13 She was praying silently. Her voice couldn’t be heard; only her lips were moving. Eli thought she was drunk.

1:9–11   Hannah cried to you with a bitter soul. She vowed to give you her son from birth to death—if only you would give her a child.

14 “How long are you going to stay drunk?” Eli asked her. “Get rid of your wine.”

15 Hannah responded, “No sir. I’m not drunk. I’m depressed. I’m pouring out my heart to the LORD. 16 Don’t take me to be a good-for-nothing woman. I was praying like this because I’ve been troubled and tormented.”

17 Eli replied, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your request.”

Authentic Prayer

1 Samuel 1:1–20

Asking

She made this vow, “LORD of Armies, if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives.” 1 Samuel 1:11

God doesn’t bargain. Long childless in a culture where her worth depended on producing offspring, Hannah endured endless torment from her husband’s rival wife.

Even as Hannah enters God’s presence, she can’t rest. Her misery robs her of hunger. Full of resentment, she prays to God through quivering tears, moving her lips yet making no sound. When the high priest accuses her of drunkenness, she cries out, “Don’t take me to be a good-for-nothing woman. I was praying like this because I’ve been troubled and tormented” (1 Samuel 1:16). Hannah is a desperate woman. She vows that if the Lord gives her a son, she will hand him back.

Hannah’s promise shows her intense desire for a son and her intent to live for the Lord. Yet there are no bargains to be struck with God. He never says, “You give me this, and I’ll give you that.” The Lord knows your real needs better than you do (Matthew 6:8). He promises to grant your requests, bestowing only good gifts (Luke 11:5–13). Ask freely, and trust him for his best answers.

Pray the Scriptures Asking: 1 Kings 3:5, John 15:7, Philippians 4:6–7, 1 John 5:14–15

18 “May you continue to be kind to me,” she said. Then the woman went her way and ate. She was no longer sad.[1]

1:12–18   How could Eli think Hannah was drunk? Didn’t he recognize real grief? Keep me from hasty judgments. Help me show your compassion to the tormented and depressed.

19 Early in the morning Elkanah and his family got up and worshiped in front of the LORD. Then they returned home to Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel [God Hears], because she said, “I asked the LORD for him.”

1:19–20   You gave Hannah what she wanted, a boy she named “God Hears.”

Samuel’s Childhood

21 To keep his vow, Elkanah and his entire household again went to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD. 22 But Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, “I’ll wait until the boy is weaned. Then I’ll bring him and present him to the LORD, and he’ll stay there permanently.”

23 “Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Wait until you’ve weaned him. May the LORD keep his word.” The woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24 As soon as she had weaned Samuel, she took him with her. She also brought a three-year-old bull,[2] half a bushel of flour, and a full wineskin. She brought him to the LORD’s house at Shiloh while the boy was ⌞still⌟ a child.

25 Then the parents butchered the bull and brought the child to Eli. 26 “Sir,” Hannah said, “as sure as you live, I’m the woman who stood here next to you and prayed to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. 28 In return, I am giving him to the LORD. He will be dedicated to the LORD for his whole life.”

1:21–28   Hannah kept her promise. She brought you her son. His whole life belonged to you.

And they worshiped the LORD there.

Hannah’s Prayer

2

1 Hannah prayed out loud,

“My heart finds joy in the LORD.

My head is lifted to the LORD.

My mouth mocks my enemies.

I rejoice because you saved ⌞me⌟.

2 There is no one holy like the LORD.

There is no one but you, O LORD.

There is no Rock like our God.

2:1–2   My heart leaps when you lift my head. There’s no one holy like you—no Rock like my God.

3 “Do not boast

⌞or⌟ let arrogance come out of your mouth

because the LORD is a God of knowledge,

and he weighs ⌞our⌟ actions.

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,

but those who stumble are armed with strength.

5 Those who were well-fed hire themselves out for a piece of bread,

but those who were hungry hunger no more.

Even the woman who was childless gives birth to seven children,

but the mother of many children grieves all alone.

2:3–5   You aren’t impressed by my arrogant mouth. You weigh my actions. You arm the weak and feed the hungry.

6 “The LORD kills, and he gives life.

He makes ⌞people⌟ go down to the grave, and he raises them up ⌞again⌟.

7 The LORD causes poverty and grants wealth.

He humbles ⌞people⌟; he also promotes them.

8 He raises the poor from the dust.

He lifts the needy from the trash heap

in order to make them sit with nobles

and even to make them inherit a glorious throne.

“The pillars of the earth are the LORD’s.

He has set the world on them.

9 He safeguards the steps of his faithful ones,

but wicked people are silenced in darkness

because humans cannot succeed by their own strength.

10 “Those who oppose the LORD are broken into pieces.

He thunders at them from the heavens.

The LORD judges the ends of the earth.

He gives strength to his King

and lifts the head of his Messiah.”[3]

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. But the boy ⌞Samuel⌟ served the LORD under the priest Eli.

2:6–11   You kill and give life. You cause poverty and wealth. You lift the needy from the trash heap and sit them on glorious thrones. You guard my faithful steps.

The Sins of Eli’s Sons

12 Eli’s sons, ⌞Hophni and Phinehas,⌟ were good-for-nothing priests; they had no faith in the LORD. 13 Now, this was how the priests dealt with the people who were offering sacrifices: While the meat was boiling, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand. 14 Then he would stick it into the pot, kettle, cauldron, or pan. Whatever the fork brought up ⌞from the pot⌟ belonged to the priest. This is what the priests did in Shiloh to all the people of Israel who came there ⌞to sacrifice⌟. 15 But ⌞in the case of Eli’s sons,⌟ even before the people burned the fat, their servants would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the meat to the priest to roast. He doesn’t want boiled meat from you. He wants it raw.”

16 If the man said to the servant, “First let the fat be burned, then take as much as you want,” the servant would say to him, “Give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.” 17 The sin of Eli’s sons was a serious matter to the LORD, because these men were treating the offerings made to the LORD with contempt.

2:12–17   Eli’s sons had no faith in you. They treated your altar with contempt. I’ll honor you when I worship instead of putting my interests first.

The Faithfulness of Samuel’s Family

18 Meanwhile, Samuel continued to serve in front of the LORD. As a boy he was ⌞already⌟ wearing a linen ephod.[4] 19 His mother would make him a robe and bring it to him every year when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.

20 Eli would bless Elkanah (and his wife) and say, “May the LORD give you children from this woman in place of the one which she has given to the LORD.” Then they would go home.

21 The LORD came to Hannah. She became pregnant ⌞five times⌟ and had three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in front of the LORD.

2:18–21   Hannah’s promise wasn’t empty. Her son served you well.

Eli’s Family Condemned

22 Now, Eli was very old, and he had heard everything that his sons were doing to all Israel and that they were sleeping with the women who served at the gate of the tent of meeting. 23 So he asked them, “Why are you doing such things? I hear about your wicked ways from all these people. 24 Sons, the report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading isn’t good! 25 If one person sins against another, God will take care of him. However, when a person sins against the LORD, who will pray for him?” But they wouldn’t listen to their father’s warning—the LORD wanted to kill them.

26 The boy Samuel continued to grow and gained the favor of the LORD and the people.

2:22–26   Eli’s sons would die for their wickedness. But Samuel grew in favor with you and with people.

27 Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: I revealed myself to your ancestors when they were under Pharaoh’s control in Egypt. 28 I chose ⌞one of your ancestors⌟ out of all the tribes of Israel to serve as my priest, to sacrifice burnt offerings on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the ephod in my presence. And I gave your ancestors the right to keep portions of the sacrifices that the people of Israel burned on the altar. 29 Why do you show no respect for my sacrifices and grain offerings that I have commanded people to make in my dwelling place? Why do you honor your sons more than me by making yourselves fat on the best of all the sacrifices offered by my people Israel?

30 “Therefore, the LORD God of Israel declares: I certainly thought that your family and your father’s family would always live in my presence.

“But now the LORD declares: I promise that I will honor those who honor me, and those who despise me will be considered insignificant. 31 The time is coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s house so that no one will grow old in your family. 32 You will see distress in my dwelling place. In spite of the good that I do for Israel, no one in your family will live to an old age. 33 Any man in your family whom I do not remove from my altar will have his eyes fail, and he[5] will be heartbroken. And all your descendants will die in the prime of life. 34 What is going to happen to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you: Both of them will die on the same day. 35 Then I will appoint a faithful priest to serve me. He will do everything I want him to do. I will give him faithful descendants, and he will always live as my anointed one. 36 Then anyone who is left from your household will bow down in front of him to get a coin or a loaf of bread and say, ‘Please appoint me to one of the priestly classes so that I may eat a piece of bread.’”

2:27–35   You said Hophni and Phineas would die on the same day. But Samuel would always do what was in your heart and mind. Make me like your servant Samuel.

The LORD Calls Samuel

3

1 The boy Samuel was serving the LORD under Eli. In those days a prophecy from the LORD was rare; visions were infrequent. 2 One night Eli was lying down in his room. His eyesight had begun to fail so that he couldn’t see well. 3 The lamp in God’s temple[6] hadn’t gone out yet, and Samuel was asleep in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was kept.

4 Then the LORD called Samuel. “Here I am,” Samuel responded. 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

“I didn’t call ⌞you⌟,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back and lay down.

6 The LORD called Samuel again. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

“I didn’t call ⌞you⌟, son,” he responded. “Go back to bed.” 7 Samuel had no experience with the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 The LORD called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 “Go, lie down,” Eli told Samuel. “When he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD. I’m listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his room.

3:1–9   Your word was rare in those days. But Samuel heard you call in the dark. Train me to recognize your voice.

10 The LORD came and stood there. He called as he had called the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak. I’m listening.”

11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am going to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it ring. 12 On that day I am going to do to Eli and his family everything I said from beginning to end. 13 I told him that I would hand down a permanent judgment against his household because he knew about his sons’ sin—that they were cursing God[7]—but he didn’t try to stop them. 14 That is why I have taken an oath concerning Eli’s family line: No offering or sacrifice will ever ⌞be able to⌟ make peace for the sins that Eli’s family committed.”

15 Samuel remained in bed until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD’s house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.

16 Then Eli called Samuel. “Samuel, my son!” he said.

“Here I am,” he responded.

17 “What did the LORD tell you?” he asked. “Please don’t hide anything from me. May God strike you dead if you hide anything he told you from me.”

18 So Samuel told Eli everything.

Eli replied, “He is the LORD. May he do what he thinks is right.”

3:10–18   Samuel told you to speak. He was listening. And you were ready to judge Eli’s contemptible sons. Eli knew about their sins and did nothing. Don’t let me shirk my duty to confront sin.

19 Samuel grew up. The LORD was with him and didn’t let any of his words go unfulfilled. 20 All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew Samuel was the LORD’s appointed prophet. 21 The LORD continued to appear in Shiloh, since the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the word of the LORD. And Samuel spoke to all Israel.[8]

3:19–20   You were with Samuel and never let his words fail. You proved he spoke for you.

The Army Sends for the Ark

4

1 Israel went to fight against the Philistines and camped near Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines organized their troops to meet Israel in battle. As the battle spread,[9] the Philistines defeated Israel and killed about 4,000 soldiers in the field.

3 When the troops came back to the camp, the leaders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD used the Philistines to defeat us today? Let’s get the ark of the LORD’s promise from Shiloh so that he may be with us and save us from our enemies.” 4 The troops sent some men who brought back the ark of the promise of the LORD of Armies—who is enthroned over the angels.[10] Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, came along with God’s ark. 5 When the LORD’s ark came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth rang with echoes.

6 As the Philistines heard the noise, they asked, “What’s ⌞all⌟ this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” The Philistines found out that the LORD’s ark had come into the camp. 7 Then they were frightened and said, “A god has come into ⌞their⌟ camp.” They also said, “Oh no! Nothing like this has ever happened before. 8 We’re in trouble now! Who can save us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every kind of plague in the desert. 9 Be strong, Philistines, and act like men, or else you will serve the Hebrews as they served you. Act like men and fight.”

The Ark Captured

10 The Philistines fought and defeated Israel. Every ⌞Israelite⌟ soldier fled to his tent. It was a major defeat in which 30,000 Israelite foot soldiers died. 11 The ark of God was captured. Both of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

4:1–11   The Israelites thought the ark of your covenant would save them. Warn me when you won’t go with me. Stop me when I’ve left your blessing.

12 A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the front line of the battle. He went to Shiloh that day with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.[11] 13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on a chair beside the road, watching. He was worried about the ark of God. The man went into the city to tell the news. The whole city cried out. 14 Hearing the cry, Eli asked, “What is this commotion?” So the man went quickly to tell Eli the news. 15 (Eli was 98 years old, and his eyesight had failed so that he couldn’t see.)

16 The man told Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle. I fled from the front line today.”

“What happened, son?” Eli asked.

17 “Israel fled from the Philistines,” the messenger answered. “Our troops suffered heavy casualties. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, also are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

18 When the messenger mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell from his chair backwards toward the gate. He broke his neck, and he died. (The man was old and heavy.) He had judged[12] Israel for 40 years.

19 His daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was pregnant. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor prematurely and gave birth to a son. 20 As she was dying, the women helping her said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son.” But she didn’t answer or pay attention.

21 She called the boy Ichabod [No Glory], saying, “Israel’s glory is gone,” because the ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and her husband ⌞died⌟. 22 “Israel’s glory is gone because the ark of God has been captured,” she said.

4:12–22   Your soldiers fled. The Philistines captured your ark. Eli’s sons perished. And the old priest fell backward and died. Your glory truly left Israel. Spare me from ever being called “Ichabod.”

The Ark in Philistia

5

1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 They brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon. 3 Early the next day the people of Ashdod saw that Dagon had fallen forward on the ground in front of the LORD’s ark. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the next morning they saw that Dagon had ⌞again⌟ fallen forward on the ground in front of the LORD’s ark. Dagon’s head and his two hands were cut off ⌞and were lying⌟ on the temple’s threshold. The rest of Dagon’s body was intact.[13] 5 This is why the priests of Dagon and everyone else who comes into Dagon’s temple in Ashdod still don’t step on the temple’s threshold.

5:1–5   No one can contain your power. Dagan couldn’t stand in your presence. You cut off the heads of false gods.

6 The LORD dealt harshly with the people of Ashdod. He destroyed them by striking the people in the vicinity of Ashdod with tumors. 7 When the people of Ashdod realized what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay with us, because their God is dealing harshly with us and our god Dagon.” 8 The people of Ashdod called together all the Philistine rulers. “What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” they asked.

“The ark of the God of Israel must be taken to Gath,” the rulers said.[14] So the people took the ark of the God of Israel there.

9 But after they had moved it,[15] the LORD threw the city into a great panic: He struck all the important and unimportant people in the city, and they were covered with tumors. 10 So the people of Gath sent the ark of God to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They brought the ark of the God of Israel here to kill us.” 11 They called together all the Philistine rulers. “Send the ark of the God of Israel away,” they said. “Let it go back to its own place so that it won’t kill us or our people.” There was a fear of death throughout the city, where God dealt ⌞with them⌟ very harshly. 12 The people who didn’t die were struck with tumors. So the cry of the city went up to heaven.

5:6–12   You struck fear among the Philistines from Ashdod to Gath to Ekron. They had to get rid of your ark.

The Ark Is Returned to Israel

6

1 The ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months 2 when the Philistines called for priests and people skilled in explaining omens. The Philistines asked, “What should we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to return it to its ⌞proper⌟ place.”

3 The priests answered, “If you’re returning the ark of the God of Israel, don’t send it away empty, but by all means return it to its ⌞proper⌟ place with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will know why he would not turn his anger away from you.”

4 The Philistines asked, “What kind of guilt offering should we give him?”

The priests answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice for the ⌞five⌟ Philistine rulers because all of you and your rulers suffer from the same plague. 5 Make models of your tumors and your mice which are destroying the country, and give glory to the God of Israel. Maybe he will no longer be so hard on you, your gods, and your country. 6 Why should you be as stubborn as the Egyptians and their Pharaoh were? After he toyed with the Egyptians, didn’t they send the Israelites on their way? 7 Now get a new cart ready for two dairy cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart. Take their calves away, and leave them in their stall. 8 Take the ark of the LORD, and put it on the cart. Put the gold objects which you’re giving him as a guilt offering in a box beside the ark. Send the cart on its way, 9 but then watch where it goes. If it goes up the road to its own country toward Beth Shemesh, then this disaster is the LORD’s doing. But if not, we’ll know it wasn’t his hand that struck us, but what happened to us was an accident.”

6:1–8   When you toyed with the Egyptians, they freed your people from slavery. When you struck the Philistines, they sent your ark on its way. You forced them to give you glory.

10 The people did this. They took two dairy cows, hitched them to a cart, and shut the calves in the stall. 11 They put the ark of the LORD and the box containing the gold mice and the models of their hemorrhoids on the cart. 12 The cows went straight up the road to Beth Shemesh. Continually mooing, they stayed on the road and didn’t turn right or left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

13 The people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley. When they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh and stopped there by a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. 15 (The Levites had already taken down ⌞from the cart⌟ the ark of the LORD and the box which contained the gold objects and put them on the large rock.) The people of Beth Shemesh presented burnt offerings and sacrifices to the LORD that day. 16 After the five rulers of the Philistines saw this, they went back to Ekron that same day.

6:9–16   You prodded cows to take your ark home. They mooed as they left their calves behind. I’m overjoyed when I see your power and presence draw close.

17 The gold hemorrhoids which the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the LORD were for the cities of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 18 And the number of gold mice was the same as the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers, including walled cities and farm villages. The large rock on which they put the ark of the LORD is a witness.[16] It is still there today in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

19 God struck down some of the people from Beth Shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down 70 people.[17] The people mourned because the LORD struck them with such a great blow. 20 The people of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to which people will he go when he leaves us?” 21 They sent messengers to the people living at Kiriath Jearim to say, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD. Come and take it back with you.”

6:17–21   Guilty pagans bowed before you, but some of your own scoffed at your holiness. I don’t want to do anything that requires your harsh blow of discipline.

7

1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came to take the LORD’s ark and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. They gave Abinadab’s son Eleazar the holy occupation of guarding the LORD’s ark.

Israel Admits It Has Sinned

2 A long time passed after the ark came to stay at Kiriath Jearim. For 20 years the entire nation of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.

3 Samuel told the entire nation of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD wholeheartedly, get rid of the foreign gods you have, including the statues of the goddess Astarte. Make a commitment to the LORD, and serve only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”

4 So the Israelites got rid of the statues of Baal and Astarte and served only the LORD.

5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all the Israelites together at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 So the Israelites gathered together at Mizpah. They drew some water, poured it out in front of the LORD, and fasted that day. They confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” So Samuel judged Israel in Mizpah.

7:1–6   Returning to you means getting rid of my other gods. I’ll commit myself wholeheartedly to you. I’ll fast and pray and confess my sins.

The Philistines Defeated

7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the Philistine rulers came to attack Israel. The Israelites heard ⌞about the Philistine plan⌟ and were afraid of them. 8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t turn a deaf ear to us! Don’t stop crying to the LORD our God for us! Ask him to save us from the Philistines!”

9 Then Samuel took a lamb, one still feeding on milk, and sacrificed it as a burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel. On that day the LORD thundered loudly at the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel. 11 Israel’s soldiers left Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and killed them as far as Beth Car.

12 Then Samuel took a rock and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer [Rock of Help] and said, “Until now the LORD has helped us.”

13 The power of the Philistines was crushed, so they didn’t come into Israel’s territory again. The LORD restrained the Philistines as long as Samuel lived. 14 The cities between Ekron and Gath which the Philistines took from Israel were returned to Israel. And Israel recovered the territory controlled by these cities from the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 Samuel judged Israel as long as he lived. 16 Every year he went around to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah in order to judge Israel in all those places. 17 Then he would return home to Ramah. There, too, he judged Israel. And in Ramah he built an altar to the LORD.

7:7–17   You’re my Rock of Help. My worship will be a monument to your constant help. Restrain my enemies.

Israel Rejects the LORD as King

8

1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel; the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3 The sons didn’t follow their father’s example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.

4 Then all the leaders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They told him, “You’re old, and your sons aren’t following your example. Now appoint a king to judge us so that we will be like all the other nations.”

6 But Samuel considered it wrong for them to request a king to judge them. So Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 The LORD told Samuel, “Listen to everything the people are saying to you. They haven’t rejected you; they’ve rejected me. 8 They’re doing just what they’ve done since I took them out of Egypt—leaving me and serving other gods. 9 Listen to them now, but be sure to warn them and tell them about the rights of a king.”

8:1–9   Your people saw that Samuel’s sons didn’t follow your ways. They demanded a king. They rejected you as their Lord yet again.

10 Then Samuel told the people who had asked him for a king everything the LORD had said. 11 Samuel said, “These are the rights of a king:

He will draft your sons, make them serve on his chariots and horses, and make them run ahead of his chariots.

12 He will appoint them to be his officers over 1,000 or over 50 soldiers, to plow his ground and harvest his crops, and to make weapons and equipment for his chariots.

13 He will take your daughters and have them make perfumes, cook, and bake.

14 He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and wine and give it to his aids and officials.

16 He will take your male and female slaves, your best cattle,[18] and your donkeys for his own use.

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks.

In addition, you will be his servants.

18 “When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves. The LORD will not answer you when that day comes.”

8:10–18   No one worried about a king’s heavy rules. No one remembered your compassion and care.

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, “No, we want a king! 20 Then we, too, will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us, lead us out ⌞to war⌟, and fight our battles.”

21 When Samuel heard everything the people had to say, he reported it privately to the LORD. 22 The LORD told him, “Listen to them, and give them a king.”

8:19–22   Everyone demanded a king like their neighbors. So you gave them what they wanted. Please ignore me when I beg for stupid things.

Then Samuel told the people of Israel, “Go ⌞back⌟ to your own cities.”

Saul Searches for His Father’s Donkeys

9

1 There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin whose name was Kish. He was a son of Abiel, grandson of Zeror, and great-grandson of Becorath, whose father was Aphiah, a descendant of Benjamin. Kish was a powerful man. 2 He had a son named Saul, a handsome, young man. No man in Israel was more handsome than Saul. He stood a head taller than everyone else.

3 When some donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, Kish told Saul, “Take one of the servants with you, and go look for the donkeys.”

4 They went through the mountains of Ephraim and the region of Shalisha without finding the donkeys. Then Saul and his servant went through the region of Shaalim, but the donkeys weren’t there. The men went through the territory of Benjamin but ⌞still⌟ didn’t find them. 5 When they came to the territory of Zuph, Saul told his servant who was with him, “Let’s go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and worry about us ⌞instead⌟.”

9:1–5   No one in Israel was more handsome than Saul. He stood a head taller than all the rest. But he couldn’t find lost donkeys without your help.

Saul Seeks Samuel’s Advice

6 The servant responded, “There’s a man of God in this city, a highly respected man. Everything he says is sure to happen. Let’s go there. Maybe he’ll tell us which way we should go.”

7 “If we go,” Saul asked his servant, “what could we bring the man since the food in our sacks is gone? There’s no present we can bring the man of God. What do we have?”

8 The servant again answered Saul, “Look, here! I have one-tenth of an ounce of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God. Then he’ll tell us where to find the donkeys.”

9 (Formerly in Israel, when a person went to ask God ⌞a question⌟, he would say, “Come, let’s go to the seer,” because a person we now call a prophet used to be called a seer.)

10 Saul told his servant, “That’s a good idea! Come on, let’s go.” They went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they were going up the hill to the city, they met girls coming out to get water. They asked the girls, “Is the seer here?”

12 The girls answered, “He’s there ahead of you. Hurry! He ⌞just⌟ went into the city today since the people are offering a sacrifice on the worship site. 13 As you go into the city, you can find him before he goes to the worship site to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, since he blesses the sacrifice. Then those who are invited may eat. Go. You should be able to find him now.”

14 So Saul and his servant went to the city. As they entered it, Samuel was coming toward them on his way to the worship site. 15 Now, the LORD had revealed the following message to Samuel one day before Saul came: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the territory of Benjamin. Anoint him to be ruler of my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines because I’ve seen my people’s ⌞suffering⌟ and their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel noticed Saul, the LORD told him, “There’s the man I told you about. This man will govern my people.”

18 Saul approached Samuel inside the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

19 Samuel replied, “I’m the seer. Go ahead of me to the worship site. You will eat with me today. In the morning I’ll let you go after I tell you all that’s on your mind. 20 Don’t trouble yourself about the donkeys that were lost three days ago because they’ve been found. Who will have all that is desirable in Israel? Won’t it be you and your father’s family?”

21 Saul replied, “I am a man from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe of Israel. My family is the most insignificant of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. So why are you saying such things to me?”

22 Samuel brought Saul and his servant to the banquet hall and had them sit at the head of the guests—about 30 people. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring me the portion of the sacrificial meat that I gave you and told you to put aside.” 24 So the cook picked up the leg and thigh[19] and laid it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “This was kept in order to be laid in front of you. Eat it. When I invited people to the feast, I set it aside for you.”[20] Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 Then they left the worship site for the city. They spread blankets on the roof for Saul, and he slept there.[21]

26 At dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up! ⌞It’s time for⌟ me to send you away.” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside. 27 As they were going toward the city limits, Samuel told Saul, “Have the servant go ahead of you.” (He went ahead.) “But you stay here, and I will tell you God’s word.”

9:6–27   Samuel had amazing words for Saul. But the future king saw only his own smallness. You have plans for me bigger than I know.

Saul Anointed by Samuel

10

1 Samuel took a flask of olive oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “The LORD has anointed you to be ruler of his people Israel. You will rule his people and save them from all their enemies. This will be the sign that the LORD has anointed you[22] to be ruler of his people. 2 When you leave me today, two men will be at Rachel’s grave on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They’ll tell you, ‘We’ve found the donkeys you went looking for. Your father no longer cares about them. Instead, he’s worried about you. He keeps asking, “What can I do ⌞to find⌟ my son?” ’ 3 Keep going until you come to the oak tree at Tabor. There you will find three men on their way to worship God at Bethel: One will be carrying three young goats, one will be carrying three loaves of bread, and one will be carrying a ⌞full⌟ wineskin. 4 They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you should accept from them. 5 After that, you will come to the hill of God, where the Philistines have a military post. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets prophesying as they come from the worship site. They will be led by men playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre. 6 Then the LORD’s Spirit will come over you. You will be a different person while you prophesy with them. 7 When these signs happen to you, do what you must, because God is with you. 8 Go ahead of me to Gilgal. Then I will come to sacrifice burnt offerings and make fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to tell you what to do.”

10:1–8   You anointed Saul to rule your people. You gave him signs and promised him your Spirit. Come over me and make me a different person. Be with me.

Saul’s Anointing Confirmed by Signs

9 When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s attitude. That day all these signs happened. 10 When Saul came to the hill, a group of prophets came to meet him, and God’s Spirit came over him. He prophesied with them. 11 When all who had known him before saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul one of the prophets?” 12 But a man from that place asked, “But who’s the chief prophet?” So it became a proverb: “Is Saul one of the prophets?” 13 And when he had finished prophesying, he came to the worship site.

14 Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?”

Saul answered, “To look for the donkeys, and when we couldn’t find them, we went to Samuel.”

15 Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”

16 “He assured us the donkeys had been found,” Saul answered his uncle. But Saul didn’t tell him what Samuel said ⌞about his becoming king⌟.

10:9–16   You changed Saul’s attitude when he saw all your signs come true. He spoke like one of your prophets.

The LORD Chooses Saul

17 Samuel called the people to ⌞come into the presence of⌟ the LORD at Mizpah. 18 He said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I brought Israel out of Egypt and rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kings who were oppressing you. 19 But now you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and distresses. You said, ‘No! Place a king over us.’ Now then, stand in front of the LORD by your tribes and family groups.”

20 When Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21 When he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by families, the family of Matri was chosen. Then Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen. They looked for him but couldn’t find him. 22 They asked the LORD again, “Has he arrived here yet?”

10:17–22   Your people rejected you as king, so you gave them the ruler they deserved—the big man hiding among the baggage.

The LORD answered, “He’s hiding among the baggage.”

23 They ran and got him from there. As he stood among the people, he was a head taller than everyone else. 24 Samuel asked the people, “Do you see whom the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”

Then all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

25 Samuel explained the laws concerning kingship to the people. He wrote the laws on a scroll, which he placed in front of the LORD. Then Samuel sent the people back to their homes. 26 Saul also went home to Gibeah. With him went some soldiers whose hearts God had touched. 27 However, some good-for-nothing people asked, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and wouldn’t bring him presents, but he didn’t respond.

10:23–27   Some shouted “Long live the king!” Others wondered how Saul could save them. Teach me respect for your choices.

Saul Defeats Ammon

11

1 King Nahash of Ammon was severely oppressing the tribes of Gad and Reuben. He would poke out everyone’s right eye and allow no one to rescue Israel. There was no one among the Israelites east of the Jordan River whose right eye King Nahash of Ammon had not poked out. However, seven thousand men had escaped from the Ammonites and gone to Jabesh Gilead. About a month later[23] Nahash the Ammonite blockaded Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we’ll serve you.”

2 Nahash the Ammonite responded, “I’ll make a treaty with you on this one condition: I’ll poke out everyone’s right eye and bring disgrace on all Israel.”

3 The leaders of Jabesh told him, “Give us seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. And if there’s no one to save us, we’ll surrender to you.”

4 The messengers came to Saul’s town, Gibeah. When they told the people the news, the people cried loudly. 5 Just then Saul was coming from the field behind some oxen. “Why are these people crying?” Saul asked. So they told him the news about the men of Jabesh. 6 When he heard this news, God’s Spirit came over him, and he became very angry. 7 Saul took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with the following message: “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who doesn’t follow Saul and Samuel ⌞into battle⌟.” So the people became terrified by the LORD, and they came out united ⌞behind Saul⌟. 8 When Saul counted them at Bezek, there were 300,000 troops from Israel and 30,000 troops from Judah. 9 They told the messengers who had come, “This is what you are to say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun gets hot, you will be rescued.’” When the men of Jabesh received the message, they were overjoyed.

10 They said ⌞to Nahash⌟, “Tomorrow we’ll surrender to you, and you may do to us whatever you think is right.”

11:1–10   The people of Gibeah all cried at the thought of blind eyes and disgrace. Your Spirit came over Saul and he rallied the troops.

11 The next day Saul arranged the army in three divisions. They came into the ⌞Ammonite⌟ camp during the morning hours and continued to defeat the Ammonites until it got hot that day. The survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people asked Samuel, “Who said that Saul shouldn’t rule us? Let us have them, and we’ll kill them.”

13 But Saul said, “No one will be killed today, because today the LORD saved Israel.”

14 Samuel told the troops, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal and there acknowledge ⌞Saul’s⌟ kingship.” 15 Then all the troops went to Gilgal, and there in the LORD’s presence, they confirmed Saul as their king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings to the LORD. Saul and all of Israel’s soldiers celebrated.

11:11–15   You defeated the Ammonites and scattered the survivors. Now no one questioned Saul—and Saul knew you were Israel’s savior. You’re always the source of victory.

Samuel’s Spotless Leadership

12

1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you have said to me and appointed a king over you. 2 And now, here is the king who will lead you. I am old and gray, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am. Testify against me in front of the LORD and in front of his anointed king. Did I take anyone’s ox? Did I take anyone’s donkey? Did I cheat or oppress anyone? Did I take a bribe from anyone to look the other way? ⌞If so,⌟ I will give it all back.”

4 They answered, “You didn’t cheat us, oppress us, or take anything from anyone.”

5 Samuel told them, “The LORD is a witness to what you’ve said, and his anointed king is a witness today that you’ve found nothing in my hands.”

“He is a witness,” they answered.

12:1–5   Samuel didn’t cheat. Or oppress. Or take anything that wasn’t his. Make me a spotless leader. Don’t let me be anything less.

6 Samuel told the people, “The LORD appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors out of Egypt. 7 Now, stand up while I put you on trial in front of the LORD and cite all the righteous things the LORD did for you and your ancestors. 8 When your ancestors went with Jacob to Egypt ⌞and were oppressed⌟, they cried out to the LORD, who sent Moses and Aaron to bring them out of Egypt. The LORD settled them in this place. 9 But they forgot the LORD their God. So he handed them over to Sisera, who was the commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. All of them fought against your ancestors. 10 Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned. We have abandoned the LORD and served other gods and goddesses—the Baals and the Astartes. But rescue us from our enemies now, and we will serve you.’

11 “Then the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel and rescued you from your enemies on every side so that you could live securely. 12 But when you saw King Nahash of Ammon coming to attack you, you told me, ‘No, a king should rule over us,’ though the LORD your God was your king.

12:6–12   You rescued your people from Egypt and every enemy. They still demanded a king like their neighbors. They forgot that the Lord their God was their king.

The New Kingship

13 “Now, here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for. See, the LORD has put a king over you. 14 If you fear the LORD, serve him, obey him, and don’t rebel against what he says, then you and your king will follow the LORD your God. 15 But if you don’t obey the LORD, if you rebel against what he says, then the LORD will be against you as he was against your ancestors. 16 Now then, stand still and watch this great thing the LORD is going to do right before your eyes. 17 Isn’t the wheat being harvested today? I will call on the LORD, and he’ll send thunder and rain. Then you will realize what a wicked thing you did in the LORD’s presence when you asked for a king.”

18 Then Samuel called on the LORD. That day the LORD sent thunder and rain so that all the people feared the LORD and Samuel very much.

19 All the people pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for us so that we will not die. We have added ⌞another⌟ evil thing to all our other sins by asking for a king.”

12:13–19   Thunder clapped. Rain poured. All the people feared you. Forgive me when I add yet another evil thing to all my sins.

20 “Don’t be afraid,” Samuel told the people. “You did do all these evil things. But don’t turn away from the LORD. Instead, serve the LORD wholeheartedly. 21 Don’t turn away to follow other gods. They can’t help or rescue you, because they don’t exist. 22 For the sake of his great name, the LORD will not abandon his people, because the LORD wants to make you his people. 23 It would be unthinkable for me to sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. I will go on teaching you the way that is good and right. 24 Fear the LORD, and serve him sincerely. Consider the great things he did for you. 25 But if you go on doing what is evil, you and your king will be wiped out.”

12:20–25   Israel did evil. But you invited them back to you. Will I never learn that other gods can’t help me? They don’t exist. For the sake of your great name, don’t abandon me. Never stop teaching me your right way.

The LORD Rejects Saul as King

13

1 Saul was ⌞thirty⌟ years old when he became king, and he was king of Israel ⌞forty-two⌟ years.[24]

2 Saul chose 3,000 men from Israel; 2,000 of them were stationed with Saul at Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and 1,000 were stationed with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. But the rest of the people he sent home.

3 Jonathan defeated the Philistine troops at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. With the sounding of the ram’s horn throughout the land, Saul announced, “Listen, Hebrews!” 4 (So all Israel listened.) “I, Saul, have defeated the Philistine troops, and now Israel has become offensive to the Philistines!” All the troops rallied behind Saul at Gilgal.

5 The Philistines assembled to fight against Israel. They had 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and as many soldiers as the sand on the seashore. They camped at Michmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the Israelites saw they were in trouble because the army was hard-pressed, they hid in caves, in thorny thickets, among rocks, in pits, and in cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan River into the territory of Gad and Gilead. But Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people who followed him trembled ⌞in fear⌟.

13:1–7   The Israelites were hard-pressed. Some hid in caves and cisterns. Others fled for safer lands. The ones who stuck around trembled in fear.

8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel. But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the troops began to scatter. 9 Then Saul said, “Bring me the animals for the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” So he sacrificed the burnt offering. 10 As he finished sacrificing the burnt offering, Samuel came, and Saul went to greet him.

11 Samuel asked, “What have you done?”

Saul replied, “I saw the troops were scattering. You didn’t come when you said you would, and the Philistines were assembling at Michmash. 12 So I thought, ‘Now, the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal, but I haven’t sought the LORD’s favor.’ I felt pressured into sacrificing the burnt offering.”

13 “You did a foolish thing,” Samuel told Saul. “You didn’t follow the command of the LORD your God. ⌞If you had,⌟ the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel permanently. 14 But now your kingdom will not last. The LORD has searched for a man after his own heart. The LORD has appointed him as ruler of his people, because you didn’t follow the command of the LORD.”

15 Samuel left Gilgal. The rest of the people followed Saul to meet the soldiers. They went from Gilgal[25] to Gibeah in Benjamin, where Saul counted the troops who were still with him—about 600 men. 16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them stayed at Geba in Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash.

17 Raiding parties left the Philistine camp in three columns. One column turned onto the road to Ophrah to the region of Shual. 18 Another column turned onto the road to Beth Horon. And one turned onto the road toward the region that overlooks the valley of Zeboim and the desert.

19 No blacksmith could be found in the entire land of Israel. In this way the Philistines kept the Hebrews from making swords and spears. 20 Everyone in Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen the blade of his plow, his mattock, ax, or sickle. 21 The price was a pim[26] for plow blades and mattocks, and one-tenth of an ounce of silver to sharpen a mattock[27] or set a metal point on a cattle-prod. 22 So on the day of battle, not one sword or spear could be found among all the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan. But Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

23 Now, Philistine troops had gone out to the pass at Michmash.

13:8–23   Because Saul broke your command, his kingdom wouldn’t last. You searched for a man after your own heart. Let me be that person whose heart beats with yours.

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

14

1 One day Saul’s son Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Let’s go to the Philistine military post on the other side.” But Jonathan didn’t tell his father ⌞he was going⌟.

2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree at Migron. He had with him about 600 men 3 in addition to Ahijah, the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, who was the son of Phinehas and the grandson of Eli, the LORD’s priest at Shiloh. Ahijah was wearing the priestly ephod.[28]

The troops didn’t know Jonathan had left. 4 There was a cliff on each side of the mountain pass where Jonathan searched for a way to cross over to attack the Philistine military post. The name of one ⌞cliff⌟ was Bozez, and the name of the other was Seneh. 5 One cliff stood like a pillar on the north facing Michmash, the other stood south facing Geba.

6 Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Let’s go to the military post of these uncircumcised people. Maybe the LORD will act on our behalf. The LORD can win a victory with a few men as well as with many.”

7 His armorbearer answered him, “Do whatever you have in mind. Go ahead! I agree with you.”

8 Jonathan continued, “Listen, we’ll cross over to the Philistines and show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are until we come to you,’ then we’ll stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say to us, ‘Come up here,’ then we’ll go up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has handed them over to us.”

14:1–8   You give victory with a few just as easily as with many. I’ll boldly venture out for you even if few go with me.

11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine troops. The Philistines said, “Look, some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in.”

12 “Come up here,” the men of the military post said to Jonathan and his armorbearer. “We have something to show you.”

Jonathan told his armorbearer, “Follow me up ⌞to the military post⌟ because the LORD has handed the troops over to Israel.”

13 Jonathan climbed up ⌞the cliff⌟, and his armorbearer followed him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines. His armorbearer, who was behind him, finished killing them. 14 In their first slaughter Jonathan and his armorbearer killed about twenty men within about a hundred yards. 15 There was panic among the army in the field and all the troops in the military post. The raiding party also trembled ⌞in fear⌟. The earth shook, and there was a panic sent from God.

16 Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin could see the crowd ⌞in the Philistine camp⌟ dispersing in all directions.

17 “Look around,” Saul told the troops who were with him, “and see who has left ⌞our camp⌟.” They looked and found that Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.

18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the priestly ephod,” because Ahijah carried the ephod in front of Israel that day.[29] 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew worse and worse. Then Saul said to the priest, “Remove your hand ⌞from the ephod⌟.”[30] 20 Saul and all the troops with him assembled and went into battle. They found Philistine soldiers killing their fellow soldiers in wild confusion. 21 The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before this and had been stationed in the camp now joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the men of Israel who had been hiding in the mountains of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also pursued the Philistines in battle. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day.

14:9–23   You sent panic and threw the Philistines into wild confusion. Israelites left their mountain hideouts and joined the battle. You saved your people that day.

Saul’s Curse

Now, the battle moved beyond Beth Aven. 24 Israel’s soldiers were driven hard that day. Saul made the troops swear, “Cursed is anyone who eats food before the evening comes and before I’ve gotten revenge on my enemies.” So none of his troops tasted any food. 25 The entire land had honeycombs,[31] and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the troops entered the woods, the honey was flowing. But no one put his hand to his mouth, because the troops were afraid of violating their oath.

27 Jonathan hadn’t heard that his father forced the troops to take an oath. So he stretched out the tip of the staff he had in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he put it to his mouth, his eyes lit up. 28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father forced the troops to take a solemn oath: ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’”

Now, the army was exhausted. 29 Jonathan answered, “My father has brought trouble to the country. See how my eyes lit up when I tasted a little of this honey? 30 If only the troops had eaten some of the enemies’ food, which they found today. We would have killed more Philistines.”

31 That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, but the troops were thoroughly exhausted. 32 So the troops seized the Philistines’ belongings. They took sheep, cows, and calves, and butchered them on the ground. The troops ate the meat with blood still in it. 33 Some ⌞soldiers⌟ told Saul, “The troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with blood in it.”

Saul replied, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large rock over to me now.” 34 Then Saul said, “Spread out through the troops, and tell them, ‘Each of you, bring me your ox or your sheep, and butcher it here, and eat. But don’t sin against the LORD by eating meat with blood in it.’”

So each of the soldiers brought his ox with him that night and butchered it there.

35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD.

36 Saul said ⌞to his men⌟, “Let’s attack the Philistines tonight and take their possessions until the light of dawn. And let’s not leave any of them ⌞alive⌟.”

“Do whatever you think is best,” they responded.

But the priest said, “Let’s consult God first.”

37 Then Saul asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But he received no answer that day.

38 So Saul ordered all the leaders of the troops, “Come here! Find out what sin was committed today. 39 I solemnly swear, as the LORD and Savior of Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan ⌞who did it⌟, he must die.” But not one of the soldiers replied.

40 Saul told all Israel, “You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.”

“Do whatever you think is best,” the troops responded to Saul.

41 Then Saul said to the LORD, “O God of Israel, why didn’t you answer me today? If this sin is mine or my son Jonathan’s, LORD God of Israel, ⌞let the priest⌟ draw Urim. But if it is in your people Israel,[32] ⌞let him⌟ draw Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, and the people were freed ⌞from guilt⌟.

42 “Choose between me and my son Jonathan,” Saul said. Then Jonathan was chosen.

43 “Tell me,” Saul asked Jonathan. “What did you do?”

So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey on the tip of the staff I had in my hand. And for that I am to die?”

44 Saul said, “May God do worse things to me than are in this curse if you do not die, Jonathan!”

45 The troops asked Saul, “Should Jonathan die after he has won this great victory in Israel? That would be unthinkable! We solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground, because he has done this with God’s help today.” So the troops rescued Jonathan from death. 46 Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines. So the Philistines returned to their own land.

14:24–46   Soldiers stopped Saul from carrying out a foolish curse. Stop me when I veer out of line.

Summary of Saul’s Reign

47 When Saul had taken over the kingdom of Israel, he fought against his enemies on every side—against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he was victorious. 48 He acted forcefully and defeated Amalek. He rescued Israel from the enemies who looted their possessions.

49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab (the firstborn daughter) and Michal (the younger daughter). 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 51 Kish (Saul’s father) and Ner (Abner’s father) were the sons of Abiel.

52 There was intense warfare with the Philistines as long as Saul lived. Whenever any warrior or any skilled fighting man came to Saul’s attention, Saul would enlist him in the army.

14:47–52   Saul fought forcefully. But he didn’t always listen to you. Keep me in step with you.

Saul Disobeys the LORD

15

1 Samuel told Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king of his people Israel. Now listen to the LORD’s words. 2 This is what the LORD of Armies says: I will punish Amalek for what they did to Israel. They blocked Israel’s way after the Israelites came from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek. Claim everything they have for God by destroying it. Don’t spare them, but kill men and women, infants and children, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.”

4 Saul organized the troops, and he counted them at Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. 5 Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Get away from the Amalekites so that I won’t destroy you with them. You were kind to all the Israelites when they came from Egypt.” So the Kenites left the Amalekites.

7 Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt. 8 He captured King Agag of Amalek alive. But he claimed all the people for God by destroying them. 9 Saul and the army spared Agag and the best sheep and cows, the fattened animals, the lambs, and all the best ⌞property⌟. The army refused to claim them for God by destroying them. But everything that was worthless and weak the army did claim for God and destroy.

15:1–9   You sent Israel against an archenemy that had blocked their way to freedom. You said everyone and everything had to be destroyed.

The LORD Rejects Saul

10 Then the LORD spoke to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I made Saul king. He turned away from me and did not carry out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he prayed to the LORD all night. 12 Early in the morning he got up to meet Saul. Samuel was told, “Saul went to Carmel to set up a monument in his honor. Then he left there and went to Gilgal.”

13 Samuel came to Saul, who said, “The LORD bless you. I carried out the LORD’s instructions.”

14 However, Samuel asked,

“But what is this sound of sheep in my ears

and this sound of cows that I hear?”

15 Saul answered, “The army brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best sheep and cows to sacrifice to the LORD your God. But the rest they claimed for God and destroyed.”

15:10–15   Saul made you so angry you regretted having crowned him king. I won’t turn away from you or neglect your instructions.

16 “Be quiet,” Samuel told Saul, “and let me tell you what the LORD told me last night.”

“Speak,” Saul replied.

17 Samuel said, “Even though you don’t consider yourself great, you were the head of Israel’s tribes. The LORD anointed you king of Israel. 18 And the LORD sent you on a mission. He said, ‘Claim those sinners, the Amalekites, for me by destroying them. Wage war against them until they’re wiped out.’ 19 Why didn’t you obey the LORD? Why have you taken their belongings and done what the LORD considers evil?”

20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul told Samuel. “I went where the LORD sent me, brought ⌞back⌟ King Agag of Amalek, and claimed the Amalekites for God. 21 The army took some of their belongings—the best sheep and cows were claimed for God—in order to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

22 Then Samuel said,

“Is the LORD as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices

as he would be with your obedience?

To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice.

To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams.

23 The sin of black magic is rebellion.

Wickedness and idolatry are arrogance.

Because you rejected the word of the LORD,

he rejects you as king.”

15:16–23   Saul didn’t consider himself great, but he still didn’t honor you. You delight in obedience more than burnt offerings. To obey is better than sacrifice.

24 Then Saul told Samuel, “I have sinned by not following the LORD’s command or your instructions. I was afraid of the people and listened to them. 25 Now please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the LORD.”

26 Samuel told Saul, “I will not go back with you because you rejected what the LORD told you. So the LORD rejects you as king of Israel.” 27 When Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel told him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today. He has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 29 In addition, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind, because he is not a mortal who changes his mind.”

30 Saul replied, “I have sinned! Now please honor me in front of the leaders of my people and in front of Israel. Come back with me, and let me worship the LORD your God.” 31 Then Samuel turned and followed Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

32 “Bring me King Agag of Amalek,” Samuel said.

Agag came to him trembling.[33] “Surely, the bitterness of death is past,”[34] Agag said.

33 But Samuel said, “As your sword made women childless, so your mother will be made childless among women.” And Samuel cut Agag in pieces in the presence of the LORD at Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went to his home at Gibeah. 35 Samuel didn’t see Saul again before he died, though Samuel mourned over Saul. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king of Israel.

15:24–35   You rejected Saul for rejecting you, and you wouldn’t go back on your decision. You’re not like a mortal. You never lie or change your mind.

David Chosen to Be King

16

1 The LORD asked Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul now that I have rejected him as king of Israel? Fill a flask with olive oil and go. I’m sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem because I’ve selected one of his sons to be king.”

2 “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “When Saul hears about it, he’ll kill me.”

The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I’ve come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. I will reveal to you what you should do, and you will anoint for me the one I point out to you.”

4 Samuel did what the LORD told him. When he came to Bethlehem, the leaders of the city, trembling with fear, greeted him and said, “May peace be with you.”

5 “Greetings,” he replied, “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He performed the ceremonies for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he saw Eliab and thought, “Certainly, here in the LORD’s presence is his anointed king.”

7 But the LORD told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see.[35] Humans look at outward appearances, but the LORD looks into the heart.”

16:1–7   You didn’t choose the next king based on height or appearance. You don’t see as humans see. I look at outward appearances, but you look at the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and brought him to Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

9 Then Jesse had Shammah come to Samuel. “The LORD has not chosen this one either,” Samuel said. 10 So Jesse brought seven ⌞more⌟ of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen ⌞any of⌟ these. 11 Are these all the sons you have?”

“There’s still the youngest one,” Jesse answered. “He’s tending the sheep.”

Samuel told Jesse, “Send someone to get him. We won’t continue until he gets here.”

12 So Jesse sent for him. He had a healthy complexion, attractive eyes, and a handsome appearance. The LORD said, “Go ahead, anoint him. He is the one.” 13 Samuel took the flask of olive oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers. The LORD’s Spirit came over David and stayed with him from that day on. Then Samuel left for Ramah.

16:8–13   David was your choice to be king. Make me like him—a person after your heart.

David Plays the Lyre for Saul

14 Now, the LORD’s Spirit had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. 15 Saul’s officials told him, “An evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Your Majesty, why don’t you command us to look for a man who can play the lyre well? When the evil spirit from God comes to you, he’ll strum a tune, and you’ll feel better.”

17 Saul told his officials, “Please find me a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

18 One of the officials said, “I know one of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem who can play well. He’s a courageous man and a warrior. He has a way with words, he is handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

19 Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

20 Jesse took six bushels of bread, a full wineskin, and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. 21 David came to Saul and served him. Saul loved him very much and made David his armorbearer. 22 Saul sent ⌞this message⌟ to Jesse, “Please let David stay with me because I have grown fond of him.”

23 Whenever God’s spirit came to Saul, David took the lyre and strummed a tune. Saul got relief ⌞from his terror⌟ and felt better, and the evil spirit left him.

16:14–23   You sent an evil spirit to torment Saul. You also sent David to give the king relief from his terror. You went with David wherever he went.

David and Goliath

17

1 The Philistines assembled their armies for war. They assembled at Socoh, which is in Judah, and camped between Socoh and Azekah at Ephes Dammim. 2 So Saul and the army of Israel assembled and camped in the Elah Valley. They formed a battle line to fight the Philistines. 3 The Philistines were stationed on a hill on one side, and the Israelites were stationed on a hill on the other side. There was a ravine between the two of them.

4 The Philistine army’s champion came out of their camp. His name was Goliath from Gath. He was ten feet tall.[36] 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore a bronze coat of armor scales weighing 125 pounds. 6 On his legs he had bronze shin guards and on his back a bronze javelin. 7 The shaft of his spear was like the beam used by weavers. The head of his spear was made of 15 pounds of iron. The man who carried his shield walked ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and called to the Israelites, “Why do you form a battle line? Am I not a Philistine, and aren’t you Saul’s servants? Choose a man, and let him come down to ⌞fight⌟ me. 9 If he can fight me and kill me, then we will be your slaves. But if I overpower him and kill him, then you will be our slaves and serve us.” 10 The Philistine added, “I challenge the Israelite battle line today. Send out a man so that we can fight each other.” 11 When Saul and all the Israelites heard what this Philistine said, they were gripped with fear.

17:1–11   Goliath mocked your army, and no Israelite wanted to battle a ten-foot-tall giant. Even the king was gripped with fear.

12 David was a son of a man named Jesse from the region of Ephrath and the city of Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s day he was an old man.[37] 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons joined Saul’s army for the battle. The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, the third was Shammah, 14 and David was the youngest. The three oldest joined Saul’s army. 15 David went back and forth from Saul’s camp to Bethlehem, where he tended his father’s flock.

16 Each morning and evening for 40 days, the Philistine came forward and made his challenge.

17 Jesse told his son David, “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Take them to your brothers in the camp right away. 18 And take these ten cheeses to the captain of the regiment. See how your brothers are doing, and bring back some news about them. 19 They, along with Saul and all the soldiers of Israel, are in the Elah Valley fighting the Philistines.”

20 David got up early in the morning and had someone else watch ⌞the sheep⌟. He took ⌞the food⌟ and went, as Jesse ordered him. He went to the camp as the army was going out to the battle line shouting their war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines formed their battle lines facing each other. 22 David left the supplies behind in the hands of the quartermaster, ran to the battle line, and greeted his brothers. 23 While he was talking to them, the Philistine champion, Goliath from Gath, came from the battle lines of the Philistines. He repeated his words, and David heard them. 24 When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him because they were terrified. 25 The men of Israel said, “Did you see that man coming ⌞from the Philistine lines⌟? He keeps coming to challenge Israel. The king will make the man who kills this Philistine very rich. He will give his daughter to that man to marry and elevate the social status of his family.”[38]

17:12–25   Eliab dismissed David as overconfident. Headstrong. Saul said he was just a boy. But David hated to hear Goliath disgrace you—the living God.

26 David asked the men who were standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and gets rid of Israel’s disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should challenge the army of the living God?”

27 The soldiers repeated ⌞to David⌟ how the man who kills Goliath would be treated.

28 Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard David talking to the men. Then Eliab became angry with David. “Why did you come here,” he asked him, “and with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how overconfident and headstrong you are. You came here just to see the battle.”

29 “What have I done now?” David snapped at him. “Didn’t I ⌞merely⌟ ask a question?” 30 He turned to face another man and asked the same question, and the other soldiers gave him the same answer.

31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, who then sent for him. 32 David told Saul, “No one should be discouraged because of this. I will go and fight this Philistine.”

33 Saul responded to David, “You can’t fight this Philistine. You’re just a boy, but he’s been a warrior since he was your age.”

34 David replied to Saul, “I am a shepherd for my father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. If it attacked me, I took hold of its mane, struck it, and killed it. 36 I have killed lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has challenged the army of the living God.” 37 David added, “The LORD, who saved me from the lion and the bear, will save me from this Philistine.”

“Go,” Saul told David, “and may the LORD be with you.”

17:26–37   Train me to answer those who mock you. Give me courage to stand up for the living God. You will be with me.

38 Saul put his battle tunic on David; he put a bronze helmet on David’s head and dressed him in armor. 39 David fastened Saul’s sword over his clothes and tried to walk, but he had never practiced doing this. “I can’t walk in these things,” David told Saul. “I’ve never had any practice doing this.” So David took all those things off.

40 He took his stick with him, picked out five smooth stones from the riverbed, and put them in his shepherd’s bag. With a sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine. 41 The Philistine, preceded by the man carrying his shield, was coming closer and closer to David. 42 When the Philistine got a good look at David, he despised him. After all, David was a young man with a healthy complexion and good looks.

17:38–42   David didn’t need Saul’s armor. He took only a sling and five stones. The giant Goliath despised the young man’s good looks.

43 The Philistine asked David, “Am I a dog that you come to ⌞attack⌟ me with sticks?” So the Philistine called on his gods to curse David. 44 “Come on,” the Philistine told David, “and I’ll give your body to the birds.”

45 David told the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Armies, the God of the army of Israel, whom you have insulted. 46 Today the LORD will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head. And this day I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals. The whole world will know that Israel has a God. 47 Then everyone gathered here will know that the LORD can save without sword or spear, because the LORD determines every battle’s outcome. He will hand all of you over to us.”

48 When the Philistine moved closer in order to attack, David quickly ran toward the opposing battle line to attack the Philistine. 49 Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, and struck the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank into Goliath’s forehead, and he fell to the ground on his face. 50 So using ⌞only⌟ a sling and a stone, David proved to be stronger than the Philistine. David struck down and killed the Philistine, even though David didn’t have a sword in his hand. 51 David ran and stood over the Philistine. He took Goliath’s sword, pulled it out of its sheath, and made certain the Philistine was dead by cutting off his head.

When the Philistines saw their hero had been killed, they fled. 52 Then the soldiers of Israel and Judah rose up, shouted a battle cry, and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Wounded Philistines lay on the road to Shaaraim and all the way to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites came back from their pursuit of the Philistines, they looted all the goods in the Philistine camp. 54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath’s armor in his tent.

55 As Saul watched David going out against the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”

Abner answered, “I solemnly swear, as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

56 The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”

57 When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him to Saul. David had the Philistine’s head in his hand.

58 Saul asked him, “Whose son are you, young man?”

“The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David answered.

17:43–58   David hurled a stone that sank into Goliath’s forehead, dropping the giant in your mighty name. David put an end to Goliath’s insults. The whole world learned you are God.

David’s Love for Jonathan

18

1 David finished talking to Saul. After that, Jonathan became David’s closest friend. He loved David as much as ⌞he loved⌟ himself. 2 (From that day on Saul kept David ⌞as his servant⌟ and didn’t let him go back to his family.) 3 So Jonathan made a pledge of mutual loyalty with David because he loved him as much as ⌞he loved⌟ himself. 4 Jonathan took off the coat he had on and gave it to David along with his battle tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

5 David was successful wherever Saul sent him. Saul put him in charge of the fighting men. This pleased all the people, including Saul’s officials.

18:1–5   Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself. The two men pledged loyalty to each other. Lead me to deep friends who love you.

David’s Success Makes Saul Jealous

6 As they arrived, David was returning from a campaign against the Philistines. Women from all of Israel’s cities came to meet King Saul. They sang and danced, accompanied by tambourines, joyful music, and triangles.[39] 7 The women who were celebrating sang,

“Saul has defeated thousands

but David tens of thousands!”

8 Saul became very angry because he considered this saying to be insulting. “To David they credit tens of thousands,” he said, “but to me they credit ⌞only⌟ a few thousand. The only thing left for David is my kingdom.” 9 From that day on Saul kept an eye on David.

10 The next day an evil spirit from God seized Saul. He began to prophesy in his house while David strummed a tune on the lyre as he did every day. Now, Saul had a spear in his hand. 11 He raised the spear and thought, “I’ll nail David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice.

12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. 13 So he kept David away. He made David captain of a regiment. David led the troops out ⌞to battle⌟ and back again. 14 He was successful in everything he undertook because the LORD was with him. 15 Saul noticed how very successful he was and became ⌞even more⌟ afraid of him. 16 Everyone in Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in and out ⌞of battle⌟.

17 Finally, Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife if you prove yourself to be a warrior for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” (Saul thought, “I must not lay a hand on him. Let the Philistines do that.”)

18 “Who am I?” David asked Saul. “And how important are my relatives or my father’s family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”

19 But when the time came to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was married to Adriel from Meholah. 20 However, Saul’s daughter Michal fell in love with David. When Saul was told about it, the news pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “I’ll give her to David. She will trap him, and the Philistines will get him.” So he said to David a second time, “You will now be my son-in-law.”

22 Saul ordered his officers, “Talk to David in private. Tell him, ‘The king likes you, and all his officers are fond of you. Become the king’s son-in-law.’”

23 When Saul’s officers made it a point to say this, David asked, “Do you think it’s easy to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor and unimportant person.”

24 When the officers told Saul what David had said, 25 Saul replied, “Tell David, ‘The king doesn’t want any payment for the bride except 100 Philistine foreskins so that he can get revenge on his enemies.’” In this way Saul planned to have David fall into the hands of the Philistines. 26 When his officers told David this, David concluded that it was acceptable to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time was up, 27 David and his men went out and struck down 200 Philistines. David brought the foreskins, and they counted them out for the king so that David could become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal as his wife. 28 Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David. 29 Then Saul was even more afraid of David, and so Saul became David’s constant enemy.

30 The Philistine generals still went out ⌞to fight Israel⌟. But whenever they went out ⌞to fight⌟, David was more successful than the rest of Saul’s officers. So David gained a good reputation.

18:6–30   Saul eyed David. He raised his spear and thought he’d nail David to the wall. Break me loose from my enemies. Go with me in whatever I do. Make me a success at serving you.

Saul’s Plan to Kill David

19

1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officers to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan was very fond of David, 2 so he reported to David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Please be careful tomorrow morning. Go into hiding, and stay out of sight. 3 I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you’ll be. I’ll speak with my father about you. If I find out anything, I’ll tell you.”

4 So Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. “You should not commit a sin against your servant David,” he said. “He hasn’t sinned against you. Instead, he has done some very fine things for you: 5 He risked his life and killed the Philistine Goliath, and the LORD gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you rejoiced. Why then should you sin by shedding David’s innocent blood for no reason?”

6 Saul listened to Jonathan, and he promised, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, he will not be killed.” 7 Jonathan told David all of this. Then Jonathan took David to Saul. So David was returned to his former status in Saul’s court.

19:1–7   Jonathan warned David of Saul’s murderous intent. He defended David to his father’s face. You kept showing David your favor.

Saul Tries to Kill David

8 When war broke out again, David went to fight the Philistines. He defeated them so decisively that they fled from him. 9 Then an evil spirit from the LORD came over Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was strumming a tune. 10 Saul tried to nail David to the wall with his spear. But David dodged it, and Saul’s spear struck the wall. David fled, escaping ⌞from Saul⌟ that night.

11 Saul sent messengers to watch David’s house and kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, advised him, “If you don’t save yourself tonight, you’ll be dead tomorrow!” 12 So Michal lowered David through a window, and he ran away to escape. 13 Then Michal took some idols, laid them in the bed, put a goat-hair blanket at its head, and covered the idols with a garment.

14 When Saul sent messengers to get David, Michal said, “He’s sick.” 15 Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David themselves. Saul told them, “Bring him here to me in his bed so that I can kill him.” 16 The messengers came, and there in the bed were the idols with the goat-hair blanket at its head.

17 Saul asked Michal, “Why did you betray me by sending my enemy away so that he could escape?”

Michal answered, “He told me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”

19:8–17   David dodged Saul’s spear. The king’s daughter helped him get away. You kept giving David your protection.

18 David escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah. He told Samuel everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to the pastures and lived there.

19 When it was reported to Saul that David was in the pastures at Ramah, 20 Saul sent messengers to get David. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying with Samuel serving as their leader, God’s Spirit came over Saul’s messengers so that they also prophesied. 21 When they told Saul ⌞about this⌟, he sent other messengers, but they also prophesied. Saul even sent a third group of messengers, but they also prophesied. 22 Then he went to Ramah himself. He went as far as the big cistern in Secu and asked ⌞the people⌟, “Where are Samuel and David?”

He was told, “Over there in the pastures at Ramah.” 23 As he went toward the pastures at Ramah, God’s Spirit came over him too. He continued his journey, prophesying until he came to the pastures at Ramah. 24 He even took off his clothes as he prophesied in front of Samuel and lay there naked all day and all night. This is where the saying, “Is Saul one of the prophets?” came from.

19:18–24   You took control of the men hunting David. Your Spirit turned them all into prophets—even naked Saul. You kept showing David your approval.

David Makes a Promise to Jonathan

20

1 David fled from the pastures at Ramah, came to Jonathan, and asked, “What have I done? What crime am I guilty of? What sin have I committed against your father that he’s trying to kill me?”

2 Jonathan answered, “That’s unthinkable! You’re not going to die! My father does nothing without telling me, whether it’s important or not. Why should my father hide this from me? It’s just not that way.”

3 But David took an oath, saying, “Your father certainly knows that you support me, so he said ⌞to himself⌟, ‘Jonathan must not know about this. It will bring him distress.’ But I solemnly swear, as the LORD and you live, I’m only one step away from death.”

4 Jonathan said to David, “I’ll do whatever you say.”

5 David replied, “Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, when I should sit and eat at the king’s ⌞table⌟. But let me go and hide in the countryside for two more nights. 6 If your father really misses me, tell him, ‘David repeatedly begged me to let him run to Bethlehem, his hometown, because his relatives are offering the annual sacrifice there.’ 7 If he says, ‘Good!’ then I will be safe. But if he gets really angry, then you’ll know for sure that he has decided to harm me. 8 Now, be kind to me. After all, you forced me into an agreement with the LORD. If I have committed any crime, kill me yourself. Why bother taking me to your father?”

9 Jonathan answered, “That’s unthinkable! If I knew for sure that my father had decided to harm you, I would have told you about it.”

10 Then David asked, “Who will tell me whether or not your father gives you a harsh answer?”

11 Jonathan said, “Let’s go out into the country.” So they went out into the country.

12 “As the LORD God of Israel ⌞is my witness⌟,” Jonathan continued, “I’ll find out in the next two or three days how my father feels about you. If he does feel kindly toward you, then I will send someone to tell you. 13 If my father plans to harm you and I fail to tell you and send you away safely, may the LORD harm me even more. May the LORD be with you as he used to be with my father. 14 But as long as I live, ⌞promise me that you will⌟ show me kindness because of the LORD. And even when I die, 15 never stop being kind to my family. The Lord will wipe each of David’s enemies off the face of the earth. 16 At that time, if Jonathan’s name[40] is cut off from David’s family, then may the LORD punish David’s house.”[41]

20:1–13   What sin had David committed that deserved death? None! You gave him Jonathan’s friendship for protection. Saul’s own son kept him from death.

17 Once again Jonathan swore an oath to David because of his love for David. He loved David as much as ⌞he loved⌟ himself. 18 “Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival,” Jonathan told him, “and you will be missed when your seat is empty. 19 The day after tomorrow you will be missed even more.[42] So go to the place where you hid on that other occasion, and stay by the rock. 20 I will shoot three arrows from beside it toward a target. 21 Then I will send out a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ Now, if I tell the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are next to you; get them,’ then come ⌞back with me⌟. You will be safe, and there will be no trouble. I swear it, as the LORD lives. 22 But if I tell the boy, ‘The arrows are next to you,’ then go, because the LORD has sent you away. 23 We have made a promise to each other, and the LORD is ⌞a witness⌟ between you and me forever.”

20:14–23   Grant me friendships that last to the grave and beyond. I’ll protect and provide for those I love.

24 So David hid in the countryside. When the New Moon Festival came, King Saul sat down to eat the festival meal. 25 He sat in his usual seat by the wall, while Jonathan stood. Abner sat beside Saul, but David’s place was empty. 26 Saul didn’t say anything that day, thinking, “Something has happened to him so that he’s unclean.[43] He must be unclean.” 27 But on the second day of the month, David’s place was still empty.

Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t Jesse’s son come to the meal either yesterday or today?”

28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David repeatedly begged me ⌞to let him go⌟ to Bethlehem. 29 David said to me ‘Please let me go. Our relatives will offer a sacrifice in the city, and my brother ordered me to be there. If you will permit it, please let me go to see my brothers.’ This is why he hasn’t come to your banquet.”

30 Then Saul got angry with Jonathan. “Son of a crooked and rebellious woman!” he called Jonathan. “I know you’ve sided with Jesse’s son. You have no shame. ⌞You act⌟ as if you are your mother’s son but not mine.[44] 31 As long as Jesse’s son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Now, send some men to bring him to me. He’s a dead man!”

32 Jonathan asked his father, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?”

20:24–32   David was a dead man, and Jonathan had been humiliated. The two kissed and cried when they parted. Give me friends worth weeping over.

33 Saul raised his spear to strike him. Then Jonathan knew his father was determined to kill David. 34 Jonathan got up from the table very angry and ate nothing that second day of the month. He was worried sick about David because Jonathan had been humiliated by his own father.

35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the country to the place he and David had agreed on. Jonathan had a young boy with him. 36 “Run,” he told the boy, “please find the arrows I shoot.”

The boy ran, and Jonathan shot the arrow over him. 37 When the boy reached the place where Jonathan’s arrow ⌞had landed⌟, Jonathan called after him, “The arrows are next to you!” 38 Jonathan added, “Quick! Hurry up! Don’t stand there!” Jonathan’s young servant gathered the arrows and came to his master. 39 The boy had no idea what was going on, but Jonathan and David understood. 40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told the boy, “Take them back into town.”

41 When the boy had left, David came out from the south side ⌞of the rock⌟ and quickly bowed down three times with his face touching the ground. Then they kissed each other and cried together, but David cried the loudest.[45]

42 “Go in peace!” Jonathan told David. “We have both taken an oath in the LORD’s name, saying, ‘The LORD will be ⌞a witness⌟ between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’”[46]

So David left, and Jonathan went into the city.

20:33–42   Break into my family’s worst moments. Put an end to our rage.

David at Nob

21  [47]

1 David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech was trembling as he went to meet David. “Why are you alone?” he asked David. “Why is no one with you?”

2 “The king ordered me to do something,” David answered the priest Ahimelech, “and he told me, ‘No one must know anything about this mission I’m sending you on and about the orders I’ve given you. I’ve stationed[48] my young men at a certain place.’” 3  ⌞David added,⌟ “Now, what do you have ⌞to eat⌟? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever you can find.”

4 “I don’t have any ordinary bread,” the chief priest answered David. “But there is holy bread for the young men if they haven’t had sexual intercourse ⌞today⌟.”

5 David answered the priest, “Of course women have been kept away from us as usual when we go ⌞on a mission⌟. The young men’s bodies are kept holy even on ordinary campaigns. How much more then will their bodies be holy today?”

6 So the priest gave him holy ⌞bread⌟ because he only had the bread of the presence which had been taken from the LORD’s presence and replaced with warm bread that day.

7 That same day one of Saul’s servants who was obligated to stay in the LORD’s presence was there. His name was Doeg. A foreman for Saul’s shepherds, he was from Edom.

8 David asked Ahimelech, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I didn’t take either my spear or any other weapon because the king’s business was urgent.”

9 The chief priest answered, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Elah Valley, is here. It is wrapped in a cloth behind the priestly ephod.[49] If you want to take it, take it. There’s no other weapon here.”

David said, “There’s none like it. Let me have the sword.”

21:1–9   You gave David a safe place to run and brought men to fight by his side. You fed him with holy bread and armed him to defend himself. Keep me secure when danger pursues me.

David at Gath

10 That day David left. He was ⌞still⌟ fleeing from Saul when he came to King Achish of Gath. 11 Achish’s officers asked, “Isn’t this David, the king of ⌞his⌟ country? He’s the one they used to sing about in the dances:

‘Saul has defeated thousands

but David tens of thousands.’”

12 When David realized what they had said, he was terrified of King Achish of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior ⌞when he was⌟ in their presence and acted insane ⌞as long as he was⌟ under their authority. He scribbled on the doors of the city gate and let his spit run down his beard.

14 Achish said to his officers, “Look at him! Don’t you see ⌞that he’s⌟ insane? Why bring him to me? 15 Do I have such a shortage of lunatics that you bring this man so that he can show me he is insane? Does this man have to come into my house?”

21:10–15   Achish had no shortage of his own lunatics, so David acted insane and escaped. Make me shrewd enough to survive real life.

David in Judah and Moab

22

1 So David escaped from that place and fled to the cave at Adullam. When his brothers and all ⌞the rest⌟ of his family heard about it, they went to him. 2 Then everyone who was in trouble, in debt, or bitter about life joined him, and he became their commander. There were about four hundred men with him.

3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab. He asked the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” 4 He brought them to the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was living in his fortified camp.

5 “Don’t live in your fortified camp,” the prophet Gad told David. “Go to the land of Judah.” So David went to the forest of Hereth.

22:1–5   David’s family joined him. The troubled and bitter sided with him too. When death looms, give me allies and a place to hide out.

Saul Massacres the Priests at Nob

6 Saul heard that David and his men had been found. Saul was staying in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at the worship site[50] with his spear in his hand and all his officials standing around him. 7 He said to his officials, “Listen here, men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over a regiment or a battalion of soldiers? 8 All of you are plotting against me, and no one informed me when my son entered into a loyalty pledge with Jesse’s son. No one felt sorry for me and informed me that my son has encouraged my servant David to ambush me, as he’s doing now.”

9 Then Doeg from Edom, standing with Saul’s officials, answered him, “I saw Jesse’s son when he came to Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, in Nob. 10 Ahimelech prayed to the LORD for David and gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech, who was Ahitub’s son, and his entire family who were the priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen here, son of Ahitub!”

“Yes, sir?” he responded.

13 Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son plot against me? You gave him bread and a sword and prayed to God for him so that he can rise up against me and ambush me, as he’s doing now.”

14 Ahimelech asked the king, “But whom among all your officials can you trust like David? Your Majesty, he’s your son-in-law, the commander of your bodyguard. He’s honored in your own household. 15 Is this the first time I have prayed to God for him? Not at all! You shouldn’t blame me or anyone in my family for this. I knew nothing at all about this.”

16 Saul said, “Ahimelech, you and your entire family are going to die.”

17 “Turn and kill the LORD’s priests because they support David,” the king said to the runners standing around him. “When they knew David was fleeing, they didn’t inform me.” But the king’s men refused to attack the LORD’s priests.

18 So the king said to Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests.” Doeg from Edom turned and attacked the priests, and that day he killed 85 men wearing the linen priestly ephod.[51] 19 He also killed the people of Nob, the city of the priests. Using ⌞his⌟ sword, he killed men and women, children and infants, cows, donkeys, and sheep.

20 But Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, had one son who escaped. His name was Abiathar. He fled to David. 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the LORD’s priests.

22 David told Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg from Edom was there that he would be certain to tell Saul. I am the one responsible[52] for all the lives of your family. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid. The one who is seeking my life is ⌞also⌟ seeking your life. However, you will be under my protection.”

22:6–23   Saul fumed at all his officials, but only Doeg dared to turn on the priests of Nob. David took responsibility for the slaughter. I won’t shrug it off when people suffer because of me.

David Saves the City of Keilah

23

1 David was asked, “Did you know that the Philistines are fighting against Keilah? They are robbing the threshing floors.”[53]

2 David asked the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?”

“Go,” the LORD told David, “attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

3 David’s men told him, “We’re afraid of staying here in Judah. How much more ⌞afraid do you think we’ll be⌟ if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?”

4 David asked the LORD again, and the LORD answered him. He said, “Go to Keilah. I’m giving you the power to defeat the Philistines.”

5 David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines, drove off their livestock, and decisively defeated them. So David rescued the people who lived in Keilah.

6 When Ahimelech’s son Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, Abiathar brought a priestly ephod[54] with him.

7 When Saul was told that David went to Keilah, Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hands. He has trapped himself by going into a city which has ⌞a gate with⌟ a double door ⌞held shut by⌟ a bar.” 8 So Saul called together all the troops to go to war and blockade Keilah, where David and his men were.

9 When David learned that Saul was planning to harm him, he told the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod.” 10 Then David said, “LORD God of Israel, I have actually heard that Saul is going to come to Keilah and destroy the city on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come here as I have heard? LORD God of Israel, please tell me.”

“He will come,” the LORD answered.

12 “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” David asked.

“They will hand you over,” the LORD answered.

13 So David and his men, about six hundred[55] in all, left Keilah. They went wherever they could go. Then Saul was told, “David has escaped from Keilah!” So he gave up the campaign. 14 David lived in fortified camps in the desert, and he lived in fortified camps in the mountains of the desert of Ziph. Saul was always searching for him, but God didn’t let him capture David.

23:1–14   You sent David to save Keilah. You gave him power to defeat the Philistines. And you told him the right time to run. I ache for your clear guidance.

David in the Desert of Ziph

15 David was afraid because[56] Saul had come to kill him at Horesh in the desert of Ziph. 16 Saul’s son Jonathan came to David at Horesh. He strengthened David’s ⌞faith⌟ in the LORD.[57] 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he told David, “my father Saul won’t find you. You will rule Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 Both of them made a pledge in the LORD’s presence. David stayed in Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

19 Then the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah. They said, “David is hiding with us in fortified camps at Horesh on the hills of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon. 20 Come, Your Majesty, whenever you want. We will hand him over to you.”

21 Saul responded, “The LORD bless you for feeling sorry for me! 22 Please make more plans, and watch where he goes. Who has seen him there? I’m told he’s very clever. 23 Watch and learn about all the hiding places where he may be hiding, and come back to me with the facts. Then I’ll go with you, and if he’s in the country, I’ll search for him among all the families of Judah.” 24 They left for Ziph ahead of Saul.

David in the Desert of Maon

David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the plains south of Jeshimon. 25 When Saul and his men came to look for him, David was told the news. So he went to his mountain stronghold in the desert of Maon. Saul heard about it and pursued David into the desert of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, and Saul and his men were going around ⌞the mountain⌟ toward David and his men, trying to capture them. 27 Then a messenger came to Saul and said, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the country.”

28 Saul gave up pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. So that place was called Slippery Rock.[58] 29 From there David went to stay in the fortified camps of En Gedi.

23:15–28   Jonathan went to David and strengthened his faith. Instead of clinging to his right to rule, the king’s son supported his friend without hesitation. Help me calmly submit to your plans.

David Spares Saul’s Life

24  [59]

1 When Saul came back from ⌞fighting⌟ the Philistines, he was told “Now David is in the desert near En Gedi.” 2 Then Saul took 3,000 of the best-trained men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to some sheep pens along the road where there was a cave. Saul went into ⌞it⌟ to relieve himself while David and his men were sitting further back in the cave.

4 David’s men told him, “Today is the day the LORD referred to when he said, ‘I’m going to hand your enemy over to you. You will do to him whatever you think is right.’”

David quietly got up and cut off the border of Saul’s robe. 5 But afterward, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the border of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “It would be unthinkable for me to raise my hand against His Majesty, the LORD’s anointed king, since he is the LORD’s anointed.” 7 So David stopped[60] his men by saying this to them and didn’t let them attack Saul.

24:1–7   David wouldn’t touch your anointed king. He regretted even cutting the border of Saul’s robe. Give me a conscience that’s bothered by hidden wrongs.

Saul left the cave and went out onto the road. 8 Later, David got up, left the cave, and called to Saul, “Your Majesty!” When Saul looked back, David knelt down with his face touching the ground. 9 David asked Saul, “Why do you listen to rumors that I am trying to harm you? 10 Today you saw how the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. Although I was told to kill you, I spared you, saying, ‘I will not raise my hand against Your Majesty because you are the LORD’s anointed.’ 11 My master, look at this! The border of your robe is in my hand! Since I cut off the border of your robe and didn’t kill you, you should know and be able to see I mean no harm or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you, but you are trying to ambush me in order to take my life. 12 May the LORD decide between you and me. May the LORD take revenge on you for what you did to me. However, I will not lay a hand on you. 13 It’s like people used to say long ago, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’ But I will not lay a hand on you. 14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? One flea? 15 So the LORD must be the judge. He will decide between you and me. He will watch and take my side in ⌞this⌟ matter and set me free from you.”

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that you speaking, my servant David?” and Saul cried loudly. 17 He told David, “You are more righteous than I. You treated me well while I treated you badly. 18 Today you have proved how good you’ve been to me. When the LORD handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me. 19 When a person finds an enemy, does he send him away unharmed? The LORD will repay you completely for what you did for me today. 20 Now I know that you certainly will rule as king, and under your guidance the kingdom of Israel will prosper. 21 Swear an oath to the LORD for me that you will not wipe out my descendants or destroy my name in my father’s family.”

22 So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went home, and David and his men went to their fortified camp.

24:8–22   Saul cried when he realized a better man had spared his life. Wickedness comes from wicked people, but you’re the source of all goodness. Give me a heart fixed on doing right.

Samuel Dies

25

1 Samuel died, and all Israel gathered to mourn for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David went to the desert of Paran.

David, Nabal, and Abigail

2 Now, there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very rich man. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 This man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was sensible and beautiful, but he was harsh and mean. He was a descendant of Caleb.

4 While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5 So David sent ten young men and told them, “Go to Carmel, visit Nabal, and greet him for me. 6 Say to him, ‘May you live ⌞long⌟! May you, your home, and all you have prosper! 7 I hear that your sheepshearers are with you. Your shepherds have been with us, ⌞and⌟ we have not mistreated them. Nothing of theirs has been missing as long as they’ve been in Carmel. 8 Ask your young men, and let them tell you. Be kind to my young men, since we have come on a special occasion. Please give us and your son David anything you can ⌞spare⌟.’”

9 When David’s young men came to Nabal, they repeated all of this to him for David, and then they waited.

10 “Who is David?” Nabal answered David’s servants. “Who is Jesse’s son? So many servants nowadays are leaving their masters. 11 Should I take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to men coming from who knows where?”

12 David’s young men returned and told him all this.

25:2–12   Nabal was rich but mean. He wouldn’t show gratitude for the protection David and his men had provided. Shake me awake when I’m stingy with people who help me.

13 “Each of you put on your swords!” David told his men. And everyone, including David, put on his sword. About four hundred men went with David, while two hundred men stayed with the supplies.

14 One of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the desert to greet our master, who yelled at them. 15 Those men were very good to us. They didn’t mistreat us, and we found that nothing was missing wherever we went with them when we were in the fields. 16 They were a wall protecting us day and night as long as we were watching the sheep near them. 17 Now, consider what you should do because our master and his whole household are doomed. And he’s such a worthless man that it’s useless to talk to him.”

18 So Abigail quickly took 200 loaves of bread, 2 full wineskins, 5 butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, 100 bunches of raisins, and 200 fig cakes and loaded them on donkeys. 19 “Go on ahead,” she told her young men, “and I’ll follow you.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal about it.

20 She was riding on her donkey down a hidden mountain path when she met David and his men coming toward her. 21 David had thought, “I guarded this man’s stuff in the desert for nothing! Not one of his possessions was missing. Yet, he has paid me back with evil when I was good to him. 22 May God punish me[61] if I leave even one of his men[62] alive in the morning.”

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from her donkey. She immediately bowed down in front of David with her face touching the ground. 24 After she bowed at his feet, she said, “Sir, let me be held responsible for this wrong. Please let me speak with you. Please listen to my words. 25 You shouldn’t take this worthless person Nabal seriously. He is like his name. His name is Nabal [Godless Fool], and he’s foolish. But I didn’t see the young men you sent.

25:13–27   Abigail had more sense than her godless fool of a husband. She packed gifts of food and sent them to David—to keep him from spilling innocent blood.

26 “The LORD has kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. Now, sir, I solemnly swear, as the LORD and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal. 27 Here is a gift I am bringing to you. May it be given to the young men who are in your service. 28 Please forgive my offense. The LORD will certainly give you, sir, a lasting dynasty, because you are fighting the LORD’s battles. May evil never be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone pursued you and sought your life, your life is wrapped in the bundle of life which comes from the LORD your God. But he will dispose of the lives of your enemies like stones thrown from a sling. 30 When the LORD does all the good he promised and makes you ruler of Israel, 31 you shouldn’t have a troubled conscience because you spilled blood for no good reason and claimed your own victory. When the LORD has given you success, remember me.”

25:28–31   Wrap my life in your bundle of life. Do all the good you promise. Keep my conscience clean.

32 David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me. 33 May your good judgment be blessed. Also, may you be blessed for keeping me from slaughtering people today and from getting a victory by my own efforts. 34 But I solemnly swear—as the LORD God of Israel, who has kept me from harming you, lives—if you hadn’t come to meet me quickly, Nabal certainly wouldn’t have had one of his men left at dawn.”

35 Then David accepted what she brought him and told her, “Go home in peace. I’ve listened to what you’ve said and granted your request.”

36 When Abigail came to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his home. It was like a king’s banquet. He was in a good mood and very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything until dawn. 37 But in the morning, when the effects of the wine had worn off, his wife told him what had happened. Nabal’s heart failed, and he could not move.[63] 38 About ten days later the LORD made him even more sick, and Nabal died.

39 When David heard Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the LORD, who defended me against the insults of Nabal and kept me from doing wrong. The LORD has turned Nabal’s own wickedness back on him.”

Then David sent men ⌞on his behalf⌟ to propose marriage to Abigail. 40 When David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they told her, “David has sent us to you so that we can take you to him to be his wife.”

41 She bowed down with her face touching the ground. “I am ready to serve,” she said. “I am ready to wash the feet of my master’s servants.” 42 Then Abigail quickly got up and rode on a donkey with five of her female servants following her. So she went with David’s messengers and became his wife.

43 David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. Both she and Abigail were his wives. 44 Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti, Laish’s son, who was from Gallim.

25:32–43   Nabal died of his meanness. You turn wickedness back on the wicked.

Saul’s Final Pursuit of David

26

1 The people of Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah. “David is hiding at the hill of Hachilah near Jeshimon,” they said.

2 Saul went to the desert of Ziph, taking with him 3,000 of Israel’s best-trained men to search for David. 3 Saul camped by the road at the hill of Hachilah near Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he realized Saul had come to the desert for him, 4 David sent spies to confirm that Saul had arrived.

5 Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. David saw the place where Saul and Ner’s son Abner, the commander of the army, were lying. Saul was lying in the camp, and the troops were camped around him.

6 David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai, who was Zeruiah’s son and Joab’s brother, “Who will go with me to Saul in the camp?”

Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”

7 So David and Abishai went among ⌞Saul’s⌟ troops that night. Saul was lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. 8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has turned your enemy over to you. Please let me nail him to the ground with one stab of the spear. I won’t have to do it twice!”

9 “Don’t kill him!” David told Abishai. “No one has ever attacked the LORD’s anointed king and remained free of guilt. 10 I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives,” David added, “the LORD will strike him. Either his time will come when he’ll die ⌞naturally⌟, or he’ll go into battle and be swept away. 11 It would be unthinkable for me to attack the LORD’s anointed king. But please take that spear near his head and that jar of water, and let’s go.”

26:1–11   No one can attack your anointed and be free of guilt. I trust you to deal with evildoers in your own way and time.

12 David took the spear and the jar of water near Saul’s head, and they left. All of them were asleep. No one saw them, knew about it, or woke up. The LORD had made them fall into a deep sleep.

13 David went over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away. (There was a wide space between them.) 14 Then David called to the troops and to Ner’s son Abner. “Won’t you answer, Abner?” he asked.

“Who is calling the king?” Abner asked.

15 David asked Abner, “Aren’t you a man? Is there anyone like you in Israel? Then why didn’t you guard your master, the king? Someone came to kill His Royal Majesty. 16 What you’ve done isn’t good. I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, you are dead men. You didn’t guard your master, the LORD’s anointed king. Look at the king’s spear and the jar of water that were near his head.”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice. “Is that your voice, my servant David?” he asked.

“It is my voice, Your Royal Majesty,” David answered. 18 “Why are you pursuing me?” he added. “What have I done? What crime have I committed? 19 Your Majesty, please listen to my words. If the LORD has turned you against me, let him be satisfied with an offering. But if mere mortals ⌞have turned you against me⌟, let them be cursed by the LORD. They have prevented me from having a share of the LORD’s inheritance. ‘Go and serve other gods,’ they tell me. 20 Don’t let my blood fall to the ground, away from the LORD’s presence. The king of Israel has come to search for one flea like someone hunting a partridge in the hills.”

26:12–20   Protect me when I’ve committed no crime. Listen to my words. Don’t let my blood fall to the ground, far from your presence.

21 “My servant David,” Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again, because you valued my life today. I’ve acted like a fool and made a terrible mistake.”

22 David responded, “Here’s the king’s spear. One of the young men should come over and get it. 23 The LORD will reward any person who is righteous and faithful. The LORD handed you over to me today, but I refused to attack the LORD’s anointed king. 24 As I placed great value on your life today, may the LORD place great value on my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

25 Then Saul said, “Blessed are you, my servant David. You will accomplish many things and certainly will succeed.”

So David went his way, while Saul returned home.

26:21–25   When I value what you value, you’ll treasure my life and rescue me from trouble. Bless me and let me accomplish many things.

David at Ziklag

27

1 David said to himself, “One of these days Saul will sweep me away. The best thing for me to do is to make sure that I escape to Philistine territory. Then Saul will give up looking all over Israel for me, and I’ll escape from him.” 2 So David went with his 600 men to King Achish of Gath, Moach’s son. 3 David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each one had his family, and David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he didn’t search for him anymore.

5 David said to Achish, “If you will permit me, let me have a place in one of the outlying towns so that I can live there. Why should I live in the royal city with you?” 6 So Achish immediately gave him Ziklag. (This is why Ziklag still belongs to the kings of Judah today.)

7 David stayed in Philistine territory for one year and four months. 8 Then David and his men went to raid the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (They lived in the territory which extends from Telaim[64] to Shur and Egypt.) 9 Whenever David attacked the territory, he left no man or woman alive. He also took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and returned to Achish.

10 Achish would ask, “Whom did you raid today?”[65]

And David would answer, “the Negev in Judah,” or “the portion of the Negev where the descendants of Jerahmeel live,” or “the portion of the Negev where the Kenites live.” 11 He did not bring a single man or woman back to Gath alive. He thought, “They could tell Achish what I ⌞really⌟ did.” This was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 And Achish believed David. Achish thought, “He has definitely made his own people in Israel despise him. He’ll be my servant from now on.”

27:1–12   David feared Saul would sweep him away, so he hid among your enemies. Make me shrewd enough to survive real life.

28

1 At that time the Philistines had gathered their army to fight against Israel. Then Achish said to David, “You need to know that you and your men will be going with me into battle.”

2 “Very well,” David responded to Achish, “you will then know what I can do.”

“Very well,” Achish told David, “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Saul’s Sin—The Occult

3 Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his hometown Ramah. (Saul had rid the land of mediums and psychics.)

4 The Philistines assembled and camped in Shunem. Saul also assembled the whole Israelite army, and they camped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul looked at the Philistine army, he was very afraid—terrified. 6 He prayed to the LORD, but the LORD didn’t answer him through dreams, the Urim,[66] or prophets. 7 Saul told his officers, “Find me a woman who conjures up the dead. Then I’ll go to her and ask for her services.”

His officers told him, “There is a woman at Endor who conjures up the dead.”

28:3–7   Saul had rid the land of mediums and psychics. But when you didn’t answer him, he went looking for a woman who conjures up the dead. Teach me to be patient until you speak!

8 After disguising himself by putting on other clothes, Saul left with two men and came to the woman that night. He said to her, “Please consult with a dead person for me. Conjure up the person I request.”

9 The woman told him, “You know that Saul rid the land of mediums and psychics. Why are you trying to trap me and have me killed?”

10 But Saul took an oath in the LORD’s name, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, you will not be harmed if you do this.”

11 “Whom should I conjure up for you?” the woman asked.

“Conjure up Samuel for me,” he answered.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly and asked, “Why did you deceive me? You’re Saul!”

13 “Don’t be afraid,” the king said to her. “What do you see?”

“I see a god rising from the ground,” the woman answered.

14 “In what form?” he asked her.

She answered, “An old man is coming up, and he’s wearing a robe.” Then Saul knew it was Samuel. Saul knelt down with his face touching the ground.

15 Samuel asked Saul, “Why did you disturb me by conjuring me up?”

Saul answered, “I’m in serious trouble. The Philistines are at war with me, and God has turned against me and doesn’t answer me anymore—either by the prophets or in dreams. So I’ve called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why are you asking me when the LORD has turned against you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done to you ⌞exactly⌟ what he spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hands and given it to your fellow Israelite David. 18 The LORD is doing this to you today because you didn’t listen to him or unleash his burning anger on Amalek. 19 For the same reasons the LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And then the LORD will hand Israel’s army over to the Philistines.”

20 Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was frightened by Samuel’s words. He also had no strength left, because he hadn’t eaten anything all day or all night. 21 The woman came over to Saul and saw that he was terrified. “I listened to you,” she told him, “and I took my life in my hands when I did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to me. I will serve you something to eat. Eat it so that you will have strength when you leave.”

23 But he refused. “I don’t want to eat,” he said. Nevertheless, his officers and the woman kept urging[67] him until he listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

24 The woman immediately butchered a fattened calf that she owned. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked some unleavened bread. 25 Then she served it to Saul and his officers. They ate and left that ⌞same⌟ night.

28:8–25   Samuel’s ghostly message was no surprise. You had turned against Saul and were tearing the kingdom from his hands. Don’t rip me from your plans. Keep me faithful to you.

The Philistines Reject David

29

1 The Philistines assembled their whole army at Aphek, and Israel camped at the spring in Jezreel. 2 The Philistine leaders were marching by with their companies and regiments. David and his men were marching in the rear with Achish.

3 The Philistine officers asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”

Achish asked the Philistine officers, “Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me now for a year or two? I’ve found nothing wrong with him from the day he defected until now.”

4 But the Philistine officers were angry with Achish. “Send the man back,” the Philistine officers told him. “Return him to the place you assigned him. He shouldn’t go with us into battle. He shouldn’t ⌞be allowed to⌟ become our enemy during the battle. Is this man going to try to regain his master’s favor? He’ll do it with the lives of our men! 5 Isn’t this David of whom people sing in dances:

‘Saul has defeated thousands

but David tens of thousands’?”

6 Then Achish called David and told him, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, you are a dependable man. I consider your campaigning with me a good thing, because I’ve never found anything wrong with you from the day you came to me until now. But the rulers don’t approve of you. 7 So leave peacefully without doing anything to displease the Philistine rulers.”

8 “What have I done?” David asked Achish. “What have you learned about me from the time I came to you until now? Why shouldn’t I fight your enemies, Your Majesty?”

9 Achish answered David, “I admit that in my judgment you’re as good as God’s Messenger. However, the Philistine officers said, ‘He shouldn’t go into battle with us.’ 10 Get up early in the morning with Saul’s servants who came with you, and go to the place I have assigned to you. Don’t worry about the unkind words, because I still approve of you.[68] Get up in the morning, and leave when it’s light.”

11 Early the next morning David and his men returned to Philistine territory, while the Philistines went to Jezreel.

29:1–11   You spared David from having to battle his brothers—Saul and the armies of Israel. You sent him to a safe place.

David Defeats the Amalekites

30

1 Two days later, when David and his men came to Ziklag, the Amalekites had raided the Negev, including Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it. 2 Although they captured the young and old women who were there, they killed no one. Instead, they had taken ⌞the women and other prisoners⌟ and gone away. 3 By the time David and his men came to the town, it had been burned down, and their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and his men cried loudly until they didn’t have the strength to cry anymore. 5 The Amalekites also captured David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel. 6 David was in great distress because the people in their bitterness said he should be stoned. (They were thinking of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.)

7 David told the priest Abiathar, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring me the priestly ephod.”[69] So Abiathar brought David the ephod.

8 Then David asked the LORD, “Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them?”

“Pursue them,” the LORD told him. “You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.”

30:1–8   David and his men cried loudly, until they had no more strength to cry. I’ll grieve for the stolen—and rise and rescue the captive.

9 So David and his 600 men went to the Besor Valley, where some were left behind. 10 David and 400 men went in pursuit, while 200 men who were too exhausted to cross the Besor Valley stayed behind.

11 David’s men found an Egyptian in the open country and took him to David. They gave him food to eat and water to drink. 12 They gave him a slice of fig cake and two bunches of raisins. After he had eaten, he revived. (He hadn’t eaten any food or drunk any water for three whole days.) 13 David asked him, “To whom do you belong? Where do you come from?”

“I’m an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite,” the young man answered. “My master left me behind because I got sick three days ago. 14 We raided the portion of the Negev where the Cherethites live, the territory of Judah, the portion of the Negev where Caleb settled, and we burned down Ziklag.”

15 “Will you lead me to these troops?” David asked him.

He answered, “Take an oath in front of God that you won’t kill me or hand me over to my master, and I’ll lead you to these troops.”

16 The Egyptian led him ⌞to them⌟. They were spread out all over the land, eating, and drinking. They were celebrating because they had taken so much loot from Philistine territory and from the land of Judah. 17 From dawn until evening the next day, David attacked them. No one escaped except 400 young men who rode away on camels. 18 David rescued everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing—young or old, sons or daughters, the loot or anything else they had taken with them. David brought back everything. 20 He took all the sheep and the cattle. His men drove the animals ahead of him and said, “This is David’s loot.”

21 David came to the 200 men who had been too exhausted to go with him and had stayed in the Besor Valley. They came to meet David and the people with him. As David approached the men, he greeted them. 22 Then every wicked and worthless man who had gone with David said, “Since they didn’t go with us, they shouldn’t be given any of the loot we recovered. Each of them should take only his wife and children and leave.”

23 But David said, “My brothers, don’t do that with the things which the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed the troops that attacked us over to us. 24 Besides, who is going to pay attention to what you have to say in this matter? Certainly, the share of those who go into battle must be like the share of those who stay with the supplies. They will all share alike.” 25 From that time on he made this a rule and a custom in Israel as it is to this day.

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the loot to his friends, the leaders of Judah. He said, “Here is a gift for you from the loot ⌞taken from⌟ the LORD’s enemies.” 27 There were shares for those in Bethel, Ramoth in the Negev, Jattir, 28 Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, 29 Racal, the cities belonging to the Jerahmeelites, the cities belonging to the Kenites, 30 Hormah, Borashan, Athach, 31 Hebron, and to all the places David and his men visited from time to time.

30:9–30   The Amalekites were eating and drinking, celebrating their loot. But when David attacked, none escaped. Victory came from you.

The Death of Saul—1 Chronicles 10:1–14

31

1 When the Philistines were fighting against Israel, the men of Israel fled from the Philistines and were killed in battle on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines caught up to Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 The heaviest fighting was against Saul. When the archers got him in their range, he was badly wounded by them.

4 Saul told his armorbearer, “Draw your sword! Stab me, or these godless men will come, stab me, and make fun of me.” But his armorbearer refused because he was terrified. So Saul took the sword and fell on it. 5 When the armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that day.

7 When the people of Israel on the other side of the valley and across the Jordan River saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities. So the Philistines came to live in these cities.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor. Then they sent men throughout Philistine territory to tell the people this good news in their idols’ temples. 10 They put his armor in the temple of their goddesses—the Asherahs—and fastened his corpse to the wall of Beth Shan.

11 When the people living in Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the fighting men marched all night and took the dead bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan. They came back to Jabesh and burned the bodies there. 13 They took the bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted seven days.

31:1–13   David’s friend Jonathan died in battle. Saul fell on his sword. The Philistines put the king’s armor and corpse on display. How did your plans for your people come to this?

2 SAMUEL

INTRODUCTION

Second Samuel portrays a great man at his best and worst. The book of 2 Samuel begins where 1 Samuel ends, with the death of King Saul in battle against the dreaded Philistines. Rather than celebrate Saul’s death, David weeps for the man who had persistently hunted him.

David began his life as a shepherd boy overshadowed by his older brothers yet anointed to be king (1 Samuel 16:1–13). As a youth he defeated the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1–58), then for years eluded capture or killing by Saul and other enemies, sharpening his own military prowess. Now, after Saul’s death, David’s large southern tribe of Judah gathers around him and crowns him king, but a son of Saul, Ish-Bosheth, takes control of the northern tribes, collectively known as Israel. Within a few years, assassins kill Ish-Bosheth, letting David unite the throne of both south and north. He pushes back Philistine raiders, molds bickering tribes into a forceful regional power, and expands the kingdom’s reach. His dynasty lasts four hundred years.

Throughout his life David lives up to his reputation as a man with God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Heroic yet as imperfect as any other person, he seduces the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers, a man he sends to his death in battle. Yet he turns from sin when the prophet Nathan confronts him (2 Samuel 11:1–12:25).

Praying 2 Samuel invites you to examine attitudes and habits that lead you to sin—and to come back from the brink of destruction.

2 SAMUEL

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The Report of Saul’s Death

1

1 After Saul died and David returned from defeating the Amalekites,[1] David stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man came from Saul’s camp. His clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. When he came to David, he immediately bowed down with his face touching the ground.

3 “Where did you come from?” David asked him.

“I escaped from the camp of Israel,” he answered.

4 “What happened?” David asked him. “Please tell me.”

The man answered, “The army fled from the battle, and many of the soldiers died. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.”

5 “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” David asked the young man who had brought him the news.

6 The young man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. Saul was there leaning on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen were catching up with him. 7 When he looked back and saw me, he called to me, and I said, ‘Yes?’”

8 “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’

“I said to him, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’

9 “He said to me, ‘Please stand over me and kill me. I’m alive, but I’m suffering.’[2]

10 “So I stood over him and killed him, since I knew he couldn’t survive after he had been wounded. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm and brought them here to you, sir.”

11 Then David grabbed his own clothes and tore them in grief. All the men with him did the same. 12 They mourned, cried, and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the LORD’s army, and the nation of Israel had been defeated in battle.

13 David asked the young man who had brought him the news, “Where are you from?”

And the young man answered, “I’m an Amalekite, the son of a foreign resident.”

14 David asked, “Why weren’t you afraid to take it upon yourself to destroy the LORD’s anointed king?” 15 Then David called one of ⌞his⌟ young men and told him, “Come here and attack him.” David’s young man executed him 16 while David said, “You are responsible for spilling your own blood. You testified against yourself when you said, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed king.’”

1:1–16   David wept at the sight of Saul’s crown. He grabbed his own clothes and tore them in grief. I mourn the defeat of your people!

David’s Lament

17 David wrote this song of mourning for Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 He said,

“Teach this kesheth [3] to the people of Judah.”

(It is recorded in the Book of Jashar.)

19 “Your glory, Israel, lies dead on your hills.

See how the mighty have fallen!

20 Don’t tell the news in Gath.

Don’t announce the victory in the streets of Ashkelon,

or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad,

and the daughters of godless men will celebrate.

21 You mountains in Gilboa,

may there be no dew or rain on you

or on your slopes,[4]

because warriors’ shields were tarnished there.

Saul’s shield was never rubbed with olive oil.

22 From the blood of those killed and the fat of the warriors,

Jonathan’s bow did not turn away,

nor did Saul’s sword return unused.

1:17–22   Israel’s glory lay dead in the hills. Her mighty had fallen. Don’t let others rejoice when your people fail!

23 Saul and Jonathan were loved and well-liked while they were living.

They were not separated even when they died.

They were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.

24 Daughters of Israel, cry over Saul,

who dressed you in decorated, red clothes,

who put gold jewelry on your clothes.

25 See how the mighty have fallen in battle!

On your hills Jonathan was killed!

26 I am heartbroken over you, my brother Jonathan.

You were my great delight.

Your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women.

27 See how the mighty have fallen!

See how the weapons of war have been destroyed!”

1:23–27   Jonathan was David’s delight, his love more wonderful than a woman’s. Give me friends worth weeping over.

David Becomes King of Judah

2

1 After this, David asked the LORD, “Should I go to one of the cities of Judah?”

“Go,” the LORD answered him.

“Where should I go?” David asked.

“To Hebron,” the LORD replied.

2 David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel. 3 David took his men and their families with him, and they settled in the towns around Hebron. 4 Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David to be king over the tribe of Judah.

They told David, “The people of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” 5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead. He said to them, “May the LORD bless you because you showed kindness to your master Saul by burying him. 6 May the LORD always show you kindness. I, too, will be good to you because you did this. 7 Now, be strong and courageous. Because your master Saul is dead, the tribe of Judah has anointed me to be their king.”

2:1–7   You sent David to Hebron and anointed him king. I’ll follow his example and show respect to the living and the dead.

Abner Makes Ishbosheth King of Israel

8 Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishbosheth[5] and brought him to Mahanaim. 9 Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher,[6] Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel. 10 Saul’s son Ishbosheth was 40 years old when he became king of Israel. He ruled for two years, but the tribe of Judah followed David. 11 In Hebron David was king over the tribe of Judah for seven years and six months.

Conflicts between Abner and Joab

12 Ner’s son Abner and the officers of Saul’s son Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Zeruiah’s son Joab and David’s officers also left ⌞Hebron⌟. Both groups met at the pool of Gibeon. They sat down there, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other side of the pool.

14 Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men hold a contest.” Joab agreed.

15 The men got up and were counted as they passed by. Twelve were from the tribe of Benjamin (representing Saul’s son Ishbosheth), and twelve were from David’s officers. 16 Each one grabbed his opponent by the head, stuck his sword into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. Therefore, that place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies. 17 Fierce fighting broke out that day, and David’s men defeated Abner and the men of Israel.

18 Zeruiah’s three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle. 19 He chased Abner and refused to leave him alone. 20 When Abner looked back, he asked, “Are you Asahel?”

“Yes,” Asahel answered.

21 Abner told him, “Leave me alone! Catch one of the young men, and take his weapon.”[7]

But Asahel refused to turn away from him. 22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel. “Stop following me,” he said. “Why should I kill you? How could I look your brother Joab in the face again?”

23 But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner struck him with the butt of the spear. The spear went into his belly and came out his back. He fell down there and died on the spot. And everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stopped there.

24 But Joab and Abishai chased Abner. When the sun went down, they came to the hill of Ammah, opposite Giah on the road from Gibeon to the desert. 25 The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner, banding together and taking their position on top of a hill.

26 Then Abner called to Joab, “Should this slaughter go on forever? Don’t you know this will end in bitterness? How long will it be before you will call off your troops from chasing their relatives?”

27 Joab answered, “I solemnly swear, as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would not have stopped chasing their relatives until morning.” 28 So Joab blew a ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped. They didn’t chase or fight Israel anymore.

29 Abner and his men marched through the plains all that night. They crossed the Jordan River and passed through the entire Bithron until they came to Mahanaim.

30 Joab returned from chasing Abner. When he had gathered all the troops, ⌞only⌟ 19 of David’s officers and Asahel were missing. 31 However, David’s officers had killed 360 of the men of Benjamin under Abner’s command. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

2:8–32   Not everyone welcomed David’s rule. Brother fought brother to the death. Should this slaughter go on forever? Don’t family fights always end in bitterness?

3

1 As the war between the royal families of Saul and David dragged on, David’s family became stronger and stronger, and Saul’s family became weaker and weaker.

David’s Sons—1 Chronicles 3:1–4

2 Sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, ⌞born⌟ to Ahinoam from Jezreel. 3 The second was Chileab, ⌞born⌟ to Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah (the daughter of King Talmai) from Geshur. 4 The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. 5 The sixth was Ithream, ⌞born⌟ to David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David while he was in Hebron.

3:1–5   You made David’s royal family stronger—and Saul’s weaker and weaker. You kept your promise to establish David’s throne.

Abner’s Death

6 During the war between the families of Saul and David, Abner strengthened his position in Saul’s royal family. 7 Saul had a concubine[8] named Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter). Ishbosheth asked Abner, “Why did you have sex with my father’s concubine?”

8 Ishbosheth’s question made Abner very angry. “Have I been behaving like some Judean dog?”[9] he asked. “Until now I’ve been faithful to your father Saul’s family, to his relatives and friends, and I haven’t handed you over to David. But now you charge me with a crime because of this woman. 9 May God strike me dead unless I do for David what the LORD had promised him with an oath: 10 ‘I, the LORD, will transfer the kingship from Saul’s family and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.’” 11 Ishbosheth couldn’t respond to a single word, because he was afraid of Abner.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak on his behalf. “Who owns this country?” he asked. “Make an agreement with me,” he said. “I’ll support you and bring all Israel to you.”

13 “Good!” David answered. “I’ll make an agreement with you. But there’s one condition: You can’t come to see me unless you bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”

14 Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ishbosheth to say, “Give me my wife Michal. I made a payment of 100 Philistine foreskins for her.”

15 So Ishbosheth sent men to take her from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her and cried over her all the way to Bahurim. “Go home,” Abner told him. So he went home.

17 Meanwhile, Abner sent the following message to the leaders of Israel: “For some time now you’ve wanted to make David your king. 18 Do it now, because the LORD said about David: ‘I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and all their other enemies through my servant David.’” 19 Abner also spoke specifically to the people of Benjamin.

Then Abner went directly to David in Hebron to tell him everything Israel and the entire tribe of Benjamin had approved. 20 So Abner came with 20 men to David in Hebron, and David had a feast for Abner and his men.

21 Abner told David, “I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make a treaty with you, and you will rule everything your heart desires.” Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully.

3:6–21   Abner wasn’t a dog living off garbage and dead animals. He claimed to own your country and swore to help David rule the land.

22 Just then David’s men and Joab were coming home from a raid with a lot of goods. Abner had been dismissed, so he was no longer with David in Hebron. 23 When Joab came back with the whole army, he was told, “Ner’s son Abner came to the king, but David dismissed him, and Abner left peacefully.”

24 Then Joab went to the king and asked, “What have you done? Abner came to see you. Why did you dismiss him and let him get away? 25 Certainly you must know that Ner’s son Abner came to deceive you, to find out about your movements and learn everything you’re doing!”

26 After leaving David, Joab sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the cistern of Sirah without David knowing about it. 27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway as if to talk to him privately. There he stabbed Abner in the belly. Abner died because he spilled the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

28 Later when David heard about it, he said, “As far as the LORD is concerned, my kingdom and I are forever innocent of spilling the blood of Ner’s son Abner. 29 May the blame fall on the head of Joab and all of his family. May there always be members of Joab’s family who have oozing sores and skin diseases, who can only work a spindle,[10] who die in battle, and who never have any food.” 30 (Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 David told Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” King David followed the open casket. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly at Abner’s grave, and all the people cried. 33 The king sang a funeral song for Abner:

Should Abner die like a godless fool?

34 Your hands were not tied.

Your feet were not chained.

You fell as one falls in front of wicked men.

And all the people continued to cry for him.

35 That entire day all the people tried to get David to eat some food. But David had taken an oath: “May God strike me dead if I taste any food or anything else before the sun goes down.” 36 Then all the people understood and approved of this, as all the people approved of everything the king did. 37 That day all the people of Israel knew the king wasn’t responsible for killing Ner’s son Abner. 38 The king said to his officers, “Don’t you know that today a leader, a great man, has fallen in Israel? 39 Today I’m weak, though I’m the anointed king. These men, Zeruiah’s sons, are too cruel for me. May the LORD repay this evildoer as his evil deeds deserve.”

3:22–39   David declared himself innocent of Abner’s murder. He called down curses on Joab and led your people in mourning. I’ll humble myself and show my grief and weakness.

Ishbosheth Is Murdered

4

1 When Saul’s son Ishbosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his courage, and all Israel was alarmed. 2 Saul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding parties. One was named Baanah, and the other was named Rechab. They were the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth from the tribe of Benjamin.

(Beeroth was considered a part of Benjamin, 3 even though the people of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim. They still live there today. 4 In addition, Saul’s son Jonathan had a son who was crippled. When the boy was five years old, the news about ⌞the death of⌟ Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled ⌞to Gittaim⌟. She was in a hurry when she left, and he fell ⌞from her arms⌟ and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)

5 Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, came to Ishbosheth’s home at the hottest time of the day. Ishbosheth was taking his midday nap 6 when they came into the house as though they were going to get some flour. Instead, they stabbed him in the belly. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 7 (They had come into the house while Ishbosheth was sleeping on his bed in his bedroom. They stabbed him, killed him, and cut off his head.) They took his head and traveled all night along the road to the plains.

8 They brought Ishbosheth’s head to David at Hebron. “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you,” they told the king. “Today the LORD has given Your Royal Majesty revenge on Saul and his descendants.”

9 David responded to Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, 10 “I once seized a man who told me that Saul had died. He thought he was bringing good news. I killed him in Ziklag to reward him for his news. 11 How much more ⌞should I reward⌟ wicked men who kill an innocent man on his own bed in his home? The LORD has rescued me from every trouble. I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives,[11] I’ll now seek revenge for his murder and rid the land of you.” 12 So David gave an order to his young men, who executed Rechab and Baanah, cut off their hands and feet, and hung their dead bodies by the pond in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

4:1–12   Baanah and Rechab murdered Ishbosheth in his bed. David struck them down for killing an innocent man. I won’t reward wicked people.

David Anointed King of Israel—1 Chronicles 11:1–3; 3:4

5

1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. “We are your own flesh and blood,” they said. 2 “Even in the past when Saul ruled us, you were the one who led Israel in battle. The LORD has said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of Israel.’”

3 All the leaders of Israel had come to Hebron. King David made an agreement with them at Hebron in front of the LORD. So they anointed David king of Israel. 4 David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 40 years. 5 In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he ruled for 33 years over all Israel and Judah.

5:1–5   All the tribes of Israel came to David. He’d always been your people’s shepherd—and now you established his throne over all.

David Captures Jerusalem—1 Chronicles 11:4–9

6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived in that region. The Jebusites told David, “You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could turn you away” (meaning that David could never get in there). 7 But David captured the fortress Zion (that is, the City of David). 8 That day David said, “Whoever wants to defeat the Jebusites must reach the lame and the blind who hate me by using the water shaft.” So there is a saying, “The blind and the lame will not get into the palace.”[12] 9 David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built the city ⌞of Jerusalem⌟ around it from the Millo[13] to the palace. 10 David continued to grow more powerful because the LORD God[14] of Armies was with him.

David’s Palace, Wives, and Children in Jerusalem—1 Chronicles 14:1–7; 3:5–9

11 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedarwood, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 12 So David realized that the LORD had established him as king of Israel and made his kingship famous for the sake of Israel, the LORD’s people.

13 David married more concubines[15] and wives from Jerusalem after he had come there from Hebron, and he fathered more sons and daughters. 14 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

5:6–16   David built his own city. He grew more powerful because you were with him, Lord God of Armies. Go with me and accomplish your plans for my life.

David Defeats the Philistines—1 Chronicles 14:8–17

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, all of them came to attack David. But David heard about it and went to the fortress. 18 The Philistines had come and overrun the valley of Rephaim.

19 David asked the LORD, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The LORD answered David, “Attack! I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.”

20 So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said, “The LORD has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood.” That is why that place is called Baal Perazim [The LORD Overwhelms]. 21 The Philistines left their idols there, so David and his men carried the idols away.

22 The Philistines again attacked and overran the valley of Rephaim. 23 David asked the LORD, and he answered, “Don’t attack now, but circle around behind them, and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act immediately because the LORD has gone ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.” 25 David did as the LORD ordered him and defeated the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

5:17–25   You overwhelmed your enemies like a flood, forcing the Philistines to flee without their false gods. You always go ahead of your people.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem—1 Chronicles 13:5–14; 15:25–16:3, 43

6

1 David again assembled all the best soldiers in Israel, 30,000 men. 2 He and all the people with him left Baalah in Judah[16] to bring God’s ark ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. (The ark is called by the name of the LORD of Armies, who is enthroned over the angels.[17]) 3 David and his men put God’s ark on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s home on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the new cart. 4 They brought it from Abinadab’s home, with Ahio walking ahead of the ark. 5 David and the entire nation of Israel were celebrating in the LORD’s presence with all kinds of instruments made from cypress wood[18] and with lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums,[19] and cymbals.

6 But when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor,[20] the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out for the ark of God and grabbed it. 7 The LORD became angry with Uzzah, so God killed him there for his lack of respect. He died beside the ark of God.

8 David was angry because the LORD had struck Uzzah so violently. (That place is still called Perez Uzzah [The Striking of Uzzah] today.) 9 David was afraid of the LORD that day. “How can the ark of the LORD come to my ⌞city⌟?” he asked. 10 So David wouldn’t bring the ark of the LORD with him to the City of David. Instead, he rerouted it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath. 11 The ark of the LORD stayed at the home of Obed Edom from Gath for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed Edom and his whole family.

6:1–11   You’re enthroned over the angels, Lord of Armies. You command utter respect. If David feared you, I will too.

12 King David was told, “The LORD has blessed Obed Edom’s home and everything he owns because of the ark of God.” Then David joyfully went to get the ark of God from Obed Edom’s house and bring it to the City of David. 13 When those who carried the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

14 Wearing a linen ephod,[21] David danced in the LORD’s presence with all his might. 15 He and the entire nation of Israel brought the ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns. 16 When the ark of the LORD came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David leaping and dancing in the LORD’s presence, so she despised him.

17 The men carrying the ark set it in its place inside the tent David had put up for it. David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the LORD’s presence. 18 When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Armies. 19 He also distributed to all the people—to the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women—one loaf of bread, one date cake, and one raisin cake. Then all the people went home.

20 When David returned to bless his family, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How dignified Israel’s king was today! He was exposing himself before the eyes of the slave girls of his palace staff—like a mindless fool might expose himself!”

21 David answered Michal, “ ⌞I didn’t dance in front of the slave girls but⌟ in front of the LORD. He chose me rather than your father or anyone in your father’s house, and he appointed me leader of Israel, the LORD’s people. I will celebrate in the LORD’s presence, 22 and I will degrade myself even more than this. Even if I am humiliated in your eyes, I will be honored by these slave girls you speak about.”

23 So Saul’s daughter Michal was childless her entire life.

6:12–23   David joyfully went to retrieve your ark for your holy city. He danced in your presence with all his might. I’ll celebrate in your presence even if I look like a fool.

David’s Wish to Build a House for God—1 Chronicles 17:1–27

7

1 While King David was living in his house, the LORD gave him peace with all his enemies around him. 2 So the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Look, I’m living in a house made of cedar, while the ark of God remains in the tent.”

3 Nathan told the king, “Do everything you have in mind, because the LORD is with you.”

4 But that same night the LORD spoke his word to Nathan: 5 “Say to my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one who will build me a house to live in? 6 I haven’t lived in a house from the day I took Israel out of Egypt to this day. Instead, I moved around in a tent, the tent ⌞of meeting⌟. 7 In all the places I’ve moved with all the Israelites, did I ever ask any of the judges[22] of Israel whom I ordered to be shepherds of my people Israel why they didn’t build me a house of cedar?’

7:1–7   David was living in a house of fine cedar while your ark remained in a tent. It didn’t seem right to the king.

8 “Now this is what you will say to my servant David: ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: I took you from the pasture where you followed sheep so that you could be the leader of my people Israel. 9 I was with you wherever you went, and I destroyed all your enemies in front of you. I will make your name famous like the names of the greatest people on earth. 10 I will make a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will live in their own place and not be troubled anymore. The wicked will no longer oppress them as they used to do 11 ever since I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. So I will give you peace with all your enemies. I, the LORD, tell you that I will make a house for you.

7:8–11   You lifted David from a life of following sheep, making him king and using him to push away wicked oppressors. You promised him a house.

12 “‘When the time comes for you to lie down in death with your ancestors, I will send one of your descendants, ⌞one⌟ who will come from you. I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he will be my Son. If he sins, I will punish him with a rod and with blows inflicted by people. 15 But I will never stop showing him my love as I did to Saul, whom I took out of your way. 16 Your royal house will remain in my presence[23] forever. Your throne will be established forever.’”

7:12–16   Who was David to have a fine house? What about you? A descendant of David would build you a temple. And you vowed to establish David’s throne forever.

17 Nathan told David all these words and everything he had seen.

18 King David went into the tent and sat in front of the LORD. “Who am I, Almighty LORD,” he asked, “and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far? 19 And even this you consider to be a small act, Almighty LORD. You’ve also spoken about the distant future of my house. Almighty LORD, this is the teaching about the man.

20 “What more can I, David, say to you, Almighty LORD, since you know me so well! 21 You’ve done this great thing because of your promise and your own desire. You made it known to me.

22 “That is why you are great, LORD God. There is no one like you, and there is no other god except you, as we have heard with our own ears. 23 Who is like your people Israel? It is the one nation on earth that God came to free in order to make its people his own, to make his name[24] known, and to do great and wonderful things for them. You forced[25] nations and their gods out of the way of your people, whom you freed from Egypt to be your own. 24 You created the people of Israel to be your people forever. And you, LORD, became their God.

7:17–24   You do great things because of your promise and your own desire. There’s no god except you. You freed your people to make your name known and to be their God forever!

25 “Now, LORD God, keep the promise you made to me and my house forever. Do as you promised. 26 Your name will be respected forever when ⌞people⌟ say, ‘The LORD of Armies is God over Israel.’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your presence. 27 You, LORD of Armies, God of Israel, have revealed it especially to me, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ That is why I have found the courage to offer this prayer to you.

28 “Almighty LORD, you are God, and your words are trustworthy. You promised me this good thing. 29 Now, please bless my house so that it may continue in your presence forever. Indeed, you, Almighty LORD, have promised it. With your blessing my house will be blessed forever.”

7:25–29   Keep every promise you make me. You are God, and your words are trustworthy. Bless me and my house forever.

David’s Successes—1 Chronicles 18:1–17

8

1 After this, David defeated and crushed the Philistines. He took control of the main Philistine city from them.[26]

2 He also defeated Moab, made the Moabites lie down on the ground, and measured them with a rope. He measured two lengths which were to be killed, and one length which was to be spared. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟.

3 When David went to restore his control ⌞over the territory⌟ along the Euphrates River, he defeated Zobah’s King Hadadezer, son of Rehob. 4 David took 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. David also disabled all but 100 of their horses so that they couldn’t pull chariots.

5 When the Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David put troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟. Everywhere David went, the LORD gave him victories.

7 David took the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s[27] servants, and he brought them to Jerusalem. 8 King David also took a large quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s whole army, 10 he sent his son Joram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. (There had often been war between Hadadezer and Toi.) Joram brought articles of gold, silver, and bronze with him. 11 King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he conquered—12 from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the goods taken from Zobah’s King Hadadezer, son of Rehob.

13 David made a name for himself by killing 18,000 Edomites[28] in the Dead Sea region as he returned ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. 14 He put troops everywhere in Edom, and all the Edomites were David’s subjects. Everywhere David went, the LORD gave him victories.

15 So David ruled all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people. 16 Zeruiah’s son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian. 17 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were priests. Seraiah was the royal scribe. 18 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David’s sons were priests.[29]

8:1–18   You crushed the Philistines and Moabites and more. Everywhere David went you gave him victory. He ruled your people and did what was right and fair. Train me to discover your will and do right.

David Keeps His Promise to Jonathan

9

1 David asked, “Is there anyone left in Saul’s family to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 Now, Saul’s family had a servant whose name was Ziba. He was summoned to ⌞come to⌟ David. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked him.

“ ⌞Yes,⌟ I am,” he answered.

3 David asked, “Is there someone left in Saul’s family to whom I can show God’s kindness?”

“Jonathan has a son who is disabled,” Ziba answered.

4 “Where is he?” the king asked.

Ziba replied, “He is at the home of Machir, Ammiel’s son, in Lo Debar.”

5 So King David sent men to get him from the home of Ammiel’s son Machir in Lo Debar. 6 When Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul) came to David, he quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground.

“Mephibosheth!” David said to him.

“Yes, sir,” he answered.

7 “Don’t be afraid,” David told him, “I will certainly show you kindness for your father Jonathan’s sake. I will give back to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

8 Mephibosheth bowed down ⌞again⌟ and answered, “Who am I that you would look at a dead dog like me?”

9 Then the king called for Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You, your sons, and your servants should farm the land for him and harvest ⌞the crops⌟ so that your master’s family will have food to eat. However, your master’s grandson Mephibosheth will always eat at my table.” (Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.)

11 Ziba responded, “I will do everything you’ve commanded, Your Majesty.” From then on, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. Everyone who lived at Ziba’s home became Mephibosheth’s servant. 13 However, Mephibosheth, who was disabled, lived in Jerusalem. He always ate at the king’s table.

9:1–13   David didn’t lump Mephibosheth with the dead dogs. He invited Jonathan’s son to join him as one of his sons. Teach me to show such graciousness. Remind me of promises I’ve forgotten to keep.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram—1 Chronicles 19:1–19

10

1 Later the king of Ammon died, and his son Hanun became king in his place. 2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun as his father Nahash showed me kindness.” So David sent his servants to comfort Hanun after his father’s ⌞death⌟. But when David’s servants entered Ammonite territory, 3 the Ammonite princes asked their master Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Hasn’t David sent his men to explore the city, spy on it, and destroy it?” 4 So Hanun took David’s men, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.

5 After David was told ⌞what had happened⌟, he sent ⌞someone⌟ to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return ⌞to Jerusalem⌟.”

6 The Ammonites realized that they had made themselves offensive to David. So they hired the Arameans from Beth Rehob and Zobah (20,000 foot soldiers), ⌞the army of⌟ the king of Maacah (1,000 men), and the men of Tob (12,000 men).

10:1–6   Harun refused David’s kindness, humiliating his men and sending them away. Why am I suspicious of kindness? Why am I prone to pick fights?

7 After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops. 8 The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the ⌞city⌟ gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah remained by themselves in the open country.

9 When Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind, he took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans. 10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the troops. Abishai organized them for combat against the Ammonites.

11 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for my ⌞troops⌟, be ready to help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for your ⌞troops⌟, I’ll come to help you. 12 Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God, and the LORD will do what he considers right.”

13 Then Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, and the Arameans fled. 14 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, the Ammonites fled from Abishai and went into the city. So Joab stopped his campaign against the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.

15 Realizing that Israel had defeated them, the Arameans reassembled ⌞their troops⌟. 16 Hadadezer sent ⌞messengers⌟ to get Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River. The Arameans came to Helam with Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army, leading them.

17 When David was told ⌞about this⌟, he assembled Israel’s army, crossed the Jordan River, and came to Helam. The Arameans formed a battle line against David’s ⌞troops⌟ and fought him. 18 The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed 700 chariot drivers and 40,000 horsemen. David struck Shobach dead.

19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that Israel had defeated them, they made peace with Israel and became their subjects. And the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

10:7–19   Let me be strong for your people and your glory. Do what you consider right.

David Takes Bathsheba—1 Chronicles 20:1

11

1 In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, his mercenaries, and Israel’s army ⌞to war⌟. They destroyed the Ammonites and attacked Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem.

2 Now, when evening came, David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the royal palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, and she was very pretty. 3 David sent someone to ask about the woman. The man said, “She’s Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 So David sent messengers and took her. She came to him, and he went to bed with her. (She had just cleansed herself after her monthly period.) Then she went home. 5 The woman had become pregnant. So she sent someone to tell David that she was pregnant.

11:1–5   The king relaxed in his palace while others fought his wars. He saw Bathsheba bathing. What was he thinking when he took another man’s wife to bed?

6 Then David sent a messenger to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the troops were and how the war was going.

8 “Go home,” David said to Uriah, “and wash your feet.” Uriah left the royal palace, and the king sent a present to him. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace among his superior’s mercenaries. He didn’t go home.

10 When they told David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David asked Uriah, “Didn’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?”

11 Uriah answered David, “The ark and ⌞the army of⌟ Israel and Judah are in temporary shelters, and my commander Joab and Your Majesty’s mercenaries are living in the field. Should I then go to my house to eat and drink and go to bed with my wife? I solemnly swear, as sure as you’re living, I won’t do this!”

12 David said to Uriah, “Then stay here today, and tomorrow I’ll send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 David summoned him, ate and drank with him, and got him drunk. But that evening Uriah went to lie down on his bed among his superior’s mercenaries. He didn’t go home.

11:6–13   David tried to cover his sin. But Uriah wouldn’t go along with that game. He was too good a man to go home to his wife.

14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, “Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is heaviest. Then abandon him so that he’ll be struck down and die.”

16 Since Joab had kept the city under observation, he put Uriah at the place where he knew the experienced warriors were. 17 The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of the people, namely, some of David’s mercenaries, fell and died—including Uriah the Hittite.

18 Then Joab sent ⌞a messenger⌟ to report to David all the details of the battle. 19 And he commanded the messenger, “When you finish telling the king about the battle, 20 the king may become angry. He might ask you, ‘Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who killed Jerubbesheth’s[30] son Abimelech? Didn’t a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall?’ If the king asks this, then say, ‘Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”

22 The messenger left, and when he arrived, he reported to David everything Joab told him to say.[31] 23 The messenger said, “Their men overpowered us and came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate. 24 The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries, and some of Your Majesty’s mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead.”

25 David said to the messenger, “This is what you are to say to Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing trouble you, because a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage him.”

26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him. 27 When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home, and she became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. But the LORD considered David’s actions evil.

11:14–27   The king shrugged off the details of Uriah’s death. He brought Uriah’s wife to the palace, and she gave birth to their son. But no one can hide evil actions from you.

Nathan Confronts David

12

1 So the LORD sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said, “There were two men in a certain city. One was rich, and the other was poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cows, 3 but the poor man had only one little female lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter.

4 “Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared her for the traveler.”

5 David burned with anger against the man. “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives,” he said to Nathan, “the man who did this certainly deserves to die! 6 And he must pay back four times the price of the lamb because he did this and had no pity.”

7 “You are the man!” Nathan told David. “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I anointed you king over Israel and rescued you from Saul. 8 I gave you your master Saul’s house and his wives. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if this weren’t enough, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise my word by doing what I considered evil? You had Uriah the Hittite killed in battle. You took his wife as your wife. You used the Ammonites to kill him. 10 So warfare will never leave your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

12:1–7   David raged against the rich man who stole the poor man’s only lamb. That man deserves to die. But David was that man!

11 “This is what the LORD says: I will stir up trouble against you within your own household, and before your own eyes I will take your wives and give them to someone close to you. He will go to bed with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did this secretly, but I will make this happen in broad daylight in front of all Israel.”

12:8–12   Why do I abuse your gifts? Why do I despise your word? You threaten me with trouble. You promise to expose my secret sin.

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die. 14 But since you have shown total contempt for the LORD by this affair, the son that is born to you must die.” 15 Then Nathan went home.

12:13–15   You spared David’s life when he admitted his sin against you. I grieve that others suffer for my total contempt of you.

The LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had given birth to for David so that the child became sick. 16 David pleaded with God for the child; he fasted and lay on the ground all night. 17 The older leaders in his palace stood beside him to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling. And he wouldn’t eat with them.

18 On the seventh day the child died. But David’s officials were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. They thought, “While the child was alive, we talked to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may harm ⌞himself⌟.”

19 But when David saw that his officials were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” David asked them.

“ ⌞Yes,⌟ he is dead,” they answered.

20 So David got up from the ground, bathed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the LORD’s house and worshiped. Then he went home and asked for food. They placed food in front of him, and he ate.

21 His officials asked him, “Why are you acting this way? You fasted and cried over the child when he was alive. But as soon as the child died, you got up and ate.”

22 David answered, “As long as the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But why should I fast now that he’s dead? Can I bring him back? ⌞Someday⌟ I’ll go to him, but he won’t come back to me.”

24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to bed with her, and she later gave birth to a son. David named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child 25 and sent a message through the prophet Nathan to name the baby Jedidiah [The LORD’s Beloved].

12:16–25   David mourned his sin’s tiny victim. He worshiped you when he knew your decision was done. And you called his newborn “The LORD’s Beloved.” O Lord, bring life where my sin has brought death.

David Defeats the Ammonites—1 Chronicles 20:1–3

26 Meanwhile, Joab fought against the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its royal fortress. 27 So he sent messengers to tell David, “I fought against Rabbah and captured the fortress guarding its water supply. 28 Gather the rest of the troops, surround the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.”

29 So David gathered all the troops and went to Rabbah. He fought against the city and captured it. 30 He took the gold crown from the head of Rabbah’s king and put it on his own head. (The crown weighed 75 pounds and contained a precious stone.) David also took a lot of goods from the city. 31 He brought out the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.

The Rape of Tamar

13

1 After this, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. 2 Amnon was so obsessed with his half sister Tamar that he made himself sick. It seemed impossible for him to be alone with her because she was a virgin.

3 Amnon had a friend by the name of Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimea. Jonadab was a very clever man. 4 He asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so worn out morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”

“I’m in love with Absalom’s sister Tamar,” he answered.

5 Then Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed. Act sick, and when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come to feed me. She can prepare a meal in front of me as I watch her, and she can feed me.’”

6 So Amnon lay down and acted sick, and the king came to see him. Amnon asked the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make some bread in front of me, and she can feed me.”

7 David sent for Tamar at the palace. “Please go to your brother Amnon’s home,” he said, “and prepare some food for him.”

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s home. He was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made flat bread in front of him, and cooked it. 9 Then she took the pan and served him ⌞the bread⌟. But he refused to eat.

“Have everyone leave me,” he said. So everyone left him.

10 Amnon told Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom so that you can feed me.”

Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in the bedroom. 11 When she handed it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, Tamar!”

12 “No,” she told him, “don’t rape me! That shouldn’t be done in Israel. Don’t do this godless act! 13 Where could I go in my disgrace? And you will be considered one of the godless fools in Israel! Speak to the king. He won’t refuse your request to marry me.”

14 But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her. He grabbed his sister and raped her.

13:1–14   Amnon had a sick obsession with Tamar. He grabbed his half sister and raped her. These things shouldn’t happen!

15 Now, Amnon developed an intense hatred for her. His hatred for her was greater than the lust he had felt for her. “Get out of here,” he told her.

16 She said to him, “No, sending me away is a greater wrong than the other thing you did to me!” But he wouldn’t listen to her.

17 Then he called his personal servant and said, “Get rid of her. Put her out, and bolt the door behind her.” 18 (She was wearing a long-sleeved gown. The king’s virgin daughters wore this kind of robe.) So his servant took her out and bolted the door behind her. 19 Tamar put ashes on her head, tore the long-sleeved gown she had on, put her hands on her head, and went away crying.

20 Her brother Absalom asked her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Sister, be quiet for now. He’s your brother. Don’t dwell on this matter.” So Tamar stayed there at the home of her brother Absalom and was depressed.

21 When King David heard about this, he became very angry. But David didn’t punish his son Amnon. He favored Amnon because he was his firstborn son.[32] 22 Absalom wouldn’t speak at all to Amnon. He hated Amnon for raping his sister Tamar.

13:15–22   Amnon’s hatred for Tamar was greater than his lust. He sent her away and bolted the door behind her—and David refused to deal with the problem. Jolt me when I do nothing about horrible sin.

The Murder of Amnon

23 Two years later Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal Hazor near Ephraim. He invited all the king’s sons.[33] 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Since I have sheepshearers, Your Majesty and your officials are invited ⌞to feast⌟ with me.”

25 “No, Son,” the king answered Absalom. “If we all go, we’ll be a burden to you.” Even when Absalom continued to urge[34] him, David did not want to go, though he did give Absalom his blessing.

26 So Absalom said, “If you won’t go, then please let my brother Amnon go with us.”

“Why should he go with you?” the king asked him. 27 But when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all ⌞the rest of⌟ the king’s sons go with him.

28 Then Absalom gave an order to his servants. “Watch now,” he said. “When Amnon begins to feel good from drinking ⌞too much⌟ wine, I’ll tell you, ‘Attack Amnon.’ Then kill him. Don’t be afraid. I’ve given you the order, haven’t I? Be strong and courageous.”

29 Absalom’s servants did to Amnon as Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules, and fled. 30 While they were on their way, David heard this rumor: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not a single one is left.” 31 The king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing beside him with their clothes torn ⌞to show their grief⌟.

32 Then Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimea, said, “Sir, don’t think that all the young men, all the king’s sons, have been killed. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom decided to do this the day his half brother raped his sister Tamar. 33 You shouldn’t burden your heart with the idea that all the king’s sons are dead, Your Majesty. Only Amnon is dead. 34 Absalom has fled.”

When the servant who kept watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road beside the mountain west of him. 35 Then Jonadab told the king, “The king’s sons have come. It’s just as I said.” 36 When he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived and cried loudly. The king and all his men also cried very bitterly.

37 Absalom, however, fled to Geshur’s King Talmai, Ammihud’s son. But the king mourned for his son Amnon every day. 38 Absalom, having fled to Geshur, stayed there three years. 39 King David began to long for Absalom once people had consoled him over Amnon’s death.

13:23–39   Amnon was dead. Absalom had fled. The king and his sons all cried bitterly. When I ignore a horrible sin, other evils always follow.

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

14

1 Joab, Zeruiah’s son, knew the king was still thinking about Absalom. 2 So Joab sent ⌞someone⌟ to Tekoa to get a clever woman from there. He told her, “Please act like a mourner, and dress in mourning clothes. Don’t rub olive oil on yourself,[35] but act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. 3 Go to the king, and tell him this. . . .” Then Joab told her exactly what to say.

4 The woman from Tekoa came[36] to the king and immediately bowed down with her face touching the ground. “Help ⌞me⌟, Your Majesty,” she said.

5 The king asked her, “What can I do for you?”

She answered, “I’m a widow; my husband is dead. 6 I had two sons who quarreled in the field, and there was no one to separate them. One killed the other. 7 Then the entire family turned against me. They said, ‘Give us the man who killed his brother so that we can kill him because he took his brother’s life. We’re going to destroy the one who ⌞now⌟ would be the heir.’ In this way they wish to extinguish the ⌞one⌟ burning coal that is left for me. They will not let my husband’s name or descendants remain on the face of the earth.”

8 “Go home,” the king told the woman. “I will order someone to take care of this matter.”

9 The woman from Tekoa said to the king, “Let me be held responsible for the sin, Your Majesty. Let my father’s family be held responsible. Your Majesty and your throne are innocent.”

10 The king said, “If anyone says anything against you, bring him to me. He’ll never harm you again.”

11 She said, “Your Majesty, please pray to the LORD your God in order to keep an avenger from doing more harm by destroying my son.”

“I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives,” he said, “not a hair on your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

12 The woman said, “Please let me say something else to you.”

“Speak,” he said.

13 “Why have you devised something like this against God’s people?” she said. “When you say this, you condemn yourself because you haven’t brought back the one you banished! 14 We are all going to die; we are all like water that is poured on the ground and can’t be gathered up. But doesn’t God forgive a person? He never plans to keep a banished person in exile.

15 “I’ve come to say this to you because the people have frightened me. So I thought, ‘I will speak to the king about this. Maybe the king will do something for me, his subject. 16 Maybe the king will listen and rescue me, his subject, from the man who wants to cut off both me and my son from ⌞our⌟ God-given inheritance.’ 17 I thought that you would reassure me. You are like God’s Messenger, who is able to distinguish right from wrong. May the LORD your God be with you!”

14:1–17   David needed coaxing to invite Absalom home. You forgive sinners. You never plan to keep a banished person in exile.

18 The king said to the woman, “Please don’t refuse to answer the question I’m going to ask you.”

The woman responded, “Please speak, Your Majesty.”

19 “Did Joab put you up to this?” the king asked.

The woman answered, “I solemnly swear on your life, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Yes, your servant Joab ordered me ⌞to do this⌟. He told me to say exactly what I said. 20 Your servant Joab has done this to portray the matter in a different light. You are as wise as God’s Messenger, who knows everything on earth.”

21 Then the king told Joab, “This is what you’ll do. Bring back the young man Absalom.”

22 Joab quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground, and he blessed the king. He said, “Today I know that you have been kind to me because you have done what I wanted.”

23 So Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 24 But the king said, “Absalom should return to his own house. He will not see me.” So Absalom returned to his house and didn’t see the king.

25 Now, no one in all Israel was praised for his good looks as much as Absalom was. He had no blemish from head to toe. 26 At the end of every year, he used to cut his hair because it became heavy for him. When he cut the hair on his head and weighed it, it weighed five pounds according to the royal standard. 27 Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter Tamar was a beautiful woman.

28 Absalom stayed in Jerusalem two full years without seeing the king. 29 So Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but he still refused to come. 30 So Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine. He has barley in it. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set it on fire.

Joab’s servants came to him ⌞in grief⌟ and said, “Absalom’s servants have set ⌞your⌟ field on fire.”[37]

31 Then Joab immediately went to Absalom at his home. “Why did your servants set my field on fire?” he asked.

32 Absalom answered Joab, “I sent someone to tell you to come here because I wanted to send you to the king to ask him why I had to come from Geshur. It would be better for me if I were still there. Let me see the king now! If I’m guilty of a sin, he should kill me.”

33 Joab went to the king and told him this. The king then called for Absalom, who came to the king and bowed down with his face touching the ground. And the king kissed Absalom.

14:18–33   The king still kept his son at a distance. Forgive me when I let bitterness linger—when I leave others no option but to lash out.

David Overthrown

15

1 Soon after this, Absalom acquired a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run ahead of him. 2 Absalom used to get up early and stand by the road leading to the city gate. When anyone had a case to be tried by King David, Absalom would ask, “Which city are you from?”

After the person had told him which tribe in Israel he was from, 3 Absalom would say, “Your case is good and proper, but the king hasn’t appointed anyone to hear it.” 4 He would add, “I wish someone would make me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a case to be tried could come to me, and I would make sure that he got justice.” 5 When anyone approached him and bowed down, Absalom would reach out, take hold of him, and kiss him. 6 This is what he did for all Israelites who came to the king to have him try their case. So Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

7 Four years later Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and keep the vow I made to the LORD. 8 I made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the LORD will bring me back to Jerusalem, I will serve the LORD.’”

9 “Go in peace,” the king told him.

So he went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent his loyal supporters to all the tribes of Israel and said, “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron.’”

11 Two hundred men invited from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They went innocently, knowing nothing ⌞about Absalom’s plans⌟. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, David’s adviser, to come from his home in Giloh. Meanwhile, the conspiracy grew stronger, and the number of people siding with Absalom kept getting larger.

13 Someone came to tell David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

15:1–13   While David relaxed in his palace, Absalom stole the hearts of Israel. Shake me when I sidestep conflict. Wake me when my inattention makes problems worse.

David Flees Jerusalem

14 David told all his men who were with him in Jerusalem, “Let’s flee immediately, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Let’s leave right away, or he’ll catch up to us and bring disaster on us when he massacres the city.”

15 The king’s servants told him, “No matter what happens, we are Your Majesty’s servants.”

16 The king left on foot, and his whole household followed him except ten concubines[38] whom the king left behind to take care of the palace. 17 As the king and his troops were leaving the city on foot, they stopped at the last house. 18 All his mercenaries passed by him; all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, Ittai, and all 600 men who had followed him from Gath were marching past the king.

19 The king asked Ittai from Gath, “Why should you go with us? Go back, and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 20 You came to us just yesterday. Should I make you wander around with me when I don’t even know where I’m going? Go back, and take your countrymen with you. ⌞May the LORD⌟ always show you kindness.”

21 But Ittai answered the king, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD and the king live: Wherever you are, whether you’re dead or alive, I’ll be there.”

22 So David told Ittai, “Go ahead and keep marching.” So Ittai from Gath marched on with all his men and all the families who were with him.

23 The whole country was crying loudly as all the troops were passing by. The king was crossing the Kidron Valley, and all the people were moving down the road toward the desert. 24 Zadok and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of God’s promise. They set down the ark of God beside Abiathar until all the troops had withdrawn from the city.

15:14–24   Give me friends who stay with me no matter what. Train me to show loyalty to those you love.

25 The king told Zadok, “Take God’s ark back to the city. If the LORD looks favorably on me, he will allow me to come back and see both it and its[39] dwelling place again. 26 But if he says, ‘I’m not pleased with you,’ let him do to me what he considers right.”

27 “Aren’t you a seer?”[40] the king asked Zadok the priest. “Go back to the city peacefully, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you. 28 I’ll wait at the river crossings in the desert until I receive a message from you.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

15:25–29   David wondered what you thought of him. Clear up my confusion and show me the right thing to do.

30 David cried as he went up the Mount of Olives. He covered his head and walked barefoot. And all of the troops with him covered their heads and cried as they went.

31 Then David was told, “Ahithophel is among those conspiring with Absalom.” So David prayed, “LORD, make Ahithophel’s advice foolish.”

32 When David came to the top ⌞of the Mount of Olives⌟ where people worshiped God, Hushai from Archi’s family was there to meet him. His clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. 33 David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden to me. 34 But if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I’ll be your servant. I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I’ll be your servant,’ then you’ll ⌞help me by⌟ undoing Ahithophel’s advice. 35 The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be with you there. When you hear anything from the royal palace, tell it to the priests Zadok and Abiathar. 36 They have two sons with them: Zadok has Ahimaaz, and Abiathar has Jonathan. Send them to report to me anything you hear.”

37 So Hushai, David’s friend, went to the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

15:30–37   David cried as he went up the Mount of Olives, mourning in a place of worship. Turn my heart to you when my world falls apart.

16

1 When David had gone over the top ⌞of the Mount of Olives⌟, Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, met him with a pair of saddled donkeys. They were loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 pieces of ripened fruit, and a full wineskin.

2 “Why did you bring these?” David asked Ziba.

“The donkeys are for the king’s family to ride on,” Ziba answered. “The bread and the ripe fruit are for ⌞your⌟ servants to eat. The wine is for those who become tired and thirsty in the desert.”

3 “Where is your master Saul’s grandson?” the king asked.

“He’s staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba answered the king. “He said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

4 The king told Ziba, “In that case everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you.”

16:1–4   Ungrateful Mephibosheth thought he could ride Absalom’s rebellion all the way to the throne. But his aged servant brought David food and drink. Show me where my loyalties should lie.

“I sincerely thank you,” said Ziba. “I hope to remain in your good graces, Your Majesty.”

5 When King David came to Bahurim, a man who was a distant cousin of Saul came out cursing. His name was Shimei, son of Gera. 6 He threw stones at David and David’s servants, although all the people and all the warriors were shielding David. 7 Shimei cursed and said, “Get out! Get out, you bloodthirsty man! You worthless person! 8 The LORD is paying you back for all the blood you spilled in the family of Saul, whom you succeeded as king. The LORD is giving the kingship to your son Absalom. Now you’re in trouble because you’re a bloodthirsty man.”

9 Abishai, Zeruiah’s son, asked the king, “Why should this dead dog curse you, Your Majesty? Let me go over there and tear off his head.”

10 But the king said, “You don’t think like me at all, sons of Zeruiah. Let him curse. If the LORD has told him, ‘Curse David,’ should anyone ask, ‘Why do you do that?’” 11 David told Abishai and all his servants, “My own son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. Why, then, shouldn’t this Benjaminite do this? Leave him alone. Let him curse, since the LORD has told him to do it. 12 Maybe the LORD will see my misery and turn his curse into a blessing for me today.”

13 As David and his men went along the road, Shimei was walking along the hillside parallel to him. Shimei cursed, hurled stones, and threw dirt at David. 14 The king and all the people with him finally arrived ⌞at their destination⌟ and rested there.

16:5–14   Why tear off Shimei’s head if he’s speaking for you? Help me hear your hard words, no matter how much they hurt.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

15 Meanwhile, Absalom and all Israel’s troops came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 When David’s friend Hushai from Archi’s family came to Absalom, he said, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 “Is that how loyal you are to your friend?” Absalom asked Hushai. “Why didn’t you go with him?”

18 Hushai answered Absalom, “No, I want to be with the one whom the LORD, these people, and all Israel have chosen. I will be his ⌞friend⌟ and stay with him. 19 And besides, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t it be his son? As I served your father, so I’ll serve you.”

20 Then Absalom asked Ahithophel, “What’s your advice? What should we do?”

21 Ahithophel told Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines[41] whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear about how you have made your father despise you. Everyone who is with you will support you even more.”

22 So a tent was put up on the roof for Absalom, and he slept with his father’s concubines in plain sight of Israel.

23 In those days both David and Absalom thought that Ahithophel’s advice was like getting an answer from God.

16:15–23   Everyone thought Ahithophel’s advice was like getting an answer from you. Sharpen my instincts to run from tempting lies.

Absalom Pursues David

17

1 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men and leave tonight to go after David. 2 I’ll attack him while he’s tired and weak, and I’ll cause him to panic. All the people with him will flee, but I’ll kill only him. 3 I’ll return all the people to you as a bride is returned to her husband. Since you will be seeking the life of only one man,[42] all the people will have peace.” 4 Absalom and all the leaders of Israel approved this plan.

5 Absalom said, “Please call Hushai, who is descended from Archi’s family, and let us hear what he, too, has to say.”

6 When Hushai arrived, Absalom said to him, “Ahithophel has told us his plan. Should we do what he says? If not, tell us.”

7 “This time Ahithophel’s advice is no good,” Hushai said to Absalom. 8 “You know your father and his men. They are warriors as fierce as a wild bear whose cubs have been stolen. Your father is an experienced soldier. He will not camp with the troops tonight. 9 He has already hidden in one of the ravines or some other place. If some of our soldiers are killed in the initial attack, others will definitely hear about it and say, ‘The troops that support Absalom have been defeated.’ 10 Even the bravest man with a heart like a lion would lose his courage, because all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and the men with him are brave. 11 So my advice is to gather all Israel’s troops from Dan to Beersheba, since they are as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Lead them into battle yourself. 12 Then we’ll attack him wherever we find him. We’ll fall on him as dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left ⌞alive⌟. 13 If he retreats into a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city and drag it into a valley so that not even a pebble will be found there.”

14 Absalom and all the people of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai from Archi’s family is better than Ahithophel’s advice.” (The LORD had commanded Ahithophel’s good advice to be defeated in order to ruin Absalom.)

15 Then Hushai told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “Ahithophel advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do one thing, but I advised them to do something else. 16 Now send messengers quickly to tell David, ‘Don’t rest tonight in the river crossings in the desert, but make sure you cross ⌞the river⌟, or Your Majesty and all the troops with him will be wiped out.’”

17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They could not risk being seen coming into the city, so a servant girl was to go and tell them, and they were to go and tell King David. 18 But a young man saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So both of them left quickly and came to the home of a man in Bahurim who had a cistern in his courtyard, and they went down into it. 19 The man’s wife took a cover, spread it over the top of the cistern, and scattered some grain[43] over it so that no one could tell it was there.

20 Absalom’s servants came to the woman at her home. “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” they asked.

The woman said, “They’ve crossed the stream.”

The servants looked for them but did not find them. So Absalom’s servants returned to Jerusalem.

21 After Absalom’s servants left, both men came out of the cistern and went and told King David. “Leave right away,” they told David. “Cross the river quickly because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you. . . .”

22 David and all the troops with him left to cross the Jordan River. When the dawn came, everyone had crossed the Jordan River.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice hadn’t been followed, he saddled his donkey, left, and went home to his own city. He gave instructions to his family. Then he hanged himself, died, and was buried in his father’s tomb.

24 David had ⌞already⌟ come to Mahanaim by the time Absalom and all the men of Israel with him crossed the Jordan River. 25 Absalom appointed Amasa to take Joab’s place as commander of the army. (Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, a descendant of Ishmael.[44] His mother was Abigail,[45] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Joab’s mother Zeruiah.) 26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the region of Gilead.

27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi, son of Nahash from Rabbah in Ammon, and Machir, son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai from Rogelim in Gilead 28 brought ⌞supplies⌟ and food for David and his troops: bedding, bowls, pots, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,[46] 29 honey, buttermilk, sheep, and calves. They brought these things because they thought, “The troops in the desert are hungry, exhausted, and thirsty.”

17:1–29   Hushai crossed Ahithophel’s advice and sent him to the grave. But you spared David and his company. Make me shrewd enough to survive real life.

David Defeats Absalom

18

1 David called together the troops that were with him. He appointed commanders in charge of regiments and battalions. 2 David put a third of the troops under Joab’s command, another third under Joab’s brother Abishai (Zeruiah’s son), and the last third under Ittai from Gath.

“I am going ⌞into battle⌟ with you,” the king said to the troops.

3 “You’re not going ⌞with us⌟,” the troops said. “If we flee, they won’t care about us, and if half of us die, they won’t care either. But you’re worth 10,000 of us. It’s better for you to be ready to send us help from the city.”

4 “I’ll do what you think best,” the king responded. So the king stood by the gate while all the troops marched out by battalions and regiments.

5 The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the troops heard him give all the commanders this order regarding Absalom.

6 So the troops went out to the country to fight Israel in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There David’s men defeated Israel’s army, and the massacre was sizable that day—20,000 men. 8 The fighting spread over the whole country. That day the woods devoured more people than the battle.

9 Absalom happened to come face to face with some of David’s men. He was riding on a mule, and the mule went under the tangled branches of a large tree. Absalom’s head became caught in the tree. So he was left hanging[47] in midair when the mule that was under him ran away. 10 A man who saw this told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in a tree.”

11 “What! You saw that!” Joab said to the man who told him. “Why didn’t you strike him to the ground? Then I would have felt obligated to give you four ounces of silver and a belt.”

12 But the man told Joab, “Even if I felt the weight of 25 pounds of silver in my hand, I wouldn’t raise my hand against the king’s son. We heard the order the king gave you, Abishai, and Ittai: ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’[48] 13 If I had done something treacherous to him, would you have stood by me? Like everything else, it wouldn’t stay hidden from the king.”

14 Then Joab said, “I shouldn’t waste time with you like this.” He took three sharp sticks and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the tree. 15 Then ten of Joab’s armorbearers surrounded Absalom, attacked him, and killed him.

16 Joab blew the ram’s horn to stop their ⌞fighting⌟, and the troops returned from pursuing Israel. 17 They took Absalom, threw him into a huge pit in the forest, and piled a large heap of stones over him. Meanwhile, all Israel fled and went back to their homes.

18 (⌞While he was still living,⌟ Absalom had taken a rock and set it up for himself in the king’s valley. He said, “I have no son to keep the memory of my name alive.” He called the rock by his name, and it is still called Absalom’s Monument today.)

18:1–18   David wanted mercy for Absalom, but Joab stuck him with sharp sticks. His men killed the king’s son and buried him in a forest pit. Nothing good ever comes from rebellion.

19 Then Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, said, “Let me run and bring the king the good news that the LORD has freed him from his enemies.”

20 But Joab told him, “You won’t be the man carrying good news today. You can carry the news some other day. You must not deliver the news today because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to a man from Sudan, “Go, tell the king what you saw.” The messenger bowed down with his face touching the ground in front of Joab and then ran off.

22 Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, spoke to Joab again, “Whatever may happen, I also want to run after the Sudanese messenger.”

“Now, son, why should you deliver the message?” Joab asked. “You won’t be rewarded for this news.”

23 “Whatever happens, I’d like to run,” ⌞replied Ahimaaz.⌟

“Run,” Joab told him. So Ahimaaz ran along the valley road and got ahead of the Sudanese messenger.

24 David was sitting between the two gates while the watchman walked along the roof of the gate by the wall. As he looked, he saw a man running alone. 25 The watchman called and alerted the king.

“If he’s alone,” the king said, “he has good news to tell.” The runner continued to come closer.

26 When the watchman saw another man running, the watchman called, “There’s ⌞another⌟ man running alone.”

The king said, “This one is also bringing good news.”

27 The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first one runs like Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son.”

“He’s a good man,” the king said. “He must be coming with good news.”

28 Then Ahimaaz came up to the king, greeted him, and bowed down in front of him. Ahimaaz said, “May the LORD your God be praised. He has handed over the men who rebelled against Your Majesty.”

29 “Is the young man Absalom alright?” the king asked.

Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a lot of confusion when Joab sent me away, but I didn’t know what it meant.”

30 “Step aside, and stand here,” the king said. He stepped aside and stood there.

31 Then the Sudanese messenger came. “Good news for Your Majesty!” he said. “Today the LORD has freed you from all who turned against you.”

32 “Is the young man Absalom alright?” the king asked.

The Sudanese messenger answered, “May your enemies and all who turned against you be like that young man!”[49]

33 The king was shaken ⌞by the news⌟. He went to the room above the gate and cried. “My son Absalom!” he said as he went. “My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!”

18:19–33   The king wept at the news of his son. He wished he had died in his place. How did your plans for your people come to this?

David Restored to the Throne

19  [50]

1 Joab was told, “The king is crying and mourning for Absalom.” 2 The victory of that day was turned into mourning because all the troops heard that the king was grieving for his son. 3 That day the troops sneaked into the city as if they had fled from battle and were ashamed of it. 4 The king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 Then Joab came into the house. “Today you have made all your men feel ashamed,” he said. “They saved your life and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives, and concubines[51] today. 6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. Today, you have made it clear that your commanders and servants mean nothing to you. I think you would be pleased if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead. 7 Now, get up, go out, and encourage your men. I swear to you by the LORD that if you don’t go out, no one will stay with you tonight, and that will be worse than all the trouble you’ve had in your entire life.”

8 The king sat in the gateway. When all the troops were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they came to the king.

Meanwhile, Israel had fled and went back to their own homes. 9 All the people in all the tribes of Israel were arguing with one another, saying, “The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but now he has fled from Absalom and left the country. 10 However, Absalom, whom we anointed to rule us, has died in battle. Why is no one talking about bringing back the king?”

11 What all Israel was saying reached the king at his house. So King David sent ⌞this message⌟ to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: “Ask the leaders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last ⌞tribe⌟ to bring the king back to his palace? 12 You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And tell Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God strike me dead unless you are given Joab’s place to serve me always as the commander of the army.’”

14 All the people of Judah were in total agreement. So they sent the king this message: “Come back with all your servants.”

19:1–14   You sent a message to the king: “Come back with all your servants.” You kept your promise to establish David’s throne.

15 The king came back to the Jordan River, and the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan River. 16 Shimei, Gera’s son from the tribe of Benjamin and the town of Bahurim, hurried down with the people of Judah to meet King David. 17 One thousand people from Benjamin were with him. And Ziba, the servant of Saul’s family, rushed to the Jordan River across from the king. Ziba brought his 15 sons and 20 servants. 18 They crossed the river to bring over the king’s family and to do anything else the king wanted.

Shimei, Gera’s son, bowed down in front of the king as he was going to cross the Jordan River. 19 He pleaded with the king, “Don’t remember the crime I committed the day you left Jerusalem. Don’t hold it against me or even think about it, Your Majesty. 20 I know I’ve sinned. Today I’ve come as the first of all the house of Joseph to meet you.”

21 But Abishai, Zeruiah’s son, replied, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for cursing the LORD’s anointed king?”

22 David responded, “Are you sure we’re from the same family, sons of Zeruiah? You are my enemies today. Should anyone in Israel be killed today? Don’t I know that I’m king of Israel again?”

23 The king promised Shimei, “You won’t die,” and the king swore to it.

24 Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went to meet the king. He had not tended to his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until he came home safely. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 He answered, “My servant deceived me, Your Majesty. Since I am disabled, I said, ‘Saddle the donkey for me, and I’ll ride on it and go with the king.’ 27 He told you lies about me, Your Majesty. However, you are like God’s Messenger. Do what you think is right. 28 You could have killed anyone in my entire family, Your Majesty. Instead, you’ve seated me with those who eat at your table. So I no longer have the right to complain to the king.”

29 The king asked him, “Why do you keep talking about it? I’ve said that you and Ziba should divide the land.”

30 “Let him take it all,” Mephibosheth told the king. “It’s enough for me that you’ve come home safely.”

31 Barzillai, the man from Gilead, came from Rogelim with the king to the Jordan River to send him on his way. 32 Barzillai was an elderly man, 80 years old. Because he was a very rich man, he had provided the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim.

33 The king told Barzillai, “Cross the river with me. I’ll provide for you in Jerusalem.”

34 Barzillai replied, “I don’t have much longer to live. I shouldn’t go with Your Majesty to Jerusalem. 35 I’m 80 years old now. How can I tell what is pleasant and what is not? Can I taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the singing of men and women? Why should I now become a burden to you, Your Majesty? 36 I’ll just cross the Jordan River with you. Why should you give me such a reward? 37 Please let me go back so that I can die in my city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Chimham. Let him go across with you. And do for him what you think is right.”

38 “Chimham will go across with me,” the king said. “I will do for him whatever you want. Anything you wish I’ll do for you.”

39 All the troops crossed the Jordan River, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai went back home.

40 The king crossed the river to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops from Judah and half of the troops from Israel brought the king across.

41 Then all the people of Israel kept coming to the king. They asked, “Why did our cousins, the people of Judah, kidnap you and bring Your Majesty and your family and men across the Jordan River?”

42 All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why are you angry about this? Did we eat the king’s food, or did he give us any gifts?”[52]

43 The people of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have ten times your interest in the king and a greater claim on David than you have. Why, then, do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?”

But the people of Judah spoke ⌞even⌟ more harshly than the people of Israel.

19:15–43   David wouldn’t kill Shimei for his curses. He gave up wondering if Mephibosheth was telling the truth. And he blessed Barzilli and Chimham. Help me show mercy as I work through conflicts—and demonstrate gratitude to friends who stand with me.

Sheba’s Rebellion

20

1 A good-for-nothing man by the name of Sheba, Bichri’s son, from the tribe of Benjamin happened to be at Gilgal. He blew a ram’s horn ⌞to announce⌟,

“We have no share in David’s kingdom.

We won’t receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son.

Everyone to his own tent, Israel!”

2 So all the people of Israel left David to follow Sheba, Bichri’s son. But the people of Judah remained loyal to their king ⌞on his way⌟ from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.

3 When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines[53] he had left to look after the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but no longer slept with them. So they lived like widows in confinement until they died.

4 The king told Amasa, “Call the people of Judah together for me, and in three days be here yourself.” 5 Amasa went to call Judah together, but he took longer to do it than David had given him.

6 David then told Abishai, “Sheba, son of Bichri, will do us more harm than Absalom. Take my men and go after him, or he will find some fortified cities and take the best ones for himself.”[54]

7 So Joab’s men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, and all the soldiers went with Abishai. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, Bichri’s son. 8 When they were at the large rock in Gibeon, Amasa met them there. Joab wore a military uniform, and strapped over it at his hip was a sword in a scabbard. As he stepped forward, the sword dropped ⌞into his hand⌟. 9 “How are you, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. He took hold of Amasa’s beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa wasn’t on his guard against the sword in Joab’s ⌞left⌟ hand. Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and his intestines poured out on the ground. (He died without being stabbed again.) Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bichri. 11 One of Joab’s young men stood beside Amasa[55] and said, “Anyone who favors Joab and is on David’s side should follow Joab.” 12 Amasa was wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the troops stopped as they came to the body, he carried Amasa from the road to the field and threw a sheet over him. 13 As soon as he was moved from the road, everyone followed Joab and pursued Sheba, Bichri’s son.

14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel (Beth Maacah). All the Berites were gathered together and followed him to the city. 15 Joab’s army came and attacked him in Abel (Beth Maacah). They put up a dirt ramp against the city, and it stood level with the outer wall. All the troops with Joab were trying to destroy the wall and tear it down.

16 Then a clever woman called from the city, “Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here so that I can talk to him.”

17 He came near, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he answered.

“Listen to what I have to say,” she told him.

“I’m listening,” he answered.

18 So she said, “There’s an old saying: ‘Be sure to ask at Abel ⌞before doing anything⌟. That’s the way they settle matters.’ 19 We are peaceful and faithful Israelites. Are you trying to destroy a mother city in Israel? Why should you swallow up what belongs to the LORD?”

20 Joab answered, “That’s unthinkable! I don’t wish to swallow ⌞it⌟ up or destroy ⌞it⌟. 21 That isn’t the case. A man from the mountains of Ephraim by the name of Sheba, son of Bichri, has rebelled against King David. Give him to me, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”

“That’s fine,” the woman told Joab. “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” 22 Then the woman went to all the people with her clever plan. They cut off Sheba’s head and threw it to Joab. He blew the ram’s horn, and everyone scattered and withdrew from the city and went home. Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

20:1–22   Amasa paid with his life for betraying the king. And a clever woman saved her city by serving up Sheba’s head. This isn’t the peace you planned for your people.

David’s Officials

23 Now, Joab was put in charge of Israel’s whole army. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites. 24 Adoram was in charge of forced labor. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the royal historian. 25 Sheva was the royal scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests. 26 And Ira, a descendant of Jair, was a priest to David.

David and the People of Gibeon

21

1 In the time of David, there was a famine for three successive years, and David asked the LORD’s advice about it. The LORD answered, “It’s because of Saul and his family. They are guilty of murder because they killed the people of Gibeon.”

2 (The Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were left over from the Amorites. Although the Israelites had sworn ⌞to spare them⌟, Saul, in his eagerness, tried to destroy them for Israel and Judah.)

The king called the Gibeonites 3 and asked them, “What can I do for you? What should I ⌞give you⌟ to make peace with you so that you will bless what belongs to the LORD?”

4 “We do not want silver or gold from Saul’s family,” the Gibeonites answered him. “And none of us wants to kill ⌞anyone⌟ in Israel.”

The king asked, “What are you saying that I should do for you?”

5 They answered the king, “Give us seven of the male descendants of the man who wanted to finish us off. He planned to wipe us out to keep us from staying anywhere in Israel’s territory. 6 We will execute them in the LORD’s presence at Saul’s town Gibeah.” (It was Saul whom the LORD had chosen.)

“I will give them ⌞to you⌟,” the king said.

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson, because of the oath in the LORD’s name between David and Jonathan, son of Saul. 8 The king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter) gave birth to for Saul, and five sons whom Merab[56] (Saul’s daughter) gave birth to for Adriel, son of Barzillai from Meholah. 9 The king handed them over to the Gibeonites, who executed them on the mountain in the LORD’s presence. All seven died together. They were killed at the beginning of the harvest, when people started harvesting barley.

21:1–9   Seven men of Saul’s family died for his violent rage. I grieve that others suffer for my total contempt of you.

10 Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter) took sackcloth and stretched it out on the rock for herself from the beginning of the harvest until the sky rained on the dead bodies. She wouldn’t let any birds land on them during the day or any wild animals come near them during the night.

11 When David was told what Saul’s concubine[57] Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter) had done, 12 David went and took the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. They had stolen them from the public square of Beth Shean, where the Philistines had hung them the day they killed Saul at Gilboa. 13 When David brought up the bones of Saul and Jonathan, his men gathered the bones of those who had been executed. 14 Then they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin, in Zela, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. They did everything the king ordered. After that, God answered the prayers for the land.

21:10–14   You ended the famine in Israel when David gathered the bones of Saul and his family. I’ll follow his example and show respect to the living and the dead.

The Giants of the Philistines Defeated—1 Chronicles 20:4–8

15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. So David and his men went to fight the Philistines, but David became exhausted. 16 A descendant of Haraphah named Benob, who had a bronze spear weighing 7½ pounds which he wore on a new belt, captured David and intended to kill him. 17 But Abishai, son of Zeruiah, came to help David. He attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore an oath, saying, “You’ll never go into battle with us again. The lamp of Israel must never be extinguished.”

18 After this, there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, another descendant of Haraphah. 19 When more fighting broke out with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan, son of Jaare Oregim from Bethlehem, killed Goliath of Gath. (The shaft of Goliath’s spear was like a beam used by weavers.) 20 In another battle at Gath, there was a tall man who had a total of 24 fingers and toes: six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was a descendant of Haraphah. 21 When he challenged Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimei, killed him. 22 These four were descendants of Haraphah from Gath, and David and his men killed them.

21:15–22   You defeated the Philistine giants. No one can stand against your power.

David’s Song of Deliverance—Psalm 18:1–50

22

1 David sang this song to the LORD when the LORD rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul. 2 He said,

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior,

3 my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield,

the strength of my salvation, my stronghold,

my refuge, and my Savior who saved me from violence.

22:1–2   You are my strength, rock, fortress, and Savior. You are my God, shield, salvation, and stronghold.

4 The LORD should be praised.

I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.

5 The waves of death had surrounded me.

The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.

6 The ropes of the grave had surrounded me.

The clutches of death had confronted me.

22:3–6   I praise you because you saved me. I was tangled in death and drowning in destruction. Death held me in its clutches.

7 I called on the LORD in my distress.

I called to my God for help.

He heard my voice from his temple,

and my cry for help reached his ears.

8 Then the earth shook and quaked.

Even the foundations of the heavens trembled.

They shook violently because he was angry.

9 Smoke went up from his nostrils,

and a raging fire came out of his mouth.

Glowing coals flared up from it.

22:7–9   I cried to you and you heard. In anger you shook the earth. Smoke and fire billowed from your breath.

10 He spread apart the heavens

and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.

11 He rode on one of the angels[58] as he flew,

and he soared on the wings of the wind.

12 He surrounded himself with darkness.

He made the dark rain clouds his covering.

13 Out of the brightness in front of him, he made lightning.

14 The LORD thundered from heaven.

The Most High made his voice heard.

15 He shot arrows and scattered them.

He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion.

22:10–15   You split the heavens as you rushed to my aid. You robed yourself with darkness. You flashed lightning as your voice thundered in the heavens. You threw my enemies into confusion and scattered them.

16 Then the ocean floor could be seen.

The foundations of the earth were laid bare

at the LORD’s stern warning,

at the blast of the breath from his nostrils.

17 He reached down from high above and took hold of me.

He pulled me out of the raging water.

18 He rescued me from my strong enemy

and from those who hated me,

because they were too strong for me.

19 On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me,

but the LORD became my defense.

20 He brought me out to a wide-open place.

He rescued me because he was pleased with me.

22:16–20   Your stern warning bared the ocean floor, your breath pushing back the waters. You reached down and plucked me from raging waters and rescued me from hateful enemies. You came to my defense and deposited me in a wide-open place.

21 The LORD rewarded me

because of my righteousness,

because my hands are clean.

He paid me back

22 because I have kept the ways of the LORD

and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,

23 because all his judgments are in front of me

and I have not turned away from his laws.

24 I was innocent as far as he was concerned.

I have kept myself from guilt.

22:21–24   You reward me because I do right. You pay me back because I keep your ways and stay close to you. I remember your laws and keep them all. You know that I’m innocent.

25 The LORD paid me back

because of my righteousness,

because he can see that I am clean.

26 ⌞In dealing⌟ with faithful people you are faithful,

with innocent warriors you are innocent,

27 with pure people you are pure.

⌞In dealing⌟ with devious people you are clever.

22:26–27   Because I’m faithful, you’re faithful toward me. Because I live with integrity, I experience your integrity. Because I’m pure, I witness your purity. If I chose to be devious, you would outsmart me.

28 You save humble people,

but your eyes bring down arrogant people.

29 O LORD, you are my lamp.

The LORD turns my darkness into light.

30 With you I can attack a line of soldiers.

With my God I can break through barricades.

22:30   With you on my side I can conquer an army. I can break through every barrier.

31 God’s way is perfect!

The promise of the LORD has proven to be true.

He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

32 Who is God but the LORD?

Who is a rock other than our God?

22:31–32   Your way is perfect and your promises always true. There is no God but you. There is no rock except my God.

33 God arms me with strength.[59]

His perfect way sets me free.

34 He makes my feet like those of a deer

and gives me sure footing on high places.

35 He trains my hands for battle

so that my arms can bend an ⌞archer’s⌟ bow of bronze.

36 You have given me the shield of your salvation.

Your help makes me great.

22:33–36   You make me like an agile deer and give me sure footing. You train me to fight so I can bend a bow of bronze. Your salvation is like a shield. And your help makes me great.

37 You make a wide path for me to walk on

so that my feet do not slip.

38 I chased my enemies and destroyed them.

I did not return until I had ended their lives.

39 I ended their lives by shattering them.

They were unable to get up.

They fell under my feet.

40 You armed me with strength for battle.

You made my opponents bow at my feet.

41 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,

and I destroyed those who hated me.

42 They looked, but there was no one to save them.

They looked to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

43 I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust on the ground.

I crushed them and stomped on them like the dirt on the streets.

22:37–43   I chase my enemies until I catch them. I don’t give up until they are gone, and you don’t give in to them when they suddenly beg you for help. Because of you they become like dirt under my feet.

44 You rescued me from my conflicts with my people.

You kept me as the leader of nations.

A people I did not know will serve me.

45 Foreigners will cringe in front of me.

As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.

46 Foreigners will lose heart,

although they are armed[60] in their fortifications.

22:44–46   You rescue me from conflict and lift me to leadership. People obey me because you put them under my authority. Evil gets its due reward because you are my avenger.

47 The LORD lives!

Thanks be to my rock!

May God, the rock of my salvation, be glorified.

48 God gives me vengeance!

He brings people under my authority.

49 He frees me from my enemies.

You lift me up above my opponents.

You rescue me from violent people.

22:47–49   I’m convinced you are real. You’re my sure and solid rock! God my Savior, may my life honor you.

50 That is why I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations

and make music to praise your name.

51 He gives great victories to his king.

He shows mercy to his anointed,

to David, and to his descendant[61] forever.

22:50–51   I sing you thanks so loudly that everyone on earth can hear. Victory and mercy come from you!

David’s Last Words

23

1 These are the last words of David:

“Here is the declaration by David, son of Jesse—

the declaration by the man whom God raised up,[62]

whom the God of Jacob anointed,

the singer of Israel’s psalms:

2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me.

His words were on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel spoke to them.

The rock of Israel told me,

‘The one who rules humans with justice rules with the fear of God.

4 He is like the morning light as the sun rises,

like a morning without clouds,

like the brightness after a rainstorm.

The rain makes the grass grow from the earth.’

23:1–4   Your words were on David’s tongue. He ruled with justice—with utter respect for you. Make me like morning light as the sun rises.

5 “Truly, God considers my house to be that way,

because he has made a lasting promise[63] to me,

with every detail arranged and assured.

⌞He promised⌟ everything that helps me,

everything that pleases me.

Truly, he makes these things happen.

6 “Worthless people are like thorns.

All of them are thrown away, because they cannot be picked by hand.

7 A person who touches them uses iron ⌞tools⌟

or the shaft of a spear.

Fire[64] will burn them up completely wherever they are.”

23:5–7   You made a lasting promise to David to establish his throne forever. Keep your promises to me. Arrange and assure every detail. Truly you’ll make these things happen!

David’s Three Fighting Men—1 Chronicles 11:10–19

8 These are the names of David’s fighting men: Josheb Basshebeth from Tahkemon’s family was leader of the three. He used a spear[65] to kill 800 men on one occasion.

9 Next in rank to him was Eleazar, another one of the three fighting men. He was the son of Dodo and grandson of Aho. Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim[66] when the Philistines gathered there for battle. When the soldiers from Israel retreated, 10 he attacked and killed Philistines until his hand got tired and stuck to his sword. So the LORD won an impressive victory that day. The army returned to Eleazar, but they only returned to strip the dead.

11 Next in rank to him was Shammah, the son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of ripe lentils. When the troops fled from the Philistines, 12 he stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So the LORD won an impressive victory.

13 At harvest time three of the thirty leading men came to David at the cave of Adullam when a troop from the Philistine army was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 14 While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were at Bethlehem. 15 When David became thirsty, he said, “I wish I could have a drink of water from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem.” 16 So the three fighting men burst into the Philistine camp and drew water from the well. They brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out ⌞as an offering⌟ to the LORD and said, 17 “It’s unthinkable that I would do this, LORD. This is the blood of men who risked their lives!” So he refused to drink it.

These are the things which the three fighting men did.

David’s Thirty Fighting Men—1 Chronicles 11:20–47

18 Joab’s brother Abishai, Zeruiah’s son, was the leader of the thirty. He used his spear to kill 300 men. He was as famous as the three 19 and was honored more than they were. So he became their captain, but he didn’t become a member of the three.

20 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was from Kabzeel and was a brave man who did many things. He killed two distinguished soldiers from Moab. He also went into a pit and killed a lion on the day it snowed. 21 And he killed a handsome Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. Benaiah went to him with a club, grabbed the spear from him, and killed him with it. 22 These are the things that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did. He was as famous as the three fighting men. 23 He was honored more than the thirty, but he was not a member of the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards.

24 One of the thirty was Joab’s brother Asahel. ⌞The thirty leading men were⌟

Elhanan (son of Dodo) from Bethlehem,

25 Shammah from Harod,

Elika from Harod,

26 Helez the Paltite,

Ira (son of Ikkesh) from Tekoa,

27 Abiezer from Anathoth,

Mebunnai (son of Hushai),

28 Zalmon (descendant of Ahohi),

Maharai from Netophah,

29 Heleb (son of Baanah) from Netophah,

Ittai (son of Ribai) from Gibeah in Benjamin,

30 Benaiah from Pirathon,

Hiddai from the Gaash ravines,

31 Abi Albon from Beth Arabah,

Azmaveth from Bahurim,

32 Elihba from Shaalbon,

Bene Jashen,

33 Jonathan (⌞son of⌟ Shammah the Hararite),

Ahiam (son of Sharar the Hararite),

34 Eliphelet (son of Ahasbai and grandson of a man from Maacah),

Eliam (son of Ahithophel) from Gilo,

35 Hezrai from Carmel,

Paarai from Arabah,

36 Igal (son of Nathan) from Zobah,

Bani from the tribe of Gad,

37 Zelek from Ammon,

Naharai from Beeroth, armorbearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab,

38 Ira (descendant of Ithra),

Gareb (descendant of Ithra),

39 Uriah the Hittite—

37 in all.

23:8–39   You gave men to fight by David’s side, elite troops willing to die for him. Give me friends to stand with me no matter what I face.

David’s Sin—He Takes a Census—1 Chronicles 21:1–30

24

1 The LORD became angry with Israel again, so he provoked David to turn against Israel. He said, “Go, count Israel and Judah.”

2 King David said to Joab, the commander of the army who was with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are.”

3 Joab responded to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the people a hundred times over, and may Your Majesty ⌞live⌟ to see it. But why does Your Majesty wish to do this?”

4 However, the king overruled Joab and the commanders of the army. So they left the king ⌞in order⌟ to count the people of Israel. 5 They crossed the Jordan River and camped at Aroer, south of the city in the middle of the valley. Then they went to Gad and to Jazer. 6 They went to Gilead and to Tahtim Hodshi and then to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. 7 They went to the fortified city of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah. 8 When they had covered the whole country, they came to Jerusalem after 9 months and 20 days. 9 Joab reported the census figures to the king: In Israel there were 800,000 able-bodied men who could serve in the army, and in Judah there were 500,000.

24:1–9   You weren’t happy when David counted your people from one end of the country to the other. He relied on the size of his army—not your might. Show me when I try to muscle my way through life.

10 After David counted the people, his conscience troubled him. David said to the LORD, “I have committed a terrible sin by what I have done. LORD, please forgive me because I have acted very foolishly.”

11 When David got up in the morning, the LORD spoke his word to the prophet Gad, David’s seer.[67] 12 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I’m offering you three choices. Choose the one you want me to do to you.’”

13 When Gad came to David, he told David this and asked, “Should seven years of famine come to you and your land, or three months during which you flee from your enemies as they pursue you, or should there be a three-day plague in your land? Think it over, and decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.”

14 “I’m in a desperate situation,” David told Gad. “Please let us fall into the LORD’s hands because he is very merciful. But don’t let me fall into human hands.”

15 So the LORD sent a plague among the Israelites from that morning until the time he had chosen. Of the people from Dan to Beersheba, 70,000 died. 16 But when the Messenger stretched out his arm to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD changed his mind about the disaster. “Enough!” he said to the Messenger who was destroying the people. “Put down your weapon.” The Messenger of the LORD was at the threshing floor[68] of Araunah the Jebusite.

24:10–16   The king confessed his foolish sin. But you wouldn’t ignore what he’d done. I count on you to be merciful and forgiving. But you won’t always wipe away the consequences of my sin.

17 When David saw the Messenger who had been killing the people, he said to the LORD, “I’ve sinned. I’ve done wrong. What have these sheep done? Please let your punishment be against me and against my father’s family.”

18 That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go, set up an altar for the LORD at Araunah the Jebusite’s threshing floor.”

19 David went as Gad had told him and as the LORD had commanded him. 20 When Araunah looked down and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down with his face touching the ground in front of the king. 21 “Why has Your Majesty come to me?” Araunah asked.

David answered, “To buy the threshing floor from you and to build an altar for the LORD. Then the plague on the people will stop.”

22 Araunah said to David, “Take it, Your Majesty, and offer whatever you think is right. There are oxen for the burnt offering, and there are threshers and oxen yokes[69] for firewood.” 23 All this Araunah gave to the king and said, “May the LORD your God accept you.”

24 “No!” the king said to Araunah. “I must buy it from you at a ⌞fair⌟ price. I won’t offer the LORD my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.”

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 1¼ pounds of silver. 25 David built an altar for the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So the LORD heard the prayers for the country, and the plague on Israel stopped.

24:17–25   David built an altar and sacrificed offerings. You heard his prayers and halted the plague. I won’t offer you sacrifices that cost me nothing.

1 KINGS

INTRODUCTION

First Kings continues Israel’s history from King Solomon onward. Hope ran high during the reign of King David, who received word from the Lord that one of his descendants would always occupy his throne (2 Chronicles 7:18).

Upon David’s death, the kingdom passes to his son Solomon. Unlike his father, a warrior, Solomon comes as a man of peace. God calls him to build a glorious temple, a permanent worship site to replace the tent structure dating to the Israelites’ years in the desert.

Solomon trembles at the thought of living up to his father’s well-known accomplishments, so when the Lord appears in a dream and offers to grant him one request, Solomon asks for wisdom above anything else. He prays, “Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). The Lord is so pleased with Solomon’s appeal for wisdom that he promises him wealth and fame as well.

Sadly, Solomon isn’t as smart as he thinks. When his scores of foreign wives persuade him to worship idols, the Lord vows to tear most of the kingdom from him (1 Kings 11:1–13). The remainder of 1 Kings tells of a nation again divided into north and south.

The book of 1 Kings shows that even good people make bad choices. Praying this book gives you an opportunity to make your best requests of God. It challenges you to change when your actions invite disaster.

1 KINGS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20

21  | 22

David’s Old Age

1

1 King David had grown old, and although he was covered with blankets, he couldn’t get warm. 2 His officials told him, “Your Majesty, let us search for a young woman who has never been married. She can stay with you and be your servant. She can lie in your arms and keep you warm.”

3 So they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful, young woman. They found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king. 4 The woman was very beautiful. She became the king’s servant and took care of him, but the king did not make love to her.

Adonijah Plots to Become King

5 Adonijah, son of Haggith,[1] was very handsome. His mother gave birth to him after she had Absalom.[2] Adonijah was boasting that he was king. So he got a chariot and horses and 50 men to run ahead of him. 6 His father had never confronted him by asking why he was doing this. 7 But Adonijah had discussed his actions with Joab (son of Zeruiah) and with the priest Abiathar, so they supported him. 8 But the priest Zadok, Benaiah (son of Jehoiada), the prophet Nathan, Shimei, Rei, and David’s ⌞thirty⌟ fighting men did not join Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves at Zoheleth Rock near En Rogel. He had invited all his brothers, the king’s ⌞other⌟ sons, all the men of Judah, and the king’s officials. 10 But he didn’t invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the fighting men, or his brother Solomon.

1:1–10   While David kept warm with a young woman, Adonijah plotted to steal the old king’s throne. Give me courage to call out evil. I won’t wait until your name is dishonored and people get hurt.

The Prophet Nathan Helps Solomon Become King

11 Then Nathan asked Solomon’s mother Bathsheba, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah, Haggith’s son, has become king, and our master David doesn’t ⌞even⌟ know about it? 12 Bathsheba, let me give you some advice about how to save your life and your son’s life. 13 Go to King David and ask him, ‘Your Majesty, didn’t you swear to me that my son Solomon will be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? Why is Adonijah acting as king?’ 14 And while you’re still there talking to the king, I’ll come in and confirm what you have said.”

15 Bathsheba went to the king in his private room. The king was very old, and Abishag from Shunem was taking care of him. 16 Bathsheba knelt and bowed down in front of the king. “What do you want?” the king asked.

17 “Sir,” she answered, “You took an oath to the LORD your God. You said that my son Solomon will be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne. 18 But now, you see, Adonijah has become king, and you don’t ⌞even⌟ know anything about it, Your Majesty. 19 He has sacrificed many fattened calves, bulls, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army ⌞to his feast⌟. But he hasn’t invited your servant Solomon. 20 All Israel is looking to you, Your Majesty, to tell them who should succeed you on your throne. 21 Otherwise, my son Solomon and I will be treated like criminals when you lie down in death with your ancestors.”

22 While she was still talking to the king, the prophet Nathan arrived. 23 The servants told the king, “The prophet Nathan is here.” When he came to the king, he bowed down in front of him. 24 Nathan said, “Your Majesty, you must have said that Adonijah will be king after you and that he will sit on your throne, 25 because today he went and sacrificed many bulls, fattened calves, and sheep. He invited all the king’s sons, the army’s commanders, and the priest Abiathar ⌞to his feast⌟. They are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But he didn’t invite me or the priest Zadok or Benaiah, who is Jehoiada’s son, or your servant Solomon. 27 Did you allow this to happen without telling me who would sit on your throne next?”

28 Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba in here.” So she stood in front of him, 29 and he swore an oath. He said, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD who has saved my life from all trouble lives, 30 I will do today exactly what I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel. Your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne.”

31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face touching the ground in front of the king. “May Your Majesty, King David, live forever!” she said.

1:11–31   David swore that Solomon would be next on the throne. You were with the king-to-be.

32 King David said, “Summon the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah, son of Jehoiada.” So they came to the king, 33 and he said, “Take my officials with you. Put my son Solomon on my mule, and take him to Gihon. 34 Have the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anoint him king of Israel there. Then blow the ram’s horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Follow him ⌞back⌟ here when he comes to sit on my throne. He will be king in place of me. I have appointed him to be the leader of Israel and Judah.”

36 “So be it!” Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, answered the king. “The LORD your God says so too. 37 As the LORD has been with you, so may he be with Solomon. May Solomon be an even greater king than you, King David.”

38 Then the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah (son of Jehoiada), the Cherethites, and the Pelethites put Solomon on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. 39 The priest Zadok took the container of olive oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the ram’s horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people followed him, blew flutes, and celebrated so loudly that their voices shook the ground.

1:32–40   You picked Solomon to rule the kingdom. Your people shook the ground with celebration when Zadok anointed him king. I’m happy when your plans come to pass.

Adonijah’s Plot Fails

41 Adonijah and all his guests heard this as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the horn, he asked, “What’s the reason for the noise in the city?” 42 He was still speaking when Jonathan, son of the priest Abiathar, arrived. “Come in,” Adonijah said. “You’re an honorable man, so you must be bringing good news.”

43 “Not at all,” Jonathan answered Adonijah. “His Majesty King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah (son of Jehoiada), the Cherethites, and the Pelethites with him. They have put him on the king’s mule. 45 The priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan have anointed him king at Gihon. They have come from there celebrating, so the city is excited. That is the sound you heard. 46 Solomon is now seated on the royal throne. 47 Furthermore, the royal officials have come ⌞to congratulate⌟ His Majesty King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his reign greater than your reign.’ The king himself bowed down on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise the LORD God of Israel who has let me see the heir to my throne.’”

49 Adonijah’s guests were frightened, so they got up and scattered in all directions. 50 Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up, went ⌞to the tent of meeting,⌟ and took hold of the horns of the altar.[3] 51 Someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you, King Solomon. He is holding on to the horns of the altar and saying, ‘Make King Solomon swear to me today that he will not have me killed.’”

52 Solomon said, “If he will behave like an honorable man, not one hair on his head will fall to the ground. But if he does ⌞anything⌟ wrong, he will die.” 53 King Solomon sent men to take him from the altar. Adonijah bowed down in front of King Solomon. “Go home,” Solomon told him.

1:41–53   Adonijah clung to your altar. Solomon vowed not to harm a hair on his head, as long as he left in peace. Teach me your ways. Show me how and when to extend mercy.

David’s Advice to Solomon—1 Chronicles 29:26–30

2

1 When David was about to die, he instructed his son Solomon, 2 “I’m about to leave this world. Be strong and mature. 3 Fulfill your duty to the LORD your God. Obey his directions, laws, commands, rules, and written instructions as they are recorded in Moses’ Teachings. Then you’ll succeed in everything you do wherever you may go. 4  ⌞You’ll succeed⌟ because the LORD will keep the promise he made to me: ‘If your descendants are faithful to me with all their hearts and lives, you will never fail to have an heir on the throne of Israel.’

2:1–4   Make me strong and mature. I’ll fulfill my duty and obey your directions and laws. Keep your promises to me so I succeed in everything I do.

5 “You know what Joab (Zeruiah’s son) did to me and to the two commanders of Israel’s army—Abner, son of Ner, and Amasa, son of Jether. Joab killed them. When there was peace, he shed blood as if it were wartime. With their blood he stained the belt around his waist and the shoes on his feet. 6 Use your wisdom. Don’t let that gray-haired, old man go to his grave peacefully.

7 “Be kind to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead. Let them eat at your table. They helped me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom.

8 “Shimei, son of Gera from Bahurim in Benjamin, is still with you. He cursed me repeatedly when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came to meet me at the Jordan River, I took an oath by the LORD and said, ‘As long as I’m king, I won’t have you killed.’ 9 Now, don’t let him go unpunished. You are wise and know what to do to him: Put that gray-haired, old man into his grave by slaughtering him.”

2:5–9   Remind me who my friends are. Make me shrewd enough to survive real life.

10 David lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 He ruled as king of Israel for 40 years. He ruled for 7 years in Hebron and for 33 years in Jerusalem.

Solomon Establishes His Authority

12 Solomon sat on his father David’s throne, and his power was firmly established.

13 Then Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Is this a friendly visit?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered. 14 Then he added, “I have a matter ⌞to discuss⌟ with you.”

“What is it?” she asked.

15 He said, “You know the kingship was mine. All Israel expected me to be their king. But the kingship has been turned over to my brother because the LORD gave it to him. 16 Now I want to ask you for one thing. Don’t refuse me.”

“What is it?” she asked.

17 He said, “Please ask King Solomon to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife. He will not refuse you.”

18 “Very well,” Bathsheba answered. “I will talk to the king for you.”

19 Bathsheba went to King Solomon to talk to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to meet her and bowed down in front of her. Then he sat on his throne. He had a throne brought for his mother, and she sat at his right side.

20 “I’m asking you for one little thing,” she said. “Don’t refuse me.”

“Ask, Mother,” the king told her. “I won’t refuse you.”

21 She replied, “Let Abishag from Shunem be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”

22 King Solomon then said, “Why do you ask that Abishag from Shunem be given to Adonijah? That would be the same as giving him the kingship. After all, he is my older brother. The priest Abiathar and Joab (Zeruiah’s son) are supporting him.”

23 King Solomon took an oath by the LORD and said, “May God strike me dead if Adonijah doesn’t pay with his life for this request! 24 The LORD set me on my father David’s throne and gave me a dynasty as he promised. So I solemnly swear, as the LORD who has established me lives, that Adonijah will be put to death today.” 25 King Solomon gave this task to Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. Benaiah attacked and killed Adonijah.

26 The king told the priest Abiathar, “Go to your land in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I won’t kill you at this time because you carried the ark of the Almighty LORD ahead of my father David and because you shared all my father’s sufferings.” 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar as the LORD’s priest and fulfilled the LORD’s word spoken at Shiloh about Eli’s family.

28 The news reached Joab. (He had supported Adonijah, although he hadn’t supported Absalom.) So Joab fled to the LORD’s tent and clung to the horns of the altar. 29 After King Solomon heard that Joab had fled to the altar in the tent of the LORD, Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to kill Joab.

30 When Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD, he told Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out.’”

“No,” Joab answered, “I’ll die here.”

So Benaiah reported to the king what Joab had said and how he had answered.

31 The king answered, “Do as he said. Kill him, and bury him. You can remove the innocent blood—the blood which Joab shed—from me and my father’s family. 32 The LORD will repay him for the slaughter he caused. Joab killed two honorable men who were better than he was. He used his sword to kill Abner (who was the son of Ner and the commander of Israel’s army) and Amasa (who was the son of Jether and the commander of Judah’s army). Joab did this without my father’s knowledge. 33 The responsibility for their blood will fall on Joab and his descendants forever. But may David, his descendants, family, and throne always receive peace from the LORD.”

34 Then Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, went and attacked Joab, killed him, and buried him at his home in the desert. 35 The king then appointed Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to replace Joab as commander of the army. King Solomon also replaced Abiathar with the priest Zadok.

2:12–35   Solomon tolerated no rivals. Adonijah earned death, Abithar could no longer be priest, and Joab was a stain on the kingdom. You kept your promise to establish David’s throne.

36 The king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem, and stay there. Don’t leave ⌞the city⌟ to go anywhere else. 37 But the day you leave and cross the brook in the Kidron Valley, you can be certain that you will die. You will be responsible for your own death.”

38 “Very well,” Shimei answered. “I’ll do just what Your Majesty said.”

So Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time. 39 But after three years, two of Shimei’s slaves fled to Gath’s King Achish, son of Maacah. Shimei was told that his slaves were in Gath, 40 so he saddled his donkey and went to Achish in Gath to search for his slaves. Shimei went to Gath and got his slaves.

41 After Solomon heard that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and back, 42 he summoned Shimei. Solomon asked him, “Didn’t I make you take an oath by the LORD? Didn’t I warn you that if you left ⌞the city⌟ to go anywhere, you could be certain that you would die? Didn’t you say to me, ‘Very well. I’ll do just what you said’? 43 Why didn’t you keep your oath to the LORD and obey the command I gave you? 44 Shimei, you know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. The LORD is going to pay you back for the evil you have done. 45 But King Solomon is blessed, and David’s dynasty will always be firmly established by the LORD.”

46 Then the king gave orders to Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. He went to attack and kill Shimei.

Solomon’s power as king was now firmly established.

2:36–46   Shimei cursed David and lived but disobeyed Solomon and died. You paid him back for the evil he’d done. You firmly established Solomon as king.

Solomon’s Marriage—2 Chronicles 1:1

3

1 Solomon became the son-in-law of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). After marrying Pharaoh’s daughter, Solomon brought her to the City of David until he finished building his own house, the LORD’s house, and the wall around Jerusalem.

2 The people were still sacrificing at other worship sites because a temple for the name of the LORD had not yet been built. 3 Solomon loved the LORD and lived by his father David’s rules. However, he still sacrificed and burned incense at these other worship sites.

3:1–3   Solomon loved you and lived by David’s rules. Help me love you and honor my parents.

Solomon Requests Wisdom from God—2 Chronicles 1:2–13

4 King Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice because it was the most important place of worship. Solomon sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.

5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. He said, “What can I give you?”

6 Solomon responded, “You’ve shown great love to my father David, who was your servant. He lived in your presence with truth, righteousness, and commitment. And you continued to show him your great love by giving him a son to sit on his throne today.

7 “LORD my God, although I’m young and inexperienced, you’ve made me king in place of my father David. 8 I’m among your people whom you have chosen. They are too numerous to count or record. 9 Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”

3:4–9   You asked Solomon what he wanted from you. He longed to live in your presence with truth, righteousness, and commitment. I need a listening heart to tell the difference between good and evil.

10 The LORD [4] was pleased that Solomon asked for this. 11 God replied, “You’ve asked for this and not for a long life, or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies. Instead, you’ve asked for understanding so that you can do what is right. 12 So I’m going to do what you’ve asked. I’m giving you a wise and understanding heart so that there will never be anyone like you. 13 I’m also giving you what you haven’t asked for—riches and honor—so that no other king will be like you as long as you live. 14 And if you follow me and obey my laws and commands as your father David did, then I will also give you a long life.”

15 Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He went to Jerusalem and stood in front of the ark of the LORD’s promise. He sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings and held a banquet for all his officials.

3:10–15   Solomon’s request made you smile. You gave him the wisdom and understanding he wanted—and added wealth and honor beyond compare. Shape my desires. Give me a passion for your best.

Solomon’s Wisdom in Action

16 A short time later two prostitutes came to the king and stood in front of him. 17 One woman said to him, “Sir, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth ⌞to a son⌟ while she was with me in the house. 18 Two days later this woman also gave birth ⌞to a son⌟. We were alone. No one else was with us. Just the two of us were in the house. 19 That night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on top of him. 20 So she got up during the night and took my son, who was beside me, while I was asleep. She held him in her arms. Then she laid her dead son in my arms. 21 When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, he was dead! I took a good look at him and realized that he wasn’t my son at all!”

22 The other woman said, “No! My son is alive—your son is dead.”

The first woman kept on saying, “No! Your son is dead—my son is alive.” So they argued in front of the king.

23 The king said, “This one keeps saying, ‘My son is alive—your son is dead,’ and that one keeps saying, ‘No! Your son is dead—my son is alive.’”

24 So the king told his servants to bring him a sword. When they brought it, 25 he said, “Cut the living child in two. Give half to the one and half to the other.”

26 Then the woman whose son was still alive was deeply moved by her love for the child. She said to the king, “Please, sir, give her the living child. Please don’t kill him!”

But the other woman said, “He won’t be mine or yours. Cut him ⌞in two⌟.”

27 The king replied, “Give the living child to the first woman. Don’t kill him. She is his mother.”

28 All Israel heard about the decision the king made. They respected the king very highly, because they saw he possessed wisdom from God to do what was right.

3:16–28   Don’t let people play me. Give me insight that makes sense of confusion.

Solomon’s Administration—2 Chronicles 9:26

4

1 When King Solomon was the king of all Israel, 2 these were his officials:

Azariah, son of Zadok, was the ⌞chief⌟ priest.

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were scribes.

Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the royal historian.

4 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was commander of the army.

Zadok and Abiathar were priests.

5 Azariah, son of Nathan, was in charge of the district governors.

Zabud, son of Nathan, was the king’s adviser.

6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace.

Adoniram, son of Abda, was in charge of forced labor.

7 Solomon appointed 12 district governors in Israel. They were to provide food for the king and his palace. Each one had to supply food for one month every year. 8 Their names were

Benhur, who was in charge of the hills of Ephraim,

9 Bendeker, who was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan, and

10 Benhesed, who was in charge of Arubboth, Socoh, and the entire region of Hepher.

11 Benabinadab had the entire region of Dor.

(Solomon’s daughter Taphath was his wife.)

12 Baana, son of Ahilud, had Taanach, Megiddo, and all of Beth Shean.

(This was near Zarethan, below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah and over to Jokmeam.)

13 Bengeber was in charge of Ramoth Gilead; he had the settlements of Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, in Gilead.

He ⌞also⌟ had the territory of Argob in Bashan, 60 large cities with walls and bronze bars across their gates.

14 Ahinadab, son of Iddo, was in charge of Mahanaim.

15 Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali.

(He also married Solomon’s daughter Basemath.)

16 Baana, son of Hushai, was in charge of Asher and Aloth.

17 Jehoshaphat, son of Paruah, was in charge of Issachar.

18 Shimei, son of Ela, was in charge of Benjamin.

19 Geber, son of Uri, was in charge of Gilead, the territory of King Sihon the Amorite and King Og of Bashan. (There was only one governor in that territory.)[5]

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They ate and drank and lived happily.[6]

21 Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the country of the Philistines and as far as the Egyptian border. These kingdoms paid taxes and were subject to Solomon as long as he lived.

22 Solomon’s food supply for one day was 180 bushels of flour, 360 bushels of coarse flour, 23 10 fattened cows, 20 cows from the pasture, and 100 sheep in addition to deer, gazelles, fallow deer, and fattened birds. 24 He controlled all the territory west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza and all of its kings. So he lived in peace with all the neighboring countries. 25 As long as Solomon lived, Judah and Israel (from Dan to Beersheba) lived securely, everyone under his own vine and fig tree.

26 Solomon had stalls for 40,000 chariot horses. He also had 12,000 chariot soldiers.[7] 27 Each of the governors provided food for one month every year for King Solomon and all who ate at his table. The governors saw to it that nothing was in short supply. 28 They brought their quota of barley and straw for the chariot horses to the proper places.

4:1–28   You stretched out Solomon’s kingdom and gave him peace with his neighbors. You made everyone secure and well supplied. I wish for that blissful life.

Solomon’s Wisdom

29 God gave Solomon wisdom—keen insight and a mind as limitless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the eastern people and all the wisdom of the Egyptians. 31 He was wiser than anyone, than Ethan the Ezrahite, or Heman, Calcol, or Darda, Mahol’s sons. His fame spread to all the nations around him.

32 Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. 33 He described and classified trees—from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He described and classified animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34 People came from every nation to hear his wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who had heard about his wisdom.

4:29–34   I need keen insight and a limitless mind. I long for wisdom in my fractured world. I want to spread your answers wherever I go.

Preparations for Building the Temple—2 Chronicles 2:1–13, 15–18

5  [8]

1 King Hiram of Tyre sent his officials to Solomon when he heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father. Hiram had always been David’s friend.

2 Solomon sent word to Hiram, by saying, 3 “You know that my father David was surrounded by war. He couldn’t build a temple for the name of the LORD our God until the LORD let him defeat his enemies. 4 But the LORD my God has surrounded me with peace. I have no rival and no trouble. 5 Now I’m thinking of building a temple for the name of the LORD my God as the LORD spoke to my father David: ‘Your son, whom I will put on your throne to succeed you, will build a temple for my name.’ 6 So order men to cut down cedars from Lebanon for me. My workers will work with your workers. I will pay you whatever wages you ask for your workers. You know we don’t have any skilled lumberjacks like those from Sidon.”

5:1–6   You kept your promise to King David, appointing his son to build your temple. Solomon had no rival and no trouble. You were glad for him to begin the work.

7 Hiram was very glad to hear what Solomon had said. Hiram responded, “May the LORD be praised today. He has given David a wise son to rule this great nation.”

8 Hiram sent men to Solomon to say, “I’ve received the message you sent me. I will do everything you want in regard to the cedar and cypress logs. 9 My workers will bring logs from Lebanon to the sea, and I will have them make them into rafts to go by sea to any place you specify. There I will have them taken apart, and you can use them. You can pay me by providing food for my palace.” 10 So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and cypress wood he wanted. 11 Solomon gave Hiram 120,000 bushels of wheat and 120,000 gallons of pure olive oil. Solomon paid Hiram this much every year.

12 The LORD gave Solomon wisdom as he had promised. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they made a treaty with one another.

13 King Solomon forced 30,000 men from all over Israel to work for him. 14 He sent a shift of 10,000 men to Lebanon for a month. They would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of forced labor.

15 Solomon had 70,000 men who carried heavy loads, 70,000 who quarried stone in the mountains, 16 and 3,300 foremen who were in charge of the workers. 17 The king commanded them to quarry large, expensive blocks of stone in order to provide a foundation of cut stone for the temple. 18 Solomon’s workmen, Hiram’s workmen, and men from Gebal quarried the stone and prepared the logs and stone to build the temple.

5:7–18   You supplied everything needed for your magnificent home, calling for exquisite materials and skilled craftsmen. I’ll bring my best to build your kingdom.

The Temple Built in Seven Years—2 Chronicles 3:1–14

6

1 Solomon began to build the LORD’s temple 480 years after Israel left Egypt. He began building in the month of Ziv (the second month) of the fourth year of his reign over Israel. 2 The temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 3 The entrance hall in front of the main room of the temple was the same length as the shorter side of the temple. It extended 15 feet in front of the temple. 4 He also made latticed windows for the temple.

5 He built an annex containing side rooms all around the temple. This annex was next to the walls of the main building and the inner sanctuary. 6 The ⌞interior of⌟ the lowest story of the annex was 7½ feet wide, the second story was 9 feet wide, and the third story was 10½ feet wide. Solomon made ledges all around the temple so that this annex would not be fastened to the walls of the temple.

7 The temple was built with stone blocks that were finished at the quarry. No hammer, chisel, or any other iron tool made a sound at the temple construction site.

8 The entrance to the first story[9] was on the south side of the temple. A staircase went up to the middle story and then to the third story.

9 When he had finished building the walls, he roofed the temple with rows of cedar beams and planks.[10] 10 He built ⌞each story of the⌟ annex 7½ feet high alongside the entire temple. Its cedar beams were attached to the temple.

6:1–10   Hundreds of years after freeing your people from slavery, you finally had a permanent house. You deserve worship.

11 The LORD spoke to Solomon, saying, 12 “This concerns the temple you are building: If you live by my laws, follow my rules, and keep my commands, I will fulfill the promise I made about you to your father David. 13 I will live among the Israelites and never abandon my people.”

6:11–13   If Solomon lived by your laws, followed your rules, and kept your commands, you would dwell among your people and never abandon them. I want to obey you and not miss out on your blessings.

14 When Solomon had finished building the temple’s ⌞frame⌟, 15 he began to line the inside walls of the temple with cedar boards. He paneled the inside of the temple with wood from floor to ceiling. He covered the floor of the temple with cypress planks.

16 He sectioned off a 30-foot-long room at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from the floor to the rafters. He built it to serve as an inner room, the most holy place. 17 The 60-foot-long room at the front of the temple served as the main hall. 18 Gourds and flowers were carved into the cedar paneling inside the temple. Everything was ⌞covered with⌟ cedar. No stone could be seen.

19 He prepared the inner room of the temple in order to put the ark of the LORD’s promise there. 20 The inner room was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. Solomon covered it and the cedar altar with pure gold. 21 He covered the inside of the temple with pure gold. He put golden chains across the front of the inner room which was covered with gold. 22 He covered the entire inside of the temple with gold. He also covered the entire altar in the inner room with gold.

23 In the inner room he made two 15-foot-tall angels[11] out of olive wood. 24 Each wing of the angels was 7½ feet long. The distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other was 15 feet. 25 Both angels had a 15-foot ⌞wingspan⌟. Both had the same measurements and the same shape. 26 Each was 15 feet high. 27 Solomon put the angels in the inner room of the temple. The wings of the angels extended so that the wing of one of the angels touched the one wall, and the wing of the other touched the other wall. Their remaining wings touched each other in the center of the room. 28 He covered the angels with gold.

29 He carved angels, palm trees, and flowers into the walls all around the inner and outer rooms of the temple. 30 He covered the floor of the inner and outer rooms of the temple with gold.

31 He made doors for the entrance to the inner room out of olive wood. The doorposts had five sides. 32 The two doors were ⌞made out of⌟ olive wood. He carved angels, palm trees, and flowers into them and covered them with gold. The gold was hammered onto the angels and the palm trees.

33 In the same way he made square doorposts out of olive wood for the temple’s entrance. 34 He made two doors from cypress. Each of the doors had two folding panels. 35 On them he carved angels, palm trees, and flowers. He evenly covered them with gold.

36 He built the inner courtyard with three courses of finished stones and a course of finished cedar beams.

37 In the month of Ziv of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid. 38 In the month of Bul (the eighth month) of the eleventh year ⌞of his reign⌟, the temple was finished according to all its plans and specifications. He spent seven years building it.

6:14–38   Solomon built the temple with all the beauty you deserved. I won’t leave my worship half-finished. I want to serve you forever.

The Palace Built in 13 Years

7

1 Solomon took 13 years to finish building his palace. 2 He built a hall ⌞named⌟ the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It had four rows of cedar pillars supporting cedar beams. 3 The hall was covered with cedar above the side rooms, which were supported by 45 pillars (15 per row).[12] 4 The windows were in three rows facing each other on opposite sides ⌞of the palace⌟. 5 All the doors and doorframes were square. There were three doors facing each other on opposite sides ⌞of the palace⌟.

6 Solomon made the Hall of Pillars 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. In front of the hall was an entrance hall with pillars.

7 He made the Hall of Justice, where he sat on his throne and served as judge. The hall was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling.[13]

8 His own private quarters were in a different location than the Hall of Justice, but they were similar in design. Solomon also built private quarters like this for his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter.

9 From the foundation to the roof, all these buildings, including the large courtyard, were built with high-grade stone blocks. The stone blocks were cut to size and trimmed with saws on their inner and outer faces. 10 The foundation was made with large, high-grade stones (some 12 feet long, others 15 feet long). 11 Above ⌞the foundation⌟ were cedar beams and high-grade stone blocks, which had been cut to size. 12 The large courtyard had three layers of cut stone blocks and a layer of cedar beams, like the inner courtyard of the LORD’s temple and the entrance hall.

7:1–12   You seated Solomon in a Hall of Justice. He led the people from the throne you gave him. Give me space and energy to lead well.

The Temple Furnishings—2 Chronicles 2:13–14; 3:15–5:1

13 King Solomon had Hiram brought from Tyre. 14 Hiram was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali. His father, a native of Tyre, was a skilled bronze craftsman. Hiram was highly skilled, resourceful, and knowledgeable about all kinds of bronze craftsmanship. He came to King Solomon and did all his ⌞bronze⌟ work.

15 He made two bronze pillars. Each was 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference. 16 He made two capitals of cast bronze to put on top of the pillars. Each capital was 7½ feet high. 17 He also made seven rows of filigree and chains for each capital. 18 After he made the pillars, he made two rows ⌞of decorations⌟ around the filigree to cover the capitals which were above the pillars.[14] He made the capitals identical to each other. 19 The capitals on top of the pillars in the entrance hall were lily-shaped. ⌞Each⌟ was six feet high. 20 Two hundred pomegranates in rows were directly above the bowl-shaped parts around the filigree on the capitals on both pillars.

21 Hiram set up the pillars in the temple’s entrance hall. He set up the pillar on the right and named it Jachin [He Establishes]. Then he set up the pillar on the left and named it Boaz [In Him Is Strength]. 22 There were lily-shaped capitals at the top of the pillars. He finished the work on the pillars.

23 Hiram made a pool from cast metal. It was 15 feet in diameter. It was round, 7½ feet high, and had a circumference of 45 feet. 24 Under the rim were two rows of gourds all around the 45-foot circumference of the pool. They were cast in metal when the pool was cast. 25 The pool was set on 12 metal bulls. Three bulls faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The pool was set on them, and their hindquarters were toward the center ⌞of the pool⌟. 26 The pool was three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, shaped like a lily’s bud. It held 12,000 gallons.

27 He made ten bronze stands. Each stand was 6 feet square and 4½ feet high. 28 The stands were made this way: They had side panels set in frames. 29 On the panels set in frames were lions, oxen, and angels.[15] These were also on the frames. Above and below the lions and the cattle were engraved designs. 30 Each stand had four bronze wheels on bronze axles and four supports beneath the basin. The supports were made of cast metal with designs on the sides. 31 Each had a 1½-foot-deep opening in the center to the circular frame on top. The opening was round, formed like a pedestal, and was two feet ⌞wide⌟. Around the opening there were engravings. But the panels were square, not round. 32 The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles were attached to the stand. Each wheel was two feet high. 33 The wheels were made like chariot wheels. The axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all cast metal. 34 The four supports at the four corners of each stand were part of the stand. 35 The top of each stand had a round, nine-inch-high band. Above the stand were supports which were part of the panels. 36 Hiram engraved angels, lions, palm trees, and designs in every available space on the supports and panels. 37 This is the way he made the ten stands. All of them were cast in the same mold, identical in size and shape.

38 Hiram also made ten bronze basins. Each basin held 240 gallons. Every basin was six feet ⌞wide⌟. There was one basin on each of the ten stands. 39 He put five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north side of the temple. He set the pool on the south side of the temple in the southeast ⌞corner⌟. 40 Hiram also made pots, shovels, and bowls.

So Hiram finished all the work for King Solomon on the LORD’s temple: 41 2 pillars, the bowl-shaped capitals on top of the 2 pillars, and 2 sets of filigree to cover the 2 bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars, 42 400 pomegranates for the 2 sets of filigree (2 rows of pomegranates for each filigree to cover the 2 bowl-shaped capitals on the pillars), 43 10 stands and 10 basins on the stands, 44 1 pool, 12 bulls under the pool, 45 pots, shovels, and bowls. Hiram made all these utensils out of polished bronze for the LORD’s temple at King Solomon’s request. 46 The king cast them in foundries in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zarethan. 47 Solomon left all the products unweighed because so much bronze was used. No one tried to determine how much the bronze weighed.

48 Solomon made all the furnishings for the LORD’s temple: the gold altar, the gold table on which the bread of the presence was placed, 49 lamp stands of pure gold (five on the south side and five on the north in front of the inner room), flowers, lamps, gold tongs, 50 dishes, snuffers, bowls, saucers, incense burners of pure gold, the gold sockets for the doors of the inner ⌞room⌟ (the most holy place), and the doors of the temple.

51 All the work King Solomon did on the LORD’s temple was finished. He brought the holy things that had belonged to his father David—the silver, gold, and utensils—and put them in the storerooms of the LORD’s temple.

7:13–51   You call me to serve you. So make me skilled, resourceful, and knowledgeable. Make me a doer who carries your plans to completion.

The LORD Comes to His Temple—2 Chronicles 5:2–14

8

1 Then Solomon assembled the respected leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the Israelite families. They came to King Solomon in Jerusalem to take the ark of the LORD’s promise from the City of David (that is, Zion). 2 All the people of Israel gathered around King Solomon at the Festival ⌞of Booths⌟ in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.

3 When all the leaders of Israel had arrived, the priests picked up the LORD’s ark. 4 They brought the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy utensils in it ⌞to the temple⌟. The priests and the Levites carried them 5 while King Solomon with the whole assembly from Israel were offering countless sheep and cattle sacrifices in front of the ark. 6 The priests brought the ark of the LORD’s promise to its place in the inner room of the temple (the most holy place) under the wings of the angels.[16]

7 When the angels’ outstretched wings were over the place where the ark ⌞rested⌟, the angels became a covering above the ark and its poles. 8 The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room, but they couldn’t be seen outside. (They are still there today.) 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a promise to the Israelites after they left Egypt.

10 When the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the LORD’s temple. 11 The priests couldn’t serve because of the cloud. The LORD’s glory filled his temple.

8:1–11   Your people ushered the ark of your promise to the temple. They set it in the holy place. Then you filled the temple with your bright shining glory. Come near me now. Wrap me in your presence!

Solomon Addresses the People—2 Chronicles 6:1–11

12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD said he would live in a dark cloud. 13 I certainly have built you a high temple, a home for you to live in permanently.”

14 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel while they were standing. 15 “Thanks be to the LORD God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David; with his hand he carried it out. He said, 16 ‘Ever since I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I didn’t choose any city in any of the tribes of Israel as a place to build a temple for my name. But now I’ve chosen David to rule my people Israel.’

17 “My father David had his heart set on building a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 18 However, the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since you had your heart set on building a temple for my name, your intentions were good. 19 But you must not build the temple. Instead, your own son will build the temple for my name.’ 20 The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David’s place, and I sit on the throne of Israel as the LORD promised. I’ve built the temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21 I’ve made a place there for the ark which contains the LORD’s promise that he made to our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

8:12–21   You never make a promise you don’t keep. You choose to make me your dwelling. Inhabit every corner of my life.

Solomon’s Prayer—2 Chronicles 6:12–42

22 In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of the LORD’s altar. He stretched out his hands toward heaven 23 and said,

“LORD God of Israel,

there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below.

You keep your promise[17] of mercy to your servants,

who obey you wholeheartedly.

24 You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant.

With your mouth you promised it.

With your hand you carried it out as it is today.

8:22–26   There’s no god like you—in heaven above or on earth below. You swore David’s heir would sit on the throne forever. You never fail to keep your promise of mercy.

25 “Now, LORD God of Israel,

keep your promise to my father David, your servant.

You said, ‘You will never fail to have an heir

sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel

if your descendants are faithful to me

as you have been faithful to me.’

26 “So now, God of Israel,

may the promise you made to my father David,

your servant, come true.

27 “Does God really live on earth?

If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you,

then how can this temple that I have built?

28 Nevertheless, my LORD God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy.

Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you today.

29 Night and day may your eyes be on this temple,

the place about which you said, ‘My name will be there.’

Listen to me as I pray toward this place.

30 Hear the plea for mercy

that your people Israel and I pray toward this place.

Hear us ⌞when we pray⌟ to heaven, the place where you live.

Hear and forgive.

8:27–30   Heaven can’t hold you. No temple can contain you. But keep your promise to be with me. Hear me when I pray toward heaven.

31 “If anyone sins against another person

and is required to take an oath

and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,

32 then hear ⌞that person⌟ in heaven, take action, and make a decision.

Condemn the guilty person with the proper punishment,

but declare the innocent person innocent.

8:31–32   Rule justly. Decide. Act. Sentence the guilty and free the innocent.

33 “An enemy may defeat your people Israel

because they have sinned against you.

But when your people turn to you, praise your name, pray,

and plead with you in this temple,

34 then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel,

and bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors.

8:33–35   I’m not without sin. But hear me when I turn back to you. Forgive my sins and teach me the proper way to live.

35 “When the sky is shut and there’s no rain

because they are sinning against you,

and they pray toward this place, praise your name,

and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,

36 then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven.

Forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel.

Teach them the proper way to live.

Then send rain on the land,

which you gave to your people as an inheritance.

8:36–40   Send rain in dry places. Save me when hunger and sickness strike. Hear me and give me the proper reply, because you know my heart. I choose to live for you with utter respect.

37 “There may be famine in the land.

Plant diseases, heat waves, funguses, locusts,

or grasshoppers may destroy crops.

Enemies may blockade Israel’s city gates.

During every plague or sickness

38 ⌞hear⌟ every prayer for mercy,

made by one person or by all the people in Israel,

whose consciences bother them,

who stretch out their hands toward this temple.

39 Hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, where you live.

Forgive ⌞them⌟, and take action.

Give each person the proper reply.

(You know what is in their hearts,

because you alone know what is in the hearts of all people.)

40 Then, as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors,

they will fear you.

41 “People will hear about your great name,

mighty hand, and powerful arm.[18]

So when people who are not Israelites

come from distant countries because of your name

42 to pray facing this temple,

43 hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, the place where you live.

Do everything they ask you

so that all the people of the world may know your name

and fear you like your people Israel

and learn also that this temple which I built bears your name.

44 “When your people go to war against their enemies

(wherever you may send them)

and they pray to you, O LORD, toward the city you have chosen

and the temple I built for your name,

45 then hear their prayer for mercy in heaven,

and do what is right ⌞for them⌟.

8:41–45   Let people everywhere hear of your great name and mighty hand. Invite them to worship you. Do everything they ask so the world may know your name.

46 “They may sin against you.

(No one is sinless.)

You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy

who takes them to ⌞another⌟ country as captives,

⌞whether it is⌟ far or near.

47 If they come to their senses,

are sorry for what they’ve done,

and plead with you in the land where they are captives,

saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong.

We have been wicked,’

48 if they change their attitude toward you

in the land of their enemies where they are captives,

if they pray to you

toward the land that you gave their ancestors,

and the city you have chosen,

and the temple I have built for your name,

49 then in heaven, the place where you live, hear their prayer for mercy.

Do what is right for them.

50 Forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

⌞Forgive⌟ all their wrongs when they rebelled against you,

and cause those who captured them to have mercy on them

51 because they are your own people

whom you brought out of Egypt

from the middle of an iron smelter.

52 “May your eyes always see my plea and your people Israel’s plea

so that you will listen to them whenever they call on you.

53 After all, you, LORD God, set them apart from all the people of the world

to be your own as you promised through your servant Moses

when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”

8:46–53   Knock me back to my senses. Teach me to be sorry for what I’ve done wrong. Bring me near to you once again. You made me your own, so listen when I call on you.

Solomon Blesses the People

54 When Solomon finished praying this prayer for mercy to the LORD, he stood in front of the LORD’s altar, where he had been kneeling with his hands stretched out toward heaven. 55 Then he stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire assembly of Israel, 56 “Thanks be to the LORD! He has given his people Israel rest, as he had promised. None of the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed to come true. 57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us. 58 May he bend our hearts toward him. Then we will follow him and keep his commands, laws, and rules, which he commanded our ancestors ⌞to keep⌟. 59 May these words which I have prayed to the LORD be near the LORD our God day and night. Then he will give me and his people Israel justice every day as it is needed. 60 In this way all the people of the world will know that the LORD is God and there is no other ⌞god⌟. 61 May your hearts be committed to the LORD our God. Then you will live by his laws and keep his commands as you have today.”

8:54–61   I’m blessed to be one of your people. Never abandon me. Bend my heart toward you and I’ll follow your commands. Then all the world will know you are God.

Solomon Offers Sacrifices—2 Chronicles 7:4–10

62 Then the king and all Israel offered sacrifices to the LORD. 63 Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep as fellowship offerings to the LORD. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the LORD’s temple.

64 On that day the king designated the courtyard in front of the LORD’s temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat from the fellowship offerings because the bronze altar in front of the LORD was too small to hold all of them.

65 At that time Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival ⌞of Booths⌟. A large crowd had come from ⌞the territory between⌟ the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt to be near the LORD our God for seven days.[19] 66 On the eighth day he dismissed the people. They blessed the king and went to their tents. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings the LORD had given his servant David and his people Israel.

8:62–66   I’ll worship you with my very best and make my life your holy place. I’ll go on my way with a cheerful heart for all the blessings you give me.

The LORD Answers Solomon’s Prayer—2 Chronicles 7:11–22

9

1 Solomon finished building the LORD’s temple, the royal palace, and everything ⌞else⌟ he wanted to build. 2 Then the LORD appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him in Gibeon. 3 The LORD said to him,

“I have heard your prayer for mercy that you made to me.

I have declared that this temple which you have built is holy

so that my name may be placed there forever.

My eyes and my heart will always be there.

4 “If you will be faithful to me as your father David was

(with a sincere and upright heart),

do everything I command,

and keep my laws and rules,

5 then I will establish your royal dynasty over Israel forever

as I promised your father David when I said,

‘You will never fail to have an heir on the throne of Israel.’

9:1–9   You swore you would always keep your eyes and heart in the temple. You would establish Solomon’s dynasty as long as he obeyed your commands.

6 But if you and your descendants dare to turn away from me

and do not keep my commands and laws that I gave to you,

and follow and serve other gods and worship them,

7 then I will cut Israel out of the land I gave them.

I will reject this temple that I declared holy for my name.

Israel will be an example

and an object of ridicule for all the people of the world.

8 Everyone passing by this temple, as impressive as it is, will be appalled.

They will gasp and ask,

‘Why did the LORD do these things to this land and this temple?’

9 They will answer ⌞themselves⌟,

‘They abandoned the LORD their God,

who brought their ancestors out of Egypt.

They adopted other gods, worshiped, and served them.

That is why the LORD brought this disaster on them.’”

9:7–9   Don’t cut me off from the blessings you’ve given me. Don’t let me become an object of ridicule or a reason for people to gasp. I’ll worship and serve you forever.

Solomon Completes His Construction—2 Chronicles 8:1–18

10 It took Solomon 20 years to build the two houses (the LORD’s house and the royal palace). 11  ⌞When King Solomon had finished,⌟ he gave King Hiram of Tyre 20 cities in Galilee. (Hiram had supplied Solomon with as much cedar and cypress lumber and gold as he wanted.) 12 Hiram left Tyre to see the cities Solomon gave him. However, they didn’t please him. 13 “What kind of cities have you given me, brother?” he asked. So he named it the region of Cabul [Good for Nothing]. (⌞They’re⌟ still ⌞called⌟ that today.) 14 Hiram had sent the king 9,000 pounds of gold.

15 This is the record of the forced laborers whom King Solomon drafted to build the LORD’s house, his own house, the Millo,[20] the walls of Jerusalem, and ⌞the cities of⌟ Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 16 (The king of Egypt captured Gezer, burned it down, and killed the Canaanites living there. Then he gave it to his daughter, Solomon’s wife, as a wedding present.) 17 So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth Horon, 18 Baalath, Tadmor in the desert (inside the country), and 19 all the storage cities that he owned. He also built cities for his chariots, cities for his war horses, and whatever ⌞else⌟ he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, or the entire territory that he governed.

20 The Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites had been left ⌞in the land⌟ because the Israelites had not been able to claim them for God by destroying them.[21] They were not Israelites, 21 but they had descendants who were still in the land. Solomon drafted them for slave labor. (They are still ⌞slaves⌟ today.) 22 But Solomon didn’t make any of the Israelites slaves. Instead, they were soldiers, officials, officers, generals, and commanders of his chariot and cavalry units.

23 These were the officers in charge of Solomon’s projects: 550 foremen for the people who did the work.

24 Pharaoh’s daughter moved from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.

25 Three times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he built for the LORD. He burnt them on the altar that was in the LORD’s presence. And he finished the temple.

26 King Solomon also built a fleet near the Red Sea coast at Ezion Geber by Elath in Edom. 27 Hiram sent his own servants ⌞who were⌟ experienced seamen with the fleet. Along with Solomon’s servants 28 they went to Ophir, got 31,500 pounds of gold, and brought it to King Solomon.

9:10–28   Solomon finished the work you told him to do. I’ll make my life the holy house you deserve.

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon—2 Chronicles 9:1–12

10

1 The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s reputation. (He owed his reputation to the name of the LORD.) So she came to test him with riddles. 2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a large group of servants, with camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked to him about everything she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions. No question was too difficult for the king to answer.

10:1–3   Solomon owed his wisdom to you. No question was too difficult for him to answer—thanks to you.

4 When the queen of Sheba saw all of Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he built, 5 the food on his table, his officers’ seating arrangement, the organization of his officials and the uniforms they wore, his cupbearers,[22] and the burnt offerings that he sacrificed at the LORD’s temple, she was breathless. 6 She told the king, “What I heard in my country about your words and your wisdom is true! 7 But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. I wasn’t even told half of it. Your wisdom and wealth surpass the stories I’ve heard. 8 How blessed your men must be! How blessed these servants of yours must be because they are always stationed in front of you, listening to your wisdom! 9 Thank the LORD your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on the throne of Israel. Because of your God’s eternal love for the people of Israel, he has made you king so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.”

10:4–8   I’m breathless when I see your blessings. I’m awestruck by the good things you give me.

10 She gave the king 9,000 pounds of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was such a large quantity of spices brought ⌞into Israel⌟ as those that the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

11 Hiram’s fleet that brought gold from Ophir also brought a large quantity of sandalwood and precious stones from Ophir. 12 With the sandalwood the king made supports for the LORD’s temple and the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. Never again was sandalwood like this imported ⌞into Israel⌟, nor has any been seen ⌞there⌟ to this day.

13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba anything she wanted, whatever she asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal generosity. Then she and her servants went back to her country.

10:9–13   You crowned Solomon king because of your eternal love for your people. Train me to uphold justice and righteousness.

Solomon’s Wealth—2 Chronicles 9:13–25, 27–28; 1:14–17

14 The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed 49,950 pounds, 15 not counting ⌞the gold⌟ which came from the merchants, the traders’ profits, all the Arab kings, and the governors of the country.

16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold, using 15 pounds of gold on each shield. 17 He also made 300 small shields of hammered gold, using four pounds of gold on each shield. The king put them in the hall ⌞which he called⌟ the Forest of Lebanon.

18 The king also made a large ivory throne and covered it with fine gold. 19 Six steps led to the throne. Carved into the back of the throne was a calf’s head. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests. 20 Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

21 All King Solomon’s cups were gold, and all the utensils for the hall ⌞which he called⌟ the Forest of Lebanon were fine gold. (Nothing was silver, because it wasn’t considered valuable in Solomon’s time.) 22 The king had a fleet headed for Tarshish with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the Tarshish fleet would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

23 In wealth and wisdom King Solomon was greater than all the ⌞other⌟ kings of the world. 24 The whole world wanted to listen to the wisdom that God gave Solomon. 25 So everyone who came brought him gifts: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This happened year after year.

26 Solomon built up ⌞his army⌟ with chariots and war horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 war horses. He stationed ⌞some⌟ in chariot cities and ⌞others⌟ with himself in Jerusalem. 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.

28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king’s traders bought them from Kue for a fixed price. 29 Each chariot was imported from Egypt for 15 pounds of silver and each horse for 6 ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.

10:14–29   It was you who made Solomon greater than all the kings on earth. The whole world aches for your wisdom.

Solomon’s Idolatry

11

1 King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh’s daughter. He loved Hittite women and women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon. 2 They came from the nations about which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “Never intermarry with them. They will surely tempt you to follow their gods.” But Solomon was obsessed with their love. 3 He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 wives who were concubines.[23] 4 In his old age, his wives tempted him to follow other gods. He was no longer committed to the LORD his God as his father David had been. 5 Solomon followed Astarte (the goddess of the Sidonians) and Milcom (the disgusting idol of the Ammonites). 6 So Solomon did what the LORD considered evil. He did not wholeheartedly follow the LORD as his father David had done. 7 Then Solomon built an illegal worship site on the hill east of Jerusalem for Chemosh (the disgusting idol of Moab) and for Molech (the disgusting idol of the Ammonites). 8 He did these things for each of his foreign wives who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

11:1–8   Solomon was obsessed with women who didn’t worship you, and they tempted him to follow other gods. He lost his commitment to you, so he did what you consider evil.

God Pronounces Judgment on Solomon

9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 God had given him commands about this. ⌞He told him⌟ not to follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey God’s command. 11 The LORD told Solomon, “Because this is your attitude and you have no respect for my promises[24] or my laws that I commanded you to keep, I will certainly tear the kingdom away from you. I will give it to one of your servants. 12 But I will not do it in your lifetime because of your father David. I will tear it away from the hands of your son. 13 However, I will not tear the whole kingdom away from you. I will give your son one tribe for my servant David’s sake and for the sake of Jerusalem, ⌞the city⌟ that I chose.”

11:9–13   You became angry when Solomon’s heart turned from you—especially after you had appeared to him and laid down your law. Give me a holy fear of losing my place in your plans.

Rebellions against Solomon

14 The LORD raised up Hadad the Edomite as a rival to Solomon. Hadad was from the Edomite royal family. 15 When David had conquered Edom, Joab, the commander of the army, went to bury those killed in battle and killed every male in Edom. 16 (Joab and all Israel stayed there six months until they had destroyed every male in Edom.) 17 Hadad was a young boy at the time. He and some of his father’s Edomite servants fled to Egypt. 18 They left Midian and went to Paran. Taking some men from Paran with them, they went to Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). Pharaoh gave Hadad a home, a food allowance, and land.

19 Pharaoh approved of Hadad. So he gave Hadad his sister-in-law, the sister of Queen Tahpenes, to be Hadad’s wife. 20 Tahpenes’ sister had a son ⌞named⌟ Genubath. Tahpenes presented the boy to Pharaoh in the palace, and Genubath lived in the palace among Pharaoh’s children.

21 When Hadad heard in Egypt that David had lain down in death with his ancestors and that Joab, the commander of the army, had died, he said to Pharaoh, “Let me go to my own country.”

22 Pharaoh asked him, “What don’t you have here that makes you eager to go home?”

“Nothing,” he said. “But let me leave anyway.”

23 God also raised up Rezon, son of Eliada, as a rival to Solomon. Rezon fled from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah, 24 after David killed the men of Zobah. Rezon gathered men and became the leader of a troop of warriors. They went to Damascus, settled there, and ruled a kingdom in Damascus. 25 In addition to the trouble that Hadad caused, Rezon was Israel’s rival as long as Solomon lived. He ruled Aram and despised Israel.

26 There was also Jeroboam, who was the son of Nebat and an Ephrathite from Zeredah. His mother Zeruah was a widow. He was one of Solomon’s officers, but he rebelled against the king.

11:14–26   You raised up rivals to Solomon. They despised your people and rebelled against the king. Make me rightly afraid of exposing myself to attack.

27 This was the situation when he rebelled against the king: Solomon was building the Millo[25] and repairing a break in the ⌞wall of⌟ the City of David. 28 Solomon saw that Jeroboam was a very able and hardworking man. So he put Jeroboam in charge of all forced labor from the tribes of Joseph.

29 At that time Jeroboam left Jerusalem. The prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him on the road. The two of them were alone in the open country, and Ahijah had on new clothes. 30 Ahijah took his new garment and tore it into 12 pieces.

31 He told Jeroboam, “Take 10 pieces because this is what the LORD God of Israel says: I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hands and give ten tribes to you. 32 He will have one tribe ⌞left⌟ because of my servant David and Jerusalem, the city I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel. 33 I will do this because he has abandoned me and worshiped Astarte (the goddess of the Sidonians), Chemosh (the god of Moab), and Milcom (the god of Ammon). He has not followed my ways. He did not do what I consider right or keep my laws and decrees as his father David did.

34 “I will not take the whole kingdom from him. Instead, I will allow him to be ruler as long as he lives because of my servant David whom I chose, who obeyed my commands and laws. 35 But I will take the kingdom away from his son and give you ten tribes. 36 I will give his son one tribe so that my servant David will always have a lamp in my presence in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to place my name.

37 “I will choose you so that you can rule everything you desire. You will be king of Israel. 38 If you will do all I command you, follow my ways, and do what I consider right by obeying my laws and commands as my servant David did, then I will be with you. I will build a permanent dynasty for you as I did for David. And I will give you Israel. 39 I will make David’s descendants suffer for this, but not always.”

40 Then Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to King Shishak of Egypt. He stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.

11:27–40   You gave ten tribes to an able and hard-working man. You promised Jeroboam a dynasty as long as he followed your ways. Warn me when you’re about to give my blessings to another.

Solomon’s Death—2 Chronicles 9:29–31

41 Aren’t the rest of Solomon’s acts—everything he did—and his wisdom written in the records of Solomon? 42 The length of Solomon’s reign in Jerusalem over all Israel was 40 years. 43 Solomon lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.

11:41–43   Help me not only to start well but also to finish strong. I want my every breath to count for you.

King Rehoboam Foolishly Rejects Israel’s Request—2 Chronicles 10:1–19

12

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem because all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. 2 Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. When he heard ⌞about Rehoboam⌟, he returned from Egypt.[26] 3  ⌞Israel⌟ sent for Jeroboam and invited him back. Jeroboam and the entire assembly of Israel went to speak to Rehoboam. They said, 4 “Your father made us carry a heavy burden. Reduce the hard work and lighten the heavy burden he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 He said to them, “Leave and come back the day after tomorrow.” So the people left.

6 King Rehoboam sought advice from the older leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked, “What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?”

7 They told him, “If you will serve these people today, humble yourself, and speak gently, then they will always be your servants.”

12:1–7   I’ll give my all as a servant-leader, humbling myself and speaking gently. Then I’ll lead people well.

8 But he ignored the advice the older leaders gave him. He sought advice from the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him answered, “This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is heavier than my father’s whole body.[27] 11 If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them. 13 The king answered the people harshly. He ignored the advice the older leaders gave him. 14 He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, “If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.” 15 The king refused to listen to the people because the LORD was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) through Ahijah from Shiloh.

12:8–15   I won’t pile on cruel burdens. I won’t dole out consequences without measure.

16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king,

“What share do we have in David’s kingdom?

We won’t receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son.

To your own tents, Israel!

Now look after your own house, David!”

So Israel went home to their own tents. 17 But Rehoboam ruled the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.

18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram to Israel. He was in charge of forced labor, but they stoned him to death. So King Rehoboam got on his chariot as fast as he could and fled to Jerusalem. 19 Israel has rebelled against David’s dynasty to this day.

King Jeroboam Establishes Idolatry in Israel—2 Chronicles 11:1–17

20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent men to invite him to the assembly. They made him king of all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to David’s dynasty.

21 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered all the people of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 of the best soldiers, to fight against the people of Israel and return the kingdom to Rehoboam, son of Solomon.

22 But God spoke his word to Shemaiah, the man of God. He said, 23 “Speak to Judah’s King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people. 24 This is what the LORD says: Don’t wage war against your relatives from Israel. Everyone, go home. What has happened is my doing.” So they obeyed the word of the LORD. They returned ⌞home⌟, as the LORD told them.

12:16–24   You sent Rehoboam running and forbade family fights. Train me to obey your word and instantly do what you say.

25 Jeroboam rebuilt Shechem in the hills of Ephraim and lived there. Then he left that place and built Penuel. 26 He said to himself, “The kingdom will probably return to David’s dynasty now. 27 King Rehoboam of Judah, the former master of these people, will regain popularity if they go to sacrifice in the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem. Then they will kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.”

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said, “You’ve been worshiping in Jerusalem long enough. Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.” 29 He put one in Bethel and the other in Dan. 30 Worshiping them became ⌞Israel’s⌟ sin. The people went as far as Dan to worship the one calf. 31 Jeroboam built worship sites on hilltops. He appointed men who were not descended from Levi to be priests.

32 Jeroboam appointed a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, just like the festival in Judah. He went to the altar in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He appointed priests from the illegal worship sites ⌞to serve⌟ in Bethel. 33 He went to his altar in Bethel to burn an offering on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, ⌞the festival⌟ he had invented for the Israelites.

12:25–33   Jeroboam aimed to stay on top by turning your people to other gods. I won’t worship idols to get applause.

A Prophet Announces God’s Judgment

13

1 A man of God from Judah had come to Bethel. When he arrived, Jeroboam was standing at the altar to offer a sacrifice. 2 By a command of the LORD, this man condemned the altar. “Altar, altar! This is what the LORD says: There will be a son born in David’s family line. His name will be Josiah. Here on you Josiah will sacrifice the priests from the illegal worship sites who offer sacrifices on you. Human bones will be burned on you.”

3 That day the man of God ⌞also⌟ gave ⌞them⌟ a miraculous sign, saying, “This is the sign that the LORD will give you: You will see the altar torn apart. The ashes on it will be poured ⌞on the ground⌟.”

4 When King Jeroboam heard the man of God condemning the altar in Bethel, he pointed to the man across the altar. “Arrest him,” he said. But the arm that he used to point to the man of God was paralyzed so that he couldn’t pull it back. 5 The altar was torn apart, and the ashes from the altar were poured ⌞on the ground⌟. This was the miraculous sign the man of God performed at the LORD’s command.

13:1–5   You vowed that Josiah would punish the priests who led rule-breaking worship. You sent a miracle to signal your word would come true. Tear apart any altar I’ve built to a false god.

6 Then the king asked the man of God, “Please make an appeal to the LORD your God, and pray for me so that I can use my arm again.” So the man of God made an appeal to the LORD, and the king was able to use his arm again, as he had earlier.

7 The king told the man of God, “Come home with me; have something to eat and drink, and I will give you a gift.”

8 The man of God told the king, “Even if you gave me half of your palace, I would never go with you to eat or drink there. 9 When the LORD spoke to me, he commanded me not to eat or drink or go back on the same road I took.” 10 So the man of God left on another road and didn’t go back on the road he had taken to Bethel.

13:6–10   I’ll pray for your opponents, but I won’t be bought by their bribes.

A Prophet Disobeys God

11 An old prophet was living in Bethel. His sons told him everything the man of God did in Bethel that day and the exact words he had spoken to the king. When they told their father, 12 he said to them, “Which road did he take?” (His sons had seen which road the man of God from Judah had taken.) 13 The old prophet told his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” After they had saddled the donkey for him, he got on it.

14 He went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak tree. The old prophet asked him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

“Yes,” he answered.

15 “Come home with me, and eat a meal,” the old prophet replied.

16 The man of God said, “I’m not allowed to go back with you. I’m not allowed to eat or drink with you. 17 When the LORD spoke to me, he told me not to eat or drink there or go back on the road I took to get there.”

18 The old prophet said, “I’m also a prophet, like you. An angel spoke the word of the LORD to me. He said, ‘Bring him home with you so that he may have something to eat and drink.’” (But the old prophet was lying.)

19 The man of God went back with him and ate and drank in his home. 20 When they were sitting at the table, the LORD spoke his word to the old prophet who had brought back the man of God. 21 The LORD also called to the man of God. He said, “This is what the LORD says: You rebelled against the words from the LORD’s mouth and didn’t obey the command that the LORD your God gave you. 22 You came back, ate, and drank at this place about which he told you, ‘Don’t eat or drink there.’ That is why your dead body will not be allowed to be placed in the tomb of your ancestors.”

23 After the old prophet had something to eat and drink, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 The man of God left. A lion found him ⌞as he traveled⌟ on the road and killed him. His dead body was thrown on the road. The donkey and the lion were standing by the body. 25 People who passed by saw the body lying on the road and the lion standing by the body. They talked about it in the city where the old prophet was living.

13:11–25   A man of God fell for the lies of an old prophet. Don’t let me be duped by people who don’t speak for you.

26 When the old prophet who had brought the man of God back from the road heard about it, he said, “It’s the man of God who rebelled against the words from the LORD’s mouth! The LORD gave him to the lion. It tore him to pieces and killed him as the word of the LORD had told him.”

27 Then the old prophet told his sons to saddle his donkey for him. So they did.

28 He found the body of the man thrown on the road. He also found the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had not eaten the body, nor had it torn the donkey to pieces. 29 The old prophet picked up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to his own city to mourn for him and to bury him. 30 He laid the body of the man of God in his own tomb and mourned over the man, saying, “Oh no, my brother, my brother!” 31 After he had buried the man of God, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the tomb where the man of God was buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. 32 The things that he announced by a command of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and all the illegal worship sites in the cities of Samaria will happen.”

33 Even after this, Jeroboam didn’t change his evil ways, but he once again made some men priests for the illegal worship sites. He took all who were willing and appointed them to be priests at the worship sites. 34 Appointing illegal priests became the sin of Jeroboam’s family so that it had to be destroyed and wiped off the face of the earth.

13:26–34   You put a price on disobedience, and you never go back on your word. No one who rebels against you will escape your discipline.

Jeroboam’s Son Dies

14

1 At that time Abijah, son of Jeroboam, got sick. 2 Jeroboam told his wife, “Go to Shiloh, but disguise yourself so that people will not recognize you as my wife. The prophet Ahijah, who told me I would be king of these people, is there. 3 Take ten loaves of bread, some raisins,[28] and a jar of honey with you, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.” 4 Jeroboam’s wife did this. She left, went to Shiloh, and came to the home of Ahijah.

Ahijah couldn’t see. His eyesight had failed because he was old. 5 However, the LORD had told Ahijah, “Jeroboam’s wife is coming to ask you about her son who is sick. When she comes, she will pretend to be someone else.” He also told Ahijah what to say to her.

6 Ahijah heard her footsteps when she came into the room. He said, “Come in. You’re Jeroboam’s wife. Why are you pretending to be someone else? I’ve been told to give you some terrible news. 7 Tell Jeroboam, ‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I picked you out of the people and made you a leader over my people Israel. 8 I tore the kingdom away from David’s heirs and gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David. He obeyed my commands and faithfully followed me by doing only what I considered right. 9 You have done more evil things than everyone before you. You made other gods, metal idols, for yourself. You made me furious and turned your back to me.

14:1–6   No one can hide from your vigilant eye. You know my words before I speak and my deeds before I act.

10 “‘That is why I will bring disaster on Jeroboam’s house. I will destroy every male[29] in his house, whether slave or freeman in Israel. I will burn down Jeroboam’s house. It will burn like manure until it is gone. 11 If anyone from Jeroboam’s house dies in the city, dogs will eat him. If anyone dies in the country, birds will eat him.’ The LORD has said this!

14:7–11   Jeroboam made you furious when he turned his back on you. You make rebels smolder like manure until they’re completely consumed.

12 “Get up, and go home. The moment you set foot in the city the child will die. 13 All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one of Jeroboam’s family who will be ⌞properly⌟ buried. He was the only one in Jeroboam’s house in whom the LORD God of Israel found anything good. 14 The LORD will appoint a king over Israel. That king will destroy Jeroboam’s house. This will happen today. It will happen right now.[30]

15 “The LORD will strike Israel like cattails which shake in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land which he gave their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River because they dedicated poles to the goddess Asherah and made the LORD furious. 16 So the LORD will desert Israel because of Jeroboam’s sins, the sins which he led Israel to commit.”

17 Jeroboam’s wife got up, left, and went to Tirzah. When she walked across the threshold of her home, the boy died. 18 All Israel buried him and mourned for him as the LORD had said through his servant, the prophet Ahijah.

19 Everything else concerning Jeroboam, his wars, and his reign is written in the official records of the kings of Israel. 20 Jeroboam ruled for 22 years. Then he lay down in death with his ancestors. His son Nadab succeeded him as king.

14:12–20   Don’t shake me like a cattail. Don’t uproot me from the place where you’ve blessed me. Don’t scatter me far from your presence. You’re the only one I’ll worship!

King Rehoboam of Judah—2 Chronicles 12:13–14

21 Rehoboam, son of Solomon, ruled Judah. He was 41 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 17 years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD chose from all the tribes of Israel, the city where the LORD put his name. Rehoboam’s mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.

22 The people of Judah did what the LORD considered evil. Their sins made him more angry than anything their ancestors had done. 23 They built worship sites for themselves and ⌞put up⌟ large stones and Asherah poles to worship on every high hill and under every large tree. 24 There were even male prostitutes in the temples of idols throughout the land. The people of Judah did all the disgusting practices done by the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites’ way.

14:21–24   Your own city sinned against you in heart and body. I won’t let myself be snared by the sins around me. I’ll serve only you!

King Shishak Takes the Temple Treasures—2 Chronicles 12:2, 9–11, 15–16

25 In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. 26 He took the treasures from the LORD’s temple and the royal palace. He took them all. He took all the gold shields Solomon had made. 27 So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and put them by the entrance to the royal palace, where the captains of the guards were stationed. 28 Whenever the king went into the LORD’s temple, guards carried the shields and then returned them to the guardroom.

29 Isn’t everything else concerning Rehoboam—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 30 There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam as long as they lived. 31 Rehoboam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. (His mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.) His son Abijam succeeded him as king.

14:25–31   Set me straight. Strengthen me when my sins make me easy prey.

King Abijam of Judah—2 Chronicles 13:1, 2, 22; 14:1

15

1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son), Abijam began to rule Judah. 2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Maacah, daughter of Abishalom. 3 He followed the sinful example his father had set and wasn’t committed to the LORD his God as his ancestor David had been. 4 But for David’s sake the LORD his God made Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem. He appointed David’s descendant to rule after him and protected Jerusalem. 5 The LORD did this because David did what the LORD considered right: David never failed to do anything the LORD commanded him to do his entire life (except in the matter concerning Uriah the Hittite).

6 There was war between Abijam[31] and Rehoboam throughout their lives.

7 Isn’t everything else about Abijam—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 Abijam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king.

15:1–8   Break me free from my family’s sins. Keep my light burning for the sake of your promise.

King Asa of Judah—2 Chronicles 14:2, 3; 15:16–18

9 In Jeroboam’s twentieth year as king of Israel, Asa began to rule as king of Judah. 10 He ruled 41 years in Jerusalem. His grandmother was named Maacah, daughter of Abishalom.

11 Asa did what the LORD considered right, as his ancestor David had done. 12 He forced the male temple prostitutes out of the land and got rid of the idols his father had made. 13 He also removed his grandmother Maacah from the position of queen mother because she made a statue of the repulsive goddess Asherah. Asa cut the statue down and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14 Although the illegal worship sites were not torn down, Asa remained committed to the LORD his entire life. 15 He brought into the LORD’s temple the silver, the gold, and the utensils he and his father had set apart as holy.

King Asa’s War with King Baasha—2 Chronicles 15:19; 16:1–6, 11–14; 17:1

16 There was war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel as long as they lived. 17 King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah to keep anyone from going to or coming from King Asa of Judah.

18 Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and the royal palace and turned them over to his officials. King Asa sent them to Damascus to Aram’s King Benhadad, son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion. 19 He said, “There’s a treaty between you and me ⌞as⌟ there was between your father and my father. I’m sending you a present of silver and gold. Now break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”

20 Benhadad did what King Asa requested. He sent his generals and their armies to attack the cities of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and the entire area around Chinneroth with the entire territory of Naphtali. 21 When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and lived in Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa drafted everyone in Judah and excused no one. He made them carry the stones and lumber from Ramah. Baasha had been using those to fortify the city. King Asa used the materials to fortify Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah.

23 Isn’t everything else about Asa—all his heroic acts, everything he did, and the cities he fortified—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? But when he was old, he had a foot disease. 24 Asa lay down in death with his ancestors. He was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor, David. His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king.

15:9–24   Asa refused to play favorites with family. He rid his home of idols and the land of false worship. I long to stay committed to you my entire life. I want to do heroic deeds for you.

King Baasha Overthrows Nadab, Son of Jeroboam

25 Nadab, son of Jeroboam, began to rule Israel in Asa’s second year as king of Judah. He ruled for two years. 26 He did what the LORD considered evil, living as his father did, leading Israel into the same sins.

27 Then Baasha, son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar, plotted against Nadab. Baasha assassinated him in the Philistine city of Gibbethon while Nadab and the Israelite forces were attacking it. 28 The assassination happened in Asa’s third year as king of Judah. Baasha succeeded Nadab as king of Israel. 29 As soon as he was king, he killed everyone else in Jeroboam’s family. He did not spare a soul, as the LORD had spoken through his servant Ahijah from Shiloh. 30 This was because of Jeroboam’s sins and the sins which he led Israel to commit. Those sins made the LORD God of Israel furious.

31 Isn’t everything else about Nadab—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 32 There was war between Asa and Baasha as long as they lived.

33 In Asa’s third year as king of Judah, Baasha, son of Ahijah, began to rule Israel in Tirzah. He ruled for 24 years. 34 He did what the LORD considered evil. He lived like Jeroboam and led Israel into committing the ⌞same⌟ sins.

15:25–34   Nadab lived like his father, leading your people into the same old sins. When Baasha stole the throne, he too did evil. Won’t someone put a stop to this sin?

The LORD Condemns King Baasha

16

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jehu, Hanani’s son, against Baasha. 2 He said, “I raised you from the dust and made you leader of my people Israel. But you have lived like Jeroboam. You have led my people to sin, and their sins make me furious. 3 So I will destroy Baasha and his family. I will make his family like the family of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son). 4 Dogs will eat anyone from Baasha’s ⌞family⌟ who dies in the city. Birds will eat anyone from his ⌞family⌟ who dies in the country.”

5 Isn’t everything else about Baasha—what he did and his heroic acts—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 6 Baasha lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah succeeded him as king. 7 In addition, the LORD spoke his word to the prophet Jehu, Hanani’s son, against Baasha and his family because of all the things Baasha did which the LORD considered evil. Baasha’s actions, which made the LORD furious, were like ⌞the sin of⌟ Jeroboam’s family. The LORD was also furious because Baasha destroyed Jeroboam’s family.

16:1–7   You condemned Baasha for acting like Jeroboam. You won’t hold back your anger on anyone who doesn’t return to you.

Zimri Overthrows King Elah, Son of Baasha

8 Elah, son of Baasha, began to rule Israel in Asa’s twenty-sixth year as Judah’s king. He ruled in Tirzah for two years. 9 But Zimri, the general who commanded half of Elah’s chariots, plotted against him. Elah was getting drunk in Tirzah at Arza’s house. (Arza was in charge of the palace in Tirzah.) 10 Zimri entered Arza’s house, attacked Elah, and killed him in Asa’s twenty-seventh year as king of Judah. Zimri succeeded Elah as king ⌞of Israel⌟. 11 At the beginning of Zimri’s reign, as soon as he was on his throne, he killed Baasha’s entire family. He didn’t spare any of Baasha’s male[32] relatives or friends. 12 So Zimri destroyed Baasha’s entire family, as the LORD had spoken through the prophet Jehu. 13 This was for all the sins committed by Baasha and his son Elah. They sinned, led Israel to sin, and made the LORD God of Israel furious because of their worthless idols. 14 Isn’t everything else about Elah—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Israel?

King Zimri Rules for Seven Days

15 In Asa’s twenty-seventh year as Judah’s king, Zimri ruled for seven days in Tirzah while the army was camped near the Philistine city of Gibbethon. 16 When the army heard that Zimri had plotted ⌞against the king⌟ and killed him, the Israelite troops in the camp made Omri, the commander of the army, king of Israel.

16:15–20   Zimri brought a fiery palace down on his head mere days after he seized the throne. He did evil in your sight.

17 Omri and the Israelite troops with him left Gibbethon and attacked Tirzah. 18 When Zimri saw that the city had been captured, he went into the stronghold in the royal palace and burned down the palace over his own head. He died 19 because of the sins he had committed—the things the LORD considered evil. Zimri lived like Jeroboam and led Israel to sin. 20 Isn’t everything else about Zimri and his plot written in the official records of the kings of Israel?

16:8–20   Baasha and Elah led your people to sin. And their worthless idols made you furious. How could they expect to survive?

Omri Defeats Tibni

21 Then the army of Israel was divided into two factions. Half of the army followed Tibni, son of Ginath, and wanted to make him king. The ⌞other⌟ half followed Omri. 22 But the half which followed Omri was stronger than the half which followed Tibni, Ginath’s son. Tibni died, and Omri became king. 23 Omri began to rule Israel in Asa’s thirty-first year as king of Judah. He ruled for 12 years, 6 of them in Tirzah.

24 Omri bought a hill from Shemer for 150 pounds of silver. He fortified the hill and built the city of Samaria on it. He named the city after its former owner, Shemer.

King Omri of Israel

25 Omri did what the LORD considered evil. He did more evil things than all ⌞the kings⌟ before him. 26 He lived exactly like Jeroboam (Nebat’s son). He sinned and led Israel to sin with worthless idols, and the Israelites made the LORD God of Israel furious.

27 Isn’t everything else about Omri—what he did and his heroic acts—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 28 Omri lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab succeeded him as king.

King Ahab Introduces Worship of Baal into Israel

29 Ahab, son of Omri, began to rule Israel in Asa’s thirty-eighth year as king of Judah. He ruled for 22 years in Samaria. 30 Ahab, son of Omri, did what the LORD considered evil. He was worse than all ⌞the kings⌟ who were before him. 31 It wasn’t enough that he committed the same sins as Jeroboam (Nebat’s son). He also married Jezebel, daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Ahab then served and worshiped Baal. 32 He built the temple of Baal in Samaria and set up an altar there. 33 Ahab made poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. He did more to make the LORD God of Israel furious than all the kings of Israel who came before him.

34 In Ahab’s time Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho.

16:21–34   Omri came along and did more evil than all the kings before him. Ahab built a temple to Baal, sinning in ways never seen in Israel. He made you more furious than all the kings before him. When will all this sinning end?

Laying the foundation

cost him his firstborn son, Abiram.

Setting up the city doors

cost him his youngest son, Segub.

The LORD had spoken this through Joshua, son of Nun.

Elijah Prophesies a Drought

17

1 Elijah, who was from Tishbe but had settled in Gilead, said to Ahab, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD God of Israel whom I serve lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so.”

2 Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn east, and hide beside the Cherith River, which is east of the Jordan River. 4 You can drink from the stream, and I’ve commanded ravens to feed you there.”

5 Elijah left and did what the word of the LORD ⌞had told him⌟. He went to live by the Cherith River, which is east of the Jordan River. 6 Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening. And he drank from the stream.

7 But after some time the stream dried up because no rain had fallen in the land.

17:1–7   Elijah swore that rain wouldn’t fall until he said so. You hid your prophet away and provided him with food and water. But as Elijah watched, that stream dried up.

Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

8 Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah: 9 “Get up, go to Zarephath (which belongs to Sidon), and stay there. I’ve commanded a widow there to feed you.”

10 He got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the town’s entrance, a widow was gathering wood. He called to her, “Please bring me a drink of water.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her again, “Please bring me a piece of bread too.”

12 She said, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD your God lives, I didn’t bake any bread. I have one handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I’m gathering wood. I’m going to prepare something for myself and my son so that we can eat it and then die.”

13 Then Elijah told her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home, and do as you’ve said. But first make a small loaf and bring it to me. Then prepare something for yourself and your son. 14 This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Until the LORD sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil.”

15 She did what Elijah had told her. So she, Elijah, and her family had food for a long time. 16 The jar of flour never became empty, and the jug always contained olive oil, as the LORD had promised through Elijah.

17:8–16   Elijah begged water from a widow. And you gave oil and flour to an impoverished woman ready to give up and die. You see my real needs and meet them.

17 Afterwards, the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. He got so sick that finally no life was left in him. 18 The woman asked Elijah, “What do you and I have in common, man of God?[33] Did you come here to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”

19 He said to her, “Give me your son.” Elijah took him from her arms, carried him to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he called to the LORD, “LORD my God, have you brought misery on the widow I’m staying with by killing her son?” 21 Then Elijah stretched himself over the boy three times and called to the LORD, “LORD my God, please make this child’s life return to him.” 22 The LORD heard Elijah’s request, and the child’s life returned to him. He was alive again.

23 Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upstairs room of the house, and gave him to his mother. He said, “Look! Your son is alive.”

24 The woman said to Elijah, “Now I’m convinced that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is true.”

17:17–24   You heard Elijah’s cry for help and gave life to a dead boy. I’m convinced that every word from your mouth is true.

Elijah Comes to King Ahab

18

1 A while later in the third year of the drought, the LORD spoke his word to Elijah: “Present yourself to Ahab. I will allow rain to fall on the ground.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

The famine was particularly severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah was a devout worshiper of the LORD. 4 (When Jezebel was killing the LORD’s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in caves. He put 50 prophets in each cave and kept them alive by providing bread and water for them.) 5 Ahab told Obadiah, “Let’s go throughout the countryside to every spring and stream. If we can find grass, then we can keep the horses and mules alive and not lose any animals.” 6 So they split up in order to cover the entire countryside. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

7 Obadiah was on the road when he met Elijah. Obadiah recognized him and immediately bowed down to the ground. “Is it you, my master Elijah?” he asked.

8 “Yes,” Elijah answered him. “Tell your master that Elijah is here.”

9 Obadiah asked, “What have I done wrong to make you hand me over to Ahab to be killed? 10 I solemnly swear, as the LORD your God lives, my master has searched for you in every region and kingdom. When people would say, ‘He isn’t here,’ my master made that kingdom or region take an oath that they hadn’t found you.

11 “Now you say, ‘Tell your master that Elijah is here.’ 12 This is what will happen: When I leave you, the LORD’s Spirit will take you away to some unknown place. I’ll tell Ahab, but he won’t be able to find you. Then he will kill me.

“I have been faithful to the LORD since I was a child. 13 Haven’t you heard what I did when Jezebel killed the LORD’s prophets? Haven’t you heard how I hid 100 of the LORD’s prophets in caves? I hid 50 prophets in each cave and provided bread and water for them. 14 Now you say that I should tell my master that Elijah is here. He will kill me.”

15 Elijah said, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD of Armies whom I serve lives, I will present myself to Ahab.”

18:1–15   Obadiah worked for a notorious king, but you’re the one he worshiped. Show me how to serve you without compromise in a complicated world.

16 So Obadiah went to tell Ahab.

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel

Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, Ahab said, “Is that you, you troublemaker of Israel?”

18 Elijah answered, “I haven’t troubled Israel. You and your father’s family have done it by disobeying the LORD’s commands and following the various Baal gods. 19 Order all Israel to gather around me on Mount Carmel. And bring the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20 Ahab sent word to all the Israelites and brought the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah stood up in front of all the people and asked them, “How long will you try to have it both ways? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal is God, follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.

22 So Elijah told the people, “I’m the only surviving prophet of the LORD, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. 23 Give us two bulls. Let the prophets of Baal choose one for themselves, cut it into pieces, lay it on the wood, but not set it on fire. I’ll do the same with the other bull.

24 “You call on the name of your gods, but I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire is the real God.”

All the people answered, “That’s fine.”

18:17–24   I can’t have it both ways—thinking I can stay faithful to you yet follow other gods. I’ll call on your name. You’re the only real God.

25 Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves. Prepare yours first, because there are more of you. Call on the name of your god, but don’t set the wood on fire.”

26 They took the bull he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They said, “Baal, answer us!” But there wasn’t a sound or an answer. So they danced around the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah started to make fun of them. “Shout louder, since he is a god. Maybe he’s thinking, relieving himself, or traveling! Maybe he’s sleeping, and you have to wake him!”

28 So they shouted louder. They also cut themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed. (This is what their ritual called for.) 29 In the afternoon they continued to rant and rave until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no sound, no answer, no attention given to them.

18:25–29   Maybe Baal was busy thinking. Or off to the bathroom. Or sleeping. Hurting myself won’t move a false god to pay attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come over here.” So all the people came to him. He rebuilt the LORD’s altar that had been torn down. 31 Elijah took 12 stones, one for each of the tribes named after Jacob’s sons. (The LORD had spoken his word to Jacob: “Your name will be Israel.”) 32 Elijah built an altar in the LORD’s name with those stones. He also made a trench that could hold 12 quarts of grain around the altar. 33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and put it on the wood.

34 He said, “Fill four jars with water. Pour the water on the offering and on the wood.” Then he said, “Do it again,” and they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. 35 The water flowed around the altar, and even the trench was filled with water.

36 When it was time to offer the sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward. He said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make known today that you are God in Israel and that I’m your servant and have done all these things by your instructions. 37 Answer me, LORD! Answer me! Then these people will know that you, LORD, are God and that you are winning back their hearts.”

18:30–37   Lord God, answer with fire! Show that you are God! Win back hearts!

38 So a fire from the LORD fell down and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dirt. The fire even dried up the water that was in the trench. 39 All the people saw it and immediately bowed down to the ground. “The LORD is God!” they said. “The LORD is God!”

40 Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let any of them escape.” The people seized them, and Elijah took them to the Kishon River and slaughtered them there.

18:38–40   Your fire fell and consumed every bit of offering. People saw your power and immediately bowed. You are God!

The Drought Ends

41 Then Elijah told Ahab, “Get up, eat, and drink. It sounds like a heavy rain ⌞is coming⌟.” 42 Ahab got up to eat and drink.

Elijah went to the top of Carmel and bowed down on the ground to pray. 43 He said to his servant, “Please go back to ⌞Mount Carmel⌟, and look toward the sea.”

He went up, looked, ⌞came back,⌟ and said, “There’s nothing.”

Seven times Elijah told him, “Go back.”

44 After the seventh time the servant said, “A little cloud like a man’s hand is coming from the sea.”

Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare ⌞your chariot⌟, and leave before the rain delays you.’”

45 Gradually, the sky grew darker with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. Ahab got into his chariot to go back to Jezreel. 46 The LORD’s power was on Elijah. He hiked up his robe and ran ahead of Ahab until they came to Jezreel.

18:41–46   I believe your word, and I’ll keep looking for your promise. You’ll send rain on parched ground.

Elijah Flees from Jezebel

19

1 Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including how he had executed all the prophets. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah. She said, “May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I don’t take your life the way you took the lives of Baal’s prophets.”

3 Frightened, Elijah fled to save his life. He came to Beersheba in Judah and left his servant there. 4 Then he traveled through the wilderness for a day. He sat down under a broom plant and wanted to die. “I’ve had enough now, LORD,” he said. “Take my life! I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom plant.

An angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 When he looked, he saw near his head some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate, drank, and went to sleep again.

7 The angel of the LORD came back and woke him up again. The angel said, “Get up and eat, or your journey will be too much for you.”

19:1–7   Come close when I’m full of fear. Raise me up when I’ve had enough and I’m ready to die. Feed me. Give me drink. Let me sleep in peace.

8 He got up, ate, and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled for 40 days and nights until he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah. He asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He answered, “LORD God of Armies, I have eagerly served you. The Israelites have abandoned your promises,[34] torn down your altars, and executed your prophets. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”

19:8–10   I feel like I’m the only one left who eagerly serves you. Your followers abandon your promises and silence your messengers.

11 God said, “Go out and stand in front of the LORD on the mountain.”

As the LORD was passing by, a fierce wind tore mountains and shattered rocks ahead of the LORD. But the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD wasn’t in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire. But the LORD wasn’t in the fire. And after the fire there was a quiet, whispering voice. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat, went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Then the voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He answered, “LORD God of Armies, I have eagerly served you. The Israelites have abandoned your promises, torn down your altars, and executed your prophets. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”

15 The LORD told him, “Go back to the wilderness near Damascus, the same way you came. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king of Aram. 16 Anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel. And anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat, from Abel Meholah as prophet to take your place. 17 If anyone escapes from Hazael’s sword, Jehu will kill him. And if anyone escapes from Jehu’s sword, Elisha will kill him. 18 But I still have 7,000 people in Israel whose knees have not knelt to worship Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

19:11–18   Take me to your mountain and stand me in front of you. Pass by me and whisper my name. Lead me to your faithful followers—friends who don’t kiss false gods.

Authentic Prayer

1 Kings 19:1–18

Despondence

Then he traveled through the wilderness for a day. He sat down under a broom plant and wanted to die. “I’ve had enough now, LORD,” he said. “Take my life! I’m no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:4

When you want to give up on everything, God wants to talk. Immediately after Elijah called fire from heaven and routed the prophets of the false god Baal on Mount Carmel, the vicious Queen Jezebel sends the prophet fleeing into the wilderness, where he collapses.

Disappointed his spectacular victory hadn’t brought down Jezebel and her husband, Ahab, Elijah invites God to slay him. He’s had enough, the burdens of his job obviously outweighing its joys. His life is wasted. He’s frail, cowardly, mortal, no better than anyone who came before him.

God doesn’t try to reason with Elijah. He lets him sleep and feeds him. Then the Lord lets him eat, drink, and sleep some more. After traveling forty days and nights, Elijah meets God in a whisper. He wants nothing more than to serve God, and now he knows he doesn’t serve alone.

As you struggle through life, the Lord won’t shut out your despondent prayers. He isn’t shocked when you hurl harsh words straight at him. When you feel shattered, tell him. Let him help you put life back together.

Pray the Scriptures Despondence: Psalm 42:1–11, Psalm 46:1–11, Mark 14:32–42, 2 Corinthians 1:3–11

The Call of Elisha

19 Elijah found Elisha, son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing behind 12 pairs of oxen. He was using the twelfth pair. Elijah took off his coat and put it on Elisha. 20 So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will follow you.”

“Go back,” Elijah answered him. “I’m not stopping you.”

21 Elisha left him, took two oxen, and butchered them. He boiled the meat, using the oxen’s yoke[35] ⌞for firewood⌟. He gave the meat to the people to eat. Then he left to follow and assist Elijah.

19:19–21   Give me partners in ministry, people willing to wear your mantle.

King Ahab Defeats King Benhadad

20

1 King Benhadad of Aram gathered together his whole army. With him were 32 kings along with their horses and chariots. He went to blockade Samaria and fight against it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel. They told Ahab, “This is what Benhadad says: 3 Your silver and gold are mine. Your beloved wives and children are mine.”

4 The king of Israel answered, “As you say, Your Majesty. I and everything I have are yours.”

5 But Benhadad sent messengers back ⌞to Ahab⌟. They said, “Benhadad has sent this message to you: ‘Your silver, gold, wives, and children are mine. Give ⌞them to me⌟. 6 At this time tomorrow I’m going to send my servants to search your palace and your servants’ houses. They will take anything that you consider valuable.’”

7 Then the king of Israel called for all the leaders of the country. He said, “You can see how this man is looking for trouble. When he sent for my wives, children, silver, and gold, I didn’t refuse him.”

8 All the leaders and all the people told him, “Don’t listen to him. Don’t agree ⌞to his demands⌟.”

9 Ahab told Benhadad’s messengers, “Tell His Majesty, ‘I did everything your messengers told me the first time, but I can’t do this.’” The messengers left to take back his answer.

10 Then Benhadad sent Ahab the following message: “May the gods strike me dead if there will be enough dust left from Samaria to give a handful to each soldier who follows me.”

11 The king of Israel answered, “The saying goes, ‘Don’t brag about a victory before you have even dressed for battle.’”

12 Benhadad heard this as he and his allies were drinking in their tents. He told his officers to get ready. So they got ready ⌞to attack⌟ the city.

13 Then a prophet came to King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: Have you seen this large army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

14 Ahab asked, “How ⌞will this be done⌟?”

The prophet answered, “This is what the LORD says: by using the young officers of the district governors.”

“Who will start the battle?” Ahab asked.

“You will,” the prophet answered.

15 Ahab counted the young officers of the district governors. There were 232. After counting them, he counted all the Israelite soldiers. There were 7,000. 16 They attacked at noon, when Benhadad was in his tent getting drunk with the 32 kings who were his allies. 17 The young officers of the district governors went out first.

Benhadad had sent men ⌞to watch the city⌟. They informed him that some men had come out of Samaria.

18 He said, “Take them alive, whether they have come out to make peace or to fight.”

19 The young officers of the district governors led an attack, and the troops followed them. 20 Each officer killed his opponent. The Arameans fled, and Israel pursued them. King Benhadad of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry. 21 The king of Israel went out and destroyed the horses and chariots and decisively defeated the Arameans.

20:1–21   I won’t brag about a victory before I dress for battle. Deal with your enemies and show that you are Lord.

Ahab Spares Benhadad

22 Then the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Reinforce your army. Consider what you have to do. When spring comes, the king of Aram will attack ⌞again⌟.”

23 Meanwhile, the officers of King Benhadad of Aram told him, “Their god is a god of the hills. That is why they were stronger than we were. However, if we fight them on the plain, we will be stronger than they are. 24 This is what we must do: Remove all of the kings from their positions, and substitute governors for them. 25 Recruit an army with as many horses and chariots as the one which was defeated. Then, if we fight them on the plain, we will be stronger than they are.” He took their advice and followed it.

26 Spring came, and Benhadad organized the Aramean army and went to Aphek to fight Israel. 27 When the Israelite ⌞troops⌟ had been organized and given provisions, they went to meet the enemy. The Israelites, while camped opposite the Arameans who filled the country, seemed like two newborn goats.[36]

28 The man of God came again. He said to the king of Israel, “This is what the LORD says: Because the Arameans said that the LORD is a god of the hills but not a god of the valleys, I will hand over their entire army to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

29 They camped facing one another for seven days, and on the seventh day the battle started. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean foot soldiers in one day. 30 The survivors fled to Aphek, the city where the wall fell on 27,000 of them. Benhadad had also fled. He came to the city and hid in an inner room.

31 His officers told him, “We have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Allow us to dress in sackcloth, put ropes around our necks, and go to the king of Israel. Maybe he’ll let you live.” 32 So they dressed in sackcloth and put ropes around their necks. They went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Benhadad says, ‘Please let me live.’”

Ahab asked, “He’s still alive? He’s my brother.”

33 The men, watching for a good sign, were quick to take him at his word. “Benhadad is your brother,” they said.

Ahab said, “Bring him here.” When Benhadad arrived, Ahab had him come up on the chariot with him.

34 Benhadad told him, “I will give back the towns my father took from your father. You may set up trading centers in Damascus as my father did in Samaria.”

Ahab said, “If you will put this into a treaty, I will let you go.” So Ahab made a treaty with Benhadad and let him go.

35 A disciple of the prophets spoke to a friend as the word of the LORD had told him. ⌞The disciple said,⌟ “Punch me,” but the man refused to punch him. 36 The disciple said, “Since you didn’t obey the LORD, a lion will kill you when you leave me.” When the friend left, a lion found him and killed him.

37 Then the disciple found another man. He said, “Punch me.” The man punched him hard and wounded him.

38 Then the prophet, disguised with a bandage over his eyes, waited for the king by the road. 39 When the king passed by, the disciple called to him. “I went to fight in the battle. A man turned around and brought a prisoner to me. He said, ‘Guard this prisoner. If he gets away, you will pay for his life with your own life or be fined 75 pounds of silver.’ 40 But while I was busy doing other things, he got away.”

The king of Israel told him, “That’s your own penalty. You have determined it yourself.”

41 Then he quickly took the bandage off his eyes. The king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

42 The prophet told him, “This is what the LORD says: You let the man go. He was claimed by God and should have been killed. For that reason your life will be taken in place of his life and your people in place of his people.”

43 Resentful and upset, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.

20:22–43   You’re the God of the hills and of the valleys. You’re the Lord of the whole earth. I won’t disobey your clear commands.

Ahab Takes Naboth’s Vineyard

21

1 This is what happened next. Naboth from Jezreel had a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.

2 Ahab told Naboth, “Give me your vineyard. It will become my vegetable garden because it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard for it. Or if you prefer, I will pay you a fair price for it.”

3 Naboth told Ahab, “The LORD has forbidden me to give you what I inherited from my ancestors.”

4 Resentful and upset, Ahab went home because of what Naboth from Jezreel had told him. (⌞Naboth had said,⌟ “I will not give you what I inherited from my ancestors.”) So Ahab lay on the couch, turned his face ⌞from everyone⌟, and refused to eat.

5 His wife Jezebel came to him and asked, “Why are you so resentful of everything? Why don’t you eat?”

6 He told her, “I talked to Naboth from Jezreel. I said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard. Or, if you like, I’ll give you another vineyard for it.’ But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard.’”

7 His wife Jezebel said to him, “Aren’t you king of Israel? Get up, eat, and cheer up. I’ll give you the vineyard belonging to Naboth from Jezreel.”

8 So Jezebel wrote letters, signed them with Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal. She sent them to the respected leaders and nobles living in Naboth’s city. 9 In these letters she wrote: “Announce a fast. Seat Naboth as leader of the people. 10 Have two good-for-nothing men sit opposite him and accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then stone him to death outside the city.”

11 The men in Naboth’s city—the respected leaders and nobles who lived there—did what Jezebel asked them to do. They did just as she had written in the letters she sent. 12 They announced a fast and had Naboth seated as the leader of the people. 13 The two good-for-nothing men came in and sat opposite him. In front of the people, these men accused Naboth of cursing God and the king. So the people stoned him to death outside the city. 14 Then the leaders sent ⌞this message⌟ to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

21:1–14   Ahab pouted when he couldn’t have his way. Jezebel had a good man killed—with the help of respected leaders and nobles. Forgive me when I join in evil acts.

15 Jezebel received the message and said to Ahab, “Get up! Confiscate the vineyard which Naboth from Jezreel refused to sell you. He’s dead now.”

16 When he heard about Naboth’s death, Ahab went to confiscate the vineyard.

17 Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah from Tishbe: 18 “Go, meet King Ahab of Israel, who lives in Samaria. He went to confiscate Naboth’s vineyard. 19 Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD asks: Have you murdered someone just to confiscate ⌞a vineyard⌟?’ Then tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: At the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will lick up your blood.’”

20 Ahab asked Elijah, “So you’ve found me, my enemy?”

Elijah answered, “I found you. Because you sold yourself to do what the LORD considers evil. 21 So I am going to bring evil on you. I will destroy your descendants. I will destroy every male[37] in Ahab’s ⌞house⌟, whether slave or freeman in Israel. 22 I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) and like the house of Baasha, son of Ahijah, because you made me furious. You led Israel to sin.”

23 Then the LORD also spoke ⌞through Elijah⌟ about Jezebel: “The dogs will eat Jezebel inside the walls of Jezreel. 24 If anyone from Ahab’s ⌞house⌟ dies in the city, dogs will eat him. If anyone dies in the country, birds will eat him.”

25 There was no one else like Ahab. At the urging of his wife, he sold himself to do what the LORD considered evil. 26 He did many disgusting things as a result of worshiping idols as the Amorites had done. (The LORD confiscated their land for Israel.)

27 When Ahab heard these things, he tore his clothes ⌞in distress⌟ and dressed in sackcloth. He fasted, lay in sackcloth, and walked around depressed.

28 Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah from Tishbe: 29 “Do you see how Ahab is humbling himself in my presence? Because he’s humbling himself in my presence, I will not let any evil happen to his family while he is alive. I will bring evil on it during his son’s lifetime.”

21:15–29   Ahab sold himself to do evil. But he tore his clothes in distress when you called out his sin. I’ll humble myself in your presence. Spare my family from the penalty of my foolish deeds.

Micaiah Prophesies against King Ahab—2 Chronicles 18:1–34

22

1 For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. 2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.

3 The king of Israel asked his staff, “Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead belongs to us, and we are doing nothing to take it back from the king of Aram?” 4 Then he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth in Gilead?”

Jehoshaphat told the king of Israel, “I will do what you do. My troops will do what your troops do. My horses will do what your horses do.” 5 Then Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “But first, find out what the word of the LORD is ⌞in this matter⌟.”

6 So the king of Israel called 400 prophets together. He asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?”

“Go,” they said. “The Lord[38] will hand over Ramoth to you.”

7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the LORD whom we could ask?”

8 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, “We can ask the LORD through Micaiah, son of Imlah, but I hate him. He doesn’t prophesy anything good about me, only evil.”

Jehoshaphat answered, “The king must not say that.”

9 The king of Israel called for an officer and said, “Quick! ⌞Get⌟ Micaiah, son of Imlah!”

10 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were dressed in royal robes and seated on thrones. They were on the threshing floor[39] at the entrance to the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said, “This is what the LORD says: With these horns you will push the Arameans to their destruction.” 12 All the other prophets made the same prophecy. They said, “Attack Ramoth in Gilead, and you will win. The LORD will hand it over to you.”

13 The messenger who went to call Micaiah told him, “The prophets have all told the king the same good message. Make your message agree with their message. Say something good.”

14 Micaiah answered, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, I will tell him whatever the LORD tells me.”

15 When he came to the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?”

Micaiah said to him, “Attack and you will win. The LORD will hand it over to you.”

16 The king asked him, “How many times must I make you take an oath in the LORD’s name to tell me nothing but the truth?”

17 So Micaiah said, “I saw Israel’s troops scattered in the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The LORD said, ‘These ⌞sheep⌟ have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”

22:1–17   Ahab wanted a happy message from your prophet. Make me like Micaiah, willing to speak truth in your name no matter what. I’ll say whatever you tell me.

18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he wouldn’t prophesy anything good about me, only evil?”

19 Micaiah added, “Then hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and the entire army of heaven was standing near him on his right and his left. 20 The LORD asked, ‘Who will deceive Ahab so that he will attack and be killed at Ramoth in Gilead?’ Some answered one way, while others said something else.

21 “Then the Spirit stepped forward, stood in front of the LORD, and said, ‘I will deceive him.’

“‘How?’ the LORD asked.

22 “The Spirit answered, ‘I will go out and be a spirit that tells lies through the mouths of all of Ahab’s prophets.’

“The LORD said, ‘You will succeed in deceiving him. Go and do it.’

23 “So, the LORD has put into the mouths of all these prophets of yours a spirit that makes them tell lies. The LORD has spoken evil about you.”

24 Then Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, went to Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. “How did the LORD’s Spirit leave me to talk to you?” he asked.

25 Micaiah answered, “You will find out on the day you go into an inner room to hide.”

26 The king of Israel then said, “Send Micaiah back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the prince. 27 Say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I come home safely.’”

28 Micaiah said, “If you really do come back safely, then the LORD wasn’t speaking through me. Pay attention to this, everyone!”

29 So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to Ramoth in Gilead. 30 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you should wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31 The king of Aram had given orders to the 32 chariot commanders. He said, “Don’t fight anyone except the king of Israel.”

32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight him. But when Jehoshaphat cried out, 33 the chariot commanders realized that he wasn’t the king of Israel. They turned away from him.

34 One man aimed his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between his scale armor and his breastplate. Ahab told his chariot driver, “Turn around, and get me away from these troops. I’m badly wounded.” 35 But the battle got worse that day, and the king was kept propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening. The blood from the wound had flowed into the chariot. 36 At sundown a cry went through the army, “Every man to his own city! Every man to his own property!”

37 When the king was dead, he was brought to Samaria to be buried. 38 His chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria, where the prostitutes bathed. The dogs licked up his blood, as the LORD had predicted.

39 Isn’t everything else about Ahab—everything he did, the ivory palace he built, and all the cities he fortified—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 40 Ahab lay down in death with his ancestors. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.

22:18–40   People who persist in doing evil get trapped by their own foolish acts. Ahab tried to hide from your judgment. But your word always comes true.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah—2 Chronicles 20:31–21:1

41 Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, became king of Judah in Ahab’s fourth year as king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. 43 Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what the LORD considered right. 44 But the illegal worship sites were not torn down. The people continued to sacrifice and burn incense at these worship sites.[40] Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Isn’t everything else about Jehoshaphat—the heroic acts he did and ⌞the wars⌟ he fought—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 46 He rid the land of the male temple prostitutes who were left there from the time of his father Asa. 47 There was no king in Edom; instead, a deputy ruled.

48 Jehoshaphat made Tarshish-style ships to go to Ophir for gold. But they didn’t go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber. 49 Then Ahaziah, son of Ahab, said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat refused.

50 Jehoshaphat lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoram succeeded him as king.

22:41–50   Jehoshaphat carefully followed his father’s example and did what you considered right. But he let illegal worship sites stand. Teach me to live and lead without compromise.

King Ahaziah of Israel

51 Ahaziah, son of Ahab, became king of Israel in Samaria during Jehoshaphat’s seventeenth year as king of Judah. Ahaziah ruled Israel for two years. 52 He did what the LORD considered evil. He followed the example of his father and mother and of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) who led Israel to sin. 53 Ahaziah served Baal, worshiped him, and made the LORD God of Israel furious, as his father had done.

2 KINGS

INTRODUCTION

Second Kings describes the decline and fall of Israel and Judah. Just as God had predicted, the united kingdom established by David split in two after Solomon’s death, an unhappy history told in 1 Kings. Kings of Israel ruled from the city of Samaria in the north. Kings of Judah reigned from Jerusalem in the south.

With the division of the kingdom, the flourishing era of wealth, influence, and expansion under David and Solomon ended. The north and south battle each other as well as external enemies. Each has its own line of rulers. Prophets thunder judgment and speak comfort to either north or south. Priests lead worship at rival sites.

The royal stories of Israel and Judah tell the saga of their nations. If a king worshiped false gods, the people followed. When a king enacted spiritual reforms, revival ensued among his citizens. In the end, a few good kings can’t undo the devastation caused by evil rulers. Within a couple of centuries, Israel falls to Assyrian invaders and its people disappear into captivity (2 Kings 17:3–23). A hundred years later, Babylon conquers Judah and carries its people as slaves and prisoners into exile (2 Kings 25:1–21). Decades later, some of its citizens will return to the land.

Throughout these years God warned his people of the consequences of their actions and called them to repent—to quit sinning and return to him. Praying 2 Kings lets you see the seriousness of the Lord’s warnings and the high cost of doing wrong.

2 KINGS

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Elijah and King Ahaziah of Israel

1

1 After Ahab died, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 During the rebellion King Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upstairs room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers ⌞to Ekron⌟. He had told them, “Go ask Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, if I will recover from this injury.”

3 Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah from Tishbe, “Meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and ask them, ‘Do you seek advice from Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, because ⌞you think⌟ there is no God in Israel? 4 This is what the LORD says: You will not get up from the bed you are lying on. Instead, you will die there.’” Then Elijah left.

1:1–4   I won’t ask for help from anyone but you. I won’t go looking to false gods for advice. You’re the one Lord of my life.

5 When the messengers returned, the king asked them, “Why have you come back so soon?”

6 They told him that a man came to meet them and said to them, “Go back to the king who sent you. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Do you send messengers to seek advice from Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, because ⌞you think⌟ there is no God in Israel? You will not get up from the bed you are lying on. Instead, you will die there.’”

7 The king asked them, “What was the man who told you this like?”

8 They replied, “He was hairy and had a leather belt around his waist.”

“That’s Elijah from Tishbe,” the king answered.

9 The king sent an army officer with 50 men to Elijah. When the officer found Elijah sitting on top of a hill, he told Elijah, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’”

10 Elijah answered the officer, “If I’m a man of God, fire will come from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men.” Then fire came from heaven and burned up the officer and his 50 men.

11 The king sent another officer with 50 men to Elijah. The officer said, “Man of God, this is what the king says: Come here right away!”

12 Elijah answered the officer, “If I’m a man of God, fire will come from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men.” Then God’s fire came from heaven and burned up the officer and his 50 men.

13 The king sent a third officer with 50 men. The officer of the third group went up the hill and knelt in front of Elijah. The officer begged him, “Man of God, please treat my life and the lives of these 50 servants of yours as something precious. 14 Fire has come from heaven and burned up the first two officers and their 100 men. But treat my life as something precious.”

15 The angel of the LORD told Elijah, “Go with him. Don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to the king. 16 Elijah told the king, “This is what the LORD says: You sent messengers to seek advice from Baalzebub, the god of Ekron. Is this because ⌞you think⌟ there is no God in Israel whose word you can seek? You will not get up from the bed you are lying on. Instead, you will die there.”

17 So Ahaziah died as the LORD had predicted through Elijah. Joram succeeded him as king because Ahaziah had no son.[1] 18 Isn’t everything else about Ahaziah—the things he did—written in the official records of the kings of Israel?

1:5–18   You don’t speak idle words. You keep your promises—and your threats. I’ll keep that in mind when I’m tempted to do evil.

Elijah Taken to Heaven

2

1 When the LORD was going to take Elijah to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha left Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the LORD is sending me to Bethel.”

Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Bethel.

3 Some of the disciples of the prophets at Bethel came to Elisha. They asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?”

He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

4 Elijah said, “Elisha, please stay here because the LORD is sending me to Jericho.”

Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 Then some of the disciples of the prophets who were in Jericho approached Elisha. They asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?”

He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

6 Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the LORD is sending me to the Jordan River.”

Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.”

2:1–6   Elisha hushed the talk that you were taking Elijah home to heaven. He swore he wouldn’t abandon his master. Give me the chance to say good-bye to good friends.

7 Fifty disciples of the prophets stood at a distance as Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan River. 8 Elijah took his coat, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The water divided to their left and their right, and the two men crossed ⌞the river⌟ on dry ground.

9 While they were crossing, Elijah asked Elisha, “What should I do for you before I’m taken from you?”

Elisha answered, “Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”

10 Elijah said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me taken from you, it will be yours. Otherwise, it will not.”

11 As they continued walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses separated the two of them, and Elijah went to heaven in a windstorm.

12 When Elisha saw this, he cried out, “Master! Master! Israel’s chariot and horses!” When he couldn’t see Elijah anymore, he grabbed his own garment and tore it in two ⌞to show his grief⌟. 13 Then he picked up Elijah’s coat (which had fallen off Elijah), went back, and stood on the bank of the Jordan River. 14 He took the coat and struck the water with it. He asked, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” As he struck the water, it divided to his left and his right, and Elisha crossed ⌞the river⌟.

2:7–12   You led your prophets across a dry river. As they walked and talked you swept Elijah to heaven in a fiery chariot. Teach me to expect your presence even as I grieve.

15 The disciples of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him from a distance. They said, “Elijah’s spirit rests on Elisha!” Then they went to meet him and bowed in front of him with their faces touching the ground. 16 They said to him, “There are 50 strong men here with us. Please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the LORD’s Spirit lifted him up and dropped him on one of the hills or in one of the valleys.”

Elisha answered, “Don’t send them ⌞to look⌟.” 17 But the disciples kept urging him ⌞to send the men⌟ until he was embarrassed. So he said, “Send them.” They sent 50 men who searched for three days without finding him. 18 They returned to Elisha in Jericho, where he was waiting. He said, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

2:13–18   You gave Elisha what he wanted—a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Fill me with everything I need to serve you.

Elisha Purifies Jericho’s Water

19 The people of the city ⌞of Jericho⌟ told Elisha, “This city’s location is as good as you will ever find. But the water is bad, and the land cannot grow crops.”

20 Elisha said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” They brought it to him. 21 He went to the spring and threw the salt into it. Then he said, “This is what the LORD says: I have purified this water. No more deaths or crop failures will come from this water.” 22 To this day the water is still pure, as Elisha had said.

23 From there he went to Bethel. As he walked along the road, some boys came out of the city and mocked him. They said, “Go away, baldy! Go away!”

24 Looking back, he saw them and cursed them in the LORD’s name. Two bears came out of the woods and tore 42 of these youths apart. 25 He left that place, went to Mount Carmel, and returned to Samaria.

2:19–25   You command belief in your miraculous acts and respect for your prophets. You made it a matter of life and death.

King Joram of Israel

3

1 Joram,[2] son of Ahab, became king of Israel in Samaria during Jehoshaphat’s eighteenth year as king of Judah. He ruled for 12 years. 2 He did what the LORD considered evil, but he didn’t do what his father or mother had done. He put away the sacred stone that his father had set up and dedicated to Baal. 3 But he would not give up the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit. Joram would not turn away from those sins.

3:1–3   Joram didn’t follow the sins of his father or mother. But he wouldn’t give up the evils of Jeroboam. I don’t want to half-obey you.

King Mesha of Moab Defeated

4 King Mesha of Moab raised sheep. ⌞Each year⌟ he had to pay the king of Israel 100,000 male lambs and the wool from 100,000 rams. 5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the ⌞new⌟ king of Israel. 6 King Joram immediately left Samaria to prepare Israel’s army for war. 7 He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you fight Moab with me?”

Jehoshaphat answered, “I’ll go. I will do what you do. My troops will do what your troops do. My horses will do what your horses do.”

8 Joram asked, “Which road should we take?”

Jehoshaphat answered, “The road through the desert of Edom.”

9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom took an indirect route ⌞to Moab⌟. After seven days they ran out of water for the army and the animals. 10 The king of Israel said, “Oh no! The LORD has put the three of us at the mercy of ⌞the people of⌟ Moab.”

3:4–10   Don’t put me at the mercy of my enemies—especially when I’m trying hard to follow you.

11 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the LORD whom we could ask?”

One of the officials of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here. He used to be Elijah’s assistant.”[3]

12 Jehoshaphat said, “The LORD’s word is with him.” So King Jehoshaphat of Judah, the king of Israel, and the king of Edom went to Elisha.

13 Elisha asked the king of Israel, “Why did you come to me? Go to your father’s prophets or your mother’s prophets.”

The king of Israel answered him, “No. The LORD has called the three of us in order to put us at Moab’s mercy.”

14 Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD of Armies whom I serve lives, I wouldn’t even bother to look at you or notice you if it weren’t for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah. 15 But get me someone to play some music.”

While the musician was playing, the LORD’s power came over Elisha. 16 He said, “This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. 17 You will not see wind or rain, but this valley will be filled with water. You, your cattle, and your other animals will drink. 18 The LORD considers that an easy thing to do. In addition, he will put Moab at your mercy. 19 You will defeat every walled city and every important city. You will cut down every good tree, seal all the wells, and use rocks to ruin every good piece of land.”

20 That is what happened in the morning. At the time of the grain offering, water flowed from Edom and filled the countryside.

3:11–20   You fill desert ditches with water. You pour refreshment into a valley without wind or rain. For you, that’s easy to do.

21 All the people of Moab heard that the kings had come to fight them. So all men old enough to bear arms were called to fight. They stood at the border. 22 When the Moabites got up early in the morning as the sun was rising over the water, they saw the water from a distance. It was as red as blood. 23 They said, “It’s blood! The kings have been fighting one another and have killed each other. Now, Moabites, let’s take their goods!”

24 So when the Moabites came to Israel’s camp, the Israelites attacked them, and they fled from the Israelites. Israel went after the Moabites and defeated them. 25 Then Israel tore down the cities, each man throwing rocks on every good field until it was covered. They sealed every well and cut down every good tree. Only the stones ⌞in the walls⌟ of Kir Hareseth were left. Soldiers surrounded Kir Hareseth and attacked it with slings and stones. 26 When the king of Moab saw he was losing the battle, he took 700 swordsmen to try to break through to the king of Edom. But they couldn’t do it. 27 Then he took his firstborn son, who would have succeeded him as king, and sacrificed him on the wall as a burnt offering. There was bitter anger against the Israelites. So they went home to their own country.

3:21–27   You confuse enemies and set them up for judgment. You bring those who sacrifice their children to a bitter end.

Elisha and the Widow’s Olive Oil

4

1 One of the wives of a disciple of the prophets called to Elisha, “Sir, my husband is dead! You know how he feared the LORD. Now a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.”

2 Elisha asked her, “What should I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

She answered, “I have nothing in the house except a jar of olive oil.”

3 Elisha said, “Borrow many empty containers from all your neighbors. 4 Then close the door behind you and your children, and pour oil into all those containers. When one is full, set it aside.”

5 So she left him and closed the door behind her and her children. The children kept bringing containers to her, and she kept pouring. 6 When the containers were full, she told her son, “Bring me another container.”

He told her, “There are no more containers.” So the olive oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God.

4:1–7   You look out for people who serve you. I’ll gather buckets and wait for your blessing. I’ll bring as many as I can.

He said, “Sell the oil, and pay your debt. The rest is for you and your children.”

Elisha Brings a Shunem Woman’s Son Back to Life

8 One day Elisha was traveling through Shunem, where a rich woman lived. She had invited him to eat ⌞with her⌟. So whenever he was in the area, he stopped in to eat.

9 She told her husband, “I know he’s a holy man of God. And he regularly travels past our house. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put a bed, table, chair, and lamp stand there for him. He can stay there whenever he comes to visit us.”

11 One day he came ⌞to their house⌟, went into the upstairs room, and rested there. 12 He told his servant Gehazi, “Call this Shunem woman.”

Gehazi called her, and she stood in front of him. 13 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Ask her what we can do for her, since she has gone to a lot of trouble for us. Maybe she would like us to speak to the king or the commander of the army for her.”

She answered, “I’m already living among my own people.”

14 “What should we do for her?” Elisha asked.

Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

15 Elisha said, “Call her.” So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 Elisha said, “At this time next spring, you will hold a baby boy in your arms.”

She answered, “Don’t say that, sir. Don’t lie to me. You’re a man of God.”

17 But the woman became pregnant and had a son at that time next year, as Elisha had told her.

4:8–17   You’re able to bring life from death. But don’t raise my hopes if you’re not going to act.

18 Several years later the boy went to his father, who was with the harvest workers. 19  ⌞Suddenly,⌟ he said to his father, “My head! My head!”

The father told his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

20 The servant picked him up and brought him to his mother. The boy sat on her lap until noon, when he died. 21 She took him upstairs and laid him on the bed of the man of God, left ⌞the room⌟, and shut the door behind her. 22 She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys. I will go quickly to the man of God and come back again.”

23 Her husband asked, “Why are you going to him today? It isn’t a New Moon Festival or a day of worship.”

But she said goodbye to him.

24 She saddled the donkey. Then she told her servant, “Lead on. Don’t slow down unless I tell you.” 25 So she came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When he saw her coming at a distance, he told his servant Gehazi, “There is the woman from Shunem. 26 Run to meet her and ask her how she, her husband, and the boy are doing.”

“Everyone’s fine,” she answered.

27 When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi went to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone. She is bitter. The LORD has hidden the reason from me. He hasn’t told me.”

28 The woman said, “I didn’t ask you for a son. I said, ‘Don’t raise my hopes.’”

29 The man of God told Gehazi, “Put on a belt, take my shepherd’s staff in your hand, and go. Whenever you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him. If he greets you, don’t stop to answer him. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

30 The boy’s mother said, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD and you live, I will not leave without you.” So Elisha got up and followed her.

31 Gehazi went ahead of them and put the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or sign of life. So Gehazi came back to meet the man of God. Gehazi told him, “The boy didn’t wake up.”

32 When Elisha came to the house, the dead boy was lying on Elisha’s bed. 33 He went into the room, closed the door, and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he lay on the boy, putting his mouth on the boy’s mouth, his eyes on the boy’s eyes, his hands on the boy’s hands. He crouched over the boy’s body, and it became warm. 35 Elisha got up, walked across the room and came back, and then got back on the bed and crouched over him. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 36 Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunem woman.” Gehazi called her. When she came to him, he said, “Take your son.”

37 Then she immediately bowed at his feet. She took her son and left.

4:18–37   I didn’t ask for your blessing. You chose to freely give it to me. Thank you for bringing life where death reigns.

Elisha and the Poisoned Food

38 When Elisha went back to Gilgal, there was a famine in the country. ⌞One day,⌟ while the disciples of the prophets were meeting with him, he told his servant, “Put a large pot on the fire, and cook some stew for the disciples of the prophets.”

39 One of them went into the field to gather vegetables and found a wild vine. He filled his clothes with wild gourds. Then he cut them into the pot of stew without knowing what they were. 40 They dished out the food for the men to eat. As they were eating the stew, they cried out, “There’s death in the pot, man of God!” So they couldn’t eat it.

41 Elisha said, “Bring some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Dish it out for the people to eat.” Then there was nothing harmful in the pot.

4:38–41   Protect me from dangers I don’t recognize. Save me when there’s death in the pot.

Elisha Feeds a Hundred People

42 A man from Baal Shalisha brought bread made from the first harvested grain, 20 barley loaves, and fresh grain to the man of God. The man of God said, “Give it to the people to eat.”

43 But his servant asked, “How can I set this in front of a hundred people?”

“Give it to the people to eat,” the man of God said. “This is what the LORD says: They will eat and even have some left over.”

44 The servant set it in front of them. They ate and had some left over, as the LORD had predicted.

4:42–44   You supply what I lack. I’ll eat till I’m full, then dine on leftovers.

Elisha Heals Naaman

5

1 Naaman, the commander of the Aramean king’s army, was respected and highly honored by his master. The LORD had given Aram a victory through Naaman. This man was a good soldier, but he had a skin disease.

2 Once, when the Arameans went on raids, they had brought back a little girl from Israel. She became the servant of Naaman’s wife. 3 The girl told her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet in Samaria. Then the prophet could cure him of his skin disease.”

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.

5 The king of Aram said, “You may go. I will also send a letter to the king of Israel.” When Naaman left, he took 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 sets of clothing with him. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel. It read, “I’m sending my officer Naaman with this letter. Cure him of his skin disease.”

7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes ⌞in distress⌟. He asked, “Am I God? Can I kill someone and then bring him back to life? This man sends someone to me so that I can cure his skin disease! All of you should realize and understand that he’s trying to pick a fight with me.”

8 But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a messenger to the king. He asked, “Why did you tear your clothes? Please let Naaman come to me and find out that there is a prophet in Israel.”

5:1–8   Naaman heard of your power and searched out your healing. I’m not able to fix anything. But you always have a plan to display your power.

9 Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stopped at the entrance to Elisha’s home. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him. He said, “Wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and your skin will be healthy and clean.”[4]

11 But Naaman became angry and left. He said, “I thought he would at least come out ⌞of his house⌟, stand somewhere, call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the ⌞infected⌟ place, and heal the skin disease. 12 The Abana and Pharpar Rivers in Damascus have better water than any of the rivers in Israel. Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned around and left in anger.

13 But Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “Master, if the prophet had asked you to do some extraordinary act, wouldn’t you have done it? Why shouldn’t you do as he said: ‘Wash and be clean’?”

14 So he went to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. His skin became healthy again like a little child’s skin. 15 Then he and all his men returned to the man of God. Naaman stood in front of Elisha and said, “Now I know that there’s no god in the whole world, except the God of Israel. So please accept a present from me.”

5:9–15   Elisha’s command sounded absurd—quick dips in a dirty river. But there’s no God in the whole world except you.

16 Elisha said, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD whom I serve lives, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to take it, but he refused.

17 So Naaman said, “If you won’t take it, please have someone give me as much dirt as a pair of mules can carry. From now on I will sacrifice to the LORD alone. I will not offer any burnt offering or sacrifice to any other gods. 18 May the LORD forgive me when my master goes to the temple of Rimmon to worship, leans on my arm, and I have to bow down in the temple of Rimmon. When I do this, may the LORD forgive me for this one thing.”

19 Elisha told Naaman, “Go in peace.”

After Elisha had left him and gone some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha (the man of God), thought, “My master let this Aramean Naaman go without accepting what he had brought. As sure as the LORD lives, I’ll run after Naaman and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi went after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he got down from his chariot to speak to him. “Is something wrong?” he asked.

22 Gehazi answered, “No. My master has sent me. He says, ‘Just now two young men from the disciples of the prophets in the hills of Ephraim have arrived. Please give them 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing.’”

23 Naaman replied, “Please let me give you 150 pounds of silver.” Naaman urged him ⌞to take the silver⌟. Naaman tied up 150 pounds of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing. He gave them to a couple of his own servants to carry in front of Gehazi.

24 When Gehazi came to the Ophel in Samaria, he took these things and put them away in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they left. 25 He went and stood in front of his master.

Elisha asked him, “Where were you, Gehazi?”

“I didn’t go anywhere,” he answered.

26 Then Elisha said to him, “I went with you in spirit when the man turned around in his chariot to speak to you. How could you accept silver, clothes, olive orchards, vineyards, sheep, cattle, or slaves? 27 Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants permanently!”

5:16–27   Your prophet wouldn’t take Naaman’s payment. But his servant ran down a share of silver. I won’t chase after sin. I’ll own up to my failings when I stand before you.

When he left Elisha, Gehazi had a disease that made his skin as flaky as snow.

Elisha and the Floating Ax Head

6

1 The disciples of the prophets said to Elisha, “The place where we’re staying is too small for us. 2 Let’s go to the Jordan River. Each of us can get some logs and make a place for us to live there.”

Elisha said, “Go ahead.”

3 Then one of the disciples asked, “Won’t you please come with us?”

Elisha answered, “I’ll go.”

4 So he went with them. They came to the Jordan River and began to cut down trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the ax head fell into the water. He cried out, “Oh no, master! It was borrowed!”

6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed Elisha the place, Elisha cut off a piece of wood. He threw it into the water at that place and made the ax head float. 7 Elisha said, “Pick it up.” The disciple reached for it and picked it up.

6:1–7   You care about cramped homes and borrowed tools. Watch over my everyday needs.

The Aramean Army Is Struck with Blindness

8 Whenever the king of Aram was fighting against Israel, he asked for advice from his officers about where they were to camp.

9 So the man of God would send a message to the king of Israel, “Be careful not to go by that place. The Arameans are hiding there.” 10 Then the king of Israel would send someone to the place that the man of God told him about. Elisha warned them so that they would be on their guard. He did this repeatedly.

11 The king of Aram was very angry about this. He called his officers and asked them, “Won’t you tell me who among us is ⌞a spy⌟ for the king of Israel?”

12 One of his officers answered, “No one, Your Majesty. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel everything you say—even what you say in your bedroom.”

6:8–12   You know everything I say and do, even when I think I can hide from you.

13 The king said, “Find out where he is. Then I will send men to capture him.”

The king was told, “He is in Dothan.” 14 So the king sent horses and chariots and a large fighting unit there. They came at night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up in the morning and went outside, he saw troops, horses, and chariots surrounding the city. Elisha’s servant asked, “Master, what should we do?”

16 Elisha answered, “Don’t be afraid. We have more forces on our side than they have on theirs.” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “LORD, please open his eyes so that he may see.” The LORD opened the servant’s eyes and let him see. The mountain around Elisha was full of fiery horses and chariots.

6:13–17   Fear and confusion overwhelm me. But your strength is beyond my imagination, and your power is on my side. Open my eyes to your might. Let me see your fiery chariots.

18 As the Arameans came down to get him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” The LORD struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha told them, “This isn’t the way! This isn’t the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you’re looking for.” So he led them into Samaria. 20 When they came into Samaria, Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men, and let them see.” The LORD opened their eyes and let them see that they were in the middle of Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Master, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”

22 Elisha answered, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill everyone you take captive in combat? Give them food and water. Let them eat and drink. Then let them go back to their master.”

23 So the king prepared a great feast for them. They ate and drank, and then he sent them back to their master. After this, Aramean troops didn’t raid Israel’s territory anymore.

6:18–23   I’ll bless my enemies with food and water. I’ll prepare them a great feast to show them what kind of God I serve.

The Aramean Army Blockades Samaria

24 Later King Benhadad of Aram assembled his whole army. They went to Samaria and blockaded it. 25 The shortages caused by the blockade of Samaria became so severe that a donkey’s head sold for two pounds of silver and a half-pint of dove[5] manure for two ounces of silver.

26 As the king of Israel was walking on the city wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, Your Majesty!”

27 He answered, “If the LORD doesn’t help you, how can I help you? I can’t give you something from the threshing floor[6] or the winepress.” 28 Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter?”

She answered, “This woman told me, ‘Give up your son. Let’s eat him today. We’ll eat my son tomorrow.’ 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I told her, ‘Give up your son. We’ll eat him,’ but she hid her son.”

30 When the king heard the woman say this, he tore his clothes ⌞in distress⌟. As he was walking on the city wall, the people saw that he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes. 31 He said, “May God strike me dead if the head of Elisha, son of Shaphat, stays on his ⌞body⌟ today.”

32 Elisha was sitting in his home with the ⌞city’s⌟ leaders. The king had sent one of his men ahead of him ⌞to Elisha’s house⌟. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha asked the leaders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to tear off my head? When the messenger comes, close the door. Hold it shut because the king will be following him.”

33 While he was still talking to them, the messenger arrived. He said to Elisha, “This severe famine is from the LORD. Why should I wait any longer for the LORD ⌞to help us⌟?”

6:24–33   I’m starving and I can’t get any help. I’m desperate and I don’t know what to do. Why should I wait any longer for you to act?

7

1 Elisha answered, “Listen to the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow 24 cups of the best flour will sell for half an ounce of silver in the gateway to Samaria. And 48 cups of barley will sell for half an ounce of silver.”

2 The servant on whose arm the king was leaning answered the man of God, “Could this happen even if the LORD poured rain through windows in the sky?”

7:1–2   Your provision overwhelms me. I can’t fathom what you plan to do. Move me past my doubts.

Elisha replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”

The Aramean Army Flees

3 Four men with skin diseases were at the entrance of the city gate. One of them asked, “Why are we sitting here waiting to die? 4 If we go into the city, the famine is also there, and we’ll still die. But if we stay here, we’ll die. So let’s go to the Aramean camp. If they give us something to keep us alive, we’ll live. But if they kill us, we’ll die anyway.” 5 So they started out at dusk to go into the Aramean camp. When they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there.

6 (The LORD had made the Aramean army hear what sounded like chariots, horses, and a large army. The Aramean soldiers said to one another, “The king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” 7 So at dusk they fled. They abandoned the camp as it was with its tents, horses, and donkeys and ran for their lives.)

7:3–7   You rattled the Aramean army with sounds of chariots and horses. You sent enemies running for their lives.

8 When the men with skin diseases came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent, ate and drank, and carried off the silver, gold, and clothes they found in that tent. They went away and hid them. Then they came back, went into another tent, carried off its contents, went away, and hid them.

9 Then they said to one another, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news, and we’re not telling anyone about it. If we wait until morning when it’s light out, we’ll be punished. Let’s bring the news to the royal palace.” 10 So they called the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp, and we didn’t see or hear anyone. The horses and donkeys were still tied up. Even the tents were left exactly as they were.”

11 The gatekeepers announced the news to the royal palace. 12 So the king got up at night and told his officers what the Arameans had planned for them. He said, “They know we’re starving, so they’ve left the camp to hide in the countryside. They’re thinking, ‘When they’ve left the city, we’ll capture them alive and get into the city.’”

13 One of his officers replied, “Please let some men take five of the horses that are left here. Those men will be no worse off than the rest of the Israelites who are dying. Let’s send them to take a look.” 14 So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them to follow the Aramean army and told them to find out what happened. 15 They followed them as far as the Jordan River and saw how the whole road was littered with clothes and equipment that the Arameans had thrown away in their hurry. The messengers returned and told the king about it.

16 So the people went out and looted the Aramean camp. Then 24 cups of the best flour sold for half an ounce of silver, and 48 cups of barley sold for half an ounce of silver, as the LORD had predicted.

7:8–16   The king didn’t believe your good news. But soldiers saw the truth. You fed your people with their enemy’s food.

17 The king appointed the servant on whose arm he used to lean to be in charge of the gate. But the people trampled him to death in the gateway, as the man of God had predicted when the king came to him. 18 (It happened exactly as the man of God told the king, “48 cups of barley will sell for half an ounce of silver. And 24 cups of the best flour will sell for half an ounce of silver. This will happen about this time tomorrow in the gateway to Samaria.” 19 Then the servant answered the man of God, “Could this happen even if the LORD poured rain through windows in the sky?” Elisha answered, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”) 20 So this is what happened to the king’s servant: The people trampled him to death in the gateway.

7:17–20   Move me past my doubts. You pour rain through windows in the sky. I feast every day on your provision.

Elisha Helps a Shunem Woman Get Her Land Back

8

1 Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Go away with your family. Stay wherever you can. The LORD has decided to send a famine on this country, and it will last seven years.”

2 The woman did what the man of God told her. She and her family went to live in Philistine territory for seven years. 3 At the end of seven years, the woman came home from Philistine territory but left again to make an appeal to the king about her house and land.

4 The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. He said, “Please tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.” 5 While Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha brought a dead child back to life, the mother ⌞came to⌟ make an appeal to the king about her house and land.

Gehazi said, “Your Majesty, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha brought back to life.”

6 When the king asked the woman ⌞about this⌟, she told him the story. So the king assigned to her an attendant to whom he said, “Restore all that is hers, including whatever her property produced from the day she left the country until now.”

8:1–6   Feed me in long years of famine. Restore what others take from me. I’ll spread the word of your mighty acts.

Elisha Prophesies to Hazael

7 Elisha went to Damascus. King Benhadad of Aram, who was sick, was told, “The man of God has come here.”

8 The king told Hazael, “Take a present, and meet the man of God. Ask the LORD through him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

9 Hazael went to meet Elisha. He took with him a present and all kinds of goods from Damascus. He had loaded the goods on 40 camels. He stood in front of Elisha and said, “Your humble servant King Benhadad of Aram has sent me to you. He asks whether he will recover from this illness.”

10 Elisha replied, “Tell him that he will get better, although the LORD has shown me that he is actually going to die.” 11 He stared at him until he became embarrassed. Then the man of God began to cry.

12 “Sir, why are you crying?” Hazael asked.

Elisha answered, “I know the evil you will do to the Israelites: You will set their fortresses on fire, kill their best young men, smash their little children, and rip open their pregnant women.”

13 But Hazael asked, “How can a dog like me do such a significant thing?”

Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will become king of Aram.” 14 Hazael left Elisha and went to his master Benhadad, who asked him what Elisha had said.

Hazael answered, “He told me that you will get better.”

15 But the next day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king with it. Hazael ruled as king in his place.

8:7–15   I won’t pretend the world is a humane place. I weep when I see evildoers coming. I cry at their savage violence.

King Jehoram of Judah—2 Chronicles 21:2–11; 21:16–22:1

16 Joram (Ahab’s son) was in his fifth year as king of Israel when Jehoram,[7] son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, began to rule. Jehoram ruled while Jehoshaphat was still king of Judah. 17 He was 32 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 8 years in Jerusalem. 18 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as Ahab’s family had done, because his wife was Ahab’s daughter. So he did what the LORD considered evil. 19 But for David’s sake the LORD didn’t want to destroy Judah. The LORD had told David that he would always give him and his descendants a ⌞shining⌟ lamp.

20 During Jehoram’s time Edom rebelled against Judah and chose its own king. 21 Jehoram took all his chariots to attack Zair. The Edomites and their chariot commanders surrounded him, but he got up at night, broke through their lines, and his troops fled home. 22 So Edom rebelled against Judah’s rule and is still independent today. At that time Libnah also rebelled. 23 Isn’t everything else about Jehoram—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 24 Jehoram lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.

8:16–24   I reject the habitual sins of my family. I won’t let myself repeat their poor patterns of life.

King Ahaziah of Judah—2 Chronicles 22:2–6

25 Joram (Ahab’s son) was in his twelfth year as king of Israel when Jehoram’s son Ahaziah became king of Judah. 26 Ahaziah was 22 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of King Omri of Israel. 27 Ahaziah followed the ways of Ahab’s family. He did what the LORD considered evil, as Ahab’s family had done, because he was related to Ahab’s family by marriage.

28 Ahaziah went with Ahab’s son Joram to fight against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. There the Arameans wounded Joram. 29 King Joram returned to Jezreel to let his wounds heal. (He had been wounded by the Arameans at Ramah when he fought against King Hazael of Aram.) Then Jehoram’s son Ahaziah went to Jezreel to see Ahab’s son Joram, who was sick.

8:25–29   Don’t let me get caught in a fight between evildoers. Guard me when bad people become friends.

Jehu Is Anointed King of Israel

9

1 The prophet Elisha called one of the disciples of the prophets. He said, “Put on your belt. Take this flask of olive oil, and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2 When you arrive there, look for Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Go inside, and have him get up and leave his companions. Take him into an inner room. 3 Take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, ‘This is what the LORD says: I have anointed you king of Israel.’ Then open the door and leave immediately.”

4 The young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. 5 When he arrived there, the army’s generals were sitting together. He said, “I have something to tell you, General.”

Jehu asked, “Which one of us?”

He answered, “You, General!”

6 Jehu got up and went into the house. The prophet poured olive oil on his head and told him, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I have anointed you king of the LORD’s people, ⌞king⌟ of Israel. 7 You will destroy the family of your master Ahab. I will get revenge on Jezebel for shedding the blood of my servants the prophets and all the LORD’s ⌞other⌟ servants. 8 Ahab’s entire family will die. I will destroy every male[8] from Ahab’s family, whether slave or freeman in Israel. 9 I will make Ahab’s family like the family of Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) and like the family of Baasha, son of Ahijah. 10 Dogs will eat Jezebel inside the walls of Jezreel, and no one will bury her.” Then he opened the door and left.

11 Jehu came out to his master’s officials. One of them asked him, “Is everything alright? Why did this lunatic come to you?”

He answered, “You know the man and the kind of things he says.”

12 They said, “That’s not an answer. Please tell us.”

Jehu replied, “We talked for a while, and he said to me, ‘This is what the LORD says: I have anointed you king of Israel.’”

13 Then each one of them immediately took off his coat and laid it on the stairs below him. They blew a ram’s horn and said, “Jehu is king!”

9:1–13   You put a better man on the throne of your people. You anointed him to remove the evil rulers of Israel.

Jehu Kills King Joram, King Ahaziah, and Queen Jezebel—2 Chronicles 22:7–9

14 So Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. (Joram and all Israel were guarding Ramoth Gilead against King Hazael of Aram. 15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received while fighting King Hazael of Aram.)

Then Jehu said, “If you want me to be king, don’t let anyone escape from the city to take the news to Jezreel.” 16 So Jehu got on his chariot and drove to Jezreel because Joram was lying in bed there. (King Ahaziah of Judah had come to see Joram.)

17 The watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops coming. He said, “I see some troops.”

So Joram said, “Take a chariot driver, send him to meet them, and ask, ‘Is everything alright?’”

18 So a chariot driver rode off, met Jehu, and said, “The king asks, ‘Is everything alright?’”

Jehu replied, “Why should that matter to you? Follow me.”

So the watchman announced, “The messenger you sent has reached them, but he isn’t coming back.”

19 Then Joram sent out a second driver. When he came to them, he said, “The king asks, ‘Is everything alright?’”

Jehu replied, “Why should that matter to you? Follow me.”

20 So the watchman announced, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back. The troop’s leader is driving like a lunatic, like Jehu, grandson of Nimshi.”

21 “Hitch the horses to the chariot,” Joram ordered. When that was done, King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went to meet Jehu, each in his own chariot. They found him in the field that belonged to Naboth from Jezreel.

22 When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything alright, Jehu?”

Jehu answered, “How can everything be alright as long as your mother continues her idolatry and witchcraft?”

9:14–22   Jehu heeded your command. He plotted the downfall of Joram and Ahaziah. Your anger burned against Jezebel’s idolatry and witchcraft.

23 As Joram turned his chariot around and tried to flee, he said to Ahaziah, “It’s a trap, Ahaziah!” 24 But Jehu took his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow came out of his chest, and he slumped over in his chariot.

25 Then Jehu said to his attendant Bidkar, “Take him away, and throw him into the field that belonged to Naboth from Jezreel. Remember when you and I were driving our chariots behind his father Ahab? The LORD revealed this prophecy about him: 26 ‘Just as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, I will pay you back in this field,’ declares the LORD. Now take him and throw him into the field as the LORD predicted.”

27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered, “Shoot him down in his chariot.” They shot him at Gur Pass, which is near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died. 28 His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. 29 (Ahaziah had become king of Judah in the eleventh year that Joram, Ahab’s son, was king of Israel.)

9:23–29   You put a stop to intolerable evil. You never go back on your word.

30 When Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it. She put on eye shadow, fixed her hair, and looked out of a second-story window. 31 When Jehu entered the gateway, she asked, “Is everything alright, Zimri, murderer of your master?”

32 Looking up at the window, he asked, “Is anyone on my side? Anyone?” Then two or three eunuchs looked out at him.

33 He said, “Throw her down.” They threw her down, and some of her blood splattered on the wall and the horses. The horses trampled her.

34 He went inside, ate, and drank. Then he said, “Take care of this woman who had a curse on her. After all, she was a king’s daughter.” 35 But when they went out to bury her, they couldn’t find any of her body except her skull, feet, and hands. 36 They came back and told him.

Jehu said, “The LORD spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe. He said, ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s body inside the walls of Jezreel. 37 Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure on the ground in the fields surrounding Jezreel so that no one will be able to say that this is Jezebel.’”

9:30–37   As Jezebel prettied her hair and makeup, her servants threw her from a window. Dogs ate her mangled body. Evil dies when you come in judgment.

Jehu Kills King Ahab’s and King Ahaziah’s Heirs

10

1 Ahab had 70 male heirs in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters to the officials of Jezreel, the respected leaders, and the guardians of Ahab’s descendants in Samaria. The letters read, 2 “Your master’s heirs are with you, and you have chariots, horses, fortified cities, and weapons. As soon as this letter reaches you, 3 choose the best and most honest of your master’s heirs, and put him on Ahab’s throne. Fight for your master’s family.”

4 But they panicked. They said, “If two kings couldn’t stand up to him, how can we stand up to him?” 5 So the official in charge of the palace, the mayor of the city, the respected leaders, and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: “We are your servants. We’ll do everything you tell us. We won’t make anyone king. Do what you think is best.”

6 So he wrote them a second letter. It read, “If you are on my side and ready to listen to me, bring the heads of your master’s heirs to me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow.”

The 70 male heirs were staying with the city’s most powerful men. These men had raised them. 7 When the letter came to the men, they slaughtered all 70 heirs. They put the heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. 8 A messenger told him, “They’ve brought the heads of the king’s heirs.”

Jehu said, “Put them in two piles at the entrance to the gateway until morning.” 9 In the morning he stood there. He told the people, “You are innocent. I plotted against my master and killed him. But who killed all these men? 10 You can be sure that the word of the LORD spoken about Ahab’s family will be fulfilled. The LORD will do what he said through his servant Elijah.”

11 Jehu also killed every member of Ahab’s household who was left in Jezreel: all the most powerful men, friends, and priests. Not one of them was left.

12 Then Jehu left for Samaria. When he came to Beth Eked of the Shepherds, 13 he found some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. “Who are you?” he asked.

They answered, “We’re Ahaziah’s relatives. We’ve come to greet the families of the king and the queen mother.”

14 Jehu ordered, “Capture them!”

⌞Jehu’s men⌟ captured and slaughtered 42 of them at a cistern near Beth Eked. They didn’t leave any survivors.

15 When he left that place, he met Jehonadab, son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Are you as loyal to me as I am to you?”

“I am,” Jehonadab answered.

⌞So Jehu said,⌟ “If you are, give me your hand.”

When he gave Jehu his hand, Jehu helped him up into the chariot. 16 Jehu said, “Come with me. See how devoted I am to the LORD.” So he had Jehonadab ride on his chariot. 17 When they arrived in Samaria, Jehu killed the rest of Ahab’s family, every member who was left in Samaria. He wiped them out, as the LORD had told Elijah.

10:1–17   Jehu executed your wrath—and then some. I want to be careful to obey your word exactly—no more, no less, none of me or my own ideas.

Jehu Kills Baal’s Prophets

18 Then Jehu brought all the people together. He said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. 19 Summon all the prophets, servants, and priests of Baal. Make sure no one is missing because I have a great sacrifice to offer Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” (Jehu was deceiving ⌞them⌟. He actually wanted to destroy those who worshiped Baal.)

20 Jehu said, “Call a holy assembly to honor Baal.” So they did. 21 Jehu sent messengers to all the Israelites. All the worshipers of Baal came, and there wasn’t one who didn’t come. They went into the temple of Baal and filled it from one end to the other.

22 Then Jehu told the man in charge of the priests’ robes, “Bring out the robes for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them. 23 Jehu and Jehonadab, son of Rechab, went into the temple of Baal and said to the worshipers of Baal, “Make sure that there are no worshipers of the LORD here with you. Only the worshipers of Baal should be here.” 24 So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. But Jehu had stationed 80 of his men outside. He said ⌞to them⌟, “If any of the people I’m putting in your hands escape, you will pay for their lives with yours.”

25 When the burnt offerings had been made, Jehu said to the guards and attendants, “Kill them. Don’t let anyone get away.” So they used swords to kill the Baal worshipers and threw out the bodies until the guards and attendants came to the stronghold in the temple of Baal. 26 Then they brought out the large sacred stone of the temple of Baal and burned it. 27 They destroyed the sacred stone of Baal and the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine. It is still a latrine today.

28 So Jehu got rid of Baal worship throughout Israel. 29 But Jehu did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit—⌞the worship of⌟ the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.

30 The LORD said to Jehu, “You did what I consider right, and you did it well. You did everything I wanted done to Ahab’s family. That is why four generations of your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel.”

31 But Jehu didn’t wholeheartedly obey the teachings of the LORD God of Israel. He didn’t turn away from the sins that Jeroboam led Israel to commit. 32 So in those days the LORD began to take away some of Israel’s territory. Hazael defeated Jehu’s army throughout Israel’s territory 33 east of the Jordan River: the entire region of Gilead (the territory belonging to Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh) from Aroer, which is near the Arnon River, to Gilead and Bashan.

34 Isn’t everything else about Jehu—everything he did, all his heroic acts—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 35 Jehu lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him as king. 36 Jehu ruled as king of Israel in Samaria for 28 years.

10:18–36   Jehu got rid of Baal worship, but he didn’t turn away from false gods. So you judged the one who meted out your judgment. You don’t ever play favorites.

The Priest Jehoiada Opposes Queen Athaliah—2 Chronicles 22:10–23:21

11

1 When Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she began to destroy the entire royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash. She saved him from being killed with the king’s other sons, and in a bedroom she hid him and his nurse from Athaliah. So Joash wasn’t killed 3 but was hidden with her in the LORD’s temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the country.

4 In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada sent for the company commanders of the Carites and the guards and had them come to him in the LORD’s temple. He made an agreement with them, put them under oath in the LORD’s temple, and showed them the king’s son. 5 He ordered them, “This is what you must do: One third of you, those who are on duty on the day of worship, must guard the royal palace. 6 Another third must be at Sur Gate. And another third must be at the gate behind the guards. You will guard the king’s residence.[9] 7 Then your two groups who ⌞normally⌟ go off duty on the day of worship must guard the king at the LORD’s temple. 8 Surround the king. Each man should have his weapons in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through your ranks. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”

9 The company commanders did as the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each commander took his men who were coming on duty on the day of worship as well as those who were about to go off duty and came to the priest Jehoiada. 10 He gave the commanders the spears and the shields that had belonged to King David but were now in the LORD’s temple. 11 The guards stood with their weapons in their hands. They were stationed around the king and around the altar and the temple (from the south side to the north side of the temple). 12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, gave him the crown and the religious instructions, and made him king by anointing him. As the guards clapped their hands, they said, “Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the other people, she went into the LORD’s temple, where the people were. 14 She looked, and the king was standing by the pillar according to custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by his side. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. As Athaliah tore her clothes ⌞in distress⌟, she cried, “Treason, treason!”

15 Then the priest Jehoiada ordered the company commanders who were in charge of the army, “Take her out of the temple. Use your sword to kill anyone who follows her.” (The priest had said, “She must not be killed in the LORD’s temple.”) 16 So they arrested her as she came to the street where the horses enter the royal palace, and there she was killed.

11:1–16   A good priest guarded Judah’s real king from harm, hiding a little boy from Jezebel’s evil daughter. Come up with a plan to revive your name here and now. Make me shrewd enough to survive real life.

17 Jehoiada made a promise to the LORD on behalf of the king and his people that they would be the LORD’s people. He made other promises between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal’s altars and his statues and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

Next, the priest appointed officials to be in charge of the LORD’s temple. 19 He took the company commanders of the Carites and the guards and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the LORD’s temple. They went down the street that goes through Guards’ Gate to the royal palace. Then Joash sat on the royal throne. 20 All the people of the land were celebrating. But the city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword at the royal palace.[10]

King Joash of Judah—2 Chronicles 24:1–23

21 Joash[11] was seven years old when he began to rule.

11:17–21   I belong to you and I’ll live for you fully. I won’t bow to other gods. That’s my solemn promise to you.

12  [12]

1 Joash began to rule in Jehu’s seventh year as king of Israel, and he ruled for 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what the LORD considered right, as long as the priest Jehoiada instructed him. 3 But the illegal places of worship weren’t torn down. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at these worship sites.

12:1–3   My goal is to do what you consider right. I’ll listen to people who urge me to follow you without compromise. Warn me and lead me.

4 Joash told the priests, “ ⌞Collect⌟ all the holy contributions that are brought into the LORD’s temple—the money each person is currently required to bring and all the money brought voluntarily to the LORD’s temple. 5 Each of the priests should receive it from the donors and use it to make repairs on the temple where they are needed.”

6 But by Joash’s twenty-third year as king, the priests still had not repaired the temple. 7 So King Joash called for Jehoiada and the other priests and asked them, “Why aren’t you repairing the damage in the temple? Don’t take any more money from the donors ⌞for your own use⌟. Instead, use it to make repairs on the temple.” 8 The priests agreed neither to receive money from the people ⌞for personal use⌟ nor to be responsible for repairing the temple.

9 Then the priest Jehoiada took a box, drilled a hole in its lid, and put it at the right side of the altar as one comes into the LORD’s temple. The priests who guarded the entrance put the money that was brought to the LORD’s temple in the box. 10 Whenever they saw a lot of money in the box, the king’s scribe and the chief priest would collect and count the money that was donated in the LORD’s temple. 11 Then they would give the money that had been weighed to the men who had been appointed to work on the LORD’s temple. They used it to pay the carpenters, builders, 12 masons, and stonecutters. They also used it to buy wood and cut stones to make repairs on the LORD’s temple and to buy anything else that they needed for the temple repairs. 13 But no silver bowls, snuffers, dishes, trumpets, or any other gold and silver utensils were made for the LORD’s temple with the money that was brought. 14 Instead, the money was given to the workmen, and they used it to repair the temple. 15 They didn’t require the men who were entrusted with the money for the workers to give an account, because they were honest people. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and the offerings for sin was not brought into the LORD’s temple. It belonged to the priests.

12:4–16   My lack of follow-through never escapes your notice. Keep me accountable to carry out your vision. Use me to complete your work.

17 At this time King Hazael of Aram fought against Gath and conquered it. He was also determined to attack Jerusalem. 18 So King Joash of Judah took all the gifts his ancestors Kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah of Judah, had dedicated to the LORD, the things he had dedicated to the LORD, and all the gold that could be found in the storerooms of the LORD’s temple and the royal palace. He sent these things to King Hazael of Aram, who called off the attack on Jerusalem.

King Joash Is Assassinated—2 Chronicles 24:24–27

19 Isn’t everything else about Joash—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 20 His own officials plotted against him and killed him at Beth Millo on the road that goes down to Silla. 21 Joash’s officials Jozacar, son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of Shomer, executed him. They buried him with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

12:17–21   Joash drifted from you and you dealt with him. I want to obey you until my last breath—and beyond.

King Jehoahaz of Israel

13

1 Ahaziah’s son King Joash of Judah was in his twenty-third year as king of Judah when Jehoahaz,[13] son of Jehu, began to rule in Samaria as king of Israel. He ruled for 17 years. 2 He did what the LORD considered evil. He continued to commit the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit. He never gave up committing those sins. 3 So the LORD became angry with Israel and put it at the mercy of King Hazael of Aram and Hazael’s son Benhadad as long as they lived.

4 Then Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD heard him because he saw how the Aramean king was oppressing Israel. 5 So the LORD gave the Israelites someone to save them, and they were freed from Aram’s power. They were able to live in their homes again as they had done before. 6 But they didn’t turn away from the sins that Jeroboam and his dynasty led Israel to commit. They continued to commit those sins. In addition, the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah remained standing in Samaria.

7 Jehoahaz had no army left except for 50 horses, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers because the king of Aram had destroyed the rest. He had made them like dust that people trample. 8 Isn’t everything else about Jehoahaz—everything he did, his heroic acts—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 9 Jehoahaz lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoash[14] ruled as king in his place.

13:1–9   I plead. You hear me. You save me. Then I go back to my same old sin. Forgive me and break me loose from this bondage!

King Jehoash of Israel

10 In Joash’s thirty-seventh year as king of Judah, Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash began to rule Israel in Samaria. He ruled for 16 years. 11 He did what the LORD considered evil and never gave up committing the sins that Jeroboam led Israel to commit. He continued to commit them. 12 Isn’t everything else about Jehoash—everything he did, his heroic acts when he fought against King Amaziah of Judah—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 13 Jehoash lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with the kings of Israel in Samaria. Then Jeroboam claimed the throne.

13:10–13   I reject the habitual sins of my family. I won’t let myself repeat their poor patterns of life.

The Death of Elisha

14 Elisha became fatally ill. King Jehoash of Israel visited him, cried over him, and said, “Master! Master! Israel’s chariot and horses!”

15 Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” So he got a bow and some arrows. 16 Then Elisha told the king of Israel, “Take the bow in your hand.” So the king picked up the bow. Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17 Elisha said, “Open the window that faces east.” So the king opened it. “Shoot,” Elisha said, and the king shot. Then Elisha said, “That is the arrow of the LORD’s victory, the arrow of victory against Aram. You will completely defeat the Arameans at Aphek.” 18 Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows.” So the king took them. “Stomp on them,” he told the king of Israel. The king stomped three times and stopped.

19 Then the man of God became angry with him. “You should have stomped five or six times!” he said. “Then you would have completely defeated the Arameans. But now you will only defeat the Arameans three times.”

20 Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiding parties used to invade the country in the spring. 21 One day some people who were burying a man saw one of these raiding parties. So they quickly put the man into Elisha’s tomb. But when the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came back to life and stood up.

22 King Hazael of Aram oppressed Israel as long as Jehoahaz ruled. 23 But the LORD was kind and merciful to the Israelites because of his promise[15] to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He didn’t want to destroy the Israelites, and even now he hasn’t turned away from them.

24 King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Benhadad succeeded him as king. 25 Then Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, reconquered the cities that Benhadad had taken from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Benhadad three times and recovered those cities of Israel.

13:14–25   Remember your promises to me. Rescue me from my inadequate view of your power. Raise me up when life vanishes from my bones.

King Amaziah of Judah—2 Chronicles 25:1–13

14

1 Jehoahaz’s son King Jehoash was in his second year as king of Israel when King Amaziah, son of Joash of Judah, began to rule. 2 Amaziah was 25 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.

3 He did what the LORD considered right, but not exactly what his ancestor David had done. He did everything his father Joash had done. 4 But the illegal places of worship were still not torn down. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at these worship sites.

5 As soon as he had a firm control over the kingdom, he executed the officials who had killed his father, the former king. 6 But he didn’t execute their children. He obeyed the LORD’s command written in the Book of Moses’ Teachings: “Parents must never be put to death for the crimes of their children, and children must never be put to death for the crimes of their parents. Each person must be put to death for his own crime.”

7 Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Dead Sea region and took the city of Sela in battle. He gave it the name Joktheel, which is still its name today.

14:1–7   I’ll do what you consider right. I’ll follow the best examples of my family. I’ll obey your word exactly—no more, no less, none of me or my own ideas.

King Amaziah’s Defeat and Death—2 Chronicles 25:14–26:2

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to King Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu of Israel, to declare war on Israel.

9 King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said, ‘Let your daughter marry my son,’ but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 10 You certainly defeated Edom, and now you have become arrogant. Enjoy your fame, but stay home. Why must you invite disaster and your own defeat and take Judah with you?”

11 But Amaziah wouldn’t listen. So King Jehoash of Israel attacked, and King Amaziah of Judah met him in battle at Beth Shemesh in Judah. 12 Israel defeated the army of Judah, and the Judeans fled to their homes. 13 King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah, son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah of Judah, at Beth Shemesh and went to Jerusalem. He tore down a 600-foot section of the wall around Jerusalem from Ephraim Gate to Corner Gate. 14 He took all the gold, silver, and all the utensils he found in the LORD’s temple and in the royal palace treasury. He also took hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

15 Isn’t everything else about Jehoash—what he did, his heroic acts when he fought against King Amaziah of Judah—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 16 Jehoash lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with the kings of Israel in Samaria. His son Jeroboam succeeded him as king.

17 Joash’s son King Amaziah of Judah lived 15 years after the death of Jehoahaz’s son King Jehoash of Israel. 18 Isn’t everything else about Amaziah written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 19 Conspirators in Jerusalem plotted against him, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent men to Lachish after him and killed him there. 20 They brought him back by horse, and he was buried in Jerusalem, in the City of David, with his ancestors.

21 All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was 16 years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 Azariah rebuilt Elath and returned it to Judah after King Amaziah lay down in death with his ancestors.

14:8–22   Warn me when I’m full of myself. Stop my stupid acts of aggression. Without you I can’t survive.

King Jeroboam II of Israel

23 Joash’s son Amaziah was in his fifteenth year as king of Judah when Jehoash’s son King Jeroboam of Israel began to rule in Samaria. Jeroboam ruled for 41 years. 24 He did what the LORD considered evil. He didn’t turn away from any of the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit.

25 He restored Israel’s boundaries from the border of Hamath to the Dead Sea as the LORD God of Israel predicted through his servant Jonah, the prophet from Gath Hepher and the son of Amittai. 26 The LORD did this because he saw how bitterly everyone in Israel was suffering. No slave or free person could help Israel. 27 Since the LORD had said he was not going to wipe out Israel’s name completely, he saved them through Jeroboam, son of Jehoash.

28 Isn’t everything else about Jeroboam—everything he did, his heroic acts when he fought, how he recovered Damascus and Hamath for Israel[16]—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 29 Jeroboam lay down in death with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah succeeded him as king.

14:23–29   You look out for me even when I keep doing wrong. Don’t forget your promises. Draw me back to you.

King Azariah of Judah—2 Chronicles 26:3–5

15

1 In Jeroboam’s twenty-seventh year as king of Israel, Amaziah’s son Azariah[17] began to rule as king of Judah. 2 He was 16 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.

3 He did what the LORD considered right, as his father Amaziah had done. 4 But the illegal places of worship were still not torn down. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at these worship sites.

Azariah’s Skin Disease—2 Chronicles 26:21–23

5 The LORD inflicted the king with a skin disease that lasted until the day the king died. So the king lived in a separate house. The king’s son Jotham was in charge of the palace and governed the country.

6 Isn’t everything else about Azariah—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 7 Azariah lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His son Jotham succeeded him as king.

King Zechariah of Israel Rules for Six Months

8 In Azariah’s thirty-eighth year as king of Judah, Jeroboam’s son Zechariah was king of Israel in Samaria for six months. 9 He did what the LORD considered evil, as his ancestors had done. He didn’t turn away from the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit. 10 Shallum, son of Jabesh, plotted against Zechariah, attacked him at Kabal Am, killed him, and succeeded him as king. 11 Everything else about Zechariah is written in the official records of the kings of Israel. 12 It happened exactly as the LORD had told Jehu: “Four generations of your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel.”

King Shallum of Israel Rules for One Month

13 Shallum, son of Jabesh, became king in Azariah’s thirty-ninth year as king of Judah. Shallum ruled for an entire month in Samaria. 14 Then Menahem, son of Gadi, came from Tirzah to Samaria, attacked Shallum (son of Jabesh), killed him, and succeeded him as king. 15 Everything else about Shallum—all about his conspiracy—is written in the official records of the kings of Israel. 16 Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah, everyone there, and its territory. Because the city didn’t open its gates for him, he attacked it and ripped open all its pregnant women.

15:1–16   When Azariah grew proud, you struck him with disease. You didn’t allow Zechariah or Shallum to stay on the throne. Warn me of the consequences of my actions.

King Menahem of Israel

17 In Azariah’s thirty-ninth year as king of Judah, Menahem, son of Gadi, began to rule as king of Israel. He ruled for 10 years in Samaria. 18 He did what the LORD considered evil. During his entire life he never turned away from the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit.

19 King Pul of Assyria came to ⌞attack⌟ the country. So Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds of silver to gain his support and help strengthen his hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem raised the money from all the wealthy men in Israel. Each gave 20 ounces of silver for the king of Assyria. Then the king of Assyria left the country. 21 Isn’t everything else about Menahem—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 22 Menahem lay down in death with his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah succeeded him as king.

King Pekahiah of Israel

23 In Azariah’s fiftieth year as king of Judah, Menahem’s son Pekahiah began to rule. Pekahiah was king of Israel in Samaria for two years. 24 He did what the LORD considered evil. He didn’t turn away from the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit. 25 His officer Pekah, son of Remaliah, plotted against him. With 50 men from Gilead, Pekah attacked Pekahiah, Argob, and Arieh in the fortress of the royal palace in Samaria. Pekah killed him and succeeded him as king. 26 Everything else about Pekahiah—everything he did—is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.

King Pekah of Israel

27 In Azariah’s fifty-second year as king of Judah, Pekah, son of Remaliah, began to rule Israel in Samaria. He ruled for 20 years. 28 He did what the LORD considered evil. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) led Israel to commit. 29 In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and the entire territory of Naphtali. He also took the people away to Assyria as captives. 30 Hoshea, son of Elah, plotted against Pekah, son of Remaliah. Hoshea attacked him and killed him. Hoshea began to rule as king in his place in the twentieth year that Azariah, son of Jotham, was king of Judah. 31 Everything else about Pekah—everything he did—is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.

15:17–31   King after king did evil. They didn’t turn from the sins of Jeroboam. They experienced none of your peace.

King Jotham of Judah—2 Chronicles 27:1–9

32 In the second year that King Pekah, son of Remaliah, ruled Israel, Jotham, son of Azariah, began to rule as king of Judah. 33 He was 25 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerusha, daughter of Zadok. 34 He did what the LORD considered right, as his father Azariah had done. 35 But the illegal places of worship were not torn down. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at these worship sites. Jotham built the Upper Gate of the LORD’s temple. 36 Isn’t everything else about Jotham—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah?

37 In those days the LORD began to use King Rezin of Aram and Pekah, son of Remaliah, to attack Judah. 38 Jotham lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David. His son Ahaz succeeded him as king.

15:32–38   Jotham carefully followed his father’s example and did what you considered right. But he didn’t do away with illegal worship. Teach me to live and lead without compromise.

King Ahaz of Judah—2 Chronicles 28:1–27

16

1 Pekah, son of Remaliah, was in his seventeenth year as king of Israel when King Ahaz, son of Jotham, began to rule as king of Judah. 2 Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 26 years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do what the LORD his God considered right, as his ancestor David had done. 3 He followed the example of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son by burning him alive. Sacrificing ⌞children⌟ was one of the disgusting things done by the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites’ way. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense as an offering at the illegal worship sites, which were on hills and under every large tree.

5 Then King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah, son of Remaliah of Israel, came to wage war against Jerusalem. They blockaded Ahaz but couldn’t get him to fight. 6 At that time King Rezin of Aram drove the Judeans out of Elath and gave it back to Edom.[18] The Edomites came to Elath and still live there today.

7 Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria to say, “I’m your servant, your son. Come and save me from the kings of Aram and Israel who are attacking me.” 8 Ahaz took the silver and gold he found in the LORD’s temple and in the treasury in the royal palace and sent them to the king of Assyria as a present.

9 The king of Assyria listened to him and attacked Damascus. He captured it, took the people to Kir as captives, and killed Rezin.

10 Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria. He saw an altar there in Damascus. So King Ahaz sent the priest Urijah a model of the altar and a set of detailed plans. 11 Urijah built an altar exactly like the model King Ahaz sent from Damascus. He finished it before Ahaz returned home from Damascus.

12 When the king came from Damascus, he saw the altar. The king approached the altar and went up to it. 13 He sacrificed his burnt offering and grain offering, poured out his wine offering, and sprinkled the blood of his fellowship offering on the altar. 14 But he moved the bronze altar dedicated to the LORD. It had been in front of the temple between his altar and the LORD’s temple. Ahaz put it on the north side of his altar. 15 King Ahaz gave this command to the priest Urijah: “On this great altar you must burn the morning burnt offerings and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offerings and grain offerings, and the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and wine offerings of all the people of the land. Sprinkle all the blood of the burnt offerings and ⌞other⌟ sacrifices on it. I will use the bronze altar for prayer.” 16 The priest Urijah did what King Ahaz had commanded.

17 King Ahaz cut off the side panels of the ⌞bronze⌟ stands ⌞used in the temple⌟ and removed the basin from each of them. He took the bronze pool down from the bronze bulls that were under it and set it on a stone base. 18 Ahaz removed the covered walkway used on the day of worship. This walkway had been built in the temple. He also removed the outer entrance for the king from the LORD’s temple. He did this to please the king of Assyria. 19 Isn’t everything else about Ahaz—the things he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 20 Ahaz lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His son Hezekiah succeeded him as king.

16:1–20   Ahaz gave your riches to an ungodly king. He broke all of your rules for worship. And he sacrificed his son by burning him alive. Life gets desperate and dark when I don’t obey you.

King Hoshea of Israel

17

1 In Ahaz’s twelfth year as king of Judah, Hoshea, son of Elah, began to rule as king of Israel in Samaria. He ruled for nine years. 2 He did what the LORD considered evil, but he didn’t do what the kings of Israel before him had done.

The Fall of Samaria

3 King Shalmaneser of Assyria defeated Hoshea, who became his servant and was required to make annual payments to him. 4 The king of Assyria found Hoshea to be a traitor. (Hoshea had sent messengers to King Dais of Egypt and had stopped making annual payments to the king of Assyria.) So the king of Assyria arrested him and put him in prison. 5 Then the king of Assyria attacked the entire country. He attacked Samaria and blockaded it for three years. 6 In Hoshea’s ninth year as king of Israel, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and took the Israelites to Assyria as captives. He settled them in Halah, along the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

17:1–6   The king thought he could get security from someone other than you. But he was locked up—and your nation beat up. Soldiers seized your people and took them captive to a distant land.

7 The Israelites sinned against the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt ⌞and rescued them⌟ from the power of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). They worshiped other gods 8 and lived by the customs of the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites’ way. They also did what their kings wanted them to do. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that weren’t right:

They built for themselves illegal places of worship in all of their cities, from the ⌞smallest⌟ watchtower to the ⌞largest⌟ fortified city.

10 They set up sacred stones and poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah on every high hill and under every large tree.

11 At all the illegal places of worship, they sacrificed in the same way as the nations that the LORD had removed from the land ahead of them.

They did evil things and made the LORD furious.

12 They served idols, although the LORD had said, “Never do this.”

17:7–12   You rescued your people from slavery. But they refused your rules and turned to other gods. They thought they could sin in secret. But their evil deeds made you furious.

13 The LORD had warned Israel and Judah through every kind of prophet and seer,[19] “Turn from your evil ways, and obey my commands and decrees as I commanded your ancestors in all my teachings, the commands I sent to you through my servants the prophets.” 14 But they refused to listen. They became as impossible to deal with as their ancestors who refused to trust the LORD their God. 15 They rejected his decrees, the promise[20] he made to their ancestors, and the warnings he had given them. They went after worthless idols and became as worthless as the idols. They behaved like the nations around them, although the LORD had commanded them not to do that. 16 They abandoned all the commands of the LORD their God:

They made two calves out of cast metal.

They made a pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

They prayed to the entire army of heaven.

They worshiped Baal.

17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters by burning them alive.

17:13–17   You warned your people through every kind of prophet. “Turn from evil,” you said. “Obey my commands.” But your people rejected your promise. They chased worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

They practiced black magic and cast evil spells.

They sold themselves by doing what the LORD considered evil, and they made him furious.

18 The LORD became so angry with Israel that he removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah was left. 19 Even Judah didn’t obey the commands of the LORD their God but lived according to Israel’s customs. 20 So the LORD rejected all of Israel’s descendants, made them suffer, handed them over to those who looted their property, and finally turned away from Israel.

21 When he tore Israel away from the family of David, the people of Israel made Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) king. Jeroboam forced Israel away from the LORD and led them to commit a serious sin. 22 The Israelites followed all the sins Jeroboam committed and never turned away from them. 23 Finally, the LORD turned away from Israel as he had said he would through all his servants, the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their land to Assyria as captives, and they are still there today.

17:18–23   Even the best of your people disobeyed. You became so angry you removed Israel from your sight. I want to obey you when no one else does. Don’t let my sins tear me from your presence.

Assyria Brings Foreign People to Settle in Israel

24 The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its cities.

25 When they first came to live there, they didn’t worship the LORD. So the LORD sent lions to kill some of them. 26 Then someone said to the king of Assyria, “The people you took as captives and settled in the cities of Samaria don’t know the customs of the god of that country, so he sent lions. Now the lions are killing them because they don’t know the customs of the god of this country.”

27 The king of Assyria gave this command: “Bring one of the priests you captured from there. Let him go back to teach them the customs of the god of that country.” 28 So one of the priests who had been taken prisoner from Samaria went to live in Bethel. He taught them how to worship the LORD.

29 But each group ⌞that settled in Samaria⌟ continued to make its own gods. They put them at the illegal places of worship, which the people of Samaria had made. Each group did this in the cities where they lived:

30 The people from Babylon made Succoth Benoth.

The people from Cuth made Nergal.

The people from Hamath made Ashima.

31 The people from Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak.

The people from Sepharvaim burned their children for Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

17:24–31   Foreigners occupied the land you promised to Abraham and his descendants. They pretended to worship you, but they filled the land with idols.

32 So while these people were worshiping the LORD, they also appointed all kinds of people to serve as priests for the shrines at their illegal places of worship. 33 They worshiped the LORD but also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had come.

34 Today they are still following their customs, as they’ve done from the beginning. They don’t fear the LORD or live by the decrees, customs, teachings, or commands that the LORD gave to the descendants of Jacob (whom he named Israel). 35 When the LORD made a promise to Israel, he commanded, “Never worship other gods, bow down to them, serve them, or sacrifice to them. 36 Instead, worship the LORD, who used his great power and a mighty arm to bring you out of Egypt. Bow down to the LORD, and sacrifice to him. 37 Faithfully obey the laws, rules, teachings, and commands that he wrote for you: ‘Never worship other gods. 38 Never forget the promise I made to you. Never worship other gods. 39 Instead, worship the LORD your God, and he will rescue you from your enemies.’”

40 The people of Israel had refused to listen and made up their own rules, as they had done from the beginning. 41 These ⌞other⌟ nations worshiped the LORD but also served their own idols. So did their children and their grandchildren. They still do whatever their ancestors did.

17:32–41   Your people didn’t fear you. They bowed to other gods. But I’ll remember your promises. I’ll worship only you. I won’t make up my own rules.

King Hezekiah of Judah—2 Chronicles 29:1–2

18

1 King Hoshea, son of Elah, had been king in Israel for three years when King Hezekiah, son of Ahaz of Judah, began to rule as king. 2 Hezekiah was 25 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abi, daughter of Zechariah.

3 He did what the LORD considered right, as his ancestor David had done. 4 He got rid of the illegal places of worship, crushed the sacred stones, and cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. He even crushed the bronze snake that Moses had made because up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. They called it Nehushtan. 5 Hezekiah trusted the LORD God of Israel. No king among all the kings of Judah was like Hezekiah. 6 He was loyal to the LORD and never turned away from him. He obeyed the commands that the LORD had given through Moses, 7 so the LORD was with him. He succeeded in everything he tried: He rebelled against the king of Assyria and wouldn’t serve him anymore. 8 He conquered the Philistines from the ⌞smallest⌟ watchtower to the ⌞largest⌟ fortified city all the way to Gaza and its territory.

18:1–8   Make me like Hezekiah. I’ll do away with traditions I’ve turned into idols. I’ll trust you and obey your commands. Be with me and give me success in everything I try.

The Fall of Samaria

9 In Hezekiah’s fourth year as king (which was the seventh year in the reign of King Hoshea, son of Elah of Israel) King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked Samaria, blockaded it, 10 and captured it at the end of three years. Samaria was taken in Hezekiah’s sixth year as king (which was Hoshea’s ninth year as king of Israel). 11 The king of Assyria took the Israelites to Assyria as captives. He put them in Halah, along the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 12 This happened because they refused to obey the LORD their God and disregarded the conditions of the promise[21] he made to them. They refused to obey everything that Moses, the LORD’s servant, had commanded.

18:9–12   You let your people be led away as captives. Remind me to cling to your promises.

The LORD Rescues Judah from the Assyrians—2 Chronicles 32:1–23; Isaiah 36:1–37:20

13 In Hezekiah’s fourteenth year as king, King Sennacherib of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 14 Then King Hezekiah of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. Go away, and leave me alone. I’ll pay whatever penalty you give me.”

So the king of Assyria demanded that King Hezekiah of Judah pay 22,500 pounds of silver and 2,250 pounds of gold. 15 Hezekiah gave him all the silver that could be found in the LORD’s temple and in the royal palace treasury. 16 At that time Hezekiah stripped ⌞the gold⌟ off the doors and doorposts of the LORD’s temple. (⌞Earlier⌟ Hezekiah had them covered ⌞with gold⌟.) He gave the gold to the king of Assyria.

17 Then the king of Assyria sent his commander-in-chief, his quartermaster, and his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came there and stood at the channel for the Upper Pool on the road to the Laundryman’s Field. 18 When they called for King Hezekiah, Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace and was the son of Hilkiah, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah, who was the royal historian and the son of Asaph, went out to the field commander.

18:13–18   Sennacherib threatened your people. He raided your temple and treasury. His army was poised to attack.

19 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What makes you so confident? 20 You give useless advice about getting ready for war. Whom, then, do you trust for support in your rebellion against me? 21 Now, look! When you trust Egypt, you’re trusting a broken stick for a staff. If you lean on it, it stabs your hand and goes through it. This is what Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) is like for everyone who trusts him. 22 Suppose you tell me, “We’re trusting the LORD our God.” He’s the god whose places of worship and altars Hezekiah got rid of. He told Judah and Jerusalem, “Worship at this altar in Jerusalem.” ’

23 “Now, make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria. I’ll give you 2,000 horses if you can put riders on them. 24 How can you defeat my master’s lowest-ranking officers when you trust Egypt for chariots and horses?

25 “Have I come to destroy this place without the LORD on my side? The LORD said to me, ‘Attack this country, and destroy it.’”

26 Then Eliakim (son of Hilkiah), Shebnah, and Joah said to the field commander, “Speak to us in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in the Judean language as long as there are people on the wall listening.”

27 But the field commander asked them, “Did my master send me to tell these things only to you and your master? Didn’t he send me to the men sitting on the wall who will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine with you?”

18:19–27   No one can save me but you. No matter what anyone says, I’m certain you’re on my side. Don’t push me to desperate measures to survive.

28 Then the field commander stood and shouted loudly in the Judean language, “Listen to the great king, the king of Assyria. 29 This is what the king says: Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you. He can’t rescue you from me. 30 Don’t let Hezekiah get you to trust the LORD by saying, ‘The LORD will certainly rescue us, and this city will not be put under the control of the king of Assyria.’ 31 Don’t listen to Hezekiah, because this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me! Come out and give yourselves up to me! Everyone will eat from his own grapevine and fig tree and drink from his own cistern. 32 Then I will come and take you away to a country like your own. It’s a country with grain and new wine, a country with bread and vineyards, a country with olive trees, olive oil, and honey. Live! Don’t die! Don’t listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying to you, ‘The LORD will rescue us.’ 33 Did any of the gods of the nations rescue their countries from the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did they rescue Samaria from my control? 35 Did the gods of those countries rescue them from my control? Could the LORD then rescue Jerusalem from my control?”

36 But the people were silent and didn’t say anything to him because the king commanded them not to answer him.

37 Then Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace and was the son of Hilkiah, Shebna the scribe, and Joah, who was the royal historian and the son of Asaph, went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn in grief. They told him the message from the field commander.

18:28–37   Rescue me from the control of evil people. You’re Lord of my world and my life. You’re greater than any other so-called god.

19

1 When King Hezekiah heard the message, he tore his clothes in grief, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the LORD’s temple. 2 Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and the leaders of the priests, clothed in sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz.

3 They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day filled with misery, punishment, and disgrace. We are like a woman who is about to give birth but doesn’t have the strength to do it. 4 The LORD your God may have heard all the words of the field commander. His master, the king of Assyria, sent him to defy the living God. The LORD your God may punish him because of the message that the LORD your God heard. Pray for the few people who are left.”

19:1–4   Meet me on my day of misery and disgrace. I feel like a woman about to give birth, but I have no strength for the task. Can you hear the ones who defy you? They threaten to do me in.

5 So King Hezekiah’s men went to Isaiah. 6 Isaiah answered them, “Say this to your master, ‘This is what the LORD says: Don’t be afraid of the message that you heard when the Assyrian king’s assistants slandered me. 7 I’m going to put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own country. I’ll have him assassinated in his own country.’”

8 The field commander returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah. He had heard that the king left Lachish. 9 Now, Sennacherib heard that King Tirhakah of Sudan was coming to fight him.

Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Tell King Hezekiah of Judah, ‘Don’t let the god whom you trust deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be put under the control of the king of Assyria. 11 You heard what the kings of Assyria did to all countries, how they totally destroyed them. Will you be rescued? 12 Did the gods of the nations which my ancestors destroyed rescue Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

19:5–13   I trust you to answer my prayers. I believe in you even when others speak doom to me.

14 Hezekiah took the letters from the messengers, read them, and went to the LORD’s temple. He spread them out in front of the LORD 15 and prayed to the LORD, “LORD of Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned over the angels.[22] You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the world. You made heaven and earth. 16 Turn your ear toward me, LORD, and listen. Open your eyes, LORD, and see. Listen to the message that Sennacherib sent to defy the living God. 17 It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have leveled nations.[23] 18 They have thrown the gods from these countries into fires because these gods aren’t real gods. They’re only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them. 19 Now, LORD our God, rescue us from Assyria’s control so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you alone are the LORD God.”

19:14–19   I’ll spread my needs before you. You’re enthroned over the angels. You rule all the kingdoms of the world. Turn your ear and listen. Open your eyes and see. Let everyone on earth know you are Lord!

Authentic Prayer

2 Kings 19:14–19

Desperation

Turn your ear toward me, LORD, and listen. Open your eyes, LORD, and see. Listen to the message that Sennacherib sent to defy the living God. 2 Kings 19:16

You can lay your problems before God. King Sennacherib of Assyria had already conquered Israel and sent its people into bondage (2 Kings 18:10). He swept through the fortified cities in the Judean countryside and then staged his army around Jerusalem. Now with cruel taunts he mocks King Hezekiah of Judah, adding that God is a liar for promising to snatch the nation from defeat.

No one had ever turned back the brutal Assyrian army, and Hezekiah shreds his robes in terror and grief. He flees to the temple, where he goes to God and spreads out his adversary’s threatening message. Then Hezekiah declares that God’s rule extends far beyond Jerusalem. He reigns over every kingdom on earth. The king pleads with God to save his land from this deadly attack. Then everyone will know that he alone is Lord.

The Lord is your first and last refuge when you face a dire situation. Don’t hesitate to tell God your needs. Like Hezekiah, invite the Lord to defend his own honor. Whether your hardship is small or great, speak it to God.

Pray the Scriptures Desperation: Psalm 61:1–4, Isaiah 43:1–4, Hebrews 4:14–16, 1 Peter 5:7

Isaiah’s Prophecy against King Sennacherib of Assyria—Isaiah 37:21–38

20 Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent a message to Hezekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: You prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria. I have heard you. 21 This is the message that the LORD speaks to him,

‘My dear people in Zion despise you and laugh at you.

My people in Jerusalem shake their heads behind your back.

22 Whom are you defying and slandering?

Against whom are you shouting?

Who are you looking at so arrogantly?

It is the Holy One of Israel!

23 Through your servants[24] you defy the Lord and say,

“With my many chariots I’ll ride up the high mountains,

up the slopes of Lebanon.

I’ll cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypresses.

I’ll come to its most distant borders

and its most fertile forests.

24 I’ll dig wells and drink foreign water.

I’ll dry up all the streams of Egypt

with the trampling of my feet.”

19:20–24   You hear my prayers. You let me laugh at my enemies. Only a fool slanders you. No one can defy you!

25 “‘Haven’t you heard? I did this long ago.

I planned it in the distant past.

Now I make it happen so that you will turn fortified cities

into piles of rubble.

26 Those who live in these cities are weak, discouraged, and ashamed.

They will be like plants in the field,

like fresh, green grass on the roofs,

scorched before it sprouted.

27 I know when you ⌞get up⌟ and sit down,

when you go out and come in,

and how you rage against me.

28 Since you rage against me and your boasting has reached my ears,

I will put my hook in your nose

and my bridle in your mouth.

I will make you go back the way you came.

19:25–28   You make plans long before anyone knows what you’re up to. You won’t let anyone rage against you. You put a hook in the nose of your enemies.

29 “‘And this will be a sign for you, Hezekiah: You will eat what grows by itself this year and next year. But in the third year you will plant and harvest, plant vineyards, and eat what is produced. 30 Those few people from the nation of Judah who escape will again take root and produce crops. 31 Those few people will go out from Jerusalem, and those who escape will go out of Mount Zion. The LORD is determined to do this.’

32 “This is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria:

He will never come into this city,

shoot an arrow here,

hold a shield in front of it,

or put up dirt ramps to attack it.

33 He will go back the way he came,

and he won’t come into this city,”

declares the LORD of Armies.

34 “I will shield this city to rescue it for my sake

and for the sake of my servant David.”

35 It happened that night. The LORD’s angel went out and killed 185,000 ⌞soldiers⌟ in the Assyrian camp. When the Judeans got up early in the morning, they saw all the corpses.

36 Then King Sennacherib of Assyria left. He went home to Nineveh and stayed there. 37 While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer assassinated him and escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king.

19:29–37   Provide for my needs until I can plant fields. Shield me for your sake. Keep the promises you made long ago.

Hezekiah’s Illness—2 Chronicles 32:24; Isaiah 38:1–8, 21–22

20

1 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Give final instructions to your household, because you’re about to die. You won’t get well.”

2 Hezekiah turned to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 “Please, LORD, remember how I’ve lived faithfully and sincerely in your presence. I’ve done what you consider right.” And he cried bitterly.

4 Isaiah hadn’t gone as far as the middle courtyard when the LORD spoke his word to him: 5 “Go back and say to Hezekiah, leader of my people, ‘This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: I’ve heard your prayer. I’ve seen your tears. Now I’m going to heal you. The day after tomorrow you will go to the LORD’s temple. 6 I’ll give you 15 more years to live. I’ll rescue you and defend this city from the control of the king of Assyria for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”

7 Then Isaiah said, “Get a fig cake, and put it on the boil so that the king will get well.”

8 Hezekiah asked Isaiah, “What is the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I’ll go to the LORD’s temple the day after tomorrow?”

9 Isaiah said, “This is your sign from the LORD that he will do what he promises. Do you want the shadow to go forward ten steps or come back ten steps?”

10 Hezekiah replied, “It’s easy for the shadow to extend ten ⌞more⌟ steps forward. No, let it come back ten steps.”

11 Then the prophet Isaiah called on the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow that had gone down on Ahaz’s stairway go back up ten steps.

20:1–11   I’ve lived for you faithfully and sincerely. I do what you consider right. See my tears. Hear my prayers. Give me a sign your answer is on its way.

Hezekiah Shows the Babylonians His Treasures—2 Chronicles 32:31–33; Isaiah 39:1–8

12 At that time Baladan’s son, King Merodach Baladan of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah because he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 Hezekiah was so happy with them that he showed the messengers his warehouse: the silver, gold, balsam, fine olive oil, his entire armory, and everything in his treasury. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and every corner of his kingdom.

14 Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did these men say? And where did they come from?”

Hezekiah answered, “They came to me from the distant country of Babylon.”

15 Isaiah asked, “What did they see in your palace?”

Hezekiah answered, “They saw everything in my palace, and I showed them everything in my treasury.”

16 Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD! 17 The LORD says, ‘The days are going to come when everything in your palace, everything your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be taken away to Babylon. Nothing will be left. 18 Some of your own descendants will be taken away. They will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”

19 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The LORD’s word that you have spoken is good.” He added, “Isn’t it enough if there is peace and security as long as I live?”

20 Isn’t everything else about Hezekiah, all his heroic acts and how he made the pool and tunnel to bring water into the city, written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 21 Hezekiah lay down in death with his ancestors. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

20:12–21   Point out my pride before it destroys my life. I’ll boast only about you and your greatness.

King Manasseh of Judah—2 Chronicles 33:1–20

21

1 Manasseh was 12 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.

2 He did what the LORD considered evil by copying the disgusting things done by the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites’ way. 3 He rebuilt the illegal places of worship that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He set up altars dedicated to Baal and made a pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh, like Ahab, worshiped and served the entire army of heaven. 4 He built altars in the LORD’s temple, where the LORD had said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.” 5 In the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple, he built altars for the entire army of heaven. 6 He burned his son as a sacrifice, consulted fortunetellers, cast evil spells, and appointed ⌞royal⌟ mediums and psychics. He did many things that made the LORD furious. 7 Manasseh had an idol of Asherah made. Then he set it up in the temple, where the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon, “I have chosen this temple and Jerusalem from all the tribes of Israel. I will put my name here forever. 8 I will never again make Israel’s feet wander from the land that I gave to their ancestors if they will obey all the commands and all the Teachings that my servant Moses gave them.” 9 (But they wouldn’t obey.) Manasseh misled Israel so that they did more evil things than the nations that the LORD had destroyed when the Israelites arrived in the land.

21:1–9   Manasseh copied the disgusting things done by the nations you forced from the land. He undid his father’s obedience. He made the heavens his god and misled your people.

10 Then the LORD spoke through his servants the prophets: 11 “King Manasseh of Judah has done disgusting things, things more evil than what the Amorites who ⌞were here⌟ before him had done. Manasseh has also made Judah sin by ⌞worshiping⌟ his idols. 12 So this is what I, the LORD God of Israel, said: I’m going to bring such a disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears about it will ring. 13 I will measure Jerusalem with the measuring line used for Samaria and the plumb line used for Ahab’s dynasty. I will wipe out Jerusalem in the same way that a dish is wiped out and turned upside down. 14 I will abandon the rest of my people. I will put them under the control of their enemies, and they will become property that their enemies capture. 15 I will do this because they have done what I consider evil and have been making me furious from the time their ancestors left Egypt until this day.”

16 In addition to his sin that he led Judah to commit in front of the LORD, Manasseh also killed a lot of innocent people from one end of Jerusalem to the other. 17 Isn’t everything else about Manasseh—everything he did, the sins he committed—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 18 Manasseh lay down in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the garden of his own palace, in the garden of Uzza. His son Amon succeeded him as king.

21:10–18   You promised to wipe out Jerusalem like a dirty dish. You said you would abandon your people and make them the property of their enemies. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

King Amon of Judah—2 Chronicles 33:21–25

19 Amon was 22 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 2 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Meshullemeth, daughter of Haruz from Jotbah. 20 He did what the LORD considered evil, as his father Manasseh had done. 21 He lived like his father in every way and worshiped and prayed to the idols his father had worshiped. 22 He abandoned the LORD God of his ancestors and didn’t live the LORD’s way. 23 Amon’s officials plotted against him and killed him in his palace. 24 Then the people of the land killed everyone who had plotted against King Amon. They made his son Josiah king in his place. 25 Isn’t everything else about Amon—the things he did—written in the official record of the kings of Judah? 26 He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. His son Josiah succeeded him as king.

21:19–26   Break me free from the sins of my family. I want their evil habits to end with me.

King Josiah of Judah—2 Chronicles 34:1–2

22

1 Josiah was 8 years old when he began to rule, and he was king for 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath. 2 Josiah did what the LORD considered right. He lived in the ways of his ancestor David and never stopped.

The Book of the LORD’s Teachings Found in the Temple—2 Chronicles 34:8–28

3 In Josiah’s eighteenth year as king of Judah, he sent the scribe Shaphan, son of Azaliah and grandson of Meshullam, to the LORD’s temple with these instructions: 4 “Go to the chief priest Hilkiah. Have him count the money that has been brought into the LORD’s temple, ⌞the money⌟ that the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5 Give ⌞some of⌟ it to the foremen who are in charge of the LORD’s temple. They should give it to the workmen who are making repairs on the LORD’s temple. 6 (These workers include the carpenters, builders, and masons.) Also, use ⌞the rest of⌟ the money to buy lumber and quarried stones to repair the temple. 7 Since the workmen are honest, don’t require them to account for the money you give them.”

8 The chief priest Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan, “I have found the Book of Moses’ Teachings in the LORD’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who then read it.

9 The scribe Shaphan went to the king and reported, “We have taken the money donated in the temple and have given it to the workmen who are in charge of the LORD’s temple.” 10 Then the scribe Shaphan told the king, “The priest Hilkiah has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it to the king.

11 When the king heard what the book of the Teachings said, he tore his clothes ⌞in distress⌟. 12 Then the king gave an order to the priest Hilkiah, to Ahikam (son of Shaphan), Achbor (son of Micaiah), the scribe Shaphan, and the royal official Asaiah. He said, 13 “On behalf of the people, all of Judah, and me, ask the LORD about the words in this book that has been found. The LORD’s fierce anger is directed towards us because our ancestors did not obey the things in this book or do everything written ⌞in it⌟.”[25]

22:1–13   Young Josiah tore his clothes when he learned your word had been neglected. Your anger is fierce toward any who disobey your commands.

14 So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to talk to the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah and grandson of Harhas. Shallum was in charge of the ⌞royal⌟ wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.

15 She told them, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 ‘This is what the LORD says: I’m going to bring disaster on this place and on the people living here according to everything written in the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 I will do this because they have abandoned me and sacrificed to other gods in order to make me furious. Therefore, my burning anger directed at this place will never be extinguished.’”

18  ⌞Huldah added,⌟ “But tell Judah’s king who sent you to me to ask the LORD a question, ‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says about the words you heard: 19 You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of the LORD when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. I had said that those who live here will be destroyed and cursed. You also tore your clothes ⌞in distress⌟ and cried in front of me. So I will listen ⌞to you⌟, declares the LORD. 20 That is why I’m going to bring you to your ancestors. I’m going to bring you to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see any of the disaster I’m going to bring on this place.’”

22:14–20   You threaten disaster on people who abandon you and sacrifice to other gods. But you bring peace to any who humble themselves in front of you.

So they reported this to the king.

King Josiah’s Religious Reforms—2 Chronicles 34:29–33, 4–7; 35:1–27; 36:1

23

1 Then the king sent for all the respected leaders of Judah and Jerusalem to join him. 2 The king, everyone in Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people (young and old) went to the LORD’s temple. Josiah read everything written in the Book of the Promise[26] found in the LORD’s temple so that they could hear it. 3 The king stood beside the pillar and made a promise to the LORD that he would follow the LORD and obey his commands, instructions, and laws with all his heart and soul. He confirmed the terms of the promise written in this book. And all the people joined in the promise.

23:1–3   Everyone heard your Book. The king pledged to follow you with his whole heart and soul—and the people joined in his promise. I vow to obey you too.

4 Then the king ordered the chief priest Hilkiah, the priests who served under Hilkiah, and the doorkeepers to take out of the LORD’s temple all the utensils that had been made for Baal, Asherah, and the entire army of heaven. Josiah burned the utensils outside Jerusalem in an open field near the Kidron Brook. Then he carried their ashes to Bethel.

5 He got rid of the pagan priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship in the cities of Judah and all around Jerusalem. They had been sacrificing to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the zodiac, and the entire army of heaven. 6 He took the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah from the temple to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem. He burned it in the Kidron Valley, ground it to dust, and threw its ashes on the tombs of the common people. 7 He tore down the houses of the male temple prostitutes who were in the LORD’s temple, where women did weaving for Asherah.

23:4–7   Josiah burned everything that polluted your temple. He got rid of priests and prostitutes who served pagan gods. I vow to rid my life of everything that infuriates you.

8 He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah from Geba to Beersheba and made the places where those priests sacrificed unclean.[27] He tore down the worship site at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua, the gate named after the mayor of the city. (The worship site was to the left of anyone going through the city gate.)

9 The priests of the illegal worship sites had never gone to the LORD’s altar in Jerusalem. Instead, they ate their unleavened bread among the other worshipers.

10 Josiah also made Topheth in the valley of Ben Hinnom unclean so that people would never again sacrifice their sons or daughters by burning them to the god Molech.

11 He removed the horses that Judah’s kings had dedicated to the sun god at the entrance of the LORD’s temple. They were in the temple courtyard near the room of the eunuch Nathan Melech. He also burned the chariots of the sun god, 12 the altars that Judah’s kings had made and placed on the roof of Ahaz’s upstairs room, and the altars Manasseh had made in the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple. The king tore them down from there, crushed them, and dumped their rubble in the Kidron Valley.

13 The king made the illegal places of worship east of Jerusalem unclean. They were on the southern part of the Hill of Destruction. King Solomon of Israel had built them for Astarte (the disgusting goddess of the Sidonians), Chemosh (the disgusting god of Moab), and Milcom (the disgusting god of the Ammonites). 14 Josiah crushed the sacred stones, cut down the poles dedicated to Asherah, and filled their places with human bones. 15 He also tore down the altar at Bethel—the place of worship made by Jeroboam (Nebat’s son), who had made Israel sin. He tore down both the altar and the place of worship. They burned the worship site, crushing it to powder and burning the pole dedicated to Asherah.

16 When Josiah turned and saw the tombs on the hill there, he sent men to take the bones out of the tombs and burn them on the altar to make it unclean. This fulfilled the word of the LORD announced by the man of God. 17 Then he asked, “What is this monument that I see?”

The people of the city answered him, “It’s the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah to announce that you would do these things to the altar of Bethel.”

18 So Josiah said, “Let him rest. Don’t disturb his bones.” So they left his bones with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

19 Josiah also got rid of all the temples at the illegal places of worship in the cities of Samaria. The kings of Israel had built these places to make the LORD furious. He did to them everything that he had done to the worship places at Bethel. 20 He slaughtered all the priests of the illegal worship sites on their altars and then burned human bones on them. He went back to Jerusalem.

23:8–21   Josiah got rid of the illegal places of worship. He tore down false altars and dumped their rubble. I vow to destroy my false gods.

21 The king ordered all the people to celebrate the Passover for the LORD their God as it is written in this Book of the Promise. 22 The Passover had never been celebrated like this during the time of the judges who governed Israel or during the entire time of the kings of Israel and Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, this Passover was celebrated in Jerusalem for the LORD.

23:22–23   Josiah ordered the people to celebrate your Passover. I vow to remember how you saved me.

24 Josiah also got rid of the mediums, psychics, family idols, other idols, and disgusting gods that could be seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this to confirm the words of the Teachings written in the book that the priest Hilkiah found in the LORD’s temple.

25 No king before Josiah had turned to the LORD with all his heart, soul, and strength, as directed in Moses’ Teachings. No other ⌞king⌟ was like Josiah.

26 But the LORD still didn’t turn his hot, burning anger from Judah. After all, Manasseh had done all these things to make him furious. 27 The LORD had said, “I will put Judah out of my sight as I put Israel out of my sight. I will reject Jerusalem, the city that I chose, and I will reject the temple where I said my name would be.”

28 Isn’t everything else about Josiah—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah?

29 In Josiah’s days Pharaoh Necoh (the king of Egypt) came to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went to attack Necoh. When Pharaoh saw him at Megiddo, Pharaoh killed him. 30 His officers put his dead body in a chariot and brought it from Megiddo to Jerusalem. They buried Josiah in his tomb.

23:24–30   Josiah got rid of every disgusting god. No other king was like him. But you still didn’t turn your burning anger from Judah. Turn my heart back to you!

King Jehoahaz of Judah—2 Chronicles 36:1–4

Then the people of the land took Josiah’s son Jehoahaz, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father. 31 Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king, and he was king for 3 months in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. 32 He did what the LORD considered evil, as his ancestors had done. 33 Pharaoh Necoh made him a prisoner at Riblah in the territory of Hamath during his reign[28] in Jerusalem and fined the country 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold.

34 Then Pharaoh Necoh made Josiah’s son Eliakim king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. He took Jehoahaz away to Egypt, where he died. 35 Jehoiakim gave Pharaoh the silver and the gold. But he had to tax the country to pay the silver Pharaoh had demanded. He taxed each person according to his wealth so that he could get the silver and gold from the people of the land and give it to Pharaoh Necoh.

King Jehoiakim of Judah—2 Chronicles 36:5–8

36 Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he began to rule, and he was king for 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zebidah, daughter of Pedaiah from Rumah. 37 Jehoiakim did what the LORD considered evil, as his ancestors had done.

23:31–37   I won’t go back to worshiping other gods. I won’t undo your work in my life.

24

1 During Jehoiakim’s reign King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked ⌞Judah⌟, and Jehoiakim became subject to him for three years. Then Jehoiakim turned against him and rebelled.

2 The LORD sent raiding parties of Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites against Jehoiakim to destroy Judah as the LORD had predicted through his servants the prophets. 3 Without a doubt, this happened to Judah because the LORD had commanded it to happen. He wanted to remove the people of Judah from his sight because of Manasseh’s sins—everything he had done, 4 including the innocent blood he had shed. He had a lot of innocent people in Jerusalem killed, and the LORD refused to forgive him.

5 Isn’t everything else about Jehoiakim—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 6 Jehoiakim lay down in death with his ancestors, and his son Jehoiakin succeeded him as king.

7 The king of Egypt didn’t leave his own country again because the king of Babylon had taken all the territory from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River. This territory had belonged to the king of Egypt.

24:1–7   You sent raiding parties to destroy Judah, just as you had predicted through your prophets. Don’t remove me from your sight. Call me back and forgive me.

King Jehoiakin of Judah—2 Chronicles 36:9–10

8 Jehoiakin was 18 years old when he began to rule as king. He was king for three months in Jerusalem. His mother was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem. 9 Jehoiakin did what the LORD considered evil, as his father had done.

10 At that time the officers of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem. (The city was blockaded.) 11 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon arrived while his officers were blockading the city. 12 King Jehoiakin of Judah, his mother, officials, generals, and eunuchs surrendered to the king of Babylon. In the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon captured Jehoiakin. 13 He also took away all the treasures in the LORD’s temple and the royal palace. As the LORD had predicted, Nebuchadnezzar stripped the gold off all the furnishings that King Solomon of Israel had made for the LORD’s temple. 14 He captured all Jerusalem, all the generals, all the soldiers (10,000 prisoners), and all the craftsmen and smiths. Only the poorest people of the land were left. 15 He took Jehoiakin to Babylon as a captive. He also took the king’s mother, wives, eunuchs, and the leading citizens of the land from Jerusalem as captives to Babylon. 16 The king of Babylon brought all 7,000 of the prominent landowners, 1,000 craftsmen and smiths, and all the men who could fight in war as captives to Babylon.

King Zedekiah of Judah—2 Chronicles 36:11–13; Jeremiah 52:1–3

17 The king of Babylon made King Jehoiakin’s Uncle Mattaniah king in his place and changed Mattaniah’s name to Zedekiah. 18 Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. 19 Zedekiah did what the LORD considered evil, as Jehoiakim had done.

20 The LORD became angry with Jerusalem and Judah and threw the people out of his sight.

24:8–20   You let the Babylonians conquer Judah and take its citizens captive. You were angry with your people and threw them out of your presence.

Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

The Fall of Jerusalem—2 Chronicles 36:19–21; Jeremiah 39:1–10; 40:5–9; 41:1–3, 16–18; 52:4–30

25

1 On the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with his entire army. They set up camp and built dirt ramps around the city walls. 2 The blockade of the city lasted until Zedekiah’s eleventh year as king. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth[29] month, the famine in the city became so severe that the common people had no food.

4 The enemy broke through the city walls that night. All Judah’s soldiers left on the road of the gate between the two walls beside the king’s garden. While the Babylonians were attacking the city from all sides, the king took the road to the plain ⌞of Jericho⌟. 5 The Babylonian army pursued King Zedekiah and caught up with him in the plain of Jericho. His entire army had deserted him. 6 The Babylonians captured the king, brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and passed sentence on him. 7 They slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons as he watched, and then they blinded Zedekiah. They put him in bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

8 On the seventh day of the fifth month of Nebuchadnezzar’s nineteenth year as king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, who was the captain of the guard and an officer of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9 He burned down the LORD’s temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem. Every important building was burned down. 10 The entire Babylonian army that was with the captain of the guard tore down the walls around Jerusalem.

25:1–10   The enemy blinded the king, put him in shackles, and took him to Babylon. They burned your temple and the royal palace. They torched Jerusalem’s homes and tore down its walls.

11 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, captured the few people left in the city, those who surrendered to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population. 12 The captain of the guard left some of the poorest people in the land to work in the vineyards and on the farms.

13 The Babylonians broke apart the bronze pillars of the LORD’s temple, the stands, and the bronze pool in the LORD’s temple. They shipped the bronze to Babylon. 14 They took the pots, shovels, snuffers, dishes, and all the bronze utensils used in the temple service. 15 The captain of the guard took all of the incense burners and bowls that were made of gold or silver. 16 The bronze from the two pillars, the pool, and the stands that Solomon had made for the LORD’s temple couldn’t be weighed. 17 One pillar was 27 feet high and had a bronze capital on it that was 4½ feet high. The filigree and the pomegranates around the capital were all made of bronze. The second pillar and its filigree were the same.

18 The captain of the guard took the chief priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the 3 doorkeepers. 19 From the city he also took an army commander, 5 men who had access to the king whom he found in the city, the scribe who was in charge of the militia, and 60 of the common people whom he found in the city. 20 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 The king of Babylon executed them at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So the people of Judah were captives when they left their land.

22 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to govern the remaining people in the land of Judah. 23 When all the army commanders and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were Ishmael (son of Nethaniah), Johanan (son of Kareah), Seraiah (son of Tanhumeth from Netophah), and Jaazaniah from Beth Maacah and their men. 24 Gedaliah swore an oath to them and their men. He said, “Don’t be afraid of the Babylonian officers. Live in this country, serve the king of Babylon, and you will prosper.”

25 In the seventh month Ishmael (son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, a descendant of the kings) went with ten men to kill Gedaliah and the Judeans and Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. 26 Then people of all classes and the army commanders left for Egypt because they were afraid of the Babylonians.

25:11–26   The Babylonians pillaged your temple. They killed and took captives. They promised prosperity, but only to people who bowed to Nebuchadnezzar.

King Jehoiakin Released from Prison—Jeremiah 52:31–34

27 On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the imprisonment of King Jehoiakin of Judah, King Evil Merodach of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, freed King Jehoiakin of Judah from prison. 28 He treated him well and gave him a special position higher than the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 Jehoiakin no longer wore prison clothes, and he ate his meals in the king’s presence as long as he lived. 30 The king of Babylon gave him a daily food allowance as long as he lived.

25:27–30   Jehoiakin went free from his cell and dined with the king. But he was still stranded far from you and your land. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

1 CHRONICLES

INTRODUCTION

First Chronicles retells the story of David. Unlike the history lessons of 1 and 2 Samuel together with 1 and 2 Kings, the book of 1 Chronicles backs up to the beginning of the human drama, opening with a genealogy that traces Israel’s families from Adam to King David’s ancestors.

The book’s narrative finally appears many chapters into the book with the death of King Saul (1 Chronicles 10:1–14), then quickly shifts to David. It highlights the best moments of Israel’s best king, showing him not only as a skilled ruler but as the nation’s principal spiritual leader. Much of the material is adapted from Samuel and Kings, but the book adds crucial details of David’s role in Israel’s worship, including his helping Solomon prepare to build a magnificent temple and his organizing priests and Levites to serve in God’s house. In showing the best of David’s reign, it excludes information on his affair with Bathsheba, his plot to kill her husband, Uriah, and his struggles with his children.

Originally composed as one book, 1 and 2 Chronicles were compiled after a remnant of God’s people had come home to Israel after decades of captivity in Babylon. These books connect the former exiles with God’s ancient promises to Abraham and their people’s holy history. Its distinct retelling of the past inspires this struggling remnant with hope of a better future.

Praying 1 Chronicles lets you meditate on God’s grand work in building his people. It invites you to commit yourself to the Lord and lean on him as you journey into the future.

1 CHRONICLES

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The Genealogy of Isaac’s Descendants—Genesis 5:1–32; 10:1–32; 11:10–26; 25:1–4, 12–16; 36:1–43

1

1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 4 Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

5 Japheth’s descendants were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 6 Gomer’s descendants were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 7 Javan’s descendants were the people from Elishah, Tarshish, Cyprus, and Rhodes.

8 Ham’s descendants were Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 9 Cush’s descendants were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. Raama’s descendants were Sheba and Dedan. 10 Cush was the father of Nimrod, the first mighty warrior on the earth. 11 Egypt was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 12 Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites. 13 Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, then Heth, 14 also the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 15 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 16 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

17 The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 18 Arpachshad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber. 19 Two sons were born to Eber. The name of the one was Peleg [Division], because in his day the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan. 20 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

24 Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27 Abram (that is, Abraham). 28 Abraham’s sons were Isaac and Ishmael.

1:1–26   You brought life where there was none. All of us owe our existence to you.

29 This is their list of descendants: Ishmael’s firstborn was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.

32 Keturah, Abraham’s concubine,[1] gave birth to the following sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan’s sons were Sheba and Dedan. 33 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.

34 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac’s sons were Esau and Israel. 35 Esau’s sons were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 36 Eliphaz’s sons were Teman and Omar, Zephi and Gatam, Kenaz and Amalek, son of Timna.[2] 37 Reuel’s sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. 38 Seir’s sons were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. 39 Lotan’s sons were Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister. 40 Shobal’s sons were Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Zibeon’s sons were Aiah and Anah. 41 Anah’s son was Dishon. Dishon’s sons were Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 42 Ezer’s sons were Bilhan, Zaavan, Jaakan. Dishan’s sons were Uz and Aran.

43 These were the kings who ruled Edom before any king ruled the people of Israel: Bela, son of Beor, and the name of his ⌞capital⌟ city was Dinhabah. 44 After Bela died, Jobab, son of Zerah from Bozrah, succeeded him as king. 45 After Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king. 46 After Husham died, Hadad, son of Bedad, who defeated the Midianites in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king, and the name of his ⌞capital⌟ city was Avith. 47 After Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king. 48 After Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king. 49 After Shaul died, Baal Hanan, son of Achbor, succeeded him as king. 50 After Baal Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him as king, and the name of his ⌞capital⌟ city was Pai. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Mezahab. 51 Then Hadad died.

The tribal leaders of Edom were Timna, Aliah, Jetheth, 52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54 Magdiel, and Iram. These were the tribal leaders of Edom.

1:27–54   You kept your promise to Abraham to make his descendants a great nation. You never go back on your word.

Israel’s Twelve Sons—Genesis 35:16–26

2

1 These were Israel’s sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Judah’s Descendants—Genesis 46:12

3 Judah’s sons were Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bathshua, a Canaanite woman. The LORD considered Er, Judah’s firstborn, evil, so the LORD killed Er. 4 Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, gave birth to Judah’s sons Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

5 Perez’s sons were Hezron and Hamul. 6 Zerah’s sons were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara[3]—five in all. 7 Carmi’s son was Achar, who caused trouble for Israel by taking goods that were claimed by God. 8 Ethan’s son was Azariah.

9 The sons born to Hezron were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, leader of Judah’s people. 11 Nahshon was the father of Salma, and Salma was the father of Boaz. 12 Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse. 13 Jesse was the father of Eliab (his firstborn), Abinadab (his second son), Shimea (his third son), 14 Nethanel (his fourth son), Raddai (his fifth son), 15 Ozem (his sixth son), and David (his seventh son). 16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. 17 Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether, a descendant of Ishmael.

18 Hezron’s son was Caleb. Caleb and his wife Azubah had a son named Jerioth. Her other sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19 After Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath. She gave birth to Hur. 20 Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bezalel.

21 Afterwards, Hezron slept with the daughter of Machir, the man who first settled Gilead. Hezron had married her when he was 60 years old. She gave birth to Segub. 22 Segub was the father of Jair, who had 23 towns in Gilead. 23 Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair with Kenath and its villages (60 cities in all). All of these people were descendants of Machir, the man who first settled Gilead. 24 After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Hezron’s wife Abijah gave birth to Ashhur, who first settled Tekoa.

25 Jerahmeel (the firstborn son of Hezron) fathered Ram (his firstborn), then Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had another wife. Her name was Atarah, and she was the mother of Onam.

27 The sons of Ram (the firstborn son of Jerahmeel) were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker. 28 Onam’s sons were Shammai and Jada. Shammai’s sons were Nadab and Abishur. 29 The name of Abishur’s wife was Abihail. She gave birth to Ahban and Molid. 30 Nadab’s sons were Seled and Appaim, but Seled died without children. 31 Appaim’s son was Ishi, and Ishi’s son was Sheshan, and Sheshan’s son was Ahlai. 32 The sons of Jada (Shammai’s brother) were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children. 33 Jonathan’s sons were Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.

34 Sheshan had no sons, but he had daughters. He had an Egyptian slave named Jarha. 35 Sheshan let Jarha marry one of his daughters. She gave birth to Attai. 36 Attai was the father of Nathan. Nathan was the father of Zabad. 37 Zabad was the father of Ephlal. Ephlal was the father of Obed. 38 Obed was the father of Jehu. Jehu was the father of Azariah. 39 Azariah was the father of Helez. Helez was the father of Eleasah. 40 Eleasah was the father of Sismai. Sismai was the father of Shallum. 41 Shallum was the father of Jekamiah. Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.

42 The descendants of Caleb (Jerahmeel’s brother) were his firstborn son Mesha, who first settled Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah, who first settled Hebron. 43 Hebron’s sons were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. 44 Shema was the father of Raham, who first settled Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai. 45 Shammai’s son was Maon, who first settled Beth Zur. 46 Ephah, Caleb’s concubine,[4] was the mother of Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez. 47 Jahdai’s sons were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. 48 Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 Also, she was the mother of Shaaph, who first settled Madmannah, and of Sheva, who first settled Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Achsah. 50 These people were the descendants of Caleb.

The sons of Hur, the firstborn son of Ephrath, were Shobal, who first settled Kiriath Jearim, 51 Salma, who first settled Bethlehem, and Hareph, who first settled Beth Gadar. 52 Shobal, who first settled Kiriath Jearim, had these descendants: Haroeh, half of the Manahathites, 53 the families of Kiriath Jearim, the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. From these people came the Zorahites and Eshtaolites.

54 The descendants of Salma, ⌞who first settled⌟ Bethlehem, were the Netophathites, Atroth, ⌞who first settled⌟ Beth Joab, half of the Manahathites, the Zorites, 55 and the families of scribes who lived at Jabez. These families were the people of Tira, Shimea, and Sucah. These people are the Kenites who came from Hammath. They first settled Beth Rechab.

2:1–55   You gave birth to a nation through Jacob’s sons. You put Judah before his brothers.

Judah’s Descendants: The Royal Family—2 Samuel 3:2–5; 5:5, 13–16

3

1 These were David’s sons who were born to him while he was in Hebron: His first son was Amnon, ⌞born⌟ to Ahinoam from Jezreel. The second was Daniel, ⌞born⌟ to Abigail from Carmel. 2 The third was Absalom, ⌞born⌟ to Maacah (the daughter of King Talmai) from Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. 3 The fifth was Shephatiah, ⌞born⌟ to Abital. The sixth was Ithream, ⌞born⌟ to David’s wife Eglah. 4 Six sons were born to him in Hebron, where he ruled for seven years and six months. He ruled for 33 years in Jerusalem.

5 These ⌞children⌟ were born to David in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon (the mother of these four was Ammiel’s daughter Bathshua) and 6 Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet (nine ⌞by other wives⌟). 9 All of these were David’s sons. Besides these, there were the sons of the concubines.[5] Tamar was their sister.

10 Solomon’s son was Rehoboam. Rehoboam’s son was Abijah. Abijah’s son was Asa. Asa’s son was Jehoshaphat. 11 Jehoshaphat’s son was Joram. Joram’s son was Ahaziah. Ahaziah’s son was Joash. 12 Joash’s son was Amaziah. Amaziah’s son was Azariah. Azariah’s son was Jotham. 13 Jotham’s son was Ahaz. Ahaz’s son was Hezekiah. Hezekiah’s son was Manasseh. 14 Manasseh’s son was Amon. Amon’s son was Josiah. 15 Josiah’s firstborn son was Johanan, the second was Jehoiakim, the third was Zedekiah, and the fourth was Shallum. 16 Jehoiakim’s son was Jeconiah, whose son was Zedekiah.

17 The descendants of the prisoner Jeconiah were his son Shealtiel, 18 then Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 19 Pedaiah’s sons were Zerubbabel and Shimei. Zerubbabel’s sons were Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister. 20 There were also five other sons: Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab Hesed. 21 Hananiah’s sons were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. Jeshaiah’s son was Rephaiah.[6] Rephaiah’s son was Arnan. Arnan’s son was Obadiah. Obadiah’s son was Shecaniah.[7] 22 Shecaniah’s son was Shemaiah. Shemaiah’s six sons were Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat. 23 Neariah’s three sons were Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam. 24 Elioenai’s seven sons were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.

3:1–24   You built a dynasty through David. You swore his descendants would always sit on the throne.

More of Judah’s Descendants

4

1 Judah’s descendants were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 Reaiah, son of Shobal, was the father of Jahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.

3 These were the first settlers in Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. Their sister’s name was Hazelelponi. 4 Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, who first settled Bethlehem.

5 Ashhur, who first settled Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 6 Naarah gave birth to Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were Naarah’s sons. 7 Helah’s sons were Zereth, Izohar, and Ethnan. 8 Koz was the father of Anub and Zobebah, and he was the ancestor of the families of Aharhel, son of Harum.

9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez [Painful], because she said that his birth was painful. 10 Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, “Please bless me and give me more territory. May your power be with me and free me from evil so that I will not be in pain.” God gave him what he prayed for.

4:9–10   You gave Painful what he asked for—blessing, territory, and power to build a pain-free life. I cherish your plan for me no matter what comes my way.

11 Chelub, Shuhah’s brother, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12 Eshton was the first to settle Beth Rapha. He was the father of Paseah and Tehinnah, who first settled the city of Nahash. These were the men from Recah.

13 Kenaz’s sons were Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel were Hathath and Meonothai.[8] 14 Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, who first settled the valley of Craftsmen. (It was named this because they were craftsmen.) 15 The sons of Caleb, son of Jephunneh, were Iru, Elah, and Naam. Elah’s son was Kenaz.

16 Jehallelel’s sons were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. 17 Ezrah’s sons were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. His wife gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, who first settled Eshtemoa. 18 His Judean wife was the mother of Jered, who first settled Gedor, Heber, who first settled Soco, and Jekuthiel, who first settled Zanoah.

19 The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham, first settled Keilah of the Garmites and Eshtemoa of the Maacathites. 20 Shimon’s sons were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben Hanan, and Tilon. Ishi’s sons were Zoheth and Ben Zoheth.

21 The descendants of Shelah, son of Judah, were Er, who first settled Lecah, Laadah, who first settled Mareshah, families of the guild of linen workers at Beth Ashbea, 22 Jokim, Joash, Saraph, and the men of Cozeba. Saraph ruled Moab and Jashubi Lehem (according to ancient records). 23 They were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah. They lived there with the king and did his work.

Simeon’s Descendants

24 Simeon’s sons were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul. 25 Shaul’s son was Shallum. Shallum’s son was Mibsam. Mibsam’s son was Mishma. 26 Mishma’s son was Hammuel. Hammuel’s son was Zaccur. Zaccur’s son was Shimei. 27 Shimei had 16 sons and 6 daughters. But his brothers didn’t have many children, so their entire family didn’t become as large as the people of Judah.

28 Simeon’s descendants lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David became king. 32 Their five cities were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan. 33 They also had all the villages around these cities as far as the city of Baal. These places were where they lived, and they had their own genealogical records:

34 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah (son of Amaziah), 35 Joel, Jehu (son of Joshibiah, grandson of Seraiah, and great-grandson of Asiel), 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, and 37 Ziza (son of Shiphi, grandson of Allon, great-grandson of Jedaiah, a descendant of Shimri and Shemaiah). 38 These who are mentioned by name were leaders in their families, and the number of people in their households increased.

39 They moved to the outskirts of Gedor, on the east side of the valley, to find pasture for their flocks. 40 They found pasture that was rich and good. The land was vast, peaceful, and quiet because the Hamites used to live there. 41 In the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, the men listed here knocked down tents and killed the Meunites. They claimed the Meunites for God and destroyed them. (Even today no Meunites live there.) They lived in that land in place of the Meunites in order to have pasture for their flocks. 42 Ishi’s sons Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel led 500 of Simeon’s male descendants to Mount Seir. 43 They killed the Amalekites who were left. Simeon’s descendants still live there today.

4:24–43   Grow my family. Lead me to rich pasture.

Reuben’s Descendants

5

1 These are the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn. (Although he was the firstborn, his rights as firstborn were given to his nephews, Joseph’s sons, because he dishonored his father’s bed. However, Joseph couldn’t be listed in the genealogy as the firstborn son. 2 Even though Judah was more prominent than his brothers and the prince was to come from him, Joseph received the rights as firstborn.)

3 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4 Joel’s son was Shemaiah. Shemaiah’s son was Gog. Gog’s son was Shimei. 5 Shimei’s son was Micah. Micah’s son was Reaiah. Reaiah’s son was Baal. 6 Baal’s son was Beerah. King Tiglath Pilneser of Assyria took him away as a captive. He was leader of the tribe of Reuben. 7 Beerah’s brothers according to their families, when they were enrolled in the genealogical records according to their ancestry, were as follows: The first was Jeiel, then Zechariah 8 and Bela (son of Azaz, grandson of Shema, and great-grandson of Joel).

Reuben’s descendants lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. 9 Some of them lived eastward as far as the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because they had so much livestock in Gilead. 10 In Saul’s day they fought a war against the Hagrites, defeated them, and lived in their tents throughout the entire region east of Gilead.

Gad’s Descendants

11 Gad’s descendants lived next to Reuben’s descendants in Bashan as far ⌞east⌟ as Salcah. 12 One family descended from Gad’s first son Joel. Another family descended from Gad’s second son Shapham. Other families descended from Gad’s sons Janai and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 Their seven relatives by families were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. 14 These were the sons of Abihail, who was the son of Huri, grandson of Jaroah, and great-grandson of Gilead. Gilead was the son of Michael, grandson of Jeshishai, great-grandson of Jahdo, and great-great-grandson of Buz. 15 Ahi, son of Abdiel and grandson of Guni, was the head of their families. 16 They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and in the entire pastureland of Sharon to its extreme edges. 17 All these people were recorded in genealogical records in the days of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel.

Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh Fight Hagar’s Descendants

18 The descendants of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 soldiers ready to go to war. They were skilled fighters who could carry shields and swords and shoot arrows. 19 They went to war against Hagar’s descendants (including Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab) 20 and received help while fighting them. Hagar’s descendants and the nations with them were handed over to Reuben’s descendants. They had called out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayers because they trusted him. 21 They confiscated the Hagrites’ livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, and 2,000 donkeys. They captured 100,000 people. 22 Many were killed in battle because this was God’s war. Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh lived in the Hagrites’ land until the Assyrians captured them.

The Leaders of the Tribe of Manasseh East of the Jordan River

23 Half of the tribe of Manasseh lived in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. The tribe members were numerous. 24 These were the heads of Manasseh’s families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were soldiers who were famous heads of their families.

The Assyrians Capture Gad, Reuben, and Half of the Tribe of Manasseh

25 But Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They chased after the gods of the people of the land as if they were prostitutes. God had destroyed these people as the Israelites arrived. 26 Then the God of Israel led King Pul of Assyria (King Tiglath Pilneser of Assyria) to take Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River. They are still there today.

5:1–26   Cousin fought cousin. You sided with those who called out to you, but they chased after other gods and you destroyed them. I want to begin well. I also want to end well.

Levi’s Descendants

6  [9]

1 Levi’s sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 Amram’s children were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

4 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas. Phinehas was the father of Abishua. 5 Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukki was the father of Uzzi. 6 Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth. 7 Meraioth was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub. 8 Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz. 9 Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah. Azariah was the father of Johanan. 10 Johanan was the father of Azariah. (He was the one who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.) 11 Azariah was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub. 12 Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Shallum. 13 Shallum was the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the father of Azariah. 14 Azariah was the father of Seraiah. Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak. 15 Jehozadak was taken captive when the LORD used Nebuchadnezzar to take Judah and Jerusalem away into captivity.

16 Levi’s sons were Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 These are the names of Gershom’s sons: Libni and Shimei. 18 Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi.

These are the descendants of Levi’s sons. They are grouped by families:

20 Gershom’s son was Libni. Libni’s son was Jahath. Jahath’s son was Zimmah. 21 Zimmah’s son was Joah. Joah’s son was Iddo. Iddo’s son was Zerah. Zerah’s son was Jeatherai.

22 These were Kohath’s descendants: Kohath’s son was Amminadab. Amminadab’s son was Korah. Korah’s son was Assir. 23 Assir’s son was Elkanah. Elkanah’s son was Ebiasaph. Ebiasaph’s son was Assir. 24 Assir’s son was Tahath. Tahath’s son was Uriel. Uriel’s son was Uzziah. Uzziah’s son was Shaul. 25 Elkanah’s sons were Amasai and Ahimoth. 26 Ahimoth’s son was Elkanah. Elkanah’s son was Zophai. Zophai’s son was Nahath. 27 Nahath’s son was Eliab. Eliab’s son was Jeroham. Jeroham’s son was Elkanah. 28 Samuel’s sons were Joel, who was his firstborn, and Abijah, who was his second son.

29 These were Merari’s descendants: Merari’s son was Mahli. Mahli’s son was Libni. Libni’s son was Shimei. Shimei’s son was Uzzah. 30 Uzzah’s son was Shimea. Shimea’s son was Haggiah. Haggiah’s son was Asaiah.

31 David put men in charge of the music in the LORD’s temple after the ark was placed there permanently. 32 They served as musicians in the courtyard in front of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations set down for them.

33 These are the men who served (their descendants also served):

The musician Heman was from Kohath’s family line. Heman was the son of Joel, who was the son of Samuel, 34 who was the son of Elkanah, who was the son of Jeroham, who was the son of Eliel, who was the son of Toah, 35 who was the son of Zuph, who was the son of Elkanah, who was the son of Mahath, who was the son of Amasai, 36 who was the son of Elkanah, who was the son of Joel, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Zephaniah, 37 who was the son of Tahath, who was the son of Assir, who was the son of Ebiasaph, who was the son of Korah, 38 who was the son of Izhar, who was the son of Kohath, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Israel.

39 Heman’s relative Asaph stood on his right. He was the son of Berechiah, who was the son of Shimea, 40 who was the son of Michael, who was the son of Baaseiah, who was the son of Malchiah, 41 who was the son of Ethni, who was the son of Zerah, who was the son of Adaiah, 42 who was the son of Ethan, who was the son of Zimmah, who was the son of Shimei, 43 who was the son of Jahath, who was the son of Gershom, who was the son of Levi.

44 On the left was Ethan, one of Heman’s relatives descended from Merari. Ethan was the son of Kishi, who was the son of Abdi, who was the son of Malluch, 45 who was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Amaziah, who was the son of Hilkiah, 46 who was the son of Amzi, who was the son of Bani, who was the son of Shemer, 47 who was the son of Mahli, who was the son of Mushi, who was the son of Merari, who was the son of Levi.

48 Their relatives, the Levites, were assigned all the other duties in the tent, the house of God.

49 Aaron and his descendants offered sacrifices on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense. They did all the work in the most holy place and removed Israel’s sins to make Israel acceptable to God. They did exactly what God’s servant Moses had commanded.

50 These were Aaron’s descendants: His son was Eleazar. Eleazar’s son was Phinehas. Phinehas’ son was Abishua. 51 Abishua’s son was Bukki. Bukki’s son was Uzzi. Uzzi’s son was Zerahiah. 52 Zerahiah’s son was Meraioth. Meraioth’s son was Amariah. Amariah’s son was Ahitub. 53 Ahitub’s son was Zadok. Zadok’s son was Ahimaaz.

The Cities Belonging to Levi’s Descendants

54 These are the places where Levi’s descendants lived, the places where they settled in the territory chosen for them when lots were drawn:

The ⌞first⌟ lot was drawn for the descendants of Aaron from the family descended from Kohath. 55 They were given Hebron in the territory of Judah as well as the pastureland around it, 56 but the fields belonging to the city and its villages were given to Caleb, son of Jephunneh. 57 Aaron’s descendants were given Hebron as a city of refuge, Libnah with its pastureland, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pastureland, 58 Hilen with its pastureland, Debir with its pastureland, 59 Ashan with its pastureland, and Beth Shemesh with its pastureland. 60 From the tribe of Benjamin, Aaron’s descendants received Geba with its pastureland, Alemeth with its pastureland, and Anathoth with its pastureland. There was a total of 13 cities for their families.

61 The rest of Kohath’s descendants received 10 cities chosen by lot from the families of half of the tribe of Manasseh. 62 The families of Gershom’s descendants were given 13 cities chosen by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and ⌞the part of⌟ the tribe of Manasseh that lived in Bashan. 63 The families of Merari’s descendants were given 12 cities chosen by lot from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

64 So the Israelites gave the Levites the cities with their pasturelands. 65 They gave ⌞them⌟ the cities chosen by lot and mentioned here by name from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

66 Some of the families of Kohath’s descendants had cities chosen by lot from the tribe of Ephraim. 67 They were given these cities of refuge: Shechem with its pastureland in the hills of Ephraim, Gezer with its pastureland, 68 Jokmeam with its pastureland, Beth Horon with its pastureland, 69 Aijalon with its pastureland, and Gath Rimmon with its pastureland. 70 From half of the tribe of Manasseh, they were given Aner with its pastureland and Bileam with its pastureland for the families of the rest of Kohath’s descendants.

71 Gershom’s descendants received Golan in Bashan with its pastureland and Ashtaroth with its pastureland from the families of half of the tribe of Manasseh. 72 From the tribe of Issachar, they received Kedesh with its pastureland, Daberath with its pastureland, 73 Ramoth with its pastureland, and Anem with its pastureland. 74 From the tribe of Asher, they received Mashal with its pastureland, Abdon with its pastureland, 75 Hukok with its pastureland, and Rehob with its pastureland. 76 From the tribe of Naphtali, they received Kedesh in Galilee with its pastureland, Hammon with its pastureland, and Kiriathaim with its pastureland.

77 The rest of Merari’s descendants received Rimmono with its pastureland and Tabor with its pastureland from the tribe of Zebulun. 78 From the tribe of Reuben,[10] Merari’s descendants received land east of the Jordan River and across from Jericho: Bezer in the wilderness with its pastureland, Jahzah with its pastureland, 79 Kedemoth with its pastureland and Mephaath with its pastureland. 80 From the tribe of Gad, they received Ramoth in Gilead with its pastureland, Mahanaim with its pastureland, 81 Heshbon with its pastureland, and Jazer with its pastureland.

6:1–81   You chose Levites to serve you and assigned them places to live. You trained some to lead temple music. You put Aaron and his descendants to work in the most holy place. Show me my place in your plan.

Issachar’s Descendants

7

1 Issachar’s four sons were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. 2 Tola’s sons were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel. These men were heads of the families of Tola. They were soldiers grouped according to their ancestry. In David’s day there were 22,600 of them. 3 The five descendants of Uzzi were Izrahiah and Izrahiah’s sons Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All of them were heads ⌞of families⌟. 4 They had many wives and children. So in addition to these men grouped according to their ancestry and families, there were 36,000 soldiers. 5 Their relatives (that is, all of Issachar’s families) were fighting men. A total of 87,000 of them was recorded in the genealogy.

Benjamin’s Descendants

6 Benjamin had three sons: Bela, Becher, and Jediael. 7 Bela’s five sons were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. They were heads of families and fighting men. In the genealogy 22,034 of them were recorded. 8 Becher’s sons were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. These were all of Becher’s sons. 9 In the genealogy 22,200 of them were recorded according to their ancestry (the heads of their families and fighting men). 10 Jediael’s son was Bilhan. Bilhan’s sons were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11 All of these men were Jediael’s descendants. They headed families that produced 17,200 fighting men who could go to war. 12 The Shuppites and Huppites were Ir’s descendants. The Hushites were descendants of someone else.

Naphtali’s Descendants

13 Naphtali’s sons were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. They were Bilhah’s grandsons.

Manasseh’s Descendants Who Lived West of the Jordan River

14 Manasseh’s sons were Asriel and Machir. Their mother was Manasseh’s Aramean concubine.[11] Machir was the first to settle Gilead. 15 He married a wife from the Huppites and Shuppites. His wife’s[12] name was Maacah. The name of his second son was Zelophehad. Zelophehad had only daughters. 16 Maacah, Machir’s wife, had a son, and she named him Peresh. His brother’s name was Sheresh, whose sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17 Ulam’s son was Bedan. These were the people of Gilead, descendants of Machir (son of Manasseh). 18 Bedan’s sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19 Shemida’s sons were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

Ephraim’s Descendants

20 Ephraim’s son was Shuthelah. Shuthelah’s son was Bered. Bered’s son was Tahath. Tahath’s son was Eleadah. Eleadah’s son was Tahath. 21 Tahath’s son was Zabad. Zabad’s son was Shuthelah.

Ephraim’s sons Ezer and Elead were killed by the men of Gath when they came to take their livestock. 22 Their father Ephraim mourned a long time, even though his brothers tried to comfort him. 23 Then he slept with his wife, and she became pregnant. She gave birth to a son, and Ephraim named him Beriah [Tragedy], because tragedy had come to his home. 24 Beriah’s daughter was Sheerah, who built Upper and Lower Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah. 25 Beriah’s son was Rephah. Rephah’s son was Resheph. Resheph’s son was Telah. Telah’s son was Tahan. 26 Tahan’s son was Ladan. Ladan’s son was Ammihud. Ammihud’s son was Elishama. 27 Elishama’s son was Nun. Nun’s son was Joshua.

28 The land and homes of Ephraim’s descendants were in Bethel and its villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer with its villages to the west, Shechem and its villages, and as far as Gaza and its villages. 29 Next to Manasseh were Beth Shean and its villages, Taanach and its villages, Megiddo and its villages, and Dor and its villages. The descendants of Joseph, son of Israel, live in these cities.

Asher’s Descendants

30 Asher’s sons were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. 31 Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malchiel, who first settled Birzaith. 32 Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua. 33 Japhlet’s sons were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet’s sons. 34 The sons of his brother Shomer were Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram. 35 His brother Helem’s sons were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. 36 Zophah’s sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilsha, Ithran, and Beera. 38 Jether’s sons were Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara. 39 Ulla’s sons were Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia. 40 All of these men were Asher’s descendants—heads of their families, outstanding men, soldiers, and distinguished leaders. Their military roster had 26,000 recorded in it.

7:1–40   You set each of us in families. Let me learn good from mine. Make me an outstanding person.

Benjamin’s Descendants

8

1 Benjamin was the father of Bela (his firstborn), Ashbel (his second son), Aharah (his third son), 2 Nohah (his fourth son), and Rapha (his fifth son). 3 Bela’s sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.

6 These were Ehud’s sons, who were heads of the families living in Geba and who were taken away as captives to Manahath: 7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. Gera led the rest of them away as captives. He was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.

8 Shaharaim divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. But later in Moab, 9 he and his wife Hodesh had the following sons: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10 Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. All of Shaharaim’s sons became heads of families. 11 He and Hushim were the parents of Abitub and Elpaal. 12 Elpaal’s sons were Eber, Misham, and Shemed (who built Ono, Lod, and Lod’s villages).

13 Beriah and Shema were the heads of the families who lived in Aijalon. They forced out the people living in Gath. 14 Their brothers[13] were Shashak and Jeremoth. 15 Beriah’s sons were Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha. 17 Elpaal’s sons were Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab. 19 Shimei’s sons were Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath. 22 Shashak’s sons were Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel. 26 Jeroham’s sons were Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri. 28 These were the heads of families listed by their ancestry. They were the heads of families. They lived in Jerusalem.

29 Jeiel,[14] who first settled Gibeon, lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah. 30 His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32 and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They lived next to their relatives in Jerusalem. 33 Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 34 Jonathan’s son was Meribbaal, and Meribbaal was the father of Micah. 35 Micah’s sons were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza. 37 Moza was the father of Binea. Binea’s son was Raphah. Raphah’s son was Eleasah. Eleasah’s son was Azel. 38 Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All of these men were Azel’s sons. 39 His brother Eshek’s sons were Ulam (the firstborn), Jeush (the second son), and Eliphelet (the third son). 40 Ulam’s sons were soldiers, skilled archers. They had many sons and grandsons, 150 in all. All of these men were Benjamin’s descendants.

8:1–40   People came and went—fathers and mothers, daughters and sons—living and dying. Your loving eye is on each individual.

The People Who Lived in Jerusalem

9

1 All Israel was recorded in the genealogies in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. The Israelites were taken away to Babylon as captives because they had sinned. 2 The first to settle again on their property in their own cities were ⌞some⌟ Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.

3 Jerusalem was settled by descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh:

4 From the descendants of Perez, son of Judah, was Uthai, who was the son of Ammihud, grandson of Omri, and great-grandson of Imri. (Imri’s father was Bani.) 5 From the descendants of Shilah were Asaiah (the firstborn) and his sons. 6 And from the descendants of Zerah were Jeuel and their relatives, 690 in all.

7 From the descendants of Benjamin were Sallu (son of Meshullam, grandson of Hodaviah, and great-grandson of Hassenuah), 8 Ibneiah (son of Jeroham), Elah (son of Uzzi and grandson of Michri), and Meshullam (son of Shephatiah, grandson of Reuel, and great-grandson of Ibniah), 9 and their relatives according to their ancestry. All of these men were heads of their families. A total of 956 of them lived in Jerusalem.

10 From the priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and Azariah. Azariah was the son of Hilkiah, grandson of Meshullam, and great-grandson of Zadok. Zadok’s father was Meraioth, the son of Ahitub (the official in charge of God’s temple). 12 Also from the priests were Adaiah (son of Jeroham, grandson of Pashhur, and great-grandson of Malchiah) and Maasai (son of Adiel, grandson of Jahzerah, and great-grandson of Meshullam, whose father was Meshillemith, son of Immer). 13 Their relatives who were heads of their families totaled 1,760 soldiers. They served in God’s temple and settled in Jerusalem.

14 From the Levites descended from Merari were Shemaiah (son of Hasshub, grandson of Azrikam, and great-grandson of Hashabiah), 15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, Mattaniah (son of Mica, grandson of Zichri, and great-grandson of Asaph), 16 Obadiah (son of Shemaiah, grandson of Galal, and great-grandson of Jeduthun), and Berechiah (son of Asa and grandson of Elkanah, who lived in the villages belonging to the Netophathites).

17 The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. (Shallum was in charge.) 18 Formerly, they were stationed at the king’s gate on the east side. They were the gatekeepers for the Levite quarters.

9:1–18   You brought your people back from captivity—descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Rescue me from bondage. Restore me.

19 Shallum (son of Kore, grandson of Ebiasaph, great-grandson of Korah) and the members of his family (Korah’s descendants) were responsible for serving as watchmen at the entrances to the tent, as their ancestors had been in charge of guarding the entrances to the LORD’s camp. 20 (Phinehas, Eleazar’s son, had been the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.) 21 Zechariah, son of Meshelemiah, was the keeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 22 The men chosen to be gatekeepers at the entrances totaled 212. Their genealogies were recorded in their villages. David and the seer[15] Samuel appointed them to these positions because they were trustworthy. 23 So they and their descendants were assigned to be gatekeepers for the LORD’s house, that is, the tent.

24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides (east, west, north, and south). 25 Their relatives had to come from their villages from time to time. They would come to serve under the gatekeepers’ supervision for a period of seven days. 26 The four chief Levite gatekeepers were in charge of the rooms and treasures in God’s temple because of their faithfulness. 27 They would spend the night stationed around God’s temple because they had to guard it and open it every morning.

28 Some of them were in charge of the utensils for worship. They would count them when they brought them in and when they took them out. 29 Other descendants of Korah were placed in charge of the utensils, the holy utensils, the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. 30 Some of the priests’ sons prepared the mixture of spices. 31 Mattithiah, a Levite, the firstborn son of Shallum, Korah’s descendant, was entrusted with preparing the flat bread. 32 Some of their Kohathite relatives were responsible for setting the bread out in rows every day of worship.

33 These were the musicians who were the heads of the Levite families. They lived in rooms in the temple and were free from other duties because they were on duty day and night. 34 They were the heads of the Levite families according to their ancestry. These head Levites lived in Jerusalem.

9:19–34   Let your people find me trustworthy and faithful. I’ll serve you day and night.

Saul’s Descendants

35 Jeiel, who first settled Gibeon, lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah. 36 His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They lived next to their relatives in Jerusalem. 39 Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 40 Jonathan’s son was Meribbaal, and Meribbaal was the father of Micah. 41 Micah’s sons were Pithon, Melech, and Tarea. 42 Ahaz was the father of Jarah. Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza. 43 Moza was the father of Binea. Binea’s son was Rephaiah. Rephaiah’s son was Eleasah. Eleasah’s son was Azel. 44 Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All of these men were Azel’s sons.

The Death of Saul—1 Samuel 31:1–13

10

1 When the Philistines fought against Israel, the men of Israel fled from the Philistines and were killed in battle on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines caught up to Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 The heaviest fighting was against Saul. When the archers got him in their range, he was wounded by them.

4 Saul told his armorbearer, “Draw your sword! Stab me, or these godless men will come and make fun of me.” But his armorbearer refused because he was terrified. So Saul took the sword and fell on it. 5 When the armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on the sword and died. 6 So Saul, his three sons, and his dynasty died together.

7 When all the people of Israel in the valley saw that ⌞their army⌟ had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities. So the Philistines came to live in these cities.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him and took his head and his armor. Then they sent men throughout Philistine territory to tell their idols and the people this good news. 10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head to the temple of Dagon.

11 When all the people of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the fighting men came and took away the dead bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried the bones under the oak tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted seven days.

13 So Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the LORD: He did not obey the word of the LORD. He asked a medium to request information ⌞from a dead person⌟. 14 He didn’t request information from the LORD. So the LORD killed him and turned the kingship over to David, Jesse’s son.

10:1–14   The Philistines couldn’t wait to inform their idols that Saul was dead. You killed the king because he didn’t seek insight from you. You made obedience a matter of life and death.

David Anointed King of Israel—2 Samuel 5:1–3

11

1 All Israel gathered around David at Hebron. “We are your own flesh and blood,” they said. 2 “Even in the past when Saul ruled, you were the one who led Israel on its campaigns to war. The LORD your God has said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of my people Israel.’”

3 All the leaders of Israel had come to Hebron. David made an agreement with them at Hebron in front of the LORD. So they anointed David king of Israel, as the LORD had spoken through Samuel.

11:1–3   All the tribes of Israel came to David. He’d always been your people’s shepherd—and now you established his throne over all.

David Captures Jerusalem—2 Samuel 5:6–10

4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites were living in that region. 5 They told David, “You will never get in here.” But David captured the fortress Zion (that is, the City of David).

6 Now, David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will be made a general and a prince.” Zeruiah’s son Joab was the first to go ⌞into Jerusalem⌟, so he became the general.

7 David lived in the fortress, so it was called the City of David. 8 He built the city ⌞of Jerusalem⌟ around it, starting from the Millo[16] and making a complete circuit. Joab rebuilt the rest of the city. 9 David continued to grow more powerful because the LORD of Armies was with him.

11:4–9   David built his own city. He grew more powerful because you were with him, Lord of Armies. Go with me and carry out your plans for my life.

David’s Three Fighting Men—2 Samuel 23:8–17

10 Now, these were the commanders of David’s fighting men, who exercised power with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel they made him king according to the LORD’s word to Israel. 11 The first of David’s fighting men was Jashobeam, son of Hachmon, the leader of the three.[17] He used his spear to kill 300 men on one occasion. 12 Next in rank to him was Eleazar, another one of the three fighting men. He was the son of Dodo and grandson of Aho. 13 Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a field of ripe barley. When the troops fled from the Philistines, 14 they stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So the LORD saved ⌞them⌟ with an impressive victory.15 Once three of the thirty leading men went down to David’s rock at the cave of Adullam when the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16 While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were in Bethlehem.

17 David was thirsty and said, “I wish I could have a drink of water from the cistern at the city gate of Bethlehem.” 18 So the three burst into the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern. They brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out ⌞as an offering⌟ to the LORD 19 and said, “It’s unthinkable that I would do this, God. Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? They had to risk their lives to get this water.” So he refused to drink it.

These are the things which the three fighting men did.

David’s Thirty Fighting Men—2 Samuel 23:18–39

20 Joab’s brother Abishai was the leader of the thirty. He used his spear to kill 300 men, but he was not one of the three, 21 although he was honored more than they were. So he became their captain but didn’t become a member of the three.

22 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was from Kabzeel and was a brave man who did many things. He killed two distinguished soldiers from Moab. He also went into a cistern and killed a lion on the day it snowed. 23 He killed an eight-foot-tall Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand. But Benaiah went to him with a club, grabbed the spear away from him, and killed him with it. 24 These are the things that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did. He was as famous as the three fighting men. 25 He was honored more than the thirty, but he was not a member of the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards.

26 The distinguished fighting men were

Joab’s brother Asahel,

Elhanan (son of Dodo) from Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth from Harod,

Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira (son of Ikkesh) from Tekoa,

Abiezer from Anathoth,

29 Sibbecai (son of Hushai),

Ilai (descendant of Ahohi),

30 Maharai from Netophah,

Heled (son of Baanah) from Netophah,

31 Ithai (son of Ribai) from Gibeah in Benjamin,

Benaiah from Pirathon,

32 Hurai from the Gaash ravines,

Abiel from Beth Arabah,

33 Azmaveth from Bahurim,

Eliahba from Shaalbon,

34 Bene Hashem from Gizon,

Jonathan (son of Shage the Hararite),

35 Ahiam (son of Sachar the Hararite),

Eliphal (son of Ur),

36 Hepher the Mecherathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro from Carmel,

Naari (son of Ezbai),

38 Joel (son of Nathan),

Mibhar (son of Hagri),

39 Zelek from Ammon,

Naharai from Beroth, armorbearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab,

40 Ira (descendant of Ithra),

Gareb (descendant of Ithra),

41 Uriah the Hittite,

Zabad (son of Ahlai),

42 Adina (son of Shiza) from the tribe of Reuben (who was leader of the tribe of Reuben and had his own group of thirty soldiers),

43 Hanan (son of Maacah),

and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 Uzzia from Ashteroth,

Shama and Jeiel (sons of Hotham from Aroer),

45 Jediael (son of Shimri) and

his brother Joha the Tizite,

46 Eliel the Mahavite,

Jeribai and Joshaviah (sons of Elnaam),

Ithmah from Moab,

47 Eliel,

Obed, and

Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

11:10–47   You gave men to fight by David’s side, troops willing to die for him. Give me friends to stand with me no matter what I face.

The Men Who Helped David Become King

12

1 These are the men who came to David at Ziklag when he was banished by Saul, son of Kish. They were among the soldiers who went into battle with David. 2 They were armed with bows and could sling stones or shoot arrows with either their right or their left hands. They were Saul’s relatives, ⌞from the tribe of⌟ Benjamin. 3 Ahiezer was the leader, then Joash (they were the sons of Shemaah from Gibeah), Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah from Gibeon (one of the thirty fighting men and one of their leaders),[18] Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah, 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph, 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (Korah’s descendants), 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, Jeroham’s sons from Gedor.

8 Some men left Gad to join David at the fortified camp in the desert. They were warriors, trained soldiers, able to fight with shields and spears. They looked like lions and were as fast as gazelles on the hills. 9 Ezer was the first of these soldiers. The second was Obadiah. The third was Eliab. 10 The fourth was Mishmannah. The fifth was Jeremiah. 11 The sixth was Attai. The seventh was Eliel. 12 The eighth was Johanan. The ninth was Elzabad. 13 The tenth was Jeremiah. The eleventh was Machbannai. 14 These descendants of Gad were army officers. The least able one was in command of 100 men, and the best one was in command of 1,000. 15 In the first month of the year, these men crossed the Jordan River when it was flooding its banks. They chased away all the people in the valleys to the east and west.

16 Some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fortified camp. 17 David went to meet them. He told them, “If you’ve come to help me as friends would, then you may join me. But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, even though I haven’t committed a crime, may the God of our ancestors see this and judge you.”

18 Then the Spirit gave Amasai, the leader of the thirty, the strength ⌞to say⌟,

“We are yours, David.

We are with you, son of Jesse.

Success, success to you!

Success to those who help you,

because your God is helping you.”

So David welcomed them and made them officers over his troops.

19 Some men from Manasseh had deserted ⌞Saul’s army⌟ to join David when he went with the Philistines to attack Saul. (However, David didn’t help the Philistines because their rulers sent him away after considering the matter. They said, “It will cost us our heads when he deserts and joins his master Saul.”) 20 When David went to Ziklag, these men from Manasseh deserted to join him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each one was an officer over 1,000 men in Manasseh. 21 They helped David fight raiding parties because they were all warriors, commanders in the army. 22 From day to day, men came to help David until he had an army as large as God’s army.

23 These are the numbers of the men equipped for war. The men joined David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingship over to David, as the LORD had said.

24 From Judah’s descendants there were 6,800 men equipped for war. They carried shields and spears.

25 From Simeon’s descendants there were 7,100 warriors.

26 From Levi’s descendants there were 4,600 27 as well as Jehoiada (leader of Aaron’s families). With him there were 3,700 men, 28 and Zadok, a young warrior from whose family came 22 officers.

29 From Benjamin’s descendants, Saul’s relatives, there were 3,000 men, though most of them remained loyal to Saul’s family. 30 From Ephraim’s descendants there were 20,800 warriors who were famous among their families.

31 From half of the tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to make David king.

32 From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Their relatives were under their command.

33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 experienced soldiers. They were equipped for battle with every kind of weapon. Their loyalty was unquestioned.[19]

34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 commanders. With them were 37,000 who fought with shields and spears.

35 From Dan there were 28,600 ready for battle.

36 From Asher there were 40,000 experienced soldiers ready for battle.

37 From the east side of the Jordan River, from Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 soldiers ready to fight with all kinds of weapons.

38 All of these soldiers, who were prepared for battle, came with a single purpose to Hebron—to make David king of all Israel. The rest of Israel also had agreed to make David king. 39 They ate and drank with David for three days because their relatives ⌞in Judah⌟ had provided enough for them. 40 Also, their neighbors as far as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep, because Israel was celebrating.

12:1–40   Make me as formidable as a lion and as fast as a gazelle. I’m on the side of all you choose to help.

David Has the Ark Brought to Obed Edom’s House—2 Samuel 6:1–11

13

1 David consulted with every officer who commanded a regiment or battalion. 2 Then he told the whole assembly of Israel, “If you approve and if the LORD our God has consented,[20] we will send ⌞an invitation⌟ to the rest of our relatives in every region of Israel and to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands so that they may join us. 3 Then we’ll bring back our God’s ark, which we ignored while Saul was king.”

4 The whole assembly agreed to this because the people considered it the right thing to do. 5 So David gathered all Israel from the Shihor River near Egypt to the border of Hamath in order to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.

6 David and all Israel went to Baalah in Kiriath Jearim, which is in Judah, to bring God’s ark ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. (The LORD is enthroned over the angels[21] ⌞on the ark⌟ where his name is used.) 7 David and his men put God’s ark on a new cart from Abinadab’s home. Uzzah and Ahio guided the cart. 8 David and all Israel were celebrating in God’s presence with all their might, with songs, with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 But when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor,[22] the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out to grab the ark. 10 The LORD became angry with Uzzah and killed him for reaching for the ark. He died in God’s presence.

11 David was angry because the LORD had struck Uzzah so violently. (That place is still called Perez Uzzah [The Striking of Uzzah] today.) 12 David was afraid of God that day. “How can I bring God’s ark to my ⌞city⌟?” he asked. 13 So he didn’t bring God’s ark to his ⌞home⌟, the City of David. Instead, he rerouted it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath. 14 God’s ark stayed at the home of Obed Edom with his family for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed Edom’s family and everything he owned.

13:1–14   I’ll celebrate in your presence with all my might. But I’ll remember that you demand utter respect. If David feared you I will too.

David’s Palace, Wives, and Children in Jerusalem—2 Samuel 5:11–16

14

1 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedarwood, masons, and carpenters to build a palace for David. 2 So David realized that the LORD had established him as king of Israel and that his kingdom was made famous for the sake of Israel, the LORD’s people.

3 David married more wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

14:1–7   Establish your kingdom for the sake of your people. Make us flourish for the sake of your glory.

David Defeats the Philistines—2 Samuel 5:17–25

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, all of them came to attack David. But David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9 The Philistines had come and raided the valley of Rephaim.

10 David asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The LORD answered him, “Attack! I will hand them over to you.”

11 So David ⌞and his men⌟ attacked and defeated the Philistines at Baal Perazim. David said, “Using my power like an overwhelming flood, God has overwhelmed my enemies.” That is why they call that place Baal Perazim [The Lord Overwhelms]. 12 The Philistines left their gods there, so David ordered that the gods be burned.

13 The Philistines again raided the valley. 14 Once more David asked God.

God answered him, “Don’t go after them. Circle around, and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 15 As you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out and fight because God has gone ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.”

16 David did as God ordered him, and his men defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 David’s fame spread through all lands, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.

14:8–17   You’re an overwhelming flood to everyone who opposes you. You always go ahead of your people.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem—2 Samuel 6:12–19a

15

1 After David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for God’s ark and set up a tent for it. 2 Then David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s ark because the LORD had chosen them to carry his ark and to serve him forever.

3 David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the LORD’s ark to the place he had prepared for it. 4 David also called together Aaron’s descendants and the Levites. 5 Leading Kohath’s descendants was Uriel, who came with 120 of his relatives. 6 Leading Merari’s descendants was Asaiah, who came with 220 of his relatives. 7 Leading Gershom’s descendants was Joel, who came with 130 of his relatives. 8 Leading Elizaphan’s descendants was Shemaiah, who came with 200 of his relatives. 9 Leading Hebron’s descendants was Eliel, who came with 80 of his relatives. 10 Leading Uzziel’s descendants was Amminadab, who came with 112 of his relatives.

11 David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar and for the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I prepared for it. 13 Because you weren’t there the first time, the LORD our God struck us. We hadn’t dedicated our lives to serving him in the way ⌞he⌟ designated.”

14 So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15 The Levites carried God’s ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to the LORD’s instructions.

16 David told the Levite leaders to appoint some of their relatives to serve as musicians. They were expected to play music on harps, lyres, and cymbals to produce joyful music for singing. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman, son of Joel, and from his relatives they appointed Asaph, Berechiah’s son. From their own relatives, Merari’s descendants, they appointed Ethan, son of Kushaiah. 18 In addition, they appointed their relatives from the second division: Zechariah,[23] Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah. Obed Edom and Jeiel were appointed gatekeepers. 19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to play bronze cymbals. 20 Zechariah, Jaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were appointed to play harps according to alamoth.[24] 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were appointed to play lyres and to conduct the sheminith.[25] 22 Chenaniah, a Levite leader, instructed others how to sing prophetic songs because he was skilled at it. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew trumpets in front of God’s ark. Obed Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

25 So David, the leaders of Israel, and the army’s commanders joyfully went to get the ark of the LORD’s promise from Obed Edom’s house. 26 Because God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the LORD’s promise, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was dressed in a fine linen robe, as were all the Levites who carried the ark, the ⌞Levites who were⌟ singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of the musicians’ prophetic songs. David also wore a linen ephod.[26]

28 All Israel brought the ark of the LORD’s promise with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres. 29 When the ark of the LORD’s promise came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, so she despised him.

15:1–29   David joyfully went to retrieve your ark for your holy city. He danced in your presence with all his might. I’ll celebrate in your presence even if I look like a fool.

16

1 The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God’s presence. 2 When David had finished sacrificing burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3 He also distributed to every person in Israel—both men and women—a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

The Levites Lead the Worship in Jerusalem—2 Samuel 6:19b–20a; Psalm 96:1–13; 105:1–15; 106:1, 47–48

4 David appointed some Levites to serve in front of the LORD’s ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to the LORD God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the head; Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals. 6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the ark of God’s promise. 7 For the first time David entrusted Asaph and his relatives with the task of singing songs of thanks to the LORD:

16:1–7   Bless your people. We’ll offer you prayers, thanks, and praise. We’ll make all kinds of music to you.

8 “Give thanks to the LORD.

Call on his name.

Make known among the nations what he has done.

9 Sing to him.

Make music to praise him.

Meditate on all the miracles he has done.

10 Brag about his holy name.

Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11 Search for the LORD and his strength.

Always seek his presence.

12 Remember the miracles he performed,

the amazing things he did and the judgments he pronounced,

13 you descendants of Israel, his servant,

you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

16:8–13   I thank you. I call on you. I tell the world what you have done. I make music to you and think hard about the miracles you’ve done for your people. Your amazing works give me reason upon reason to brag about you.

14 “He is the LORD our God.

His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.

15 Remember his promise[27] forever,

the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,

16 the promise that he made to Abraham,

and his sworn promise to Isaac.

17 He confirmed it as a law for Jacob,

as an everlasting promise to Israel,

18 by saying, ‘I will give you Canaan.

It is your share of the inheritance.’

16:14–18   You are our God. And you always remember the promises you made long ago.

19 “While they were few in number,

a small group of foreigners living in that land,

20 they wandered from nation to nation

and from one kingdom to another.

21 He didn’t permit anyone to oppress them.

He warned kings about them:

22 ‘Do not touch my anointed ones

or harm my prophets.’

16:19–22   You promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a homeland—just as you promise me rest. You didn’t let anyone oppress your chosen ones.

23 “Sing to the LORD, all the earth!

Day after day announce that the LORD saves his people.

24 Tell people about his glory.

Tell all the nations about his miracles.

25 “The LORD is great!

He should be highly praised.

He should be feared more than all ⌞other⌟ gods

26 because all the gods of the nations are idols.

The LORD made the heavens.

16:23–26   I sing to you! Day after day I announce how you save your people. I tell everyone about your glory and miracles. You’re worthy of my highest praise. You’re nothing like false gods. You’re fearsome and real.

27 Splendor and majesty are in his presence.

Strength and joy are where he is.

16:27   I see splendor and majesty when I enter your presence. With you I taste strength and joy.

28 “Give to the LORD, you families of the nations.

Give to the LORD glory and power.

29 Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves.

Bring an offering, and come to him.

Worship the LORD in ⌞his⌟ holy splendor.

30 Tremble in his presence, all the earth!

16:28–30   I promise to give you the glory you deserve. Let me see your holy splendor. I tremble in your presence!

“The earth stands firm; it cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad.

Say to the nations, ‘The LORD rules as king!’

32 Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder.

Let the fields and everything in them rejoice.

33 Then the trees in the forest will sing with joy

in the presence of the LORD when he comes to judge the earth.

16:31–33   You rule as king! Let heaven and earth rejoice. Let the sea roar. Let every field and forest sing your arrival when you come to judge the earth.

34 “Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,

because his mercy endures forever.

35 Say, ‘Rescue us, O God our Savior.

Gather us and save us from the nations

so that we may give thanks to your holy name

and make your praise our glory.’

36 Thanks be to the LORD God of Israel

from everlasting to everlasting.”

16:34–36   Thanks for your goodness and unending mercy. Gather and save us so we can praise you. I’ll sing thanks to you because your mercy endures forever!

Then all the people said amen and praised the LORD.

37 David left Asaph and his relatives to serve continually in front of the ark of the LORD’s promise, as the daily work required. 38 David also left Obed Edom and 68 of his relatives ⌞to serve there⌟. Obed Edom (Jeduthun’s son) and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. 39 David left Zadok and his priestly relatives to serve in the LORD’s tent at the place of worship in Gibeon. 40 They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to the LORD. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the LORD’s Teachings that he gave Israel. 41 With Zadok and his relatives were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of the Levites who had been selected, chosen by name, to give thanks to the LORD ⌞by singing,⌟ “His mercy endures forever.” 42 Also, Heman and Jeduthun played trumpets, cymbals, and the ⌞other⌟ musical instruments that accompany sacred songs. Jeduthun’s sons were stationed at the gate.

43 Then all the people went home. David went back to bless his family.

David’s Wish to Build a House for God—2 Samuel 7:1–29

17

1 When David was living in his house, he said to the prophet Nathan, “I’m living in a house made of cedar, while the ark of the LORD’s promise is inside a tent.”

2 Nathan told David, “Do everything you have in mind, because God is with you.”

3 But that same night God spoke his word to Nathan: 4 “Say to David, my servant, ‘This is what the LORD says: You must not build this house for me to live in. 5 I haven’t lived in a house from the day I brought Israel out ⌞of Egypt⌟ to this day, but I’ve gone from tent site to tent site, moving the tent ⌞of meeting⌟ from one location ⌞to another⌟. 6 In all the places I’ve moved with all Israel, did I ever ask any of the judges of Israel whom I ordered to be shepherds of my people why they didn’t build me a house of cedar?’

17:1–6   David was living in a house of fine cedar while your ark remained in a tent. It didn’t seem right to the king.

7 “Now this is what you will say to my servant David: ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: I took you from the pasture where you followed sheep so that you could be the leader of my people Israel. 8 I was with you wherever you went, and I destroyed all your enemies in front of you. I will make your name like the names of the greatest people on earth. 9 I will make a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will live in their own place and not be troubled anymore. The wicked will no longer frighten them as they used to do 10 ever since I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. I will crush all your enemies. I even tell you that I, the LORD, will build a house for you.

17:7–10   You lifted David from a life of following sheep, making him king and destroying his enemies. Make a place for me and plant me there. Don’t let me be troubled or frightened anymore.

11 “‘When the time comes for you to go and be with your ancestors, I will send one of your descendants. He will be one of your sons. I will establish his kingdom. 12 He will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his Father, and he will be my Son. And I will never stop showing him my love as I did to your predecessor. 14 I will place him in my royal house forever, and his throne will be established forever.’”

17:11–14   A descendant of David would build you a temple. And you vowed to establish David’s throne forever.

15 Nathan told David all these words and everything he had seen.

16 Then King David went into the tent and sat in front of the LORD. “Who am I, LORD God,” he asked, “and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far? 17 And this you consider to be a small act, God. You’ve spoken about the distant future of my house. LORD God, you’ve shown me the generation of the great man.[28]

18 “What more can I do for you in light of the honor ⌞you have given⌟ to me and since you know me so well! 19 LORD, you’ve done this great thing for my sake and your own desire. You made this great thing known to me.

20 “LORD, there is no one like you, and there is no other god except you, as we have heard with our own ears. 21 Who is like your people Israel? It is the one nation on earth that God came to free in order to make its people his own, to make your name known, and to do great and wonderful things for them. You forced the nations and their gods out of the way of your people, whom you freed from Egypt. 22 You made the people of Israel to be your people forever. And you, LORD, became their God.

17:18–22   You do great things because of your promise and your own desire. There’s no god except you. You freed your people to make your name known and to be their God forever!

23 “Now, LORD, faithfully keep the promise you made to me and my house forever. Do as you promised. 24 Your name will endure and be respected forever when ⌞people⌟ say, ‘The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God.’ And the house of David, your servant, will be established in your presence. 25 You, my God, have revealed especially to me that you will build me a house. That is why I have found ⌞the courage⌟ to pray to you.

26 “Almighty LORD, you are God. You promised me this good thing. 27 Now, you were pleased to bless my house so that it may continue in your presence forever. Indeed, you, LORD, have blessed it. It will be blessed forever.”

17:23–27   Keep every promise you make to me. You are God, and your words are trustworthy. Bless me and my house forever.

David’s Successes—2 Samuel 8:1–18

18

1 After this, David defeated and crushed the Philistines. He took Gath and its surrounding villages from them.

2 He also defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟.

3 When David went to establish his control ⌞over the territory⌟ along the Euphrates River, he defeated King Hadadezer at Hamath. 4 David took 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. David also disabled all but 100 of their horses so that they couldn’t pull chariots.

5 When the Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David put troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟. Everywhere David went, the LORD gave him victories.

7 David took the gold shields that Hadadezer’s servants carried, and he brought them to Jerusalem. 8 David also took a large quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer’s cities. (⌞Later⌟ Solomon used it to make the pool, pillars, and utensils ⌞for the temple⌟.)

9 When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Zobah’s King Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. (There had often been war between Hadadezer and Tou.) 11 King David dedicated all the articles of gold, silver, and bronze to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations—from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.

12 Zeruiah’s son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Dead Sea region. 13 He put troops in Edom, and all its people became David’s subjects. Everywhere David went, the LORD gave him victories.

14 So David ruled all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people. 15 Zeruiah’s son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian. 16 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Abimelech[29] were priests. Shavsha was the royal scribe. 17 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David’s sons were his main officials.

18:1–14   You crushed the Philistines and Moabites and more. Everywhere David went you gave him victory. He ruled your people and did what was right and fair. Train me to discover your will and do right.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram—2 Samuel 10:1–19

19

1 Later King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place. 2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun because his father Nahash showed me kindness.” So David sent messengers to comfort Hanun after his father’s ⌞death⌟. But when David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to comfort Hanun, 3 the Ammonite princes asked Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Haven’t his servants come to explore, destroy, and spy on the country?” 4 So Hanun took David’s men, shaved them, cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.

5 After people told David ⌞what had happened⌟ to the men, he sent ⌞someone⌟ to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return ⌞to Jerusalem⌟.”

19:1–5   Harun refused David’s kindness, humiliating his men and sending them away. Why am I suspicious of kindness? Why am I prone to pick fights?

6 The Ammonites realized that they had made themselves offensive to David. So Hanun and the Ammonites sent 75,000 pounds of silver to hire chariots and horses from the Arameans in Upper Mesopotamia, Maacah, and Zobah. 7 They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army. They camped near Medeba. The Ammonites gathered for the battle from their cities.

8 After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops. 9 The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the city, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the kings who had come remained by themselves in the open country.

10 When Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind, he took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans. 11 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the troops. They organized for combat against the Ammonites.

12 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for my ⌞troops⌟, be ready to help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for your ⌞troops⌟, I’ll help you. 13 Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God, and the LORD will do what he considers right.”

14 Then Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, and the Arameans fled. 15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they, too, fled from Joab’s brother Abishai and went into the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.

16 Realizing that Israel had defeated them, the kings sent ⌞messengers⌟ to get ⌞other⌟ Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River. Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army, led them.

17 When David was told ⌞about this⌟, he assembled Israel’s army, crossed the Jordan, and confronted them. David formed a battle line against the Arameans, and they fought him. 18 The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed 7,000 chariot drivers and 40,000 foot soldiers. David also killed Shophach. 19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that Israel had defeated them, they made peace with David and became his subjects. And the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

19:6–19   Let me be strong for your people and your glory. Do what you consider right.

David Defeats the Philistines—2 Samuel 11:1; 12:26–31; 21:15–22

20

1 In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the army ⌞to war⌟. They destroyed the Ammonites and came to Rabbah to attack it, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down. 2 He took the gold crown from the head of Rabbah’s king and put it on David’s head. (The crown was found to weigh 75 pounds, and in it was a precious stone.) David also took a lot of goods from the city. 3 He brought out the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes.[30] He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.

4 After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai from Hushah[31] killed Sippai, a descendant of Haraphah, and the Philistines were defeated. 5 When more fighting broke out with the Philistines, Elhanan, son of Jair, killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath. (The shaft of Lahmi’s spear was like a beam used by weavers.) 6 In another battle at Gath, there was a tall man who had 24 fingers and toes: six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was a descendant of Haraphah. 7 When he challenged Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimea, killed him. 8 These ⌞men⌟ were the descendants of Haraphah from Gath, and David and his men killed them.

20:1–8   The king relaxed in his palace while others fought his wars. But you defeated the Philistine giants. No one can stand against your power.

David Counts the People—2 Samuel 24:1–25

21

1 Satan attempted to attack Israel by provoking David to count the Israelites. 2 David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan. Bring me ⌞the results⌟ so that I may know how many ⌞people⌟ there are.”

3 Joab responded, “May the LORD multiply his people a hundred times over. But, Your Majesty, aren’t they all your servants? Why are you trying to do this? Why do you wish to make Israel guilty of ⌞this⌟ sin?”

4 However, the king overruled Joab. So Joab left, went throughout Israel, and returned to Jerusalem. 5 Joab reported the census figures to David: In Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could serve in the army, and in Judah there were 470,000 who could serve in the army. 6 Joab didn’t include Levi and Benjamin in the number because he was disgusted with the king’s order.

7 God considered the census to be sinful, so he struck Israel ⌞with a plague⌟.

21:1–7   You weren’t happy when David counted your people from one end of the country to the other. He relied on the size of his army—not your might. Show me when I try to muscle my way through life.

8 David said to God, “I have committed a terrible sin by doing this thing. Forgive me because I have acted very foolishly.”

9 The LORD spoke to Gad, David’s seer.[32] 10 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I’m offering you three choices. Choose the one you want me to do to you.’”

11 When Gad came to David, he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Take your pick: 12 either three years of famine, or three months during which your enemies will chase you away when their swords catch up to you, or three days of the LORD’s sword—a plague in the land with the Messenger of the LORD destroying the whole country of Israel.’ Decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.”

13 “I’m in a desperate situation,” David told Gad. “Please let me fall into the LORD’s hands because he is extremely merciful. But don’t let me fall into human hands.”

14 So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and 70,000 Israelites died. 15 God also sent a Messenger to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was destroying it, the LORD reconsidered and changed his mind about the disaster. “Enough!” he said to the destroying Messenger. “Put down your weapon.” The Messenger of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor[33] of Ornan the Jebusite.

16 When David looked up, he saw the Messenger of the LORD standing between heaven and earth. The Messenger had a sword in his hand and stretched it over Jerusalem. David and the leaders were dressed in sackcloth. They bowed down with their faces touching the ground. 17 David said to God, “I’m the one who ordered the people to be counted. I am the one who sinned and did wrong. What have these sheep done? LORD my God, let your punishment be against me and my father’s family, but don’t punish your people with a plague.”

21:8–17   The king confessed his foolish sin. But you wouldn’t ignore what he’d done. I count on you to be merciful and forgiving. But you won’t always wipe away the consequences of my sin.

18 The LORD’s Messenger told Gad to tell David to go and set up an altar for the LORD at Ornan the Jebusite’s threshing floor. 19 David went as Gad had told him in the LORD’s name.

20 Now, Ornan had turned around and seen the Messenger. Ornan’s four sons who were with him hid, but Ornan kept on threshing the wheat.

21 When David arrived, Ornan looked up and saw him. So he left the threshing floor and bowed down with his face touching the ground in front of David. 22 David said to Ornan, “Let me have the land this threshing floor is on. I’ll build an altar for the LORD on it. Sell it to me for the full price. Then the plague on the people will stop.”

23 Ornan said to David, “Take it, Your Majesty, and do whatever you think is right. I’ll give you oxen for the burnt offering, threshers[34] for firewood, and wheat for the grain offering. I’ll give you everything.”

24 “No,” King David told Ornan, “I insist on buying it for the full price. I won’t take what is yours for the LORD and offer burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.” 25 So David gave Ornan 15 pounds of gold for that place.

26 David built an altar for the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him by ⌞sending⌟ fire from heaven on the altar for burnt offerings. 27 So the LORD spoke to the Messenger, and he put his sword back in its scabbard.

28 At that time, when David saw the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. 29 The LORD’s tent that Moses made in the desert and the altar for burnt offerings were at the worship site at Gibeon. 30 However, David couldn’t go there to consult God because he was frightened by the sword of the LORD’s Messenger.

21:18–30   David built an altar and sacrificed offerings. You heard his prayers and halted the plague. I won’t offer you sacrifices that cost me nothing.

22

1 Then David said, “This is where the LORD God’s temple will be. Israel’s altar for burnt offerings will also be here.”

David Helps Solomon Prepare to Build the Temple

2 David ordered the foreigners living in Israel to gather. He appointed some of them to cut stones to build God’s temple. 3 David prepared a large quantity of iron for nails and fittings on the doors of the gates. He also prepared so much bronze that it couldn’t be weighed. 4 The men of Sidon and Tyre brought David so many cedar logs that the logs couldn’t be counted.

5 David thought, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the temple that will be built for the LORD must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored in all other countries. I’ll prepare ⌞the building materials⌟ for him.” So David prepared many materials ⌞for Solomon⌟ before he died.

22:1–5   Your temple must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored. Make me fit to worship you.

6 He summoned his son Solomon and commanded him to build a temple for the LORD God of Israel. 7 David told his son Solomon, “I had my heart set on building a temple for the name of the LORD, my God. 8 But the LORD spoke his word to me by saying, ‘You have caused a lot of bloodshed and fought in a lot of wars. You must not build a temple for my name because you have caused so much bloodshed in my presence. 9 You will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him peace from all the enemies around him. His name will be Solomon [Peace], and in his time I will give Israel peace and quiet. 10 He will build a temple for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom permanently over Israel.’”

11  ⌞David continued,⌟ “Now, son, the LORD will be with you. You will be successful, and you will build the temple of the LORD your God as he predicted you would. 12 The LORD will give you insight and understanding as he commands you to take charge of Israel and to follow the Teachings of the LORD your God. 13 Then you will succeed if you will carefully obey the laws and decrees the LORD commanded Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or terrified.

22:6–13   You raised up a son named Peace to build you a house. Give me insight and understanding as I follow your teachings. I’ll be strong and unafraid. I’ll succeed at carrying out your will.

14 “Despite my troubles I’ve made preparations for the LORD’s temple. There are 7,500,000 pounds of gold, 75,000,000 pounds of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can’t be weighed. I’ve also prepared wood and stones, and you may add to them. 15 You have many kinds of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work. 16 The gold, silver, bronze, and iron are more than can be counted. So get to work! May the LORD be with you.”

17 David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18  ⌞David said,⌟ “Isn’t the LORD your God with you? Hasn’t he given you peace with all your neighbors? He put the people who live in this country under my power, and the country has been conquered by the LORD and his people. 19 So dedicate your hearts and lives to serving the LORD your God. Start building the holy place of the LORD God so that you can bring the ark of the LORD’s promise and God’s holy utensils into the temple that will be built for the LORD’s name.”

22:14–19   I dedicate my heart and life to serving you. I’ll make my life a temple to honor you.

The Levites Are Organized to Serve in the Temple

23

1 When David had grown old and had lived out his years, he made his son Solomon king of Israel. 2 He gathered all the officials of Israel and the priests and Levites. 3 Every male Levite who was at least 30 years old was counted. There were 38,000. 4 Of these, 24,000 were appointed to supervise the work on the LORD’s temple, 6,000 were appointed to be officers and judges, 5 4,000 were appointed to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 were appointed to praise the LORD with the instruments David had made for praising God. 6 David organized the Levites into divisions based on which of Levi’s sons (Gershon, Kohath, or Merari) they were descended from.

7 Ladan and Shimei were Gershon’s descendants. 8 Ladan had three sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel. 9 Shimei had three sons: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran. They were the heads of Ladan’s families. 10 Shimei’s sons were Jahath, Zina,[35] Jeush, and Beriah. They were Shimei’s four sons. 11 Jahath was the first, and Ziza was the second. Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons, so they were given an assignment as one family.

12 Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 13 Amram’s sons were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his sons were forever designated to dedicate the most holy things ⌞to God⌟, to offer sacrifices to the LORD, to serve him, and always give the blessing in his name. 14 The sons of Moses, the man of God, were counted with the tribe of Levi. 15 Moses’ sons were Gershom and Eliezer. 16 Gershom’s only son was Shebuel. 17 Eliezer’s only son was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many sons. 18 Izhar’s only son was Shelomith. 19 Hebron’s first son was Jeriah; his second was Amariah; his third was Jahaziel; his fourth was Jekameam. 20 Uzziel’s first son was Micah; his second was Isshiah.

21 Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli’s sons were Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died without having any sons. He only had daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

23:1–23   You appointed Levites to serve for your glory—temple workers, officers and judges, gatekeepers, instrumentalists. Show me where I can best serve you. Open my eyes to opportunities.

24 These were Levi’s descendants, who were grouped according to their families. The heads of their families were registered by name as they were counted. Everyone who served in the LORD’s temple was at least 20 years old. 25 David had said, “The LORD God of Israel has given his people rest. He will now live in Jerusalem forever. 26 The Levites will no longer have to carry the tent and all the utensils used in worship.”

27 David’s last instructions were to count the Levites who were at least 20 years old. 28 They were appointed to stand beside Aaron’s descendants to serve in the LORD’s temple. They were appointed to be in charge of the courtyards and the temple rooms, to ensure that all the holy things were clean,[36] and to serve in God’s temple. 29 They were also responsible for the rows of bread, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread wafers, and the bread made in frying pans. In addition, they were responsible for mixing the ingredients and keeping track of all weights and measures. 30 They were appointed to stand to give thanks and praise to the LORD every morning. They were appointed to do the same thing in the evening. 31 They were appointed to stand in front of the LORD in the required numbers whenever burnt offerings were made—on weekly worship days, at New Moon Festivals, and on appointed annual festivals. 32 They were appointed to follow the regulations for the tent of meeting and the holy place and to help their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, as they served in the LORD’s temple.

23:24–32   Levites gave thanks in the morning. They praised you in the evening. Train me to worship you all day long.

The Organization of the Priests

24

1 The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows: Aaron’s sons were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father died, and neither had any children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

3 David, Eleazar’s descendant Zadok, and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech divided Aaron’s descendants into groups for service. 4 Since Eleazar’s descendants had more men who were family heads than Ithamar’s descendants, they were divided so that Eleazar’s descendants had 16 family leaders and Ithamar’s descendants had 8 family leaders. 5 Both groups were divided impartially by drawing lots so that there were officers for the holy place and officers for God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants. 6 The scribe Shemaiah was a son of Nethanel and a descendant of Levi. Shemaiah recorded their names in the presence of the king, the princes, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech (son of Abiathar), and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. One family was chosen for Eleazar, another for Ithamar.

7 The first lot drawn was for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, 8 the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, 9 the fifth for Malchiah, the sixth for Mijamin, 10 the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah, 11 the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, 13 the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, 15 the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, 18 the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. 19 These were their priestly groups when they went to serve at the LORD’s temple. Their ancestor Aaron made these rules for them, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

The Organization of the Levites

20  ⌞The following men were leaders⌟ for Levi’s descendants ⌞from Kohath⌟:

Jehdeiah (for Amram’s descendants through Shubael),

21 Isshiah (⌞for Amram’s descendants⌟ through Rehabiah),

22 Jahath (for Izhar’s descendants through Shelomoth),

23 Jeriah (for Hebron’s descendants[37]),

Amariah (the second ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),

Jahaziel (the third ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),

Jekameam (the fourth ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),

24 Shamir (for Uzziel’s descendants through Micah),

25 and Zechariah (for ⌞Uzziel’s⌟ descendants through Micah’s brother Isshiah).

26 The following men were leaders from Levi’s descendants from Merari:

Mahli, Mushi, and Merari’s son Jaaziah,

27 Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri (for Merari’s descendants through his son Jaaziah),

28 Eleazar (who had no sons, for Mahli’s descendants),

29 Jerahmeel (for ⌞Mahli’s⌟ descendants through Kish),

30 Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth (for Mushi’s descendants).

These were Levi’s descendants according to their families. 31 They drew lots as their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, had done. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same way as those of the youngest.

24:1–31   Assign me to your work as you see fit. Bring me partners in serving so I don’t wear out. We share the privilege of laboring for you.

David Appoints Musicians for the Temple

25

1 David and the army commanders appointed the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to serve as prophets with lyres, harps, and cymbals. This is the list of the men who performed this service:

2 From the sons of Asaph were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. (They were directed by Asaph, who served as a prophet under the king’s direction.)

3 From the sons of Jeduthun were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, Mattithiah. (The six brothers were directed by their father, the prophet Jeduthun. They thanked and praised the LORD as they played lyres.)

4 From the sons of Heman were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 (All of them were the sons of the king’s seer[38] Heman. They were given to him to make him prominent, as God had promised. So God gave Heman 14 sons and 3 daughters.)

6 All these ⌞Levites⌟ sang at the LORD’s temple under the direction of their fathers Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. They played cymbals, lyres, and harps for worship in God’s temple under the direction of the king. 7 They, along with their relatives, were trained, skilled musicians for the LORD. There were 288 of them.

8 They drew lots for their assignment of duties, the youngest as well as the oldest, the skilled ⌞musicians⌟ along with the students.

9 The first lot drawn chose Joseph, the son of Asaph.

The second chose Gedaliah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

10 The third chose Zaccur, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

11 The fourth chose Izri, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

12 The fifth chose Nethaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

13 The sixth chose Bukkiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

14 The seventh chose Jesarelah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

15 The eighth chose Jeshaiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

16 The ninth chose Mattaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

17 The tenth chose Shimei, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

18 The eleventh chose Azarel, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

19 The twelfth chose Hashabiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

20 The thirteenth chose Shubael, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

21 The fourteenth chose Mattithiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

22 The fifteenth chose Jeremoth, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

23 The sixteenth chose Hananiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

24 The seventeenth chose Joshbekashah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

25 The eighteenth chose Hanani, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

26 The nineteenth chose Mallothi, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

27 The twentieth chose Eliathah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

28 The twenty-first chose Hothir, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

29 The twenty-second chose Giddalti, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

30 The twenty-third chose Mahazioth, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

31 The twenty-fourth chose Romamti Ezer, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.

25:1–31   I’ll sing at your direction. I’ll worship you in every way I know how. I’ll hone my skills each day. I’ll honor you from now until old age.

David Appoints Gatekeepers for the Temple

26

1 The following were the divisions of the gatekeepers: For Korah’s descendants there was Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, from the descendants of Asaph. 2 Meshelemiah’s sons were Zechariah (the firstborn), Jediael (the second), Zebadiah (the third), Jathniel (the fourth), 3 Elam (the fifth), Jehohanan (the sixth), Eliehoenai (the seventh).

4  ⌞Also for Korah’s descendants⌟ there were Obed Edom’s sons Shemaiah (the firstborn), Jehozabad (the second), Joah (the third), Sachar (the fourth), Nethanel (the fifth), 5 Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (the seventh), Peullethai (the eighth). God had blessed Obed Edom. 6 His son Shemaiah had sons who ruled their families because they were soldiers. 7 Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, and Othni’s skilled brothers Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, as well as Elihu and Semachiah. 8 All of these people were Obed Edom’s descendants. They, their sons, and their relatives were skilled and had the ability to perform the service. Obed Edom’s family included 62 men.

9 Meshelemiah’s sons and relatives were 18 skilled men.

10 From the descendants of Merari there were Hosah’s sons. Shimri was the head, although he was not the firstborn. His father appointed him head. 11 Hosah’s other sons were Hilkiah (the second), Tebaliah (the third), and Zechariah (the fourth). There were 13 sons and relatives of Hosah.

12 These divisions of gatekeepers through their head men were assigned duties with their relatives to serve in the LORD’s temple. 13 They drew lots by families, youngest and oldest alike, for every gate. 14 Shelemiah was chosen for the east side. His son Zechariah, a counselor who displayed insight, was chosen for the north side. 15 Obed Edom was chosen for the south side, and his sons were chosen for the storerooms. 16 Shuppim and Hosah were chosen for the west side with Shallecheth Gate at the gateway that goes to the palace.

One squad of guards served its watch after another. 17 On the east side there were six Levites. On the north there were four every day. On the south there were four every day. At the storerooms there were four, two at each entrance. 18 At the courtyard[39] on the west there were four Levites at the gateway to the palace and two at the courtyard itself. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among Korah’s and Merari’s descendants.

26:1–19   I’ll stand at attention and welcome your people to worship. I’ll call them to purity and righteousness. I’ll guard everything you entrust to me.

David Appoints Treasurers for the Temple

20 Ahijah, a Levite, was in charge of the treasuries in God’s temple and the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to God. 21  ⌞There were also⌟ the descendants of Ladan, who was descended from Gershon. ⌞Those who served⌟ for Ladan, the descendant of Gershon, were the heads of Ladan’s families: Jehiel 22  ⌞and⌟ Jehiel’s sons Zetham and Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries in the LORD’s temple. 23 For the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, 24 there was Shebuel, a descendant of Moses’ son Gershom. He was the highest-ranking official in charge of the treasuries. 25 From his relatives on Eliezer’s side of the family was Shelomith. (Eliezer’s son was Rehabiah; his grandson was Jeshaiah; his great-grandson was Joram. Joram’s son was Zichri; his grandson was Shelomith.) 26 He and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to God that King David, the heads of families, the commanders of regiments and battalions, and the commanders of the army had donated. 27 (They had donated some of the loot taken in battle to support the LORD’s temple.) 28 Everything that Samuel the seer,[40] Saul (son of Kish), Abner (son of Ner), and Joab (son of Zeruiah) had donated—everything that had been donated—was under the supervision of Shelomith and his relatives.

26:20–28   I’ll be a faithful steward of your wealth. I’ll give an open account of all my work.

David Appoints Levites to Oversee Israel’s Worship

29 From Izhar’s descendants Chenaniah and his sons were assigned duties. They served as officials and judges outside ⌞the temple⌟ in Israel. 30 From Hebron’s descendants Hashabiah and his 1,700 skilled, male relatives were appointed to serve Israel west of the Jordan River. They did everything the LORD wanted them to do, and they served the king. 31 Jeriah was the head of Hebron’s descendants. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, the ancestry of Hebron’s descendants was researched family by family. Warriors from these families were found at Jazer in Gilead. 32 Jeriah’s relatives were 2,700 skilled men, who were heads of families. King David appointed them to be overseers in every matter involving God or the king for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

26:29–32   I’ll happily do duties unspecified. I’m willing to do everything you ask.

David’s Government Officials

27

1 This is a list of Israelite family heads, regiment and battalion commanders, and officers who were serving the king in all the army’s units. Throughout each year they came for a month at a time and then left. Each unit consisted of 24,000 men.

2 Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel, was in charge of the first unit, the one during the first month. In his unit there were 24,000. 3 He was a descendant of Perez, and he was head of all of the army’s officers for the first month.

4 Dodai, Ahoh’s descendant, was in charge of the unit during the second month. It was his unit. (Mikloth was one of its leaders.) In Dodai’s unit there were 24,000.

5 The third commander of the army during the third month was Benaiah, son of the priest Jehoiada. He was the head, and in his unit there were 24,000. 6 This Benaiah was one of the thirty fighting men and commander of the thirty as well as his own unit. His son was Ammizabad.

7 Asahel, Joab’s brother, was in charge of the fourth unit during the fourth month, and after him was his son Zebadiah. In his unit there were 24,000.

8 Shamhuth, Izrah’s descendant, was commander of the fifth unit during the fifth month. In his unit there were 24,000.

9 Ira, the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, was in charge of the sixth unit during the sixth month. In his unit there were 24,000.

10 Helez, a Pelonite from the descendants of Ephraim, was in charge of the seventh unit during the seventh month. In his unit there were 24,000.

11 Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was in charge of the eighth unit during the eighth month. In his unit there were 24,000.

12 Abiezer, a member of the tribe of Benjamin from Anathoth, was in charge of the ninth unit during the ninth month. In his unit there were 24,000.

13 Mahrai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was in charge of the tenth unit during the tenth month. In his unit there were 24,000.

14 Benaiah, a member of the tribe of Ephraim from Pirathon, was in charge of the eleventh unit during the eleventh month. In his unit there were 24,000.

15 During the twelfth month, the twelfth unit was commanded by Heldai from Netophah. He was Othniel’s descendant. In his unit there were 24,000.

16 The following officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel:

for the tribe of Reuben

Eliezer, son of Zichri

for the tribe of Simeon

Shephatiah, son of Maacah

17 for the tribe of Levi

Hashabiah, son of Kemuel

for the family of Aaron

Zadok

18 for the tribe of Judah

Elihu, one of David’s brothers

for the tribe of Issachar

Omri, son of Michael

19 for the tribe of Zebulun

Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah

for the tribe of Naphtali

Jerimoth, son of Azriel

20 for the tribe of Ephraim

Hoshea, son of Azaziah

for half of the tribe of Manasseh

Joel, son of Pedaiah

21 for the half of Manasseh in Gilead

Iddo, son of Zechariah

for the tribe of Benjamin

Jaasiel, son of Abner

22 for the tribe of Dan

Azarel, son of Jeroham

These were the commanders of Israel’s tribes.

23 David didn’t count those under 20 years old, because the LORD had promised that the people of Israel would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. 24 Joab, son of Zeruiah, started to count them but didn’t finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, and the report from it was never included in the official records of King David.

25 These were all the commanders in charge of King David’s property:[41]

for the royal treasuries

Azmaveth, son of Adiel

for the goods in the fields, cities, villages, and watchtowers

Jonathan, son of Uzziah

26 for the farm workers in the fields

Ezri, son of Chelub

27 for the vineyards

Shimei from Ramah

for storing wine that came from the vineyards

Zabdi from Shepham

28 for the olive and fig trees in the foothills

Baal Hanan from Gedor

for storing olive oil

Joash

29 for the herds grazing in Sharon

Shitrai from Sharon

for the herds in the valleys

Shaphat, son of Adlai

30 for the camels

Obil, a descendant of Ishmael

for the donkeys

Jehdeiah from Meronoth

31 for the flocks

Jaziz from Hagar

32 David’s uncle Jonathan, an educated man who possessed insight, was David’s adviser. Jonathan and Jehiel, son of Hachmoni, were in charge of the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was the king’s adviser. Hushai, a descendant of Archi, was the king’s friend. 34 Jehoiada (son of Benaiah) and Abiathar succeeded Ahithophel. Joab was the commander of the royal army.

27:1–34   I’ll take my turn at being in charge. Teach me to live and lead without compromise. I’ll get the education I need to be an insightful adviser.

David’s Public Assembly at Jerusalem

28

1 David held a meeting in Jerusalem for all the leaders of Israel—the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the army units that served the king, the commanders of regiments and battalions, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, the palace officials, the soldiers, and the fighting men.

2 David stood in front of them and said, “Listen to me, my relatives and subjects. I had my heart set on building the temple where the ark of the LORD’s promise could be placed. This temple would be a stool for our God’s feet, and I have made preparations to build it. 3 But God told me, ‘You must not build the temple for my name. You have fought wars and caused bloodshed.’ 4 Yet, from my entire family the LORD God of Israel chose me to be king of Israel permanently. He had chosen the tribe of Judah to lead ⌞Israel⌟. From the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. From among my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king of all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (the LORD has given me many sons) he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the LORD’s kingdom to rule Israel.

6 “He told me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my temple and my courtyards because I have chosen him to be my son. I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he will remain determined to obey my commands and laws, as he is doing today.’ 8 Now, ⌞leaders, I order you⌟ in the sight of Israel (the LORD’s congregation) and as our God listens to dedicate your lives to doing everything the LORD your God has commanded. Then you will be able to possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants.

28:1–8   I dedicate my life to doing everything you command. I’ll live in your presence and lead my children to follow you.

9 “And you, my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s God. Serve the LORD wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought ⌞we have⌟. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on. 10 So be careful, because the LORD has chosen you to build the temple as his holy place. Be strong, and do it.”

11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the entrance hall and the temple, its storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the throne of mercy. 12 He gave him plans for the courtyards of the LORD’s temple and for all the rooms around it. (These rooms served as treasuries for God’s temple and the gifts dedicated to God.) 13 He determined the divisions of priests and Levites. He planned all the work done for worship in the LORD’s temple. He designed all the utensils for worship in the LORD’s temple. 14  ⌞David specified⌟ the weight of gold to be used for each of the utensils for worship, 15 the weight of the gold lamp stands and their gold lamps (⌞that is,⌟ the weight of gold for each lamp stand and its lamps), the weight of silver for each silver lamp stand and its lamps (according to the use of each lamp stand for worship), 16 the weight of gold for each table with the rows of bread, and the silver for the silver tables, 17 the pure gold for the forks, bowls, and pitchers, the weight of each gold bowl, the weight of each silver bowl, 18 and the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave Solomon the plans for the chariot, that is, the gold angels[42] with their wings spread to cover the ark of the LORD’s promise. 19  ⌞David said,⌟ “All this was written for me by the LORD’s hand. He made all the details of the plan clear to me.”

28:9–19   I long to serve you wholeheartedly and willingly. I dedicate my life to serving you. I’ll never abandon you.

20 David also told his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or terrified. The LORD God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you before all the work on the LORD’s temple is finished. 21 Here are also the divisions of the priests and Levites for every type of worship in God’s temple. You have with you every skilled worker to do all the work. In addition, all the leaders and people are at your command.”

28:20–21   I’ll be strong and courageous as I do your work. You’ll always be with me.

29

1 Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. Yet, the work is important because this palace is not for a person but for the LORD God. 2 With all my might I gathered ⌞the materials⌟ for the temple of my God: gold for gold objects, silver for silver objects, bronze for bronze objects, iron for iron objects, wood for wooden objects, onyx stones and settings, black stones, stones of different colors, gems, and marble. 3 Moreover, I delight in the temple of my God. I have a personal treasury of gold and silver that I’m giving to my God’s temple in addition to everything else I gathered for the holy temple. 4 There are 225,000 pounds of gold from Ophir and 525,000 pounds of refined silver. They are to be used to cover the walls of the buildings, 5 to make gold objects, silver objects, and everything else the craftsmen will make. Who else is willing to make an offering and dedicate himself to the LORD today?”

6 Then the leaders of the families, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of regiments and battalions, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave generously. 7 They gave 375,186 pounds of gold, 750,000 pounds of silver, 135,000 pounds of bronze, and 7,500,000 pounds of iron for the work on God’s temple. 8 Whoever happened to have precious stones gave them to Jehiel, Gershon’s descendant, for the treasury of the LORD’s temple. 9 The people were overjoyed that the leaders gave so generously and wholeheartedly to the LORD.

29:1–8   You choose me even when I’m young and inexperienced. Surround me with wise and generous mentors.

King David was also overjoyed, and 10 he praised the LORD while the whole assembly watched. David said,

“May you be praised, LORD God of Israel,

our father forever and ever.[43]

11 Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, LORD,

because everything in heaven and on earth is yours.

The kingdom is yours, LORD,

and you are honored as head of all things.

12 Riches and honor are in front of you.

You rule everything.

You hold power and strength in your hands,

and you can make anyone great and strong.

13 “Our God, we thank you

and praise your wonderful name.

14 But who am I and who are my people

that you enable us to give so generously?

Everything comes from you.

We give you only what has come from your hands.

15 To you we are all like our ancestors—

foreigners without permanent homes.

Our days are as fleeting as shadows on the ground.

There’s no hope ⌞for them⌟.

16 “LORD, our God, all this wealth that we gathered to build a temple for your holy name is from you. All of it is yours. 17 I know, my God, that you examine hearts and delight in honesty. With an honest heart I have willingly offered all these things. I’ve been overjoyed to see your people here offering so willingly to you. 18 LORD God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always watch over your people’s deepest thoughts. Keep their hearts directed toward you. 19 Make my son Solomon completely committed ⌞to you⌟ so that he will obey your commands, requests, and laws and do everything to build the palace I have planned.”

29:9–19   You search my heart and understand my every thought. So I’ll serve you wholeheartedly and willingly. I’ll be careful to accomplish your plans. I’ll be strong. I’ll just do it.

Solomon Is Made King

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God!” So the whole assembly praised the LORD God of their ancestors and knelt in front of the LORD and the king.

21 The next day they sacrificed to the LORD. They sacrificed burnt offerings to the LORD: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs, wine offerings, and many sacrifices for all Israel. 22 That day they ate and drank as they joyfully celebrated in front of the LORD. For the second time they made David’s son Solomon king. On the LORD’s behalf they anointed Solomon to be leader and Zadok to be the priest.

23 Then Solomon sat on the LORD’s throne as king in place of his father David. Solomon was successful and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and soldiers and all of King David’s sons pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. 25 The LORD made Solomon extremely powerful, as all Israel could see. The people of Israel gave him royal honor like no king of Israel before him ever had.

David’s Reign—1 Kings 2:10–12

26 David, son of Jesse, had ruled all Israel. 27 He ruled as king of Israel for 40 years. He ruled for 7 years in Hebron and for 33 in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a very old age. His long life was full of wealth and honor. Then his son Solomon succeeded him as king.

29 Everything about King David from first to last is written in the records of the seer[44] Samuel, the prophet Nathan, and the seer Gad. 30 It includes everything about his reign, his power, and the things that happened to him, Israel, and all the other kingdoms.

29:20–30   I’ll honor people you elevate to leadership. I’ll pray for their success.

2 CHRONICLES

INTRODUCTION

Second Chronicles remembers God’s faithfulness. The book of 1 Chronicles ended with the ascension to the throne of David’s favored son Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:20–29). This book begins with a triumphant announcement that “Solomon, son of David, strengthened his position over the kingdom. The Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful” (2 Chronicles 1:1).

Solomon proceeds to ask the Lord for wisdom, receiving wealth and fame as well. He builds a temple fit for his awesome God, furnishing it with fine woods and precious metals, and the Lord’s presence fills the new house. Solomon’s riches and wisdom soon surpass those of all the other kings of the world. Yet even the upbeat narrative of this book can’t hide the kingdom’s decline after his death.

The narrative of 2 Chronicles largely ignores the northern kingdom of Israel after it splits from what becomes the southern kingdom of Judah. Even as Judah turns from God, the book highlights the reforms of godly kings like Asa (2 Chronicles 15:1–19), Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 19:4–11), Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:3–31:20), and Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:8–35:19).

When the nation is defeated and its people resettled as captives in Babylon, the book still holds out hope, moving forward seventy years to a decree by Cyrus king of Persia permitting the exiles to return home to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Praying 2 Chronicles inspires you to trust God’s faithfulness even when the world turns dark. Just as the Lord guided his people in the past, he will guide you today.

2 CHRONICLES

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20

21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | 29  | 30

31  | 32  | 33  | 34  | 35  | 36

God Appears to Solomon—1 Kings 3:1–15; 10:26–29

1

1 Solomon, son of David, strengthened his position over the kingdom. The LORD his God was with him and made him very powerful.

2 Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of regiments and battalions, judges, every prince, and the heads of Israel’s families. 3 Then Solomon and the entire assembly went to the place of worship in Gibeon because God’s tent of meeting was there. Moses, the LORD’s servant, had made the tent in the desert. 4 (However, David had ⌞already⌟ brought God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim to a place he had prepared for it. He had put up a tent for it in Jerusalem.) 5 The bronze altar that Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, had made was in front of the LORD’s tent. There Solomon and the assembly worshiped the LORD. 6 In the LORD’s presence Solomon went to the bronze altar in front of the tent of meeting and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

1:1–6   You were with Solomon and made him powerful. Stay with me and make me strong. I’ll worship you with your people.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon. He said, “What can I give you?”

8 Solomon responded to God, “You’ve shown great love to my father David, and you’ve made me king in his place. 9 Now, LORD God, you’ve kept the promise you made to my father David. You’ve made me king of people who are as numerous as specks of dust on the ground. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”

1:7–10   You asked Solomon what he wanted from you. He asked for a listening heart to tell the difference between good and evil. I need that right now.

11 God replied to Solomon, “I know this request is from your heart. You didn’t ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn’t even ask for a long life. Instead, you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge my people, over whom I made you king. 12 So wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. I will also give you riches, fortunes, and honor like no other king before or after you.”

13 Solomon went from the tent of meeting at the place of worship in Gibeon to Jerusalem. And he ruled Israel.

14 Solomon built up ⌞his army⌟ with chariots and war horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 war horses. He stationed ⌞some⌟ in chariot cities and ⌞others⌟ with himself in Jerusalem.

15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.

16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king’s traders bought them from Kue for a fixed price. 17 They imported each chariot from Egypt for 15 pounds of silver and each horse for 6 ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.

1:11–17   Solomon’s request made you smile. You gave him the wisdom and understanding he wanted—and added wealth and honor beyond compare. Shape my desires. Ignite my passion for everything that extends your kingdom.

Solomon Assembles the Labor and Materials for the Temple—1 Kings 5:1–18; 7:13–14

2  [1]

1 Solomon gave orders to begin building the temple for the LORD’s name and a royal palace for himself.

2 Solomon drafted 70,000 men to carry heavy loads, 80,000 to quarry stones in the mountains, and 3,600 foremen. 3 Solomon sent word to King Huram of Tyre by saying, “Do what you did for my father David. You sent him cedar so that he could build a palace to live in. 4 I want to build the temple for the name of the LORD my God. I want to dedicate it to him, burn sweet-smelling incense in his presence, and have rows of bread there continually. I want to ⌞sacrifice⌟ burnt offerings every morning and evening, on weekly worship days, New Moon Festivals, and during the annual festivals appointed by the LORD our God. (⌞These festivals⌟ are always to be celebrated by Israel.) 5 The temple I am building will be great because our God is greater than all other gods. 6 But who is able to build him a temple when heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold him? Who am I to build him a temple except as a place to sacrifice in his presence?

2:1–6   I serve at your command. I dedicate myself completely to you. I sacrifice my life to you morning and evening. You’re greater than all other gods.

7 “Send me a man who has the skill to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron as well as purple, dark red, and violet cloth. He should know how to make engravings with the skilled men whom my father David provided for me in Judah and Jerusalem. 8 Send me cedar, cypress, and sandalwood from Lebanon. I know that your servants are skilled Lebanese lumberjacks. My workers will work with your workers. 9 They’ll prepare plenty of lumber for me, because the temple I want to build will be large and astonishing. 10 I will give your lumberjacks 120,000 bushels of ground wheat, 120,000 bushels of barley, 200,000 gallons of wine, and 200,000 gallons of olive oil.”

2:7–10   You supplied everything needed for your magnificent home, calling for exquisite materials and skilled craftsmen. I’ll bring my best to build your kingdom.

11 Then King Huram of Tyre responded to Solomon by sending a letter that said, “Because the LORD loves his people, he made you their king.” 12 Huram added, “May the LORD God of Israel be praised. He made the heavens and the earth and has given King David a wise son who has insight and intelligence and can build the LORD’s temple and a royal palace. 13 And now, I’m sending a man with skill and intelligence—Huram Abi. 14 He was the son of a woman from the tribe of Dan, and his father is a native of Tyre. Huram knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, purple, violet, and dark red cloth, and linen. He also knows how to make all kinds of engravings and follow any set of plans that will be given to him. ⌞He can work⌟ with your skilled workmen and the skilled workmen of His Majesty David, your father. 15 Your Majesty may now send the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he promised the workers. 16 We will cut all the lumber you need in Lebanon. Then we will make rafts out of it and send them to you in Joppa by sea. You can take it ⌞from there⌟ to Jerusalem.”

17 Solomon counted all the men who were foreigners in the land of Israel, as his father David had counted them. Solomon counted 153,600 foreigners. 18 He made 70,000 of them carry heavy loads, 80,000 of them quarry stone in the mountains, and 3,600 of them supervise the work as foremen.

2:11–18   You call me to serve you. So give me skill and intelligence. I’ll follow your plans to completion and accomplish every detail of your will.

The Temple Built and Furnished—1 Kings 6:1–38; 7:13–51

3

1 Solomon began to build the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared to his father David. There David had prepared the site on the threshing floor[2] of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.

3 This is how Solomon laid the foundation to build God’s temple. It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. (They used the old standard measurement.) 4 The entrance hall in front of ⌞the main room⌟ was 30 feet wide (the same as the width of the temple) and 30 feet high. He covered its inside walls with pure gold. 5 He paneled the larger building with cypress, overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with ⌞designs in the form of⌟ palm trees and chains. 6 He covered the building with gems to beautify it and used gold from Parvaim. 7 He also overlaid the building, the rafters, the threshold, the walls, and the doors with gold, and he carved angels[3] into the walls.

8 He made the most holy place. It was as long as the temple was wide, 30 feet long. It was also 30 feet wide. He overlaid it with 45,000 pounds of fine gold. 9 The gold nails weighed 20 ounces. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.

10 In the most holy place he made two sculptured angels and covered them with gold. 11 The combined length of the angels’ wings was 30 feet. A wing of one of the angels was 7½ feet long and touched the wall of the building. Its other wing was 7½ feet long and touched one wing of the other. 12 The wing of the other one of the angels was 7½ feet long and touched the other wall of the building. Its other wing was 7½ feet long and touched the wing of the first. So the angels’ combined wingspan was 30 feet. 13 They stood on their feet and faced the main hall. 14 Solomon made the canopy of violet, purple, and dark red cloth and of linen and decorated it with angels.

15 He made two pillars for the front of the temple. They were 53 feet long, and the capital on each pillar was 7½ feet ⌞high⌟. 16 He made chains for the inner room and ⌞also⌟ put them on the capitals. He made 100 pomegranates and put them on the chains. 17 He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin [He Establishes] and the one on the left Boaz [In Him Is Strength].

3:1–17   Solomon built the temple with all the beauty you deserved. I won’t leave my worship half-finished. I want to serve you forever.

4

1 He made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.

2 Huram made a pool from cast metal. It was 15 feet in diameter. It was round, 7½ feet high, and had a circumference of 45 feet. 3 Under the rim were two rows of figurines shaped like bulls all around the 45-foot circumference of the pool. They were cast in metal when the pool was cast. 4 The pool was set on 12 metal bulls. Three bulls faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The pool was set on them, and their hindquarters were toward the center ⌞of the pool⌟. 5 The pool was three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, shaped like a lily’s bud. It held 18,000 gallons.

6 Huram also made ten basins for washing and put five on the south side and five on the north side. The priests rinsed the meat prepared for the burnt offerings in them. They used the pool to wash themselves.

7 Huram made ten gold lamp stands according to their specifications and put them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north side. 8 He made ten tables and put them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north side. And he made 100 gold bowls.

9 He also made the priests’ courtyard and the large courtyard and its doors. He covered the doors with bronze. 10 He set the pool on the south side in the southeast ⌞corner⌟. 11 Huram also made the pots, shovels, and bowls.

So Huram finished the work for King Solomon in God’s temple: 12 2 pillars, bowl-shaped capitals on top of the 2 pillars, and 2 sets of filigree to cover the 2 bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars, 13 400 pomegranates for the 2 sets of filigree (2 rows of pomegranates for each filigree to cover the 2 bowl-shaped capitals on the pillars), 14 10 stands and 10[4] basins on the stands, 15 1 pool and the 12 bulls under it, 16 pots, shovels, and three-pronged forks. Huram made all of them out of polished bronze for the LORD’s temple at King Solomon’s request. 17 The king cast them in foundries in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 Solomon made so many of these products that no one tried to determine how much the bronze weighed.

19 Solomon made all the furnishings for God’s temple: the gold altar, the gold tables on which the bread of the presence was placed, 20 lamp stands and lamps of pure gold (to burn as directed in front of the inner room), 21 flowers, lamps, pure gold tongs, 22 snuffers, basins, dishes, incense burners of pure gold, the gold entrance to the temple, the gold doors of the inner ⌞room⌟ (the most holy place), and the gold doors of the temple.

4:1–22   Solomon filled your temple with the biggest and the best. I’ll bring you nothing less.

5

1 All the work Solomon did on the LORD’s temple was finished. He brought the holy things that had belonged to his father David—the silver, gold, and all the utensils—and put them in the storerooms of God’s temple.

5:1   I’ll finish the work you give me to do. I’ll fill your storerooms with holy offerings.

The LORD Comes to His Temple—1 Kings 8:1–11

2 Then Solomon assembled the respected leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the Israelite families. They came to Jerusalem to take the ark of the LORD’s promise from the City of David (that is, Zion). 3 All the men of Israel gathered around the king at the Festival ⌞of Booths⌟ in the seventh month.

4 When all the leaders of Israel had arrived, the Levites picked up the ark. 5 They brought the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy utensils in it ⌞to the temple⌟. The priests and the Levites carried them 6 while King Solomon and the whole assembly from Israel were offering countless sheep and cattle sacrifices in front of the ark. 7 The priests brought the ark of the LORD’s promise to its place in the inner room of the temple (the most holy place) under the wings of the angels.[5]

8 The angels’ outstretched wings were over the place where the ark ⌞rested⌟ so that the angels became a covering above the ark and its poles. 9 The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room,[6] but they couldn’t be seen outside. (They are still there today.) 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moses placed there at Horeb, where the LORD made a promise to the Israelites after they left Egypt.

5:2–10   Your people ushered the ark of your promise to the temple. They set it in the holy place.

11 All the priests who were present had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy to God without regard to staying in their divisions. 12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their relatives—were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and lyres. With the musicians were 120 priests blowing trumpets. When the priests left the holy place,[7] 13 the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked the LORD in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to the LORD: “He is good; his mercy endures forever.” Then the LORD’s temple was filled with a cloud. 14 The priests couldn’t serve because of the cloud. The LORD’s glory filled God’s temple.

5:11–14   You are good. Your mercy endures forever. You filled the temple with your bright shining glory. Come near me now. Wrap me in your presence!

Solomon Addresses the People—1 Kings 8:12–21

6

1 Then Solomon said, “The LORD said he would live in a dark cloud. 2 But I have built you a high temple, a home for you to live in permanently.”

3 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly from Israel while they were standing. 4 “Thanks be to the LORD God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David; with his hand he carried it out. He said, 5 ‘Ever since I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I didn’t choose any city from the tribes of Israel as a place to build a temple for my name. And I didn’t choose any man to be prince over my people Israel. 6 But now I’ve chosen Jerusalem to be a place for my name; I’ve chosen David to rule my people Israel.’

Authentic Prayer

2 Chronicles 6:12–42

Commitment

In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of the LORD’s altar. He stretched out his hands to pray. 2 Chronicles 6:12

Commitment is as much about God as it is about you. Solomon’s life had revolved around erecting a magnificent temple. The Lord had passed over his warrior father, David, assigning construction to his son, a man of peace. At the moment of the temple dedication, Solomon stands and stretches out his arms to pray. And his words are all about the Lord.

Solomon worships God as the unique ruler of heaven and earth, a God of action who never stops showing mercy. He thanks God for fulfilling his promises. He admits his grandest efforts are nothing compared to the Lord, who can’t be contained by a temple built by human hands. Only after lengthy praise does Solomon commit himself and the nation to living for God.

Only the Lord himself inspires and empowers true commitment. So as you dedicate yourself to his purposes, let your words be about more than your good intentions. Worship him fully. Worship him first.

Pray the Scriptures Commitment: 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 37:5–7, John 12:23–26, Romans 12:1–2

7 “My father David had his heart set on building a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 8 However, the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since you had your heart set on building a temple for my name, your intentions were good. 9 But you must not build the temple. Instead, your own son will build the temple for my name.’ 10 The LORD has kept the promise he made. I’ve taken my father David’s place, and I sit on the throne of Israel as the LORD promised. I’ve built the temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 11 I’ve put the ark which contains the LORD’s promise to Israel there.”

6:1–11   You never make a promise you don’t keep. You choose to make me your dwelling. Inhabit every corner of my life.

Solomon’s Prayer—1 Kings 8:22–53; Psalm 132:1, 8–10

12 In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of the LORD’s altar. He stretched out his hands ⌞to pray⌟. 13 (Solomon had made a bronze platform 7½ feet long, 7½ feet wide, and 4½ feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.) 14 He said,

“LORD God of Israel,

there is no god like you in heaven or on earth.

You keep your promise[8] of mercy to your servants,

who obey you wholeheartedly.

15 You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant.

With your mouth you promised it.

With your hand you carried it out as it is today.

16 “Now, LORD God of Israel,

keep your promise to my father David, your servant.

You said, ‘You will never fail to have an heir

sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel

if your descendants are faithful to me

as you have been faithful to me.’

17 “So now, LORD God of Israel,

may the promise you made to David, your servant, come true.

6:12–17   There’s no god like you—in heaven above or on earth below. You swore David’s heir would sit on the throne forever. You never fail to keep your promise of mercy.

18 “Does God really live on earth with people?

If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you,

then how can this temple that I have built?

19 Nevertheless, my LORD God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy.

Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you.

20 Day and night may your eyes be on this temple,

the place about which you said your name will be there.

Listen to me as I pray toward this place.

21 Hear the plea for mercy

that your people Israel and I pray toward this place.

Hear us in heaven, the place where you live.

Hear and forgive.

6:18–21   Heaven can’t hold you. No temple can contain you. But keep your promise to be with me. Hear me when I pray toward heaven.

22 “If anyone sins against another person

and is required to take an oath

and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,

23 then hear ⌞that person⌟ in heaven, take action, and make a decision.

Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment,

but declare the innocent person innocent.

6:22–23   Rule justly. Decide. Act. Sentence the guilty and free the innocent.

24 “An enemy may defeat your people Israel

because they have sinned against you.

But when your people turn, praise your name, pray,

and plead with you in this temple,

25 then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel,

and bring them back to the land

that you gave to them and their ancestors.

26 “When the sky is shut and there’s no rain

because they are sinning against you

and they pray toward this place, praise your name,

and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,

27 then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven.

Forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel.

Teach them the proper way to live.

Then send rain on the land,

which you gave to your people as an inheritance.

6:24–27   I’m not without sin. But hear me when I turn back to you. Forgive my sins and teach me the proper way to live.

28 “There may be famine in the land.

Plant diseases, heat waves, funguses, locusts,

or grasshoppers may destroy crops.

Enemies may blockade Israel’s city gates.

During every plague or sickness

29 ⌞hear⌟ every prayer for mercy

made by one person or by all the people in Israel,

all who know suffering or pain,

who stretch out their hands toward this temple.

30 Hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, where you live.

Forgive ⌞them⌟, and give each person the proper reply.

(You know what is in their hearts,

because you alone know what is in people’s hearts.)

31 Then, as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors,

they will fear you and follow you.

6:28–31   Send rain in dry places. Save me when hunger and sickness strike. Hear me and give me the proper reply, because you know my heart. I choose to live for you with utter respect.

32 “People who are not Israelites

will come from distant countries because of your great name,

mighty hand, and powerful arm.

When they come to pray facing this temple,

33 then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, the place where you live.

Do everything they ask you

so that all the people of the world may know your name

and fear you like your people Israel

and learn that this temple which I built bears your name.

6:32–33   Let people everywhere hear of your great name and mighty hand. Invite them to worship you. Do everything they ask so the world may know your name.

34 “When your people go to war against their enemies

(wherever you may send them)

and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen

and the temple I built for your name,

35 then hear their prayer for mercy in heaven,

and do what is right ⌞for them⌟.

36 “They may sin against you.

(No one is sinless.)

You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy

who takes them to ⌞another⌟ country as captives,

⌞whether it is⌟ far or near.

37 If they come to their senses,

are sorry for what they’ve done,

and plead with you in the land where they are captives,

saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong.

We have been wicked,’

38 if they change their attitude toward you

in the land where they are captives,

if they pray to you

toward the land that you gave their ancestors,

and the city you have chosen,

and the temple I have built for your name,

39 then in heaven, the place where you live, hear their prayer for mercy.

Do what is right for them.

Forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

6:36–39   Knock me back to my senses. Teach me to be sorry for what I’ve done wrong. Bring me near to you once again. I’m one of your people, so listen when I call on you.

40 “Finally, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive

to the prayers ⌞offered⌟ in this place.

41 “Now arise, and come to your resting place, LORD God—

you and the ark of your power.

Clothe your priests, LORD God, with salvation.

Let your godly ones rejoice in what is good.

42 LORD God, do not reject your anointed one.

Remember your mercy to your servant David!”

6:40–42   Be attentive to my prayers. Come and rest in me. Clothe me with salvation and I’ll rejoice in everything good.

Solomon Offers Sacrifices—1 Kings 8:62–66

7

1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices, and the LORD’s glory filled the temple. 2 The priests couldn’t go into the LORD’s temple because the LORD’s glory had filled the LORD’s temple. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and the LORD’s glory on the temple, they knelt down with their faces on the pavement. They worshiped and praised the LORD, ⌞by saying,⌟ “He is good; his mercy endures forever.”

7:1–3   Fill my life with your glory. I kneel with my face on the pavement. You’re so good. Your mercy lasts forever.

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the LORD. 5 King Solomon offered 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep as sacrifices to the LORD. So the king and all the people dedicated God’s temple.

6 The priests were standing at their posts. So were the Levites who had the LORD’s musical instruments which King David made for praising the LORD with “his mercy endures forever” and which he used to offer praise. The priests were opposite the Levites blowing trumpets while all Israel was standing ⌞there⌟.

7 Solomon designated the courtyard in front of the LORD’s temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat because the bronze altar that he had made and that was in front of the LORD was not able to hold all of them.

8 At that time Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival ⌞of Booths⌟. A very large crowd had come from ⌞the territory between⌟ the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day there was an assembly. They had observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for ⌞another⌟ seven days. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon dismissed the people to their tents. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings the LORD had given David, Solomon, and his people Israel.

7:4–10   I worship you with my very best and make my life your holy place. I go on my way with a cheerful heart for all the blessings you give me.

The LORD Answers Solomon’s Prayer—1 Kings 9:1–9

11 Solomon finished the LORD’s temple and the royal palace and completed everything he had in mind for the LORD’s temple and his own palace. 12 Then the LORD appeared to him at night. He said to Solomon,

“I have heard your prayer

and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.

13 I may shut the sky so that there is no rain,

or command grasshoppers to devour the countryside,

or send an epidemic among my people.

7:11–13   You swore you would always keep your eyes and heart in the temple. You would establish Solomon’s dynasty as long as he obeyed your commands.

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,

will humble themselves,

pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,

then I will hear ⌞their prayer⌟ from heaven, forgive their sins,

and heal their country.

15 My eyes will be open,

and my ears will pay attention to those prayers at this place.

16 I have chosen and declared this temple holy

so that my name may be placed there forever.

My eyes and my heart will always be there.

17 “If you will be faithful to me as your father David was,

do everything I command,

and obey my laws and rules,

18 then I will establish your royal dynasty

as I said in a promise to your father David,

‘You will never fail to have an heir ruling Israel.’

7:14–18   I wear your name. I’ll humble myself, pray, and search for you. I’ll turn from evil and trust you to hear my prayers. Let your eyes and heart always be near me.

19 But if you and your descendants turn away from me

and abandon my commands and laws that I gave you,

and follow and serve other gods and worship them,

20 then I will uproot Israel from the land I gave them.

I will reject this temple that I declared holy for my name.

I will make it an example

and an object of ridicule for all the people of the world.

21 Everyone passing by this impressive temple will be appalled.

They will ask,

‘Why did the LORD do these things to this land and this temple?’

22 They will answer ⌞themselves⌟,

‘They abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors,

who brought them out of Egypt.

They adopted other gods, worshiped, and served them.

That is why he brought this disaster on them.’”

7:19–22   Don’t cut me off from the blessings you’ve given me. Don’t let me become an object of ridicule or a reason for people to gasp. I’ll worship and serve you forever.

Solomon Completes His Construction—1 Kings 9:10–28

8

1 It took Solomon 20 years to build the LORD’s house and his own house. 2 He rebuilt the cities Huram gave him, and he had Israelites live in them.

3 Then Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and conquered it. 4 He rebuilt Tadmor in the desert and built all the storage cities in Hamath. 5 He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon into cities fortified with walls, double-door gates, and bars. 6  ⌞He also rebuilt⌟ Baalath and all the storage cities that he owned. He built all the cities for his chariots, all the cities for his war horses, and whatever ⌞else⌟ he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, or the entire territory that he governed.

7 The Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites had been left ⌞in the land⌟ because the Israelites had not been able to destroy them.[9] They were not Israelites, 8 but they had descendants who were still in the land. Solomon drafted them for slave labor. (They are still ⌞slaves⌟ today.) 9 But Solomon didn’t make any of the Israelites slaves for his projects. Instead, they were the soldiers, officers, generals, and commanders of his chariot and cavalry units.

10 These were the officers in charge of King Solomon’s projects: 250 foremen for the people who did the work.

11 Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter from the City of David to a palace he had built for her. He said, “My wife will not live in the palace of King David of Israel because these places where the LORD’s ark has come are holy.”

8:1–11   Solomon finished the work you told him to do. I’ll labor as long as it takes to complete your instructions.

12 Then Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the LORD on the LORD’s altar that he built in front of the entrance hall. 13 He sacrificed every day, on weekly worship days, on the New Moon Festivals, and on the three annual festivals (the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths) as Moses had commanded. 14 As Solomon’s father David had directed, he set up the divisions of priests for their service and the ⌞divisions of⌟ Levites for their appointed places. ⌞The Levites⌟ were to lead in praising ⌞the LORD⌟ and to serve beside the priests by doing whatever needed to be done each day. Solomon also set up divisions of doorkeepers at every gate because this is what David, the man of God, had commanded. 15 No one neglected the king’s orders to the priests or the Levites in any matter, including the ⌞temple’s⌟ finances. 16 All of Solomon’s work was carried out from the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid until it was completed. The LORD’s temple was ⌞now⌟ finished.

17 Then Solomon went to the coast near Ezion Geber and Elath in Edom. 18 Huram sent his own servants and his experienced sailors with ships to Solomon. They went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir, got 33,750 pounds of gold, and brought it to King Solomon.

8:12–17   I’m eager to praise you each day. I’ll do whatever needs to be done. I’ll never neglect your orders.

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon—1 Kings 10:1–13

9

1 The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s reputation. So she came to Jerusalem to test him with riddles. She arrived with a large group of servants, with camels carrying spices, a large quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked to him about everything she had on her mind. 2 Solomon answered all her questions. No question was too difficult for Solomon to answer.

9:1–2   Solomon owed his wisdom to you. No question was too difficult for him to answer—thanks to you.

3 When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he built, 4 the food on his table, his officers’ seating arrangement, the organization of his officials and the uniforms they wore, his cupbearers[10] and their uniforms, and the burnt offerings that he sacrificed at the LORD’s temple, she was breathless. 5 She told the king, “What I heard in my country about your words and your wisdom is true! 6 But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. I wasn’t even told about half of the extent of your wisdom. You’ve surpassed the stories I’ve heard. 7 How blessed your men must be! How blessed these servants of yours must be because they are always stationed in front of you and listen to your wisdom! 8 Thank the LORD your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on his throne to be king on behalf of the LORD your God. Because of your God’s love for the people of Israel, he has established them permanently and made you king over them so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.”

9:3–7   I’m breathless when I see your blessings. I’m awestruck by the good things you give me.

9 She gave the king 9,000 pounds of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never was there such a large quantity of spices ⌞in Israel⌟ as those that the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

10 Huram’s servants and Solomon’s servants who brought gold from Ophir also brought sandalwood and precious stones. 11 With the sandalwood the king made gateways to the LORD’s temple and the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. No one had ever seen anything like them in Judah.

12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba anything she wanted, whatever she asked for, more than what she had brought him. Then she and her servants went back to her country.

9:8–12   You crowned Solomon king because of your eternal love for your people. Train me to uphold justice and righteousness.

Solomon’s Wealth—1 Kings 5:1; 10:14–29

13 The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed 49,950 pounds, 14 not counting ⌞the gold⌟ which the merchants and traders brought. All the Arab kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold, using 15 pounds of gold on each shield. 16 He also made 300 small shields of hammered gold, using 7½ pounds of gold on each shield. The king put them in the hall ⌞named⌟ the Forest of Lebanon.

17 The king also made a large ivory throne and covered it with pure gold. 18 Six steps led to the throne, which had a gold footstool attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests. 19 Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

20 All King Solomon’s cups were gold, and all the utensils for the hall ⌞named⌟ the Forest of Lebanon were fine gold. (Silver wasn’t considered valuable in Solomon’s time.) 21 The king had ships going to Tarshish with Huram’s sailors. Once every three years the Tarshish ships would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

22 In wealth and wisdom King Solomon was greater than all the ⌞other⌟ kings of the world. 23 All the kings of the world wanted to listen to the wisdom that God gave Solomon. 24 So everyone who came brought him gifts: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This happened year after year.

25 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 war horses. He stationed ⌞some⌟ in chariot cities and ⌞others⌟ with himself in Jerusalem. 26 He ruled all the kings from the Euphrates River to the country of the Philistines and as far as the Egyptian border. 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills. 28 Horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all other countries.

9:13–28   It was you who made Solomon greater than all the kings on earth. The whole world aches for your wisdom.

Solomon’s Death—1 Kings 11:41–43

29 Aren’t the rest of Solomon’s acts from first to last written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and in Iddo the seer’s[11] visions about Jeroboam (son of Nebat)?

30 Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for 40 years. 31 Solomon lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.

9:29–31   Help me not only to start well but also to finish strong. I want my every breath to count for you.

King Rehoboam Foolishly Rejects Israel’s Request—1 Kings 12:1–19

10

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem because all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. 2 Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. When he heard ⌞about Rehoboam⌟, he returned from Egypt. 3  ⌞Israel⌟ sent for Jeroboam and invited him back. Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak to Rehoboam. They said, 4 “Your father made us carry a heavy burden. Reduce the hard work and lighten the heavy burden he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 He said to them, “Come back the day after tomorrow.” So the people left.

6 King Rehoboam sought advice from the older leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked, “What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?”

7 They told him, “If you are good to these people and try to please them by speaking gently to them, then they will always be your servants.”

10:1–7   I’ll give my all as a servant-leader, humbling myself and speaking gently. Then I’ll lead people well.

8 But he ignored the advice the older leaders gave him. He sought advice from the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him answered, “This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is heavier than my father’s whole body.[12] 11 If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them. 13 The king answered them harshly. He ignored the older leaders’ advice. 14 He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, “If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will use scorpions.” 15 The king refused to listen to the people because the LORD was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) through Ahijah from Shiloh.

10:8–15   I won’t pile on cruel burdens. I won’t dole out consequences without measure.

16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king,

“What share do we have in David’s kingdom?

We won’t receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son.

Everyone to his own tent, Israel!

Now look after your own house, David!”

So all Israel went home to their own tents. 17 But Rehoboam ruled the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.

10:16–11:4   You sent Rehoboam running and forbade family fights. Train me to obey your word and instantly do what you say.

18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram to the Israelites. He was in charge of forced labor, but they stoned him to death. So King Rehoboam got on his chariot as fast as he could and fled to Jerusalem. 19 Israel has rebelled against David’s dynasty to this day.

Israel’s Priests Come to Judah—1 Kings 12:21–33

11

1 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered the people of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 of the best soldiers, to fight against Israel and return the kingdom to Rehoboam.

2 But God spoke his word to Shemaiah, the man of God. He said, 3 “Speak to Judah’s King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin. 4 This is what the LORD says: Don’t wage war against your relatives. Everyone, go home. What has happened is my doing.” So they obeyed the word of the LORD. They turned back from their attack on Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah. 6 He rebuilt Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. 11 He strengthened them and put army officers with reserves of food, olive oil, and wine in them. 12 In each city he stored shields and spears. He made the cities very secure. So Rehoboam held on to Judah and Benjamin.

13 The priests and Levites in every region of Israel sided with Rehoboam. 14 The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his descendants rejected them as the LORD’s priests. 15 Instead, Jeroboam appointed ⌞his own⌟ priests for the illegal worship sites and the goat and calf statues he had made as idols. 16 People from every tribe of Israel who were determined to seek the LORD God of Israel followed the Levitical priests to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their ancestors.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah by supporting Rehoboam, son of Solomon, for three years. During ⌞those⌟ three years they lived the way David and Solomon had lived.

11:5–17   Jeroboam turned your people to other gods. I won’t worship idols. I’ll seek you and sacrifice my life to you.

Rehoboam’s Family

18 Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth. (Jerimoth was the son of David and Abihail. Abihail was the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.) 19 Mahalath gave birth to the following sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 After marrying Mahalath, he married Maacah, Absalom’s granddaughter. She gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom’s granddaughter, more than all his other wives and concubines.[13] (He had 18 wives and 60 concubines. He fathered 28 sons and 60 daughters.)

22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah, son of Maacah, as family head and prince among his brothers. By doing this, Rehoboam could make him king. 23 He wisely placed his sons in every region of Judah and Benjamin, in every fortified city. He gave them allowances and obtained many wives for them.

King Shishak Takes the Temple Treasures—1 Kings 14:21–31

12

1 When Rehoboam had established his kingdom and made himself strong, he and all Israel abandoned the LORD’s teachings. 2 In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. This happened because all Israel was not loyal to the LORD. 3 Shishak had 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horses, and an army of countless Libyans, Sukkites, and Sudanese from Egypt.

4 He captured the fortified cities in Judah and then came to Jerusalem.

5 The prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered in Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah said to them, “This is what the LORD says: You have abandoned me, so I will abandon you. I will hand you over to Shishak.” 6 Then the commanders of Israel and the king humbled themselves. “The LORD is right!” they said.

12:1–6   Your nation abandoned your teachings. If I’m disloyal I deserve to be handed over to my enemies. But I hate to learn lessons the hard way.

7 When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, he spoke his word to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them. In a little while I will give them an escape. I will not use Shishak to pour my anger on Jerusalem. 8 But they will become his servants so that they can learn the difference between serving me and serving foreign kings.”

9 King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took the treasures from the LORD’s temple and the royal palace. He took them all. He took the gold shields Solomon had made. 10 So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and put them by the entrance to the royal palace, where the captains of the guards were stationed. 11 Whenever the king went into the LORD’s temple, guards carried the shields and then returned them to the guardroom.

12 After Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD was no longer angry with him and didn’t completely destroy him. So things went well in Judah.

13 King Rehoboam strengthened his position in Jerusalem and ruled. He was 41 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 17 years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD chose from all the tribes of Israel, the city where the LORD put his name. (Rehoboam’s mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.) 14 He did evil things because he was not serious about dedicating himself to serving the LORD.

15 Aren’t the events concerning Rehoboam from first to last written in the records of the prophet Shemaiah and the records of the seer[14] Iddo in the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam as long as they lived. 16 Rehoboam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah succeeded him as king.

12:7–16   Set me straight about the benefits of obedience. But don’t let me be destroyed as I learn. I’ll humble myself and do good. I’m serious about my commitment to you.

King Abijah’s War with King Jeroboam—1 Kings 15:1–8

13

1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah began to rule Judah. 2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Micaiah, daughter of Uriel from Gibeah.

There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

3 Abijah prepared for battle with an army of 400,000 of the best soldiers, while Jeroboam arranged to oppose him with 800,000 of the best professional soldiers.

4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the mountains of Ephraim. He called out, “Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me! 5 Don’t you know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom of Israel to David and his descendants forever in a permanent promise?[15] 6 But Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) rebelled against his master. He had been the servant of David’s son Solomon. 7 Worthless, good-for-nothing men gathered around him. They opposed Rehoboam, son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was too young and inexperienced to challenge them. 8 Do you now intend to challenge the LORD’s kingdom, which has been placed in the hands of David’s descendants? You are a large crowd, and you have the gold calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods. 9 You forced out the LORD’s priests who were Aaron’s descendants, and you forced out the Levites so that you could appoint your own priests, as the people in foreign countries do. Anyone who has a young bull and seven rams can be ordained as a priest of nonexistent gods.

13:1–9   Abijah stood and shouted the truth. Israel had rebelled against your rule. They forced out your servants and hired fake priests for nonexistent gods. But I submit to your reign. I worship only you.

10 “However, the LORD is our God. We haven’t abandoned him. The priests who serve the LORD are Aaron’s descendants, and the Levites assist them. 11 They sacrifice burnt offerings to the LORD every morning and every evening. They offer sweet-smelling incense and rows of bread on the clean[16] table. The lamps on the gold lamp stand burn every evening. We’re following the instructions the LORD our God gave us, but you have abandoned him. 12 God is with us as our leader. His priests will sound their trumpets to call ⌞the army⌟ to fight you. Men of Israel, don’t wage war against the LORD God of your ancestors. You won’t succeed.”

13:10–12   True sacrifice smells sweet to you. You love worship that follows your instructions. No war against you can succeed.

13 But Jeroboam had set an ambush to attack them from behind. So Jeroboam’s army was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 When Judah’s soldiers looked around, the battle was in front of them and behind them. They cried out to the LORD, the priests blew the trumpets, 15 and the men of Judah shouted. When they shouted, God attacked Jeroboam and all Israel in front of Abijah and Judah. 16 The Israelites fled from Judah’s ⌞army⌟, and God handed them over to Judah. 17 So Abijah and his men defeated them decisively, and 500,000 of the best men of Israel were killed. 18 So the Israelites were humbled at that time, and the men of Judah won because they trusted the LORD God of their ancestors. 19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some of his cities: Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron and its villages.

13:13–14:1   No ambush can defeat your people. You fight for those who trust you.

20 Jeroboam never regained power during Abijah’s time. The LORD caused Jeroboam to become sick, and Jeroboam died.

21 But Abijah became strong. He married 14 wives and fathered 22 sons and 16 daughters.

22 Everything else about Abijah—how he lived and what he said—is written in the history by the prophet Iddo.

14  [17]

1 Abijah lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king. In Asa’s time the land had peace for ten years.

King Asa of Judah—1 Kings 15:9–15

2 Asa did what the LORD his God considered good and right.

3 He got rid of the altars of foreign gods, broke down the sacred stones, and cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. 4 He told the people of Judah to dedicate their lives to serving the LORD God of their ancestors and follow his teachings and commands. 5 He got rid of the illegal places of worship and the altars for incense in all the cities of Judah. The kingdom was at peace during his reign.

6 He built fortified cities in Judah because the land had peace. There was no war during those years because the LORD gave him a time of peace. 7 So Asa told Judah, “Let’s build these cities and make walls around them with towers and doors that can be barred. The country is still ours because we have dedicated our lives to serving the LORD our God. We have dedicated our lives to him, and he has surrounded us with peace.” So they built the cities, and everything went well.

14:2–7   Asa did what you considered good and right. He got rid of foreign gods and commanded your people to dedicate themselves to you. You surround me with peace when I commit my life to you.

8 Asa had an army of 300,000 Judeans who were armed with large shields and spears and 280,000 Benjaminites who were armed with small shields and bows. All of these men were good fighting men.

9 Then Zerah from Sudan came with 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots to attack Asa. Zerah got as far as Mareshah. 10 Asa went to confront him, and the two armies set up their battle lines in the Zephathah Valley at Mareshah.

11 Asa called on the LORD his God. He said, “LORD, there is no one except you who can help those who are not strong so that they can fight against a large ⌞army⌟. Help us, LORD our God, because we are depending on you. In your name we go against this large crowd. You are the LORD our God. Don’t let anyone successfully oppose you.”

12 The LORD attacked the Sudanese army in front of Asa and Judah. The Sudanese army fled. 13 Asa and his troops pursued them as far as Gerar. Many of the Sudanese died in battle. As a result, the Sudanese army couldn’t fight again. It was crushed in front of the LORD and his army. The LORD’s army captured a lot of goods. 14 It attacked all the cities around Gerar because the cities were afraid of the LORD. The army looted all the cities because there were many things to take. 15 It also attacked those who were letting their cattle graze and captured many sheep and camels. Then it returned to Jerusalem.

14:8–15   I’m weak—and only you can help me. In your name I can go against a large crowd.

15

1 God’s Spirit came to Azariah, son of Oded. 2 Azariah went to Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all you men from Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you will dedicate your lives to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest who taught ⌞correctly⌟, and without Moses’ Teachings. 4 But when they were in trouble, they turned to the LORD God of Israel. When they searched for him, he let them find him. 5 At those times no one could come and go in peace, because everyone living in the land had a lot of turmoil. 6 One nation crushed another nation; one city crushed another. God had tormented them with every kind of trouble. 7 But you must remain strong and not become discouraged. Your actions will be rewarded.”

15:1–7   You’re with me when I’m with you. If I abandon you I can’t expect your help. But you let me find you whenever I search for you.

8 When Asa heard the prophet Oded’s words of prophecy, he was encouraged and put away the detestable idols from all of Judah, Benjamin, and the cities he had captured in the mountains of Ephraim. He also repaired the LORD’s altar in front of the LORD’s entrance hall.

15:8–13   Your words encourage me. I’ll put away my detestable idols. I’ll find partners dedicated to serving you with all their heart and soul.

9 Then Asa gathered all the people from Judah and Benjamin and the foreigners who had come from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. (Many of them had come to him from Israel when they saw that Asa’s God, the LORD, was with him.) 10 In the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign, they gathered in Jerusalem. 11 On that day they sacrificed to the LORD a part of the loot they had brought with them: 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep. 12 They made an agreement with one another to dedicate their lives to serving the LORD God of their ancestors with all their heart and soul. 13 All people (young or old, male or female) who refused to dedicate their lives to the LORD God of Israel were to be killed. 14 Asa and the people swore their oath to the LORD with shouts, singing, and the blowing of trumpets and rams’ horns. 15 All the people of Judah were overjoyed because of the oath, since they took the oath wholeheartedly. They took great pleasure in looking for the LORD, and he let them find him. So the LORD surrounded them with peace.

15:14–15   I’m overjoyed to pledge myself to you wholeheartedly. I take great pleasure in looking for you. You let me find you. You surround me with peace.

16 King Asa also removed his grandmother Maacah from the position of queen mother because she made a statue of the repulsive goddess Asherah. Asa cut the statue down, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 17 Although the illegal worship sites in Israel were not taken down, Asa remained committed ⌞to the LORD⌟ his entire life. 18 He brought into God’s temple the silver, the gold, and the utensils he and his father had set apart as holy.

15:16–18   Asa refused to play favorites with family, and he rid his home of idols. I long to stay committed to you my entire life.

King Asa’s War with King Baasha—1 Kings 15:16–24

19 There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

16

1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah to keep anyone from going to or coming from King Asa of Judah.

2 Then Asa brought out all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and the royal palace. He sent them to Damascus to Aram’s King Benhadad. 3 He said, “There’s a treaty between you and me ⌞as⌟ there was between your father and my father. I’m sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”

4 Benhadad did what King Asa requested. He sent his generals and their armies to attack the cities of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities in the territory of Naphtali. 5 When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work on it.

6 Then King Asa took everyone in Judah ⌞to Ramah⌟. He made them carry the stones and lumber from Ramah. Baasha had been using those to fortify the city. Asa used the materials to fortify Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah.

7 At that time the seer[18] Hanani came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, “Because you depended on the king of Syria and did not depend on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped your grasp. 8 Weren’t the Sudanese and Libyans a large army with many chariots and drivers? But when you depended on the LORD, he handed them over to you. 9 The LORD’s eyes scan the whole world to find those whose hearts are committed to him and to strengthen them. You acted foolishly in this matter. So from now on, you will have to fight wars.”

16:1–9   Your eyes scan the whole world to find those whose hearts are committed to you. Strengthen me. I won’t be a fool and depend on anyone else.

10 Asa was furious at the seer. He was so angry with Hanani that he put Hanani in prison. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time in his reign.

11 Everything about Asa from first to last is written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa got a foot disease that became progressively worse. Instead of asking the LORD for help, he went to doctors.

13 Asa lay down in death with his ancestors. He died in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 They buried him in the tomb that he had prepared for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bed full of spices and blended perfumes. And they burned a bonfire in his honor.

16:10–14   Train me to hear your toughest words. I don’t want to shut out your correction.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah

17

1 Asa’s son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king. Jehoshaphat strengthened himself ⌞to wage war⌟ against Israel. 2 He put troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and placed military posts in Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, who lived in the old way like his ancestor David. Jehoshaphat didn’t dedicate his life to serving other gods—the Baals. 4 Instead, he dedicated his life to his ancestor’s God and lived by God’s commands. Jehoshaphat did not do what Israel was doing. 5 So the LORD established Jehoshaphat’s power over the kingdom. All the people of Judah gave gifts to Jehoshaphat, and he had a lot of riches and honor. 6 He had the confidence to live the way the LORD wanted him to live. He also got rid of the illegal places of worship and poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah in Judah.

17:1–6   I dedicate myself to serving you and living by your commands. Give me confidence to live the way you want me to!

7 In the third year of his reign, he sent his officers Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. 8 With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught in Judah. They had the Book of the LORD’s Teachings with them when they taught the people in all the cities of Judah.

10 Fear of the LORD came to all the kingdoms around Judah. As a result, they didn’t wage war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as taxes. The Arabs also brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 12 So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and cities where supplies were stored in Judah. 13 He had large supplies of food in the cities of Judah and an army of professional soldiers with him in Jerusalem. 14 The following is a breakdown of these soldiers. They are listed by families. Judah’s regimental commanders were Commander Adnah (with 300,000 fighting men), 15 next to him Commander Jehohanan (with 280,000), 16 and next to him Amasiah, Zichri’s son, who volunteered to serve the LORD (with 200,000 fighting men). 17 From Benjamin there was the fighting man Eliada (with 200,000 armed men with bows and shields), 18 and next to him was Jehozabad (with him was an army of 180,000 armed men). 19 These were the men who served the king in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

17:7–19   Send me to teach your people. I’ll spread your words everywhere I go.

Micaiah Prophesies against King Ahab—1 Kings 22:1–40

18

1 Jehoshaphat was wealthy and honorable and became Ahab’s in-law. 2 A few years later he went to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for a banquet in honor of Jehoshaphat and the people who were with him. And Ahab persuaded Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth in Gilead with him.

3 King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth in Gilead?”

Jehoshaphat told the king of Israel, “I will do what you do. My troops will do what your troops do. ⌞We will join⌟ your troops in battle.” 4 Then Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “But first, find out what the word of the LORD is ⌞in this matter⌟.”

5 So the king of Israel called 400 prophets together. He asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?”

“Go,” they said. “God will hand over Ramoth to you.”

6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the LORD whom we could ask?”

7 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, “We can ask the LORD through Micaiah, son of Imla, but I hate him. Nothing he prophesies about me is good; it’s always evil.”

Jehoshaphat answered, “The king must not say that.”

8 The king of Israel called for an officer and said, “Quick! ⌞Get⌟ Micaiah, son of Imla!”

9 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were dressed in royal robes and seated on thrones. They were sitting on the threshing floor[19] at the entrance to the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 10 Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said, “This is what the LORD says: With these horns you will push the Arameans to their destruction.” 11 All the other prophets made the same prophecy. They said, “Attack Ramoth in Gilead, and you will win. The LORD will hand it over to you.”

12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah told him, “The prophets have all told the king the same good message. Make your message agree with their message. Say something good.”

13 Micaiah answered, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, I will tell him whatever my God says to me.”

18:1–13   Ahab wanted a happy message from your prophet. Make me like Micaiah, willing to speak truth in your name no matter what. I’ll say whatever you tell me.

14 When he came to the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah,[20] should we go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?”

Micaiah said, “Attack and you will win. They will be handed over to you.”

15 The king asked him, “How many times must I make you take an oath in the LORD’s name to tell me nothing but the truth?”

16 So Micaiah said, “I saw Israel’s troops scattered in the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The LORD said, ‘These sheep have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”

17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he wouldn’t prophesy anything good about me?”

18 Micaiah added, “Then hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and the entire army of heaven was standing on his right and his left. 19 The LORD asked, ‘Who will deceive King Ahab of Israel so that he will attack and be killed at Ramoth in Gilead?’ Some answered one way, while others were saying something else.

20 “Then the Spirit stepped forward, stood in front of the LORD, and said, ‘I will deceive him.’

“‘How?’ the LORD asked.

21 “The Spirit answered, ‘I will go out and be a spirit that tells lies through the mouths of all of Ahab’s prophets.’

“The LORD said, ‘You will succeed in deceiving him. Go and do it.’

22 “So the LORD has put into the mouths of these prophets of yours a spirit that makes them tell lies. The LORD has spoken evil about you.”

23 Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, went to Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. “Which way did the Spirit go when he left me to talk to you?” he asked.

24 Micaiah answered, “You will find out on the day you go into an inner room to hide.”

25 The king of Israel then said, “Send Micaiah back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the prince. 26 Say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return home safely.’”

27 Micaiah said, “If you really do come back safely, then the LORD wasn’t speaking through me. Pay attention to this, everyone!”

28 So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to Ramoth in Gilead. 29 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you should wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

30 The king of Aram had given orders to the chariot commanders. He said, “Don’t fight anyone except the king of Israel.”

31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they surrounded him in order to fight him. But when Jehoshaphat cried out, the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him, 32 and the chariot commanders realized that Jehoshaphat wasn’t the king of Israel. Then they turned away from him.

33 One man aimed his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between his scale armor and his breastplate. Ahab told the chariot driver, “Turn around, and get me away from these troops. I’m badly wounded.” 34 But the battle got worse that day, and the king propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. At sundown he died.

18:14–34   You let Ahab be deceived. But foolishness traps people who go looking for lies. Ahab tried to hide from your judgment. But no one can escape the truth of your word.

King Jehoshaphat’s Religious Reforms

19

1 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his home in Jerusalem. 2 Jehu, son of the seer[21] Hanani, asked King Jehoshaphat, “Why do you help wicked people and love those who hate the LORD? The LORD’s anger is directed toward you because you have done this. 3 However, you’ve done some good things: You’ve burned the Asherah poles in this country, and you’ve wholeheartedly dedicated your life to serving God.”

4 While Jehoshaphat was living in Jerusalem, he regularly went to the people between Beersheba and the mountains of Ephraim. He brought the people back to the LORD God of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges in the country, in each fortified city of Judah. 6 He told the judges, “Pay attention to what you’re doing. When you judge, you aren’t doing it for a human but for the LORD. He will be with you when you hear a case. 7 May you have the fear of the LORD in you. Be careful about what you do. The LORD our God is never unjust. He is impartial and never takes bribes.”

19:1–7   Jehoshaphat relied on people who hated you. But he did some good. He brought people back to you. He told judges to be impartial. Help me remember I work for you.

8 In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, priests, and family heads from Israel to administer the LORD’s laws and decide cases. They lived in Jerusalem. 9 He ordered them, “Do this wholeheartedly—with the fear of the LORD and with faithfulness. 10 Warn your relatives living in other cities about every case they bring to you, even if the case involves bloodshed or commands, rules, or regulations derived from Moses’ Teachings. Then your relatives will not become guilty in front of the LORD. Otherwise, he will become angry with you and your relatives. Do this, and you won’t be guilty ⌞of anything⌟. 11 Now, the chief priest Amariah will be in charge of you in every matter involving the LORD. Zebadiah, who is the son of Ishmael and the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be in charge of every matter involving the king. The Levites will serve as officers of the court. Be strong, and do your job. May the LORD be with those who do right.”

19:8–11   I’ll live for you with utter respect. I’ll warn my family about your commands. I’ll be strong and do my job. Be with me when I do right.

King Jehoshaphat Defeats Judah’s Enemies

20

1 Later the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[22] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some men reported to Jehoshaphat, “A large crowd is coming against you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from Edom.[23] The crowd is already in Hazazon Tamar” (also called En Gedi).

3 Frightened, Jehoshaphat decided to ask for the LORD’s help. He announced a fast throughout Judah. 4 The people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD’s help. They came from every city in Judah.

5 In the new courtyard at the LORD’s temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the people. 6 He said, “LORD God of our ancestors, aren’t you the God in heaven? You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess power and might, and no one can oppose you. 7 Didn’t you, our God, force those who were living in this country out of Israel’s way? Didn’t you give this country to the descendants of your friend Abraham to have permanently? 8 His descendants have lived in it and built a holy temple for your name in it. They said, 9 ‘If evil comes in the form of war, flood,[24] plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple and in front of you because your name is in this temple. We will cry out to you in our troubles, and you will hear us and save us.’

10 “The Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir have come here. However, you didn’t let Israel invade them when they came out of Egypt. The Israelites turned away from them and didn’t destroy them. 11 They are now paying us back by coming to force us out of your land that you gave to us. 12 You’re our God. Won’t you judge them? We don’t have the strength to face this large crowd that is attacking us. We don’t know what to do, so we’re looking to you.”

20:1–12   Aren’t you the God in heaven? You rule every nation with might. You promise to hear and save me. I have no idea what to do. I’m looking to you!

13 All the people from Judah, their infants, wives, and children were standing in front of the LORD. 14 Then the LORD’s Spirit came to Jahaziel. (He was the son of Zechariah, grandson of Benaiah, great-grandson of Jeiel, whose father was Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph.) 15 Jahaziel said, “Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the LORD says to you: Don’t be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle isn’t yours. It’s God’s. 16 Tomorrow go into battle against them. They will be coming up the Ziz Pass. You will find them at the end of the valley in front of the Jeruel Desert. 17 You won’t fight this battle. ⌞Instead,⌟ take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD for you, Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be frightened or terrified. Tomorrow go out to face them. The LORD is with you.”

20:13–17   This battle isn’t mine. It’s yours. I’ll stand still and see the victory you have in store for me. I won’t be frightened as I face my troubles. You’re with me!

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face touching the ground. Everyone from Judah and the people who lived in Jerusalem immediately bowed down in front of the LORD. 19 The Levites, descendants of Kohath and Korah, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with very loud songs.

20 They got up early in the morning and went to the desert of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. Trust the LORD your God, and believe. Believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”

20:18–20   I bow before you. I stand to praise you with very loud songs. I trust in you and believe. I believe your word and succeed.

21 After he had advised the people, he appointed people to sing to the LORD and praise him for the beauty of his holiness. As they went in front of the troops, they sang, “Thank the LORD because his mercy endures forever!” 22 As they started to sing praises, the LORD set ambushes against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir who had come into Judah. They were defeated. 23 Then the Ammonites and Moabites attacked the people from Mount Seir and annihilated them. After they had finished off the people of Seir, they helped destroy one another.

24 The people of Judah went to the watchtower in the desert and looked for the crowd. Corpses were lying on the ground. No one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his troops came to take the loot, they found among them a lot of goods, clothes,[25] and valuables. They found more than they could carry. They spent three days collecting the loot. 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the valley of Beracah. Because they thanked the LORD there, that place is still called the valley of Beracah [Thanks] today.

27 All the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They rejoiced while Jehoshaphat led them. The LORD gave them a reason to rejoice about ⌞what had happened to⌟ their enemies. 28 So they brought harps, lyres, and trumpets to the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem.

29 The fear of the LORD came over the kingdoms in that area when they heard how the LORD waged war against Israel’s enemies. 30 Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was peaceful, since his God surrounded him with peace.

20:21–30   I praise you for the beauty of your holiness. I thank you because your mercy endures forever. I’ll look back on victory and shout thanks!

Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign—1 Kings 22:41–50

31 Jehoshaphat ruled as king of Judah. He was 35 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. 32 Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what the LORD considered right. 33 But the illegal worship sites on the hills were not torn down. The people still didn’t have their hearts set on the God of their ancestors.

34 Everything else about Jehoshaphat from first to last is written in the records of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

35 After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who led him to do evil. 36 Jehoshaphat joined him in making ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 Then Eliezer, son of Dodavahu from Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “The LORD will destroy your work because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah.” So the ships were wrecked and couldn’t go to Tarshish.

20:31–37   Jehoshaphat carefully followed his father’s example and did what you considered right. But he let illegal worship sites stand. Teach me to live and lead without compromise.

King Jehoram of Judah—1 Kings 22:51; 2 Kings 8:17–19

21

1 Jehoshaphat lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His son Jehoram succeeded him as king. 2 He had the following brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All were the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Israel. 3 Their father gave them many gifts: silver, gold, and other expensive things, along with fortified cities in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram, who was the firstborn.

4 After Jehoram had taken over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened his position and then executed all his brothers and some of the officials of Israel. 5 Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 8 years in Jerusalem. 6 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as Ahab’s family had done, because his wife was Ahab’s daughter. So he did what the LORD considered evil. 7 But the LORD, recalling the promise[26] he had made to David, didn’t want to destroy David’s family. The LORD had told David that he would always give him and his descendants a ⌞shining⌟ lamp.

21:1–7   I reject the habitual sins of my family. I won’t let myself repeat their poor patterns of life.

Edom Wins Independence from Judah—2 Kings 8:20–24a

8 During Jehoram’s time Edom rebelled against Judah and chose its own king. 9 Jehoram took all his chariot commanders to attack. The Edomites and their chariot commanders surrounded him, but he got up at night and broke through their lines. 10 So Edom rebelled against Judah’s rule and is still independent today. At the same time Edom rebelled, Libnah rebelled because Jehoram had abandoned the LORD God of his ancestors. 11 Jehoram made illegal places of worship in the hills of Judah. This caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. So he led Judah astray.

12 Then a letter came to him from the prophet Elijah. It read, “This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: You haven’t followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or the ways of King Asa of Judah. 13 Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel. You, like Ahab’s family, have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. You have killed your brothers, your father’s family. Your brothers were better than you. 14 The LORD will strike a great blow to your people, your sons, your wives, and all your property because you did this. 15 You will suffer from a chronic intestinal disease until your intestines come out.”

16 The LORD prompted the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the people of Sudan to attack Jehoram. 17 They fought against Judah, broke into the country, and took away everything that could be found in the royal palace. They even took Jehoram’s sons and wives. The only son left was Ahaziah,[27] Jehoram’s youngest son. 18 After this, the LORD struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease. 19 Two years later, as his life was coming to an end, his intestines fell out because of his sickness. He died a painful death.

His people did not make a bonfire in his honor as they had done for his ancestors. 20 He was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 8 years in Jerusalem. No one was sorry to see him die. He was buried in the City of David but not in the tombs of the kings.

21:8–20   No one was sorry to see Jehoram die. He caused your people to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. You strike a great blow against great sin.

King Ahaziah of Judah—2 Kings 8:24b–29; 9:14–29

22

1 The people of Jerusalem made Jehoram’s youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, because the raiders who came to the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Jehoram’s son Ahaziah became king of Judah. 2 Ahaziah[28] was 42 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. 3 Ahaziah also followed the ways of Ahab’s family, because his mother gave him advice that led him to sin. 4 He did what the LORD considered evil, as Ahab’s family had done. After his father died, they advised him to do what Ahab’s family had done. They did this to destroy him.

5 Ahaziah followed their advice and went with Ahab’s son King Joram[29] of Israel to fight against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. There the Arameans wounded Joram. 6 Joram returned to Jezreel to let his wounds heal. (He had been wounded by the Arameans at Ramah when he fought against King Hazael of Aram.) Then Jehoram’s son Ahaziah[30] went to Jezreel to see Ahab’s son Joram, who was sick.

7 God brought about Ahaziah’s downfall when he went to Joram. He went with Joram to meet Jehu, grandson of Nimshi. (The LORD had anointed Jehu to destroy Ahab’s family.) 8 When Jehu was executing judgment on Ahab’s family, he found Judah’s leaders (Ahaziah’s nephews) who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them. 9 He searched for Ahaziah, and Jehu’s men captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. They brought him to Jehu and killed him. Then they buried him. They explained, “Ahaziah is Jehoshaphat’s grandson. Jehoshaphat dedicated his life to serving the LORD with all his heart.” But no one in Ahaziah’s family was able to rule as king.

22:1–9   You didn’t let Ahaziah stay on the throne. You brought his downfall through a better man. Put an end to evil rulers. Don’t let their violence spread.

The Priest Jehoiada Opposes Queen Athaliah—2 Kings 11:1–20

10 When Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she began to destroy the entire royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshebath, daughter of the king and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash. She saved him from being killed with the king’s other sons, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Jehoshebath was the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest. Because she was also Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah. So he wasn’t killed. 12 Joash was with the priests. He was hidden in God’s temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the country.

22:10–12   You protected a little boy from an evil queen. Make me shrewd enough to survive real life.

23

1 In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada strengthened his position by making an agreement with the company commanders: Azariah, son of Jeroham, Ishmael, son of Jehohanan, Azariah, son of Obed, Maaseiah, son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat, son of Zichri. 2 They went around Judah, gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the leaders of the families of Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 3 The whole assembly made an agreement with the king in God’s temple.

Then Jehoiada said to them, “Here is the king’s son. He should be king, as the LORD said about David’s descendants. 4 This is what you must do: One third of you, the priests and Levites who are on duty on the day of worship, must guard the gates. 5 Another third must be at the royal palace. And another third must be at Foundation Gate. All the people must be in the courtyards of the LORD’s temple. 6 No one should come into the LORD’s temple except the priests and the Levites who are on duty with them. They may enter because they are holy, but all other people should follow the LORD’s regulations. 7 The Levites should surround the king. Each man should have his weapon in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to come into the temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”

8 So the Levites and all the Judeans did what the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each took his men who were coming on duty on the day of worship as well as those who were about to go off duty. Jehoiada had not dismissed the priestly divisions.

9 Jehoiada gave the commanders the spears and the small and large shields that had belonged to King David but were now in God’s temple. 10 All the troops stood with their weapons drawn. They were stationed around the king and around the altar and the temple (from the south side to the north side of the temple). 11 Then they brought out the king’s son, gave him the crown and the religious instructions, and Jehoiada and his sons made him king by anointing him. They said, “Long live the king!”

12 When Athaliah heard the people running and praising the king, she went into the LORD’s temple, where the people were. 13 She looked, and the king was standing by the pillar at the entrance. The commanders and the trumpeters were by his side. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. The singers were leading the celebration with songs accompanied by musical instruments. As Athaliah tore her clothes ⌞in distress⌟, she said, “Treason, treason!”

14 Then the priest Jehoiada brought the company commanders who were in charge of the army out ⌞of the temple⌟. He said to them, “Take her out of the temple. Use your sword to kill anyone who follows her.” (The priest had said, “Don’t kill her in the LORD’s temple.”) 15 So they arrested her as she entered Horse Gate of the royal palace, and they killed her there.

23:1–15   An astute priest maneuvered the real king to the throne. You put a stop to intolerable evil. Nothing gets in the way of your will.

16 Jehoiada made a promise to the LORD on behalf of the king and his people that they would be the LORD’s people. 17 Then all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal’s altars and his statues and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

18 Next, Jehoiada appointed officials to be in charge of the LORD’s temple under the direction of the priests and Levites.[31] (David had arranged them in divisions for the LORD’s temple. They were appointed to sacrifice burnt offerings to the LORD as it is written in Moses’ Teachings. They made these offerings with joy and singing as David had directed.) 19 Jehoiada appointed gatekeepers for the gates of the LORD’s temple so that no one who was unclean[32] for any reason could enter.

20 He took the company commanders, the nobles, the people’s governors, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the LORD’s temple. They went through Upper Gate to the royal palace and seated the king on the royal throne. The nobles, the governors of the people, and 21 all the people of the land were celebrating. But the city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword.

23:16–21   I make you this promise: I’ll live as one of your people. I’ll rid my life of false gods. I’ll offer myself to you with joy and singing.

King Joash of Judah—2 Kings 11:21–12:14

24

1 Joash[33] was 7 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what the LORD considered right, as long as the priest Jehoiada lived.

24:1–2   My goal is to do what you consider right. I’ll listen to people who urge me to follow you without compromise.

3 Jehoiada got Joash two wives, and Joash had sons and daughters.

4 After this, Joash wanted to renovate the LORD’s temple. 5 He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the temple of your God every year. Do it immediately!” But the Levites didn’t do it immediately.

6 So the king called for the chief priest Jehoiada and asked him, “Why didn’t you require the Levites to bring the contributions from Judah and Jerusalem? The LORD’s servant Moses and the assembly had required Israel to give contributions for the use of the tent containing the words of God’s promise.” 7 (The sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into God’s temple and used all the holy things of the LORD’s temple ⌞to worship⌟ other gods—the Baals.)

8 The king issued an order, and they made a box and placed it outside the gate of the LORD’s temple. 9 Then they issued a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem that the contributions should be brought to the LORD. (In the desert the LORD’s servant Moses had required Israel to make contributions.) 10 All the officials and all the people were overjoyed. They brought the money and dropped it into the box until it was full. 11 Whenever the Levites brought the box to the king’s officers and they saw a lot of money, the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would empty the box and put it back in its place. They would do this every day, so they collected a lot of money. 12 The king and Jehoiada would give the money to the foremen who were working on the LORD’s temple, and they hired masons and carpenters to renovate the LORD’s temple. They also hired men who worked with iron and bronze to repair the LORD’s temple. 13 As the men worked, the project progressed under the foremen’s guidance. They restored God’s temple to its proper condition and reinforced it.

14 When they finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, who used it to make utensils for the LORD’s temple. They made dishes and gold and silver utensils for the service and for the offerings. As long as Jehoiada lived, they sacrificed burnt offerings in the LORD’s temple.

24:4–14   My lack of follow-through never escapes your notice. Keep me accountable to carry out your vision. Use me to complete your work.

Joash’s Sin Leads to His Assassination—2 Kings 12:17–21

15 When Jehoiada was old and had lived out his years, he died. He was 130 years old when he died. 16 He was buried in the City of David with the kings because of the good he had done in Israel for God and the temple.

17 After he died, the officials of Judah bowed in front of the king with their faces touching the ground. Then the king listened to their advice. 18 They abandoned the temple of the LORD God of their ancestors and worshiped idols and the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. This offense of theirs brought God’s anger upon Judah and Jerusalem.

19 The LORD sent them prophets to bring them back to himself. The prophets warned them, but they wouldn’t listen. 20 God’s Spirit gave Zechariah, son of the priest Jehoiada, strength. Zechariah stood in front of the people and said to them, “This is what God says: Why are you breaking the LORD’s commands? You won’t prosper that way! The LORD has abandoned you because you have abandoned him.” 21 But they plotted against Zechariah, and by the king’s order they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD’s temple. 22 King Joash did not remember how kind Zechariah’s father, Jehoiada, had been to him. Instead, he killed Jehoiada’s son. As Zechariah died, he said, “May the LORD see ⌞this⌟ and get revenge!”

23 At the end of the year, the Aramean army attacked Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the people’s leaders. The Arameans sent all the loot they took from Judah and Jerusalem to the king of Damascus. 24 The Aramean army had come with a small number of men, but the LORD handed Joash’s large army over to them because Joash’s soldiers had abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out ⌞the LORD’s⌟ judgment on Joash. 25 When the Arameans withdrew, they left him suffering from many wounds. His own officials plotted against him for murdering the son of the priest Jehoiada. They killed Joash in his bed. When he died, they buried him in the City of David, but they didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 These were the men who conspired against him: Zabad, son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of a Moabite woman named Shimrith. 27 The record about his sons, the many divine revelations against him, and the rebuilding of God’s temple is in the notes made in the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

24:15–27   Joash drifted from you and you dealt with him. I want to obey you until my last breath—and beyond.

King Amaziah of Judah—2 Kings 14:1–7

25

1 Amaziah was 25 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan from Jerusalem. 2 He did what the LORD considered right, but he did not do it wholeheartedly. 3 As soon as he had firm control over the kingdom, he executed the officials who killed his father, the former king. 4 But he didn’t execute their children. He obeyed the LORD’s command written in the Book of Moses’ Teachings: “Parents must never be put to death for the crimes of their children, and children must never be put to death for the crimes of their parents. Each person must be put to death for his own crime.”

5 Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them by families to regiment and battalion commanders for all of Judah and Benjamin. He organized those who were at least 20 years old and found that he had 300,000 of the best men for the army, those who could handle a spear and a shield. 6 He also hired 100,000 soldiers from Israel for 7,500 pounds of silver.

7 But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, Israel’s army must not go with you, because the LORD isn’t with Israel. He’s not with these men from Ephraim. 8 If you go into battle with them, no matter how courageous you are, God will use the enemy to defeat you, because God has the power to help you or to defeat you.”

9 Amaziah asked the man of God, “What should I do about the 7,500 pounds of silver I gave the troops from Israel?”

The man of God answered, “The LORD can give you much more than that.”

10 Then Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim. But they became furious with Judah and returned home.

11 Amaziah courageously led his troops. When he came to the Dead Sea region, he killed 10,000 men from Seir.[34] 12 The Judeans captured another 10,000 alive, took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them off the top of the cliff so that they were dismembered.

13 The troops that Amaziah sent back so that they couldn’t go with him into battle raided the towns in Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed 3,000 people and took a lot of goods.

25:1–13   Move me to obey you wholeheartedly. You have the power to help me or defeat me.

King Amaziah’s Sin Leads to His Defeat—2 Kings 14:8–20

14 After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them. 15 The LORD became angry with Amaziah. He sent him a prophet who asked him, “Why do you dedicate your life to serving the gods of those people? Those gods couldn’t save their own people from you.”

16 As he was talking, the king asked him, “Did we make you an adviser to the king? Stop! Do you want me to have you killed?”

The prophet stopped. He said, “I know that God has decided to destroy you because you did this, but you refuse to listen to my advice.”

17 After getting advice ⌞from his advisers⌟, King Amaziah of Judah sent messengers to King Jehoash,[35] son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu of Israel, to declare war on Israel.

18 King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said, ‘Let your daughter marry my son,’ but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 19 You say you defeated Edom, and now you’ve become arrogant enough to look for more fame. Stay home! Why must you invite disaster and your own defeat and take Judah with you?”

20 But Amaziah wouldn’t listen. (God made this happen because he wanted to hand over the Judeans to Jehoash because they had sought help from Edom’s gods.) 21 So King Jehoash of Israel attacked, and King Amaziah of Judah met him in battle at Beth Shemesh in Judah. 22 Israel defeated the army of Judah, and the Judeans fled to their homes. 23 King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah, son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah of Judah, at Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He tore down a 600-foot section of the wall around Jerusalem from Ephraim Gate to Corner Gate. 24  ⌞He took⌟ all the gold, silver, and all the utensils he found in God’s temple with Obed Edom and in the royal palace treasury. He also took hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

25 Joash’s son King Amaziah of Judah lived 15 years after the death of Jehoahaz’s son King Jehoash of Israel. 26 Isn’t everything else about Amaziah, from beginning to end, written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27 After Amaziah turned away from the LORD, conspirators in Jerusalem plotted against him. Amaziah fled to Lachish, but they sent men to Lachish after him and killed him there. 28 They brought him back by horse and buried him in the city of Judah with his ancestors.

25:14–28   Call out my sin when I chase other gods. Persuade me to listen to your advice. Warn me when I’m full of myself. Stop my stupid acts of aggression. Without you I can’t survive.

King Uzziah of Judah—2 Kings 14:21–15:3

26

1 All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was 16 years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 Uzziah rebuilt Elath and returned it to Judah after King Amaziah lay down in death with his ancestors. 3 Uzziah was 16 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. 4 He did what the LORD considered right, as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He dedicated his life to serving God in the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. As long as he dedicated his life to serving the LORD, the LORD gave him success.

6 Uzziah went to wage war against the Philistines. He tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him when he attacked the Philistines, the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid taxes to Uzziah, and his fame spread to the border of Egypt because he became very powerful. 9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at Corner Wall, Valley Gate, and the Angle, and he reinforced them. 10 He built towers in the desert. He dug many cisterns because he had a lot of herds in the foothills and the plains. He had farmers and vineyard workers in the mountains and the fertile fields because he loved the soil.

11 Uzziah had an army of professional soldiers. They were ready to go to war in their companies based on the number organized by the scribe Jeiel and the officer Maaseiah. They were commanded by Hananiah, one of the king’s officials. 12 The total number of family heads among these warriors was 2,600. 13 Under them was an army of 307,500 soldiers. They were a powerful force that could support the king against the enemy. 14 For the entire army Uzziah prepared shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and stones for slings. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines designed by inventive people. The machines were placed on the towers and corners to shoot arrows and hurl large stones.

26:1–15   Bring people into my life who teach me to live for you with utter respect. Bless my work—whatever you lead me to do.

King Uzziah Is Cursed with a Skin Disease—2 Kings 15:5–7

Uzziah’s fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful. 16 But when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God. He went into the LORD’s temple to burn incense on the incense altar. 17 The priest Azariah went in after him with 80 of the LORD’s courageous priests. 18 They opposed King Uzziah. They said to him, “Uzziah, you have no right to burn incense as an offering to the LORD. That right belongs to the priests, Aaron’s descendants, who have been given the holy task of burning incense. Get out of the holy place because you have been unfaithful. The LORD God will not honor you for this.”

19 Uzziah, who held an incense burner in his hand, became angry. While he was angry with the priests, a skin disease broke out on his forehead. This happened in front of the priests in the LORD’s temple as Uzziah was at the incense altar. 20 When the chief priest Azariah and all the priests turned toward him, a skin disease was on his forehead. They rushed him away. Uzziah was in a hurry to get out because the LORD had inflicted him ⌞with the disease⌟.

21 King Uzziah had a skin disease until the day he died. Since he had a skin disease, he lived in a separate house and was barred from the LORD’s temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the royal palace and governed the country.

22 Everything else about Uzziah, from beginning to end, is recorded by the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in a field containing tombs that belonged to the kings. People said, “He had a skin disease.” His son Jotham succeeded him as king.

26:16–23   You forbid incense not offered according to your command. When the king stole a right that belonged to priests, you struck him with disease. Don’t ban me from your presence. Train me to accept and act on your correction.

King Jotham of Judah—2 Kings 15:32–38

27

1 Jotham was 25 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok. 2 He did what the LORD considered right, as his father Uzziah had done. But unlike his father, he didn’t ⌞illegally⌟ enter the LORD’s temple. Nevertheless, the people continued their corrupt ways.

3 Jotham built the Upper Gate of the LORD’s temple and did extensive building of the wall at the Ophel. 4 He built cities in the hills of Judah, and he built forts and towers in the wooded areas. 5 He fought with the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites gave him 7,500 pounds of silver, 60,000 bushels of wheat, and 60,000 bushels of barley. The Ammonites gave him the same amount for two more years. 6 Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to live as the LORD his God wanted.

7 Everything else about Jotham—all his wars and his life—is written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was 25 years old when he began to rule as king. He ruled for 16 years in Jerusalem. 9 Jotham lay down in death with his ancestors, and they buried him in the City of David. His son Ahaz succeeded him as king.

27:1–9   Jotham did what you considered right. He grew powerful because he was determined to live as you wanted. Teach me to lead without compromise.

King Ahaz of Judah—2 Kings 16:1–20

28

1 Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 26 years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do what the LORD considered right, as his ancestor David had done. 2 He followed the example of the kings of Israel and even made metal idols for worshiping other gods—the Baals. 3 He burned sacrifices in the valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his son by burning him alive, one of the disgusting things done by the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites’ way. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense as an offering at the illegal worship sites, which were on hills and under every large tree.

5 So the LORD his God handed him over to the king of Aram, who defeated him, captured many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus. He also handed him over to the king of Israel, who decisively defeated him. 6 In one day Pekah, son of Remaliah, killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah because they had abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors. 7 Zichri, a fighting man from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah, who was the king’s son, Azrikam, who was in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, who was the king’s second-in-command. 8 The Israelites captured 200,000 women, boys, and girls from their relatives ⌞the Judeans⌟. They also took a lot of goods from Judah and brought them to Samaria.

28:1–8   Ahaz broke all of your rules for worship. He made idols and sacrificed his son by burning him alive. So you handed the king and the people over to their enemies.

9 A prophet of the LORD named Oded was there. He went to meet the army coming home to Samaria. He said to them, “The LORD God of your ancestors handed Judah over to you in his anger. You killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10 Now you intend to enslave the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But aren’t you also guilty of sinning against the LORD your God? 11 Listen to me. Return these prisoners you have captured from your relatives, because the LORD is very angry with you.”

12 Then Azariah, son of Jehohan, Berechiah, son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah, son of Shallum, and Amasa, son of Hadlai (some leaders of Ephraim) opposed those coming home from the army. 13 They said to the army, “Don’t bring the prisoners here. You’ll make us responsible for this sin against the LORD. Do you intend to add to all our sins? The LORD is very angry with Israel because we have already sinned.”

14 So the army left the prisoners and the loot in front of the leaders and the whole assembly. 15 Then the men who were mentioned by name took charge of the prisoners and gave clothes from the loot to all the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothes for them, gave them sandals, gave them something to eat and drink, and let them bathe. They put everyone who was exhausted on donkeys and brought them to Jericho (the City of Palms) near their own people. Then they returned to Samaria.

28:9–15   You loosed the prisoners. You clothed the naked, put sandals on their feet, gave them food and water and a bath. Show me that mercy. Bring me home when I get caught in a mess.

16 At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the kings of Assyria. 17 The Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and captured prisoners. 18 The Philistines had raided the foothills and the Negev in Judah. They captured and began living in Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. 19 The LORD humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel. Ahaz had spread sin throughout Judah and was unfaithful to the LORD.

20 King Tillegath Pilneser of Assyria attacked Ahaz. Instead of strengthening Ahaz, Tillegath Pilneser made trouble for him. 21 Ahaz took some of the things from the LORD’s temple, the royal palace, and the princes, and he gave them to the king of Assyria. But that didn’t help him. 22 When he had this trouble, King Ahaz became more unfaithful to the LORD. 23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, the gods who had defeated him. He thought, “The gods of the kings of Aram are helping them. I’ll sacrifice to them so that they will help me.” But they ruined him and all Israel.

24 Ahaz collected the utensils in God’s temple, cut them up, and closed the doors to the LORD’s temple. He made altars for himself on every corner in Jerusalem. 25 And in each city of Judah, he made places of worship to sacrifice to other gods. So he made the LORD God of his ancestors angry.

26 Everything else about him—everything from beginning to end—is written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the city of Jerusalem because they didn’t put him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him as king.

28:16–27   When Ahaz met trouble, he became even more unfaithful to you. He sacrificed to the same gods who defeated him. Pull me back to you before my false gods ruin me.

King Hezekiah Rededicates the Temple—2 Kings 18:1–3

29

1 Hezekiah began to rule as king when he was 25 years old. He ruled for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah. 2 He did what the LORD considered right, as his ancestor David had done.

3 In the first month of his first year as king, he opened the doors of the LORD’s temple and repaired them. 4 He brought the priests and Levites together in the square on the east side ⌞of the temple⌟.

29:1–7   I long to undo the unfaithful habits of my ancestors. I’ll get rid of anything corrupt. I’ll open your temple doors. I’ll relight the lamps. I’ll turn back to you and never again turn away.

5 He said to them, “Listen to me, Levites. Perform the ceremonies to make the temple of the LORD God of your ancestors holy. Remove anything that has been corrupted from the holy place. 6 Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what the LORD our God considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from the LORD’s tent[36] and turned their backs on him. 7 They also shut the doors of the ⌞temple’s⌟ entrance hall, extinguished the lamps, and didn’t burn incense or sacrifice burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 So the LORD was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He made them something that shocks and terrifies people and that people ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes. 9 Our fathers were killed in battle, and our sons, daughters, and wives are prisoners because of this. 10 Now I intend to make a pledge to the LORD God of Israel so that he may turn his burning anger away from us. 11 Don’t be negligent, my sons. The LORD has chosen you to stand in front of him, serve him, be his servants, and burn sacrifices.”

29:8–11   Don’t make me a shocking thing—an object of intense ridicule. I won’t be negligent in serving you.

12 So the Levites started to work.

From Kohath’s descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah.

From Merari’s descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel.

From Gershon’s descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah.

13 From Elizaphan’s descendants were Shimri and Jeiel.

From Asaph’s descendants were Zechariah and Mattaniah.

14 From Heman’s descendants were Jehiel and Shimei.

From Jeduthun’s descendants were Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. Then they obeyed the king’s order from the LORD’s word and entered the temple to make it clean.[37] 16 The priests entered the LORD’s temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in the LORD’s temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook. 17 They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into the LORD’s entrance hall, and for eight days they performed the ceremonies to make the LORD’s temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.

18 Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said ⌞to him⌟, “We have made all of the LORD’s temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils, 19 and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of the LORD’s altar.”

29:15–19   Show me the unclean things hidden in the corners of my life. Give me courage to carry them to the garbage heap.

20 Early in the morning Hezekiah gathered the leaders of the city and went to the LORD’s temple. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aaron’s descendants, to sacrifice the animals on the LORD’s altar.

22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23 Then they brought the male goats for the offering for sin in front of the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. 24 The priests slaughtered the goats and made their blood an offering for sin at the altar to make peace with the LORD for Israel. The king had said that the burnt offerings and offerings for sin should be for all Israel.

25 He had the Levites stand in the LORD’s temple with cymbals, harps, and lyres as David, the king’s seer[38] Gad, and the prophet Nathan had ordered. This command came from the LORD through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with David’s instruments, and the priests had the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah ordered the sacrificing of burnt offerings on the altar. When the burnt offerings started, the songs to the LORD started. These songs were accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of King David of Israel. 28 The whole assembly bowed down with their faces touching the ground, singers began to sing, and the trumpets blew until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the burnt offerings were finished, the king and everyone who was with him kneeled and bowed down. 30 Then King Hezekiah and the leaders told the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and the seer Asaph. They joyfully sang praises, bowed down, and worshiped.

29:20–30   I’ll get up early to serve you. Make peace between you and me. I joyfully bow down and worship.

31 Hezekiah said, “You have dedicated your lives to the LORD. Come, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the LORD’s temple.”

The assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and everyone who was willing brought burnt offerings. 32 The burnt offerings brought by the assembly totaled 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs. All of these were burnt offerings to the LORD. 33 The animals dedicated as holy sacrifices were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests needed more help to skin all the burnt offerings. So their relatives, the Levites, helped them until the work was completed and the priests could make themselves holy. The Levites were more diligent in making themselves holy than the priests were. 35 There were many burnt offerings in addition to the fat of the fellowship offerings and wine offerings that accompanied the burnt offerings. So the worship in the LORD’s temple was reestablished. 36 Hezekiah and all the people were overjoyed because of what God had done for the people. Everything had happened so quickly.

29:31–36   I choose to be diligent in making myself clean. I’m overjoyed by what you do for me. Work quickly in me!

Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover

30

1 Hezekiah sent a message to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. He invited them to come to the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD God of Israel.

2 The king, his officials, and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3 They couldn’t celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy and the people hadn’t gathered in Jerusalem. 4 The king and the whole assembly considered their plan to be the right thing to do. 5 So they decided to send an announcement throughout Israel from Beersheba to Dan. They summoned everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the LORD God of Israel. These people had not celebrated it in large numbers as the written instructions said they should.

30:1–5   I’d rather do the right thing at the wrong time than not do it at all.

6 Messengers took letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. The king’s order said, “Israelites, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then he will return to the few of you who escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria. 7 Don’t be like your ancestors and your relatives who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their ancestors. He made them something that shocks people, as you have seen. 8 Don’t be impossible to deal with like your ancestors. Reach out for the LORD. Come to his holy place that he made holy forever. Serve the LORD your God, and he will turn his burning anger away from you. 9 When you return to the LORD, your relatives and children will find compassion from those who captured them. They will return to this land. The LORD your God is merciful and compassionate. He will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.”

30:6–9   I reach out to you. I’m coming to your holy presence. Show mercy to me and my family.

10 So the messengers went from city to city in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun. But the people ridiculed them. 11 However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also, God guided the people of Judah so that they united to carry out the command which the king and the leaders gave from the LORD’s word.

13 Many people gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. They formed a large assembly.

14 Then the people got rid of the ⌞idols’⌟ altars in Jerusalem. They got rid of all the altars for incense by dumping them in the Kidron Valley.

30:10–14   I won’t ridicule your invitation to worship. I’ll carry out your commands. I’ll rid my life of altars to anything but you.

15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. Then they brought burnt offerings to the LORD’s temple. 16 They stood in their regular places as instructed by Moses’ Teachings. (Moses was a man of God.) The priests sprinkled the blood they received from the Levites. 17 Many people in the assembly had not made themselves holy. So the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all who weren’t clean[39] and couldn’t make their lambs holy for the LORD.

18 Many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not made themselves clean. So they ate the Passover, but not in the way the written instructions said they should. Hezekiah prayed for them: “May the good LORD forgive 19 those who have their hearts set on dedicating their lives to serving God. May the LORD God of their ancestors do this for those who are not clean as required for the holy place.” 20 The LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

30:15–20   I’m ashamed of myself. I know I’m not clean. But I have my heart set on serving you. Only you can make me holy.

21 So the Israelites in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Each day the Levites and priests praised the LORD in song. They played the LORD’s instruments loudly. 22 Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who had the skills to serve the LORD. They ate the festival meals for seven days, sacrificed fellowship offerings, and confessed their sins to the LORD God of their ancestors.

23 Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the festival for seven more days. So they joyfully celebrated for seven more days. 24 King Hezekiah of Judah provided 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep as sacrifices for the assembly. The leaders provided 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep for the assembly. So a large number of priests were able to perform the ceremonies to make themselves holy.

25 The whole assembly from Judah, the priests, the Levites, the whole assembly from Israel, the foreigners who came from Israel, and those who lived in Judah rejoiced. 26 The city of Jerusalem was filled with joy. Nothing like this had happened in Jerusalem since the days of King Solomon of Israel.

27 Then the Levitical priests blessed the people. Their voices were heard, and their prayers went to God’s holy place in heaven.

30:21–27   Each day I’ll praise you loudly. Speak encouraging words to me, and I’ll confess my sins. Let this celebration go on and on!

Hezekiah Reforms Judah’s Worship

31

1 When this was over, all the Israelites who were there went to the cities in Judah. They crushed the sacred stones, cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, and tore down the illegal places of worship and the altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. The Israelites destroyed all of these things. Then all the Israelites returned to their own cities. Each person went to his own property.

2 Hezekiah assigned the priests and the Levites to divisions. Each priest or Levite was put in a division based on the service he performed: sacrificing burnt offerings, sacrificing fellowship offerings, serving, giving thanks, or praising within the gates of the LORD’s camp.

3 He set aside part of the king’s property for burnt offerings, the morning and evening offerings, burnt offerings on the weekly worship days, the New Moon Festivals, and the annual festivals, as it is written in the LORD’s Teachings. 4 He told the people living in Jerusalem to give the priests and Levites the portions they were due so that they could devote themselves to the LORD’s Teachings. 5 As soon as the word spread, the Israelites brought plenty of offerings from the first of their produce: grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, honey, and every crop from the fields. They brought large quantities, a tenth of everything. 6 The people of Israel and Judah who were living in the cities of Judah brought a tenth of their cattle and sheep and a tenth of the holy things they had dedicated to the LORD their God. They piled these holy things in heaps. 7 In the third month they started piling them up, and in the seventh month they finished. 8 When Hezekiah and the leaders saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and his people Israel.

31:1–8   I bring you offerings from the first of my produce. I’ll bring you large quantities, a tenth of everything. I’ll pile my offerings up in heaps.

9 Hezekiah asked the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 The chief priest Azariah from Zadok’s family said, “Since the people started to bring the offerings to the LORD’s temple, we have had all we wanted to eat and plenty to spare. The LORD has blessed his people, and there’s a lot left over.”

11 Then Hezekiah told them to prepare storerooms in the LORD’s temple. After they had prepared them, 12 they faithfully brought in the contributions, the offerings of one-tenth of the crops, and the gifts dedicated to God. The Levite Conaniah was in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was his assistant. 13 King Hezekiah and Azariah, who was in charge of God’s temple, appointed Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah to serve under Conaniah and his brother Shimei. 14 Kore, son of Imnah the Levite, was the gatekeeper at East Gate and had to take care of the freewill offerings made to God. His responsibility was to distribute the offerings made to the LORD and the holy gifts dedicated to God. 15 Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah served under him in the cities belonging to the priests. They were to distribute the offerings faithfully to all their relatives, young and old, by their divisions. 16 They were appointed to distribute them to males who were at least three years old. The way they were enrolled in the genealogical records did not matter. The six men who served under Kore were to distribute the offerings to everyone who went to the LORD’s temple to perform the daily service that each division was responsible for. 17 They were to distribute offerings to the priests who were enrolled by families and to the Levites who were at least 20 years old. Distribution was based on the way they served in their divisions. 18 The priests and Levites were enrolled with their wives, sons, daughters, and other people who depended on them—the whole community. The priests and Levites had to be faithful in keeping themselves holy for the holy work. 19 Men were appointed to give a portion of the offerings to all the males in the priestly families and to everyone listed in the genealogies of the Levites. These men were Aaron’s descendants, priests who lived in the pasturelands of every Levite city.

20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and right and true to the LORD his God. 21 Hezekiah incorporated Moses’ Teachings and commands into worship and dedicated his life to serving God. Whatever he did for the worship in God’s temple, he did wholeheartedly, and he succeeded.

31:9–21   Make my leaders wise in how they use your people’s gifts. Watch over the people who serve you. Let worship be the goal of everything we do.

God Saves Judah from the Assyrians—2 Kings 18:13–19:37; Isaiah 36:1–37:38

32

1 After everything Hezekiah had done so faithfully, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah. He set up camp ⌞to attack⌟ the fortified cities. He intended to conquer them himself.

2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to wage war against Jerusalem, 3 he, his officers, and his military staff made plans to stop the water from flowing out of the springs outside the city. They helped him do it. 4 A large crowd gathered as they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land. They said, “Why should the kings of Assyria find plenty of water?”

5 Hezekiah worked hard. He rebuilt all the broken sections of the wall, made the towers taller, built another wall outside ⌞the city wall⌟, strengthened the Millo[40] in the City of David, and made plenty of weapons and shields. 6 He appointed military commanders over the troops and gathered the commanders in the square by the city gate. He spoke these words of encouragement: 7 “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be frightened or terrified by the king of Assyria or the crowd with him. Someone greater is on our side. 8 The king of Assyria has human power on his side, but the LORD our God is on our side to help us and fight our battles.” So the people were encouraged by what King Hezekiah of Judah said.

32:1–8   Show me how to prepare for my enemies’ attacks. Strengthen my weak spots and train me hard to defend myself. I won’t be frightened when you’re on my side.

9 After this, while King Sennacherib of Assyria and all his royal forces were attacking Lachish, he sent his officers to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all of the people in Judah who were in Jerusalem to say: 10 “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: Why are you so confident as you live in Jerusalem while it is blockaded? 11 Isn’t Hezekiah misleading you and abandoning you to die from hunger and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will rescue us from the king of Assyria?’ 12 Isn’t this the same Hezekiah who got rid of the LORD’s places of worship and altars and told Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Worship and sacrifice at one altar?’ 13 Don’t you know what I and my predecessors have done to the people of all other countries? Were any of the gods of these other nations ever able to rescue their countries from me? 14 Were the gods of these nations able to rescue their people from my control? My predecessors claimed and destroyed those nations. Is your God able to rescue you from my control? 15 Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you like this. Don’t believe him. No god of any nation or kingdom could save his people from me or my ancestors. Certainly, your God will not rescue you from me!”

16 Sennacherib’s officers said more against the LORD God and his servant Hezekiah. 17 Sennacherib wrote letters cursing the LORD God of Israel. These letters said, “As the gods of the nations in other countries couldn’t rescue their people from me, Hezekiah’s God cannot rescue his people from me.” 18 Sennacherib’s officers shouted loudly in the Judean language to the troops who were on the wall of Jerusalem. They tried to frighten and terrify the troops so that they could capture the city. 19 They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the gods made by human hands and worshiped by the people in other countries.

32:10–19   No one can save me but you. No matter what anyone says, I’m certain you’re on my side. I’m convinced you can rescue me.

20 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, prayed about this and called to heaven. 21 The LORD sent an angel who exterminated all the soldiers, officials, and commanders in the Assyrian king’s camp. Humiliated, Sennacherib returned to his own country. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him with a sword. 22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from everyone else. The LORD gave them peace with all their neighbors.

23 Many people still went to Jerusalem to bring gifts to the LORD and expensive presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. From then on, he was considered important by all the nations.

32:19–23   Save me from the control of evil people. You’re Lord of my world and my life. You’re not a god made by human hands.

Other Events in Hezekiah’s Life—2 Kings 20:1–21; Isaiah 38:1–8, 21–22; 39:1–8

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah was conceited, so he didn’t repay the LORD for his kindness. The LORD became angry with him, with Judah, and with Jerusalem. 26 Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem humbled themselves when they realized they had become conceited. So the LORD didn’t vent his anger on them during Hezekiah’s time.

32:24–26   Point out my pride before it destroys my life. I’ll humble myself when I realize my conceit.

27 Hezekiah became richer and was highly honored. He prepared storerooms for himself to hold silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuables. 28 He made sheds to store his harvests of grain, new wine, and fresh olive oil, and he made barns for all his cattle and stalls for his flocks. 29 He made cities for himself because he had many sheep and cattle. God had given him a lot of property. 30 Hezekiah was the one who stopped the water from flowing from the upper outlet of Gihon. He channeled the water directly underground to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did.

31 When the leaders of Babylon sent ambassadors to ask him about the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, God left him. God did this to test him, to find out everything that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

32 Everything else about Hezekiah, including his devotion to God, is written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, and in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Hezekiah lay down in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. When Hezekiah died, all of Judah and the people in Jerusalem honored him. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

32:27–33   Every blessing I possess comes from you. Test me and find out everything in my heart.

King Manasseh of Judah—2 Kings 21:1–20

33

1 Manasseh was 12 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 55 years in Jerusalem.

2 He did what the LORD considered evil by copying the disgusting things done by the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites’ way. 3 He rebuilt the illegal places of worship that his father Hezekiah had torn down. He set up altars dedicated to other gods—the Baals—and made a pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh, like Ahab, worshiped and served the entire army of heaven. 4 He built altars in the LORD’s temple, where the LORD had said, “My name will be in Jerusalem forever.” 5 In the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple, he built altars for the entire army of heaven. 6 He burned his son as a sacrifice in the valley of Ben Hinnom, consulted fortunetellers, cast evil spells, practiced witchcraft, and appointed ⌞royal⌟ mediums and psychics. He did many things that made the LORD furious. 7 Manasseh had a carved idol made. Then he set it up in God’s temple, where God had said to David and his son Solomon, “I have chosen this temple and Jerusalem from all the tribes of Israel. I will put my name here forever. 8 I will never again remove Israel from the land that I set aside for their ancestors if they will obey all the commands, all the teachings, the ordinances, and the regulations ⌞I gave⌟ through Moses.” 9 Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that they did more evil things than the nations that the LORD had destroyed when the Israelites arrived in the land.

33:1–9   Manasseh copied the disgusting things done by the nations you forced from the land. He undid his father’s obedience, making the heavens his god and sacrificing his son. Jolt me awake when I do things that make you furious and mislead your people.

10 When the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, they wouldn’t even pay attention. 11 So the LORD made the army commanders of the king of Assyria invade Judah. They took Manasseh captive, put a hook in his nose, put him in bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.

12 When he experienced this distress, he begged the LORD his God to be kind and humbled himself in front of the God of his ancestors. 13 He prayed to the LORD, and the LORD accepted his prayer and listened to his request. The LORD brought him back to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

14 After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon Spring in the valley to the entrance of Fish Gate. He made the wall go around the Ophel, and he built it very high. He put army commanders in every fortified city in Judah.

15 Manasseh got rid of the foreign gods and the idol in the LORD’s temple. He got rid of the altars he had built in the temple on the LORD’s mountain and in Jerusalem. 16 He built the LORD’s altar and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it. And he told Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17 The people continued to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship, but they sacrificed only to the LORD their God.

18 Everything else about Manasseh—including his prayer to his God and the words that the seers[41] spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel—are in the records of the kings of Israel. 19 His prayer and how God accepted it are written in the records of Hozai. The things he did before he humbled himself are also written there. This includes all his sins and unfaithfulness and the places where he built illegal worship sites and set up idols and poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

20 Manasseh lay down in death with his ancestors. They buried him in his own palace. His son Amon succeeded him as king.

33:10–20   You sent Manasseh away with a hook in his nose and his ankles in shackles. When I humble myself, listen to my request. I’ll get rid of my gods and serve only you.

King Amon of Judah—2 Kings 21:19–26

21 Amon was 22 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 2 years in Jerusalem. 22 He did what the LORD considered evil, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon sacrificed to all the idols his father Manasseh had made, and he worshiped them. 23 He didn’t humble himself in front of the LORD as his father Manasseh had humbled himself. Instead, Amon continued to sin.

24 His officials plotted against him and killed him in his palace. 25 Then the people of the land killed everyone who had plotted against King Amon. They made his son Josiah king in his place.

33:21–25   Break me free from the sins of my family. I want their evil habits to end with me.

King Josiah Reforms Judah’s Worship—2 Kings 22:1–2; 23:4–20

34

1 Josiah was 8 years old when he began to rule, and he was king for 31 years in Jerusalem. 2 He did what the LORD considered right. He lived in the ways of his ancestor David and never stopped living this way.

3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a boy, he began to dedicate his life to serving the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year as king, he began to make Judah and Jerusalem clean[42] by destroying the illegal places of worship, poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, carved idols, and metal idols. 4 He had the altars of the various Baal gods torn down. He cut down the incense altars that were above them. He destroyed the Asherah poles, carved idols, and metal idols. He ground them into powder and scattered the powder over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he made Judah and Jerusalem clean. 6 In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, he removed all their temples,[43] 7 tore down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and idols into powder, and cut down all the incense altars everywhere in Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

34:1–7   You brought a boy to the throne who dedicated his life to serving you. He got rid of false worship of every kind and made your nation clean.

King Josiah Rededicates Judah to God’s Promise—2 Kings 22:3–23:4

8 In the eighteenth year of his reign as he was making the land and the temple clean, Josiah sent Shaphan, son of Azaliah, Maaseiah, the mayor of the city, and Joah, the royal historian and son of Joahaz, to repair the temple of the LORD his God. 9 They came to the chief priest Hilkiah and gave him the money that had been brought to God’s temple, the money that the Levite doorkeepers had collected from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all who were left in Israel, from everyone in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They gave the money to the foremen who were in charge of the LORD’s temple. These foremen gave it to the workmen who were restoring and repairing the temple. 11 (These workers included carpenters and builders.) They were to buy quarried stones and wood for the fittings and beams of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to become run-down. 12 The men did their work faithfully under the supervision of Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), and Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, who were skilled musicians, 13 also supervised the workers and directed all the workmen on the various jobs. Some of the Levites served as scribes, officials, or gatekeepers.

14 When they brought out the money that had been deposited in the LORD’s temple, the priest Hilkiah found the Book of the LORD’s Teachings written by Moses. 15 Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan, “I have found the Book of the Teachings in the LORD’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

16 Shaphan took the book to the king and reported, “We are doing everything you told us to do. 17 We took the money that was donated in the LORD’s temple and gave it to the supervisors and the workmen.” 18 Then the scribe Shaphan told the king, “The priest Hilkiah has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it to the king.

19 When the king heard what the Teachings said, he tore his clothes ⌞in distress⌟. 20 Then the king gave an order to Hilkiah, Ahikam (son of Shaphan), Abdon (son of Micah), the scribe Shaphan, and the royal official Asaiah. He said, 21 “On behalf of those who are left in Israel and Judah and me, ask the LORD about the words in this book that was found. The LORD’s fierce anger has been poured on us because our ancestors did not obey the word of the LORD by doing everything written in this book.”

34:8–21   Josiah tore his clothes when he learned your word had been neglected. Your anger is fierce toward any who disobey your commands.

22 So Hilkiah and the king’s officials went to talk to the prophet Huldah about this matter. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tokhath and grandson of Hasrah. Shallum was in charge of the ⌞royal⌟ wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.

23 She told them, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 ‘This is what the LORD says: I’m going to bring disaster on this place and on the people living here according to the curses written in the book that was read to the king of Judah. 25 I will do this because they have abandoned me and sacrificed to other gods in order to make me furious. Therefore, my anger will be poured on this place and will never come to an end.’”

26  ⌞Huldah added,⌟ “Tell Judah’s king who sent you to me to ask the LORD a question, ‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says about the words you heard: 27 You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of God when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. You humbled yourself, tore your clothes ⌞in distress⌟, and cried in front of me. So I will listen ⌞to you⌟, declares the LORD. 28 That is why I’m going to bring you to your ancestors. I’m going to bring you to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see any of the disaster I’m going to bring on this place and those who live here.’”

So they reported this to the king.

29 Then the king sent for all the respected leaders of Judah and Jerusalem to join him. 30 The king, everyone in Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people (young and old) went up to the LORD’s temple. He read everything written in the Book of the Promise[44] found in the LORD’s temple so that they could hear it. 31 The king stood in his place and made a promise to the LORD that he would follow the LORD and obey his commands, instructions, and laws with all his heart and soul. He said he would live by the terms of the promise written in this book. 32 He also made all those found in Jerusalem and Benjamin join with him ⌞in the promise⌟. Then the people of Jerusalem lived according to the promise of God, the God of their ancestors.

33 Josiah got rid of all the disgusting idols throughout Israelite territory. He made all people found in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they didn’t stop following the LORD God of their ancestors.

34:22–33   Everyone heard your Book. The king pledged to follow you with his whole heart and soul—and the people joined in his pledge. I vow to live according to your promise. I won’t stop following you.

King Josiah Celebrates the Passover—2 Kings 23:21–23

35

1 Josiah celebrated the Passover for the LORD in Jerusalem. The Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 Josiah appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them to serve in the LORD’s temple. 3 He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to the LORD, “Put the holy ark in the temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It shouldn’t be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve the LORD your God and his people Israel. 4 Get yourselves ready with the family groups of your divisions, which are listed in the records of King David of Israel and the records of his son Solomon. 5 Stand in the holy place representing the family divisions of your relatives, the people ⌞of Israel⌟. Let the Levites be considered a part of each family.[45] 6 Slaughter the Passover lamb, perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy, and prepare ⌞the lambs⌟ for the other Israelites as the LORD instructed ⌞us⌟ through Moses.”

7 Josiah provided the people with 33,000 sheep and goats to be sacrificed as Passover offerings for all who were present. In addition, he provided 3,000 bulls. (These animals were the king’s property.) 8 His officials also voluntarily gave animals to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the men in charge of God’s temple, gave the priests 2,600 sheep and goats and 300 bulls for Passover sacrifices. 9 Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, gave the Levites 5,000 sheep and goats and 500 bulls as Passover sacrifices.

10 So the service was prepared. The priests took their positions with the Levites according to their divisions, as the king had ordered. 11 They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs. 12 They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the laypeople according to their family divisions. The laypeople could then present them to the LORD as written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls. 13 They roasted the Passover lambs according to the directions. They boiled the holy offerings in pots, kettles, and pans and immediately served them to all the people. 14 Later, they prepared ⌞the animals⌟ for themselves and for the priests because the priests (Aaron’s descendants) were sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fat until that evening.

So the Levites prepared ⌞the animals⌟ for themselves and the priests. 15 The singers (Asaph’s descendants) were in their places as David, Asaph, Heman, and the king’s seer[46] Jeduthun had commanded. The gatekeepers were stationed at each gate. They didn’t need to leave their work, because their relatives, the Levites, prepared ⌞animals⌟ for them.

16 So everything was arranged that day for the worship of the LORD. The Passover was celebrated, and the burnt offerings were sacrificed on the LORD’s altar as King Josiah had commanded. 17 The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time. They also celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

18 Never had a Passover like this been celebrated in Israel during the time of the prophet Samuel or the kings of Israel. They did not celebrate the Passover as Josiah celebrated it with priests, Levites, all of Judah, the people of Israel who could be found, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was celebrated.

35:1–19   Josiah ordered the people to celebrate your Passover, as you commanded through Moses. Sprinkle me with blood and save me. I vow to remember how you rescued me.

Josiah’s Sin Leads to His Death—2 Kings 23:28–30a

20 After all this, when Josiah had repaired the temple, King Neco of Egypt came to fight a battle at Carchemish at the Euphrates River. Josiah went to attack him. 21 But Neco sent messengers to Josiah to say, “What’s your quarrel with me, king of Judah? I’m not attacking you. I’ve come to fight those who are at war with me. God told me to hurry. God is with me, so stop now or else he will destroy you.”

22 But Josiah would not stop his attack. He disguised himself as he went into battle. He refused to listen to Neco’s words, which came from God, and he went to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

23 Some archers shot King Josiah. The king told his officers, “Take me away because I’m badly wounded.”

24 His officers took him out of the chariot and brought him to Jerusalem in his other chariot. He died and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah sang a funeral song about Josiah. All the male and female singers still sing funeral songs about Josiah today. This became a tradition in Israel. They are written in ⌞the Book of⌟ the Funeral Songs.

26 Everything else about Josiah—including his devotion to God by following what is written in the LORD’s Teachings 27 and his acts from first to last—are written in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah.

35:20–27   A good king died because he didn’t listen to your words. I’ll devote myself to you by following your teachings. Let my deeds be good from first to last.

King Jehoahaz of Judah—2 Kings 23:30b–35

36

1 Then people of the land took Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father. 2 Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king, and he was king in Jerusalem for 3 months. 3 The king of Egypt removed him from office in Jerusalem and fined the country 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king of Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Neco took Jehoahaz away to Egypt.

King Jehoiakim of Judah—2 Kings 23:36–24:7

5 Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. He did what the LORD his God considered evil. 6 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jehoiakim and put him in bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the utensils of the LORD’s temple to Babylon. He put them in his palace in Babylon.

8 Everything else about Jehoiakim—the disgusting things he did and all the charges against him—is written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. His son Jehoiakin succeeded him as king.

King Jehoiakin of Judah—2 Kings 24:8–17

9 Jehoiakin was eight years old when he began to rule as king. He was king for three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what the LORD considered evil.

10 In the spring King Nebuchadnezzar sent for Jehoiakin and brought him to Babylon with the valuable utensils from the LORD’s temple. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiakin’s uncle Zedekiah king of Judah and Jerusalem.

King Zedekiah of Judah—2 Kings 24:18–25:21; Jeremiah 39:1–10; 52:1–27

11 Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. 12 He did what the LORD his God considered evil and didn’t humble himself in front of the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke for the LORD. 13 Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had made Zedekiah swear an oath of allegiance to him in God’s name. But Zedekiah became so stubborn and so impossible to deal with that he refused to turn back to the LORD God of Israel.

36:1–13   Don’t let me be another name in a long line of evil. Protect me from your enemies.

14 All the officials, the priests, and the people became increasingly unfaithful and followed all the disgusting practices of the nations. Although the LORD had made the temple in Jerusalem holy, they made the temple unclean.[47] 15 The LORD God of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his messengers because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until the LORD became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.

17 So he had the Babylonian king attack them and execute their best young men in their holy temple. He didn’t spare the best men or the unmarried women, the old people or the sick people. God handed all of them over to him. 18 He brought to Babylon each of the utensils from God’s temple, the treasures from the LORD’s temple, and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They burned God’s temple, tore down Jerusalem’s walls, burned down all its palaces, and destroyed everything of value. 20 The king of Babylon took those who weren’t executed to Babylon to be slaves for him and his sons. They remained captives until the Persian Empire began to rule. 21 This happened so that the LORD’s words spoken through Jeremiah would be fulfilled. The land had its years of rest and was made acceptable ⌞again⌟. While it lay in ruins, ⌞the land had its⌟ 70 years of rest.

36:14–21   Save me from becoming increasingly unfaithful. Open my mind to the words of your prophets. I promise to keep you at the center of my life.

King Cyrus Allows the Jews to Return from Babylon—Ezra 1:1–3

22 The promise the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah was about to come true in Cyrus’ first year as king of Persia. The LORD inspired the king to make this announcement throughout his whole kingdom and then to put it in writing.

23 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the world. And he has ordered me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem (which is in Judah). May the LORD God be with all of you who are his people. You may go.

36:22–23   Act on your promise to restore me. When I’m held captive, free me and let me run back to you.

EZRA

INTRODUCTION

Ezra shows God’s people coming home after their long captivity in Babylon. The Persians’ defeat of the Babylonian Empire gave God’s people new reason for hope. Cyrus king of Persia decreed that exiles living in Babylon could return to their homeland of Judah. He instructs them to reestablish their religious practices and build a temple as the center of worship for their God.

After decades in Babylon, however, not everyone thought of the old promised land as home. Many of the original exiles had died out. Their children and grandchildren had settled in their new land and now spoke Aramaic, the language of Babylon. The people had a new name, the Jews. Moreover, there wasn’t much to go home to. The holy city of Jerusalem lay in ruins, and the Babylonians had forcibly settled foreigners in their homes and given away their land.

The Lord had predicted through the prophet Isaiah that a leader named Cyrus would set his people free and allow them to go home (Isaiah 44:24–28). Despite all the obstacles of returning, tens of thousands of exiles determine they want to be part of that plan. The book of Ezra lists a group that traveled with a new governor, Zerubbabel, and details their struggles to rebuild the temple. A second group returns eighty years later with the priest Ezra, who weeps over the people’s unfaithfulness and leads the nation in spiritual reforms. Praying this book shows you how to join in God’s purposes and purify yourself to serve him fully.

EZRA

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Cyrus Allows the Jews to Return from Babylon—2 Chronicles 36:22–23

1

1 The promise the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah was about to come true in Cyrus’ first year as king of Persia. The LORD inspired the king to make this announcement throughout his whole kingdom and then to put it in writing.

1:1   You speak promises and make them come true. You inspire rulers to bend to your will.

2 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the world. Then he ordered me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem (which is in Judah). 3 May God be with all of you who are his people. You may go to Jerusalem (which is in Judah) and build a temple for the LORD God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 All who ⌞choose to⌟ remain behind, wherever they may be living, should provide the people who are leaving with silver, gold, supplies, livestock, and freewill offerings to be used in God’s temple in Jerusalem.

1:2–4   You order pagan kings to worship you. You free your people from captivity and bring us back home.

Sheshbazzar Returns with the Temple Furnishings

5 Then the heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, and the Levites—everyone God had inspired—came forward to rebuild the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors ⌞who were remaining behind⌟ provided them with articles made from silver and gold, supplies, livestock, and valuable gifts besides everything that was freely offered. 7 King Cyrus brought out the utensils belonging to the LORD’s temple. Nebuchadnezzar had taken these utensils from Jerusalem and put them in the temple of his own god. 8 King Cyrus of Persia put the treasurer Mithredath in charge of bringing them out. So Mithredath made a list of them for Prince Sheshbazzar of Judah.[1] 9 This is the inventory:

gold dishes[2] 30

silver dishes 1,000

knives[3] 29

10 gold bowls 30

other silver bowls 410

other utensils 1,000

11 The gold and silver utensils totaled 5,400.

Sheshbazzar took all these utensils with him when the exiles left Babylon to go to Jerusalem.

1:5–11   Everyone you inspired came forward to rebuild the temple. The rest freely offered them everything needed for the task. Show me your plans. Move me to go and to give.

Those Who Returned with Zerubbabel—Nehemiah 7:6–7

2

1 These were the people in the province. They were the ones who left the place where the exiles had been taken captive. (King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken them to Babylon.) These exiles returned to Jerusalem and Judah. All of them went to their own cities. 2 They went with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

Families Listed by Ancestor—Nehemiah 7:8–25

This is the number of Israelite men from the people in exile:

3 the descendants of Parosh

2,172

4 of Shephatiah

372

5 of Arah

775

6 of Pahath Moab, that is, of Jeshua and Joab

2,812

7 of Elam

1,254

8 of Zattu

945

9 of Zaccai

760

10 of Bani

642

11 of Bebai

623

12 of Azgad

1,222

13 of Adonikam

666

14 of Bigvai

2,056

15 of Adin

454

16 of Ater, that is, Hezekiah

98

17 of Bezai

323

18 of Jorah

112

19 of Hashum

223

20 of Gibbar

95

Families Listed by Cities—Nehemiah 7:26–38

21 The people of Bethlehem

123

22 of Netophah

56

23 of Anathoth

128

24 of Azmaveth

42

25 of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth

743

26 of Ramah and Geba

621

27 of Michmas

122

28 of Bethel and Ai

223

29 of Nebo

52

30 of Magbish

156

31 of the other Elam

1,254

32 of Harim

320

33 of Lod, Hadid, and Ono

725

34 of Jericho

345

35 of Senaah

3,630

Priests—Nehemiah 7:39–42

36 These priests returned from exile:

the descendants of Jedaiah

(through the family of Jeshua)

973

37 of Immer

1,052

38 of Pashhur

1,247

39 of Harim

1,017

Levites—Nehemiah 7:43–45

40 These Levites returned from exile:

the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel,

that is, of Hodaviah

74

41 These singers returned from exile:

the descendants of Asaph

128

42 These gatekeepers returned from exile:

the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon,

Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai

139

Temple Servants—Nehemiah 7:46–56

43 These temple servants returned from exile: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 44 Keros, Siaha, Padon, 45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, 46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, 47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, 48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, 49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai, 50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim, 51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, 53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 54 Neziah, and Hatipha.

Descendants of Solomon’s Servants—Nehemiah 7:57–60

55 These descendants of Solomon’s servants returned from exile: the descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, 56 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel, 57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth Hazzebaim, and Ami.

58 The temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants totaled 392.

2:1–58   Bring your people back from the places we’ve been taken captive. Lead us back family by family. Return us to our homes.

Those of Unknown Origin—Nehemiah 7:61–65

59 The following people came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they couldn’t prove they were Israelites on the basis of their father’s family or their genealogy: 60 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. These people totaled 652.

61 These descendants of the priests ⌞couldn’t prove their families were Israelites⌟: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that ⌞family⌟ name). 62 These people searched for their ⌞family⌟ names in the genealogical records, but their names couldn’t be found there. For this reason they were considered contaminated and couldn’t be priests. 63 The governor told them not to eat any of the most holy food until a priest could use the Urim and Thummim[4] ⌞to settle the problem⌟.

2:59–63   You declare who can serve you and what they can do. Point me to the place you want me to serve.

The Total of the People and Animals Returning from Exile—Nehemiah 7:66–69

64 The whole assembly totaled 42,360. 65 In addition to the male and female servants who numbered 7,337, they also had 200 male and female singers. 66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

Gifts Given for the Temple—Nehemiah 7:70–73

68 When some of the heads of the families came to the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem, they contributed freewill offerings to help rebuild God’s temple on its ⌞former⌟ site. 69 They contributed as much as they could to the treasury for this work: 1,030 pounds of gold, 5,740 pounds of silver, and 100 robes for the priests.

70 The priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants settled in their own cities. All the other Israelites settled in their own cities.

2:68–70   I’ll freely bring offerings to worship you. I’ll contribute as much as I can.

Worship at the Temple Site Begins Again

3

1 When the seventh month came, the people gathered together in Jerusalem. (The Israelites had already settled in their cities.) 2 Then Jozadak’s son Jeshua and his relatives ⌞who were⌟ priests and Shealtiel’s son Zerubbabel and his relatives built an altar for the God of Israel. They built it in order to sacrifice burnt offerings. They ⌞followed the directions⌟ written in Moses’ Teachings. (Moses was a man of God). 3 So they rebuilt the altar on its original site, though they were afraid of the people in the neighboring regions. They sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD every morning and evening.

4 Following the written directions, they celebrated the Festival of Booths. Each day they sacrificed the required number of burnt offerings. 5 After that, they sacrificed the daily burnt offerings, the offerings for the New Moon Festival and all the other holy festivals of the LORD, and all the freewill offerings brought to the LORD. 6 They started to bring these burnt offerings to the LORD on the first day of the seventh month, even though the foundation of the LORD’s temple had not yet been laid.

3:1–6   I’ll follow your directions for worship. I won’t fear my neighbors who don’t know you. I’ll worship you day and night.

Work on the Temple Begins

7 So they gave money to the stonecutters and carpenters. Then they gave food, drink, and olive oil to the men from Sidon and Tyre in exchange for cedar, which the men would bring by sea from Lebanon to Joppa as King Cyrus of Persia had authorized them to do.

8 Zerubbabel (who was Shealtiel’s son), Jeshua (who was Jozadak’s son), and the rest of the Jews, (the priests, Levites, and all the others who had come back from exile to Jerusalem) began to rebuild the temple. This happened in the second month of the second year following their return to ⌞the site⌟ of God’s house in Jerusalem. They began by appointing the Levites who were at least 20 years old to direct the work on the LORD’s house. 9 Then Jeshua with his sons and relatives and Kadmiel with his sons who were Judah’s descendants joined Henadad’s family and their sons and relatives, the Levites, in directing those working on God’s house.

3:7–9   Let your work begin. Show me what to do and I’ll get started.

A Celebration After the Laying of the Temple’s Foundation

10 The builders laid the foundation of the LORD’s temple. Then the priests who were dressed in their robes took their places with trumpets, and the Levites who were Asaph’s descendants took their places with cymbals to praise the LORD according to the instructions of King David of Israel. 11 As they praised and gave thanks to the LORD, they sang antiphonally:

“He is good; his mercy toward Israel endures forever.”

Then all the people shouted, “Praise the LORD,” because the foundation for the house of the LORD had been laid.

12 But many of the priests, Levites, and the heads of the families who were old enough to have seen the first temple with their own eyes began to sob when they saw the foundation of this temple. Many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish between the joyful shouts and the loud sobbing because the people were shouting so loudly. The noise was heard from far away.

3:10–13   I praise you because you’re good. I say thanks because your mercy endures forever. But I sob when I realize I’m less than I was—or less than I could have been.

The Samaritans Stop the Work

4

1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people who returned from exile were building a temple for the LORD God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families. They told them, “We want to help you build because we worship the same God you worship. We have been sacrificing to him[5] since the time of King Esarhaddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of Israel’s families told them, “It isn’t right for your people and our people to build a temple for our God together. We must build it alone for the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus of Persia ordered us to do.”

4:1–3   I can’t partner with people half-committed to you. Not when it comes to serving the one real God.

4 Then the people of that region discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to continue building. 5 They bribed officials to keep the people of Judah from carrying out their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia until the reign of King Darius of Persia.

4:4–5   Don’t let me be discouraged by my enemies. I won’t let them scare me into halting my work.

6 When Xerxes began to rule, the enemies of Judah and Jerusalem wrote a letter in which they made an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their group wrote to him when Artaxerxes was king of Persia. The letter was written with the Aramaic script and translated into the Aramaic language.

8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote another letter against ⌞the people of⌟ Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes. 9 At that time, Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe were with the others of their group—the people from Denya, Partakka, Tarpel, Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa, (that is, those of Elam), 10 and the rest of the people whom the great and noble Assurbanipal deported. (Assurbanipal settled them in the cities of Samaria and the rest of the lands west of the Euphrates River.) 11 This is the copy of the letter they sent to him:

To King Artaxerxes,

From your servants, the people west of the Euphrates:

12 Your Majesty, you should know that the Jews who came to us from you are now in Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are close to finishing the walls. The foundations are already in place. 13 You should also know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, the Jews will no longer pay taxes, fees, and tolls.

Ultimately, this will hurt the king’s income. 14 Now, because we are paid by your palace, it isn’t right for us to watch something happen that will dishonor the king. So we are sending this letter to inform you 15 that you should search the official records of your predecessors. You will find in those official records that this city has been rebellious and has been a threat to kings and provinces. This city has a history of rebelliousness. That’s why this city was destroyed. 16 We want the king to know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will have nothing left ⌞of your province⌟ west of the Euphrates River.

4:6–16   Your enemies wrote lies about your people. They called your people rebellious and wicked. Guard me from lies others tell about me.

17 Then the king sent this reply:

To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their group living in Samaria, and to others west of the Euphrates River:

I wish you peace and prosperity!

18 The letter you sent me has been read word for word in my presence. 19 I gave the order, and a search was made. I discovered that this city has a long history of uprisings against kings. Its inhabitants are guilty of treason and rebellion. 20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings who have ruled the whole ⌞province⌟ west of the Euphrates. Taxes, fees, and tolls were paid to them. 21 So order these men to stop rebuilding. Keep this city from being rebuilt until I give the order. 22 Be careful not to neglect your duty in this matter. Why should I, the king, suffer any more harm?

23 Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and their group hurried to Jerusalem after hearing a copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter. They forced the Jews to stop rebuilding.

24 Then the work on God’s temple in Jerusalem was stopped. Nothing more was done until Darius’ second year as king of Persia.

4:17–24   Your enemies convinced the king that your people were traitors. I weep when lies stop your work.

Work Resumed on the Temple

5

1 The prophet Haggai and Zechariah, grandson of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of Israel’s God, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel, who was Shealtiel’s son, and Jeshua, who was Jozadak’s son, began to rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem. God’s prophets were with them and supported them.

3 At the same time, Governor Tattenai ⌞from the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River, Shethar Bozenai, and their group went to the Jews and asked them, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this temple and finish its walls?” 4 They also asked the Jews for the names of the men who were working on this building.

5 But the leaders of the Jews were under God’s watchful eye. They couldn’t be stopped until Darius received a report and sent a reply to it.

5:1–5   Your people pushed ahead with support from your prophets. Keep me under your watchful eye. Don’t let anything get in the way of your plans.

Permission Requested from Darius

6 Here is a copy of the letter Governor Tattenai ⌞from the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River, Shethar Bozenai and his group (the Persians west of that river) sent to King Darius. 7 They sent him the following report:

To King Darius,

We wish you peace and prosperity in everything you do.

8 Your Majesty should know that we went to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The temple is being built with large stones and with wooden beams laid in its walls. The builders are doing an excellent job and making rapid progress. 9 We asked their leaders the following question: “Who gave you permission to rebuild this temple and finish its walls?” 10 For your information, we also asked them for their names so that we would have a record of the men who were their leaders. 11 This was their reply to us:

5:6–10   Your people made you angry, and you handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar. But you moved Cyrus to send your people home. Clear away every obstacle to your work.

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple that was originally built many years ago by a great king of Israel. 12 But because our ancestors made the God of heaven angry, he handed them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (a Chaldean). So Nebuchadnezzar destroyed this temple and deported its people to Babylon.

13 “However, in the first year of the reign of King Cyrus of Babylon, Cyrus gave permission for God’s temple to be rebuilt. 14 In addition, Cyrus took out of a temple in Babylon the gold and silver utensils that belonged to God’s temple. (Nebuchadnezzar had taken them out of God’s temple in Jerusalem and brought them into a temple in Babylon.) Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. 15 Cyrus told him, ‘Take these utensils. Place them in the temple in Jerusalem. Rebuild God’s temple on its original site.’ 16 Then Sheshbazzar laid the foundation of God’s temple in Jerusalem. The temple has been under construction from that time until now, but it still isn’t finished.”

17 If it pleases Your Majesty, allow someone to search the king’s archives in Babylon to determine whether King Cyrus gave permission for the temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then please send us Your Majesty’s decision on this matter.

5:11–17   I’m your servant. I want to rebuild what was destroyed long ago.

King Darius Finds King Cyrus’ Memorandum

6

1 Then King Darius gave the order to search the library where the archives were stored in Babylon. 2 A scroll was found in the palace of Ecbatana, which is in the province of Media. This was written on it:

MEMORANDUM

3 Date: Cyrus’ first year as king

From: King Cyrus

Subject: God’s temple in Jerusalem

The temple should be rebuilt as a place to offer sacrifices. Its foundation should be laid. It should be 90 feet high and 90 feet wide 4 with three rows of large stones and a row of wood. The king’s palace will pay for it. 5 In addition, Cyrus took out of a temple in Babylon the gold and silver utensils that belonged to God’s temple. (Nebuchadnezzar had taken them out of God’s temple in Jerusalem and brought them into a temple in Babylon.) They should be returned to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. You should put each one in God’s temple.

6:1–5   Darius dug for the truth and did what was right. Let your work find support in powerful places.

6 Governor Tattenai ⌞from the province⌟ west of the Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and those of your group (the Persians west of the river):

You must stay away from there. 7 Don’t interfere with the work on God’s temple. Let the governor of the Jews and the leaders of Judah rebuild God’s temple on its ⌞original⌟ foundation. 8 I am issuing this decree about how you must help the Jewish leaders rebuild God’s temple:

The cost ⌞for this⌟ should be paid out of the king’s own money from the taxes ⌞on the province⌟ west of the Euphrates. Full payment should be made to these men so that the work is not interrupted. 9 Also, whatever the priests in Jerusalem need for burnt offerings to the God of heaven—young bulls, rams, lambs, wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil—should be provided for them each day. Make sure that nothing is omitted. 10 Then they can offer sacrifices that please the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

11 I am also issuing a decree that if anyone tampers with my orders, that person should be impaled on a beam torn from his own house and his house should be turned into a pile of rubble.[6] 12 May the God whose name is worshiped there cause the downfall of each king and nation who tries to tamper with my orders or tries to destroy the temple of the God in Jerusalem.

I, Darius, have issued a decree. It’s to be carried out exactly as ordered.

13 Then Governor Tattenai ⌞from the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River, Shethar Bozenai, and their group did exactly what King Darius had ordered. 14 So the Jewish leaders continued to make progress because of the message from the prophet Haggai and Zechariah, the grandson of Iddo. They finished building as the God of Israel had ordered and as Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes (the kings of Persia) had ordered. 15 This temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of King Darius’ reign.

6:6–15   Don’t let anything tamper with your will. Don’t let anything stand in the way of completing your work. May your name always be worshiped!

The Temple Is Completed and Dedicated

16 Then the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the others who had returned from exile celebrated at the dedication of God’s temple. 17 At the dedication of God’s temple, they sacrificed 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs. They sacrificed 12 male goats as an offering for sin, one goat for each of the tribes of Israel.

18 The priests were assigned to their divisions and the Levites to their groups ⌞to lead⌟ the worship of God in Jerusalem by following the directions written in the Book of Moses.

The Passover Is Celebrated

19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, those who had returned from exile celebrated the Passover. 20 Since the priests and Levites had cleansed themselves, all of them were ⌞now⌟ clean.[7] They killed the Passover lambs for all the people who had returned from exile, for the rest of the priests, and for themselves. 21 The lambs were eaten by the Israelites who had returned from exile and by all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of the non-Jews in the land to worship the LORD God of Israel. 22 So for seven days they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread because the LORD had made them joyful. The LORD had made the king of Assyria change his mind so that he supported the people in their work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.

6:16–22   I’ll worship you in the way you instruct. I’ll celebrate how you rescued me and brought me back from exile. You make me joyful!

Ezra’s Family Background

7

1 After these things, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra left Babylon.

Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah, 2 who was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub, 3 who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth, 4 who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki, 5 who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazer, who was the son of Aaron (the first priest).

6 As a scribe, Ezra was an expert in Moses’ Teachings, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king gave Ezra everything he requested because the LORD his God was guiding him.

7 Some Israelites (including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants) went to Jerusalem in Artaxerxes’ seventh year as king. 8 In that same year in the fifth month, Ezra arrived in Jerusalem. 9 He had left Babylon on the first day of the first month, and on the first day of the fifth month, he arrived in Jerusalem, since his God was good to him. 10 Ezra was determined to study the LORD’s Teachings, live by them, and teach their rules and regulations in Israel.

7:1–10   You raised up Ezra at exactly the right time. I’m determined to study your teachings, live by them, and explain them to others.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest and scribe, a man with a thorough knowledge of the LORD’s commands and laws for Israel:

12 From: Artaxerxes, king of kings

To: Ezra the priest, a scribe for the Teachings of the God of Heaven:

I wish you peace and prosperity!

13 I have issued a decree that any Israelites who are in my kingdom and want to go with you to Jerusalem may go. This also includes the priests and Levites. 14 I, the king, and my seven advisers are sending you to evaluate the situation in Judah and Jerusalem on the basis of your God’s Teachings, which you hold in your hands. 15 Also, you must take the silver and gold that the king and his advisers willingly contributed to the God of Israel, the God whose temple is in Jerusalem. 16 Take any silver and gold that you find in the whole province of Babylon when you take the gifts contributed by the people and the priests. They willingly contributed these gifts for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. 17 You must use this money to buy bulls, rams, lambs, grain, and wine to offer on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem. 18 You and your relatives may do whatever you think is right with the rest of the silver and gold. However, what you do must conform to the will of your God. 19 The utensils that have been given to you so that they can be used in your God’s temple must all be presented to the God of Jerusalem. 20 You may use the king’s treasury to pay for anything else that you must provide for your God’s temple.

7:11–20   I’ll measure everything according to your teachings. I’ll do what conforms to your will.

21 I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers ⌞in the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River to do exactly what Ezra the priest, a scribe for the Teachings of the God of Heaven, asks you to do. 22  ⌞You may give him⌟ up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 100 measures of wheat, 600 gallons of wine, 600 gallons of olive oil, and as much salt as he needs. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has commanded must be carried out in detail for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should God become angry with the king’s empire and his sons? 24 Furthermore, we are notifying you that you are forbidden to make any priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, servant, or worker in the temple of this God pay any taxes, fees, or tolls.

25 You, Ezra, using your God’s wisdom—the Teachings you hold in your hands—will appoint judges and administrators for all the people who know your God’s Teachings and live ⌞in the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River. In addition, you will teach anyone who doesn’t know the Teachings.

26 Whoever will not strictly follow your God’s Teachings and the king’s orders should be promptly exiled, have his goods confiscated, be imprisoned or be sentenced to die.

7:21–26   I’ll carry out whatever you command. I’ll put your wisdom to work. I’ll instruct anyone who doesn’t know your teachings.

27  ⌞I, Ezra, said:⌟ Thanks be to the LORD God of our ancestors. He put this into the king’s mind to make the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem beautiful. 28 He made the king, his advisers, and all the king’s powerful officials treat me kindly.

7:27–28   You put it in the king’s mind to make your temple beautiful. You caused the king to treat Ezra kindly. I’m encouraged because you guide me.

I was encouraged because the LORD my God was guiding me. So I gathered leaders in Israel to go with me.

The List of Those Returning from Babylon

8

1 These are the leaders of the families and the genealogy of those who left Babylon with me during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

2 from the family of Phinehas:

Gershom

from the family of Ithamar:

Daniel

3 from the family of David:

Hattush, son of Shecaniah

from the family of Parosh:

Zechariah, with 150 males whose genealogies were known

4 from the family of Pahath Moab:

Eliehoenai, son of Zerahiah, with 200 males

5 from the family of Zattu:[8]

Shecaniah, son of Jahaziel, with 300 males

6 from the family of Adin:

Ebed, son of Jonathan, with 50 males

7 from the family of Elam:

Jeshaiah, son of Athaliah, with 70 males

8 from the family of Shephatiah:

Zebadiah, son of Michael, with 80 males

9 from the family of Joab:

Obadiah, son of Jehiel, with 210 males

10 from the family of Bani:[9]

Shelomith, son of Josiphiah, with 160 males

11 from the family of Bebai:

Zechariah, son of Bebai, with 38 males

12 from the family of Azgad:

Johanan, son of Hakkatan, with 110 males

13 from the family of Adonikam:

Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, who arrived later with 60 males

14 from the family of Bigvai:

Uthai and Zabbud, with 70 males.

The People Prepare for Their Journey

15 I had this group gather by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I noticed laypeople and priests there, but I didn’t find any Levites. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam (who were leading men) and for Joiarib and Elnathan (who were wise). 17 I sent them to Iddo, the leader in Casiphia. I told them to tell Iddo and his relatives, the temple servants in Casiphia, that they should bring us men who can serve in our God’s temple. 18 God was guiding us, so Iddo and his relatives brought us someone competent, Sherebiah, who was a descendant of Mahli, Levi, and Israel. They brought us 18 of Sherebiah’s sons and relatives. 19 They also brought Hashabiah, Jeshaiah (who was a descendant of Merari), 20 of Jeshaiah’s relatives and their sons, 20 and 220 temple servants. ⌞They were descended⌟ from the temple servants whom David and his officials had appointed to work for the Levites. These were all listed by name.

8:1–20   Lead your people where you want us to go. Lead competent people to serve you.

21 Then I announced a fast there at the Ahava River so that we might humble ourselves in the presence of our God to ask him for a safe journey for ourselves, for our little ones, and for all our goods. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for an armed escort with cavalry to help us against an enemy attack on the way. We had already told the king, “Our God works things out for the good of everyone who dedicates his life to serving him, but his power and his anger oppose everyone who abandons him.” 23 So we fasted and asked our God for a safe journey, and he answered our prayer.

8:21–23   You work things out for the good of everyone dedicated to serving you. But your power and anger oppose everyone who abandons you.

24 Then I selected 12 leaders from the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their relatives. 25 I weighed for them the silver, the gold, and the utensils. ⌞These were⌟ the contributions that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all the Israelites had contributed for our God’s temple. 26 I weighed ⌞the contributions⌟ for them to guard: about 24 tons of silver, 100 silver utensils weighing 150 pounds apiece, 7,500 pounds of gold, 27 20 gold bowls weighing 18 pounds apiece, and two utensils of fine polished bronze that were as precious as gold. 28 I told them, “You and the utensils are holy to the LORD. The silver and gold are freewill offerings to the LORD God of your ancestors. 29 Guard them carefully. In Jerusalem, inside the storerooms of the LORD’s temple, weigh these items. Do this in front of the chief priests, Levites, and the leaders of Israel’s families.” 30 So the priests and the Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the utensils. They were responsible for bringing these items to the temple of our God in Jerusalem.

The People Arrive in Jerusalem

31 Then we left the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. God was guiding us, and he rescued us from our enemies and from ambushes along the way. 32 When we reached Jerusalem, we rested for three days. 33 On the fourth day we weighed the silver, the gold, and the utensils in our God’s temple. We put them under the supervision of Meremoth, son of the priest Uriah, as well as Eleazar, the son of Phinehas. The Levites, Jeshua’s son Jozabad, and Binnui’s son Noadiah, assisted them. 34 Everything was counted and weighed, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.

35 The exiles who had come back from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats for an offering for sin. All of these animals were burnt offerings for the LORD.

36 The exiles delivered the king’s orders to the king’s satraps and governors ⌞in the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River. These officials then gave their support to the people and the temple of God.

8:24–36   Give your people everything we need for your work. We’ll guard it carefully and use it wisely.

Ezra Leads the People in Prayer

9

1 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have failed to keep themselves separate from the neighboring groups of people and from the disgusting practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. 2 The Israelites and their sons have married some of these foreign women. They have mixed our holy race with the neighboring groups of people. Furthermore, the leaders and officials have led the way in being unfaithful.”

3 When I heard this, I tore my clothes ⌞in distress⌟, pulled hair from my scalp and my beard, and sat down in shock. 4 Since the former exiles had been unfaithful, everyone who gathered around me there trembled at the words of the God of Israel. I sat in shock until the evening sacrifice. 5 At the evening sacrifice I got up from my misery, and with my clothes torn, I knelt down, stretched out my hands to the LORD my God in prayer, 6 and said,

9:1–4   Your people married people who didn’t worship you. Ezra pulled hair from his head in distress.

“I am ashamed, my God. I am embarrassed to look at you. Our sins have piled up over our heads, and our guilt is so overwhelming that it reaches heaven. 7 From our ancestors’ days until now, we have been deep in guilt. Our kings and our priests have been handed over to foreign kings to be executed. We have been taken captive, robbed, and humiliated, as we still are today because of our sins. 8 And now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been kind enough to leave us a few survivors from Babylon and to give us a secure hold on his holy place. Our God has made our eyes light up and has given us new opportunities while we were slaves. 9 We are slaves, but our God hasn’t abandoned us in our slavery. Instead, he has made the kings of Persia treat us kindly. He did this to give us an opportunity to rebuild our God’s temple and restore its ruins and to give us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

9:6–9   I’m ashamed. I’m embarrassed to look at you. My sins are piled up over my head and my guilt is so overwhelming it reaches heaven. Be kind to me. Light up my eyes and put me to work.

10 “And now, our God, what can we say after all this? We have abandoned your commandments! 11 The commandments you gave us through your servants the prophets, said, ‘The land you are going to take possession of has been polluted by its perverted people and by their disgusting practices that have filled it with wickedness from one end to another. 12 So never let your daughters marry their sons or your sons marry their daughters, and never seek peace or trade with them. Then you will be strong, be able to eat the good things the land produces, and be able to give this land as a long-lasting inheritance to your children.’

13 “After all that has happened to us because of the evil things we have done and because of our overwhelming guilt, you, our God, have punished us far less than we deserve and have permitted a few of us to survive. 14 If we break your commandments again and intermarry with people doing these disgusting things, you will become even more angry with us until you finally destroy us and no survivors are left. 15 LORD God of Israel, because you are fair, a few of us continue to remain as survivors. Look at us. All of us are guilty. None of us can stand in your presence because of this.”

9:10–15   You treat me kindly, yet I abandon your commandments. Because of my sin I can’t stand in your presence.

The People Take Action

10

1 While Ezra was praying, confessing ⌞these sins⌟, crying, and throwing himself down in front of God’s temple, a large crowd of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. They also began to cry bitterly. 2 Then Shecaniah, son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, interrupted by saying to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women who came from the people around us. However, there is still hope for Israel. 3 So we must now make a promise to our God to get rid of all foreign women and the children born from them, as my lord ⌞Ezra⌟ and the others who tremble at the commandments of our God have advised us to do. We must do what Moses’ Teachings tell us. 4 Get up! It’s your duty to take action. We are with you, so be strong and take action.”

5 Then Ezra got up and made the leaders, priests, Levites, and all the rest of Israel swear to do what they had said. So they took an oath. 6 Then Ezra left the front of God’s temple and went to the room of Jehohanan, son of Eliashib. Ezra didn’t eat any food or drink any water while he was there. He was mourning because these former exiles had been so unfaithful.

10:1–6   I cry bitterly over my sin. I’ve been unfaithful to you. But I’ll rid my life of every sin. I’ll be strong and take action.

7 Then he sent a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the former exiles must gather in Jerusalem. 8 If any of them didn’t come within three days as the leaders and the older men had advised, then they would lose all their property and be excluded from the community of former exiles. 9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered within three days in Jerusalem. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the courtyard of God’s temple. They were trembling because of this matter and shivering because of the heavy rain.

10 Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, and now you have added to Israel’s guilt. 11 Confess to the LORD God of your ancestors what you have done, and do what he wants. Separate yourselves from the people of this land and from your foreign wives.”

12 Then the whole assembly shouted in reply, “Yes! We will do as you say. 13 But the crowd is too large, and it’s the rainy season. We can’t take care of this outside. Besides, there are so many of us who are involved in this sin that it can’t be taken care of in a day or two. 14 Let our leaders represent the whole community. At a set time, everyone who has married a foreign woman must meet with the leaders and judges of each city until our God’s burning anger has turned away from us in this matter.”

15 (Only Jonathan, Asahel’s son, and Jahzeiah, Tikvah’s son, opposed this. Meshullam and Shabbethai, the Levite, supported Jonathan and Jahzeiah.)

16 The former exiles did this. Ezra the priest chose men who were heads of families. He chose one from each family division. (They were all ⌞listed⌟ by name.) They sat down on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter. 17 By the first day of the first month, they had finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.

10:7–17   You expected your people to deal with their sin at once. I’ll confess my wrongdoings and separate myself from evil. I’ll do as you say!

18 Among the descendants of the priests, the following were married to foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, a descendant of Jeshua (who was Jozadak’s son) and his brothers. 19 They shook hands as a pledge that they would get rid of their wives. They sacrificed a ram from their flock as an offering for guilt because they were guilty.

Those Who Were Guilty of Marrying Foreign Women

20 From the descendants of Immer:

Hanani and Zebadiah

21 From the descendants of Harim:

Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah

22 From the descendants of Pashhur:

Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah

23 From the Levites:

Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer

24 From the singers:

Eliashib

From the gatekeepers:

Shallum, Telem, and Uri

25 From the other Israelites:

From the descendants of Parosh:

Ramiah, Izziah, Malchiah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchiah, and Benaiah

26 From the descendants of Elam:

Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah

27 From the descendants of Zattu:

Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza

28 From the descendants of Bebai:

Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai

29 From the descendants of Bani:

Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth

30 From the descendants of Pahath Moab:

Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh

31 From the descendants of Harim:

Eliezer, Isshiah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah

33 From the descendants of Hashum:

Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei

34 From the descendants of Bani:

Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasau

38 From the descendants of Binnui:

Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph

43 From the descendants of Nebo:

Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah

44 All of these men had married foreign women. Some of these women had given birth to children.[10]

10:18–44   Forgive my sins. Lead me to new life. I want to be faithful to you.

NEHEMIAH

INTRODUCTION

Nehemiah illustrates how to overcome obstacles and carry out God’s plan. Nearly a hundred years after the first wave of exiles returned from Babylon to Judah, the man Nehemiah receives distressing news from his brother. Those who survived captivity face serious danger. Despite all their years in the land, the protective wall around Jerusalem hasn’t been repaired.

Nehemiah breaks down and weeps for days, praying for God to be faithful to his promises to reestablish his people in their homeland. Nehemiah’s boss, King Artaxerxes of Persia, notices his trusted cupbearer’s sad face. He sends his servant on his way to Judah to rebuild the wall.

Nehemiah scouts the wall by night, riding horseback around the city except where the wall’s ruins are too rugged for his mount to pass. He gathers the people and convinces them to rebuild the wall and shake off their enemies’ insults.

They endure taunts and legal maneuvering from foreigners living in the land. When God’s people hear attacks planned against the builders, Nehemiah sets guards and continues to pray. The wall soon rises to completion, and as Nehemiah reports, “When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence. They realized we had done this work with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:16).

Praying the book of Nehemiah calls you to grieve over the things that sadden God. It invites you to call out to God for your needs. It moves you to work with God’s strength to overcome life’s toughest problems.

NEHEMIAH

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Distressing News

1

1 These are the words of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah:

During the month of Chislev, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king, while I was in the fortress at Susa, 2 one of my brothers, Hanani, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had survived captivity and about Jerusalem. 3 They told me, “Those who survived captivity are in the province. They are enduring serious troubles and being insulted. The wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”

1:1–3   Your people were in serious trouble and they endured terrible insults. Jerusalem’s walls were broken down and its gates destroyed by fire.

Nehemiah’s Prayer

4 When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I mourned for days. I continued to fast and pray to the God of heaven. 5 I said,

1:4–5   Nehemiah mourned when he heard about the destruction of your holy city. You’re my great and awe-inspiring God. You faithfully keep your promises.

“LORD God of heaven, great and awe-inspiring God, you faithfully keep your promise[1] and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments. 6 Open your eyes, and pay close attention with your ears to what I, your servant, am praying. I am praying to you day and night about your servants the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you as well as the sins that my father’s family and I have committed. 7 We have done you a great wrong. We haven’t obeyed the commandments, laws, or regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. 8 Please remember what you told us through your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and continue to obey my commandments, though your people may be driven to the most distant point on the horizon, I will come and get you from there and bring you to the place where I chose to put my name.’ 10 These are your servants and your people whom you have saved by your great power and your strong hand. 11 Lord, please pay attention to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to worship your name. Please give me success today and make this man, King Artaxerxes, show me compassion.”

1:6–7   Open your eyes. Pay close attention to my prayers. I confess my sins and the sins of my family. I’ve done you great wrong.

I was cupbearer[2] to the king at this time.

1:8–11   You scattered your people. But you bring us back from captivity. Save us by your great power and strong hand.

Authentic Prayer

Nehemiah 1:4–11

Grief

When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I mourned for days. I continued to fast and pray to the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4

God hears you when you grieve. Nehemiah heard firsthand accounts from Jerusalem’s survivors about the horrors of his homeland. The holy city’s protective wall lay in ruins, and its gates had gone up in flames.

Nehemiah listens and weeps. He mourns for days, humbling himself and going without food. Even as he grieves, he worships his great and awe-inspiring God for keeping his promises and showing mercy to his followers. He owns up to his own sins and the failures of his family and nation. He clings to the Lord’s unchanging words in Deuteronomy 30:1–5, trusting that the Lord will bring his people back from a place of misery. As he reminds God that he speaks for his servants, he pleads for God’s attention and announces his intention to worship him.

Grief brings a mysterious potent mix of pain and rage, disbelief and regret, impatience and hope. As you talk to God, he invites you to bring into the open every thought and emotion rumbling inside you. His love creates the safest place in the world for you to express your grief.

Pray the Scriptures Grief: Job 1:13–22, Psalm 31:7–16, Isaiah 51:9–11, Revelation 21:3–4

The King Shows Compassion to Nehemiah

2

1 In the month of Nisan, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king, after some wine was brought for the king, I picked up the cup of wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence before.

2 The king asked me, “Why do you look so sad? You aren’t sick, are you? You must be troubled about something.” (I was really afraid).

3 “May the king live forever!” I said to the king. “Why shouldn’t I look sad when the city, the place where my ancestors are buried, is in ruins and its gates are burned down?”

2:1–3   The king noticed Nehemiah’s sad face. Why shouldn’t he look sad when your city lies in ruin?

4 “What do you want?” the king asked me.

So I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I asked the king, “If it pleases Your Majesty, and you are willing to grant my request, let me go to Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then, while the queen was sitting beside him, the king asked me, “How long will you be gone, and when will you come back?” When I gave him a specific date, he was willing to let me go.

7 I also asked the king, “If it pleases Your Majesty, let me have letters addressed to the governors ⌞of the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River. In the letters tell them to grant me safe conduct until I arrive in Judah. 8 Also, let me have a letter addressed to Asaph, the supervisor of Your Majesty’s forest. In the letter order him to give me wood for the gates of the fortress near the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I’ll move into.” (The king let me have the letters, because God was guiding me.)

2:4–8   Grant me favor to pursue your plans. Give me everything I need to carry out your vision.

Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem

9 I went to the governors ⌞of the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River and gave them the king’s letters. (The king had sent army officers and cavalry to be with me.) 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, they were very upset that someone had come to give the people of Israel so much assistance.

Nehemiah Surveys the Damage to Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem and was there for three days. 12 During the night I went out with a few men without telling anyone what my God had inspired me to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I had was the one I was riding. 13 I went through Valley Gate that night toward Snake Fountain and Dung Gate and examined the places where the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and where its gates had been burned. 14 Passing through Fountain Gate, I arrived at King’s Pool, but the animal I was riding couldn’t get through. 15 So I went through the valley that night and examined the wall. Then I turned back, entered Valley Gate, and returned.

16 The officials didn’t know where I had gone or what I had done. I hadn’t yet told the Jews, the priests, the leaders, the other officials, or any of the rest who would be doing the work. 17 Then I told them, “You see the trouble we’re in. Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates are burned down. Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be insulted.” 18 Then I told them that my God had been guiding me and what the king had told me.

2:9–17   Everywhere I look I see destruction. Everyone knows the trouble we’re in. I want to rebuild the walls that protect your people so we’re no longer the brunt of insults.

They replied, “Let’s begin to rebuild.” So they encouraged one another to begin this God-pleasing work.

19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they made fun of us and ridiculed us. They asked, “What are you doing? Are you going to rebel against the king?”

20 “The God of heaven will give us success,” I answered them. “We, his servants, are going to rebuild. You have no property or claim or historic right in Jerusalem.”

2:18–20   Encourage your people as we do God-pleasing work. We’re your servants, so give us success.

A List of the People Rebuilding Jerusalem’s Walls

3

1 The chief priest Eliashib and his relatives, the priests, started by rebuilding Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place. They rebuilt as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and then as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men from Jericho were rebuilding next to Eliashib. Zaccur, son of Imri, was next to them. 3 The sons of Hassenaah rebuilt Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, locks, and bars in place. 4 Next to them Meremoth, son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to them Meshullam, son of Berechiah and grandson of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok, son of Baana, made repairs. 5 Next to them the men from Tekoa made repairs. However, the nobles wouldn’t lower themselves to work under supervisors.

6 Joiada, Paseah’s son, and Meshullam, Besodeiah’s son, made repairs on Old Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, locks, and bars in place. 7 Next to them Melatiah from Gibeon and Jadon from Meronoth, with men from Gibeon and Mizpah, made repairs on the wall. They did this under the authority of the governor ⌞from the province⌟ west of the Euphrates River. 8 Next to them Uzziel, Harhaiah’s son, a goldsmith, made repairs. Next to him Hananiah, a perfume maker, made repairs. They left out part of Jerusalem as far as Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah, Hur’s son, an official in charge of half a district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10 Next to them Jedaiah, Harumaph’s son, made repairs across from his own home. Next to them Hattush, Hashabneiah’s son, made repairs. 11 Malchiah, Harim’s son, and Hasshub, Pahath Moab’s son, made repairs on a section that included the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to them Shallum, Hallohesh’s son, an official in charge of half a district of Jerusalem, made repairs with the help of his daughters.

13 Hanun and the people of Zanoah repaired Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, locks, and bars in place, and they repaired 1,500 feet of the wall, as far as Dung Gate. 14 Dung Gate itself was repaired by Malchiah, Rechab’s son, the official in charge of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and set its doors, locks, and bars in place.

15 Shallun, Col Hozeh’s son, the official in charge of the district of Mizpah, repaired Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, put a roof over it, and set its doors, locks, and bars in place. He also made repairs on the wall of the Pool of Shelah by the King’s Garden as far as the stairs going down from the City of David. 16 After him Nehemiah, Azbuk’s son, the official in charge of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs all the way to a point across from the tombs of David as far as the pool and the soldiers’ barracks. 17 After him the Levites, including Rehum (Bani’s son), made repairs. Next to him Hashabiah, the official in charge of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. 18 After him their relatives made repairs. This included Binnui, Henadad’s son, the official in charge of half the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer, Jeshua’s son, the official in charge of Mizpah, repaired a section across from the ascent to the Armory at the Angle. 20 After him Baruch, Zabbai’s son,[3] made repairs on a section from the Angle to the door of the house of the chief priest Eliashib. 21 After him Meremoth, son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz, made repairs on a section from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of Eliashib’s house. 22 After him the priests who lived in that area made repairs. 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their own homes. After them Azariah, son of Maaseiah and grandson of Ananiah, made repairs next to his home. 24 After him Binnui, Henadad’s son, made repairs on a section from Azariah’s home to the Angle and to the corner of the wall. 25 Palal, Uzai’s son, made repairs across from the Angle and the upper tower that projects from the king’s palace to the guards’ courtyard. After him Pedaiah, Parosh’s son, 26 and the temple servants who were living on the Ophel made repairs on the wall as far as a point across from Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 After him the men from Tekoa repaired a section across from the large projecting tower as far as the Wall of the Ophel.

28 Above Horse Gate the priests made repairs. Each priest made repairs across from his own home. 29 After them Zadok, Immer’s son, made repairs across from his own home. After him Shemaiah, Shecaniah’s son, the guard at East Gate, made repairs. 30 After him Hananiah, Shelemiah’s son, and Hanun, Zalaph’s sixth son, repaired another section. After him Meshullam, Berechiah’s son, made repairs across from his living quarters. 31 After him Malchiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the building that housed the temple servants and merchants across from Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room at the corner. 32 The goldsmiths and merchants made repairs between the upper room at the corner and Sheep Gate.

3:1–32   Bring me partners to accomplish your vision. Don’t let anyone sit out when there’s work to be done.

Sanballat Ridicules the Jews

4  [4]

1 When Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he became enraged and made fun of the Jews. 2 In front of his allies and the army from Samaria, he said, “What do these miserable Jews think they’re doing? Can they rebuild it by themselves? Are they going to offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in a day? Will they get the stones out of the rubbish heaps, burned as these stones are, and give them new strength?”

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside Sanballat, said, “Even a fox would make their stone wall collapse if it walked on top of what they’re building!”

4:1–3   Your work always enrages your enemies. They make fun of your people. They say our tasks are overwhelming and our accomplishments fragile.

Nehemiah Overcomes Opposition from Sanballat

4  ⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Our God, hear us. We are despised. Turn their insults back on them, and let them be robbed in the land where they are prisoners. 5 Don’t ignore their guilt, and don’t let their sins disappear from your records. They have insulted you in front of these builders.”

6 So we rebuilt the wall, which was rebuilt to about half its ⌞original⌟ height. The people worked with determination.

4:4–6   Hear us when we’re despised. Turn insults back on our opponents. We’ll make progress when we work hard.

7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people from Ashdod heard that the repair work on the walls of Jerusalem was making progress and that the gaps were being filled in, they became furious. 8 All of them plotted to attack Jerusalem to create confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and set guards to protect us day and night.

10 Then the people of Judah said, “The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.”

11 Our enemies said, “Before they know what is happening or see a thing, we will be right in the middle of them. We’ll kill them and bring the work to an end.”

12 Jews who were living near our enemies warned us ten times that our enemies would attack us from every direction.[5]

13 That is why I positioned people by their families behind the wall where it was lowest and most exposed. The people were armed with swords, spears, and bows. 14 I looked them over and proceeded to tell the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and awe-inspiring the LORD is. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

4:7–14   Our enemies plot to attack us and cause confusion. We’ll pray and set guards day and night. We’ll remember how great and awe-inspiring you are.

15 When our enemies heard that we knew about their plots and that God had prevented their plans from being successful, we all went back to the work on the wall. Each person performed his own job. 16 From that day on, half of my men worked on the wall, and the other half were wearing body armor and holding spears, shields, and bows. The leaders stood behind all the Judeans 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who were carrying loads did the work with one hand and held their weapons with the other, 18 and each builder had his sword fastened to his side. The man who was supposed to sound the trumpet alarm was with me. 19 I told the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “So much work has to be done in different places that we are widely separated from one another on the wall. 20 When you hear the trumpet, assemble around me. Our God will fight for us!”

4:15–20   You prevent our enemies’ plans from succeeding. We’ll keep watch while we work. You free us from fear of our enemies.

21 So we continued to work. Half of us held spears from early dawn until the stars came out. 22 At that time I told the people, “Every man and his servant should stay overnight in Jerusalem so that we can set a guard at night and work during the day.” 23 My brothers, my servants, and the guards assigned to me never changed their clothes. Neither did I. We each kept our weapons at hand.

4:21–23   We won’t stop doing your will. We’ll keep watch while we work.

The Poor Complain about Their Rich Relatives

5

1 Then some of the people, the men and their wives, complained publicly about their Jewish relatives. 2 Some of them said, “We have large families! We need some grain ⌞if we are going⌟ to eat and stay alive.” 3 Others said, “We’ve had to mortgage our fields, our vineyards, and our homes in order to get some grain because of this famine.” 4 Others said, “We’ve had to borrow money to pay the king’s taxes on our fields and vineyards. 5 We have the same flesh and blood as our relatives. Our children are just like theirs. Yet, we have to force our sons and daughters to become slaves. Some of our daughters have already become slaves. But we can’t do anything else when our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Nehemiah Stops the Rich from Taking Advantage of the Poor

6 I became furious when I heard their complaint and what they had to say. 7 After thinking it over, I confronted the nobles and the leaders. I told them, “You are charging interest on loans made to your own relatives.” I arranged for a large meeting to deal with them. 8 Then I told them, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish relatives who had been sold to other nations. Now you are selling your Jewish relatives so that we have to buy them back again!” They were unable to say anything. 9 I added, “What you’re doing is wrong. Shouldn’t you live in the fear of our God to keep our enemies from ridiculing us? 10 My brothers, my servants, and I are lending money and grain to the poor. But we must stop charging them interest. 11 You must return their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their homes today. Also, you must return the interest on the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil you’ve been charging them.”

5:1–11   Teach your people to deal rightly with each other. We’ll live for you with utter respect to keep our enemies from ridiculing us. We’ll do what you say.

12 They responded, “We’ll return it and not try to get it from them ⌞again⌟. We’ll do what you say.” Then I called the priests and made them swear to do what they promised. 13 I brushed off my clothes and said, “In the same way, may God brush off from home and work everyone who refuses to keep this promise. In the same way, may everyone be brushed off and left with nothing.” Then the whole congregation said amen and praised the LORD. The people did what they had promised.

5:12–13   I’ll do right by the poor. Give me compassion for people struggling to survive.

Nehemiah Never Takes What Is Rightfully His as Governor

14 During the 12 years that I was governor of Judah, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign to the thirty-second year of his reign, my brothers and I never ate any food that was paid for by the governor’s food allowance. 15 Those who were governors before me had made life difficult for the people by taking from them food and wine plus one pound of silver. Even the governors’ servants took advantage of their power over the people. But I didn’t do that, because I feared God. 16 Instead, I put my best effort into the work on this wall, and we bought no land. All my men gathered here for work. 17 I fed 150 Jewish leaders and their people who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Preparing one ox and six choice sheep was necessary every day. Poultry was prepared for me. Once every ten days a supply of wine was ordered. Yet, in spite of all this, I never demanded anything from the governor’s food allowance, because these people were already carrying a heavy load.

Nehemiah’s Prayer

19 Remember me, my God. Consider everything that I have done for these people.

5:14–19   I won’t take advantage of your people, because I fear you. I’ll put my best efforts into my work. I won’t demand support from people already carrying heavy loads.

Sanballat Tries to Harm Nehemiah

6

1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gaps had been left in it (although at that time I had not yet hung the doors in the city gates). 2 Then Sanballat and Geshem sent this message to me: “Let’s meet in Hakkephirim on the plain of Ono.” They were planning to harm me.

3 I sent messengers to tell them, “I’m working on an important project and can’t get away. Why should the work stop while I leave to meet with you?” 4 They sent the same message to me four times, and I answered them the same way. 5 When Sanballat sent me the same message a fifth time, his servant held in his hand an unsealed letter. 6 In it was written:

It has been reported throughout the nations, and Geshem has confirmed it, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That’s why you’re rebuilding the wall. According to this report, you want to become their king. 7 You’ve appointed prophets to announce about you in Jerusalem, ‘There’s a king in Judah!’ This report will get back to the king. So let’s talk about this.

8 Then I sent someone to tell him, “None of your accusations are true. You are making them up out of your own imagination.”

9 They were all trying to intimidate us. They thought we would give up and not finish the work.

6:1–9   Your enemies grow desperate when your work succeeds. But I won’t be distracted from the tasks you assign me. I won’t be intimidated into giving up your work. You make me strong.

But God made me strong.

10  ⌞One day⌟ I went to the home of Shemaiah, son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel. Shemaiah who was confined to his house, said, “Let’s meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and close the temple doors. Some men are coming at night to kill you.”

11 But I asked, “Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I won’t go.”

12 Then I realized that God hadn’t sent him. Instead, Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to prophesy against me. 13 He was hired to intimidate me into doing this so that I would sin. Then they could give me a bad reputation in order to discredit me.

14  ⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “My God, remember what Tobiah and Sanballat have done. Also, remember the female prophet Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me.”

6:10–14   Make me fierce when your enemies try to intimidate me. You never send fear into my life.

The Wall Rebuilt in Spite of Opposition

15 The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul. The wall took 52 days to finish. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence. They realized we had done this work with the help of our God.

6:15–16   We finish your work when you come to our side. Everyone will know you helped us.

Traitors on the Inside

17 In those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah sent many letters back to them. 18 Many in Judah had promised to support Tobiah because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, Arah’s son. In addition, Tobiah’s son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, Berechiah’s son. 19 The nobles were singing Tobiah’s praises to me and reporting to him what I said. Tobiah kept sending letters to intimidate me.

Nehemiah Places Hanani and Hananiah in Charge of Guarding the City Gates

7

1 The gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were assigned their duties after the wall had been rebuilt and I had hung the doors. 2 I put my brother Hanani and Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was a trustworthy man, and he feared God more than most people do. 3 I told them, “The gates of Jerusalem should not be opened at the hottest time of the day. While the ⌞gatekeepers⌟ are still standing there, they should shut the doors and bar them. Order some of the men in Jerusalem to stand guard, some at their posts and others in front of their homes.” 4 The city was large and wide-open. Few people were in it, and no houses were being built.

7:1–4   I want to fear you more than most people do. I’m willing to take on any task.

The First Jewish Exiles Who Returned to Jerusalem

5 Then my God put the idea into my head that I should gather the nobles, leaders, and people so that they could check their genealogy. I found the book with the genealogy of those who came back the first time. I found the following written in it:

6 These were the people in the province. They were the ones who left the place where the exiles had been taken captive. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken them captive. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah. All of them went to their own cities. 7 They went with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

Families Listed by Ancestor—Ezra 2:3–20

This is the number of Israelite men from the people in exile:

8 the descendants of Parosh

2,172

9 of Shephatiah

372

10 of Arah

652

11 of Pahath Moab, that is, of Jeshua and Joab

2,818

12 of Elam

1,254

13 of Zattu

845

14 of Zaccai

760

15 of Binnui

648

16 of Bebai

628

17 of Azgad

2,322

18 of Adonikam

667

19 of Bigvai

2,067

20 of Adin

655

21 of Ater, that is, Hezekiah

98

22 of Hashum

328

23 of Bezai

324

24 of Hariph

112

25 of Gibeon

95

Families Listed by Towns—Ezra 2:21–35

26 the people of Bethlehem and Netophah

188

27 of Anathoth

128

28 of Beth Azmaveth

42

29 of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth

743

30 of Ramah and Geba

621

31 of Michmas

122

32 of Bethel and Ai

123

33 of the other Nebo

52

34 of the other Elam

1,254

35 of Harim

320

36 of Jericho

345

37 of Lod, Hadid, and Ono

721

38 of Senaah

3,930

Priests—Ezra 2:36–39

39 These priests returned from exile:

the descendants of Jedaiah

(through the family of Jeshua)

973

40 of Immer

1,052

41 of Pashhur

1,247

42 of Harim

1,017

Levites—Ezra 2:40–42

43 These Levites returned from exile:

the descendants of Jeshua, that is,

of Kadmiel ⌞and⌟ of Hodeiah

74

44 These singers returned from exile:

the descendants of Asaph

148

45 These gatekeepers returned from exile:

the descendants of Shallum, Ater,

Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai

138

Temple Servants—Ezra 2:43–54

46 These temple servants returned from exile: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 47 Keros, Sia, Padon, 48 Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai, 49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, 50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, 51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, 52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusheshim, 53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 54 Bazlith, Mehida, Harsha, 55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 56 Neziah, and Hatipha.

Descendants of Solomon’s Servants—Ezra 2:55–58

57 These descendants of Solomon’s servants returned from exile: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida, 58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth Hazzebaim, and Amon.

60 The temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants totaled 392.

7:5–60   Bring your people back from the places we’ve been taken captive. Lead us back family by family. Return us to our homes.

Those of Unknown Origin—Ezra 2:59–63

61 The following people came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they couldn’t prove they were Israelites on the basis of their father’s family or their genealogy: 62 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. These people totaled 642.

63 These priests ⌞couldn’t prove they were Israelites⌟: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that ⌞family⌟ name). 64 These people searched for their ⌞family⌟ names in the genealogical records, but their names couldn’t be found there. For this reason they were considered contaminated and couldn’t be priests. 65 The governor told them not to eat any of the most holy food until a priest could use the Urim and Thummim[6] ⌞to settle the problem⌟.

7:61–65   You declare who can serve you and what they can do. Point me to the place you want me to serve.

The Total of the People and Animals Returning from Exile—Ezra 2:64–67

66 The whole assembly totaled 42,360. 67 In addition to the male and female servants who numbered 7,337, they also had 245 male and female singers. 68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,[7] 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

Gifts Given for the Temple—Ezra 2:68–70

70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to this work. The governor contributed the following to the treasury: nearly 18 pounds of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 robes for the priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the treasury for this work: 337 pounds of gold and 3,215 pounds of silver. 72 The rest of the people contributed 337 pounds of gold, 2,923 pounds of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.

73 The priests, Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and the rest of Israel settled in their own cities. When the seventh month came, the people of Israel were in their own cities.

7:66–73   I’ll freely bring offerings to worship you. I’ll gladly contribute to your work.

The Public Reading of Moses’ Teachings

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1  ⌞When the seventh month came,⌟ all the people gathered together in the courtyard in front of Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of Moses’ Teachings, which the Lord had commanded Israel ⌞to follow⌟. 2 Then Ezra the priest brought the Teachings in front of the assembly. This included men, women, and any ⌞children⌟ who could understand what they heard. This took place on the first day of the seventh month. 3 From daybreak until noon, he read from it in the courtyard in front of Water Gate to the men, women, and ⌞children⌟ who could understand it. All the people listened to the Book of Moses’ Teachings.

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a raised wooden platform made for this occasion. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right. Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam stood beside him on his left. 5 Ezra, standing higher than all the other people, opened the book in front of all the people. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra thanked the LORD, the great God. All the people responded, “Amen! Amen!” as they raised their hands and then bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped the LORD. 7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—explained the Teachings to the people while they were standing there. 8 They read the Book of God’s Teachings clearly and explained the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

8:1–8   Ezra gathered men, women, and children. He read from your Teachings. The Levites explained what you said.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people told them, “This is a holy day for the LORD your God. Don’t mourn or cry.” All the people were crying as they listened to the reading of God’s Teachings. 10 Then he told them, “Go, eat rich foods, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who cannot provide for themselves. Today is a holy day for the Lord. Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people by saying, “Listen. Today is a holy day. Don’t be sad.”

12 Then all the people went to eat and drink and to send portions. They had a big, joyful celebration because they understood the words that had been explained to them.

8:9–12   Today is your day. I won’t mourn or cry as I listen to your Teachings. I won’t be sad, because your joy is my strength. I’ll throw a happy celebration because I understand your words.

The Festival of Booths Is Observed

13 On the second day the leaders of the families of all the people, including the priests and the Levites, met with Ezra the scribe to study the words of God’s Teachings. 14 They found written in the Teachings that the LORD had given an order through Moses that the people of Israel should live in booths during a festival in the seventh month. 15 They should announce this command and send this message throughout all their cities and Jerusalem: “Go to the mountains, and get branches—olive and wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other thick-leaved branches—to make booths as it is written.”

16 So the people went to get branches to make booths for themselves. Some made booths on their roofs, others in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God’s temple, in the open area by Water Gate, or in the open area at Ephraim Gate.

17 The whole assembly that had come back from exile made booths and lived in them. From the time of Jeshua (son of Nun) to that day, the people of Israel had not done this. There was a big, joyful celebration. 18 Day by day, from the first day of the festival to the last day, Ezra continued to read from the Book of God’s Teachings. The people celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, they had a closing festival assembly in accordance with the regulations.

8:13–18   I’ll get together with your people to study your words. I’ll worship you in the way you want.

A Day of Fasting and Confession

9

1 When the Israelites assembled on the twenty-fourth day of this month, they fasted, wore sackcloth, and threw dirt on their heads. 2 Those who were descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins as well as the wicked things their ancestors had done. 3 They stood in their places, and for one-fourth of the day, ⌞they listened as⌟ the Book of the Teachings of the LORD their God was read, and for another fourth ⌞of the day⌟, they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God.

A Day of Prayer

4 Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chanani stood on the stairs built for the Levites and cried loudly to the LORD their God. 5 Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up, and thank the LORD your God:

9:1–5   I’ll fast with your people and grieve for my wrongdoing. I’ll confess my sins and the sins of my ancestors. I’ll listen to your Teachings, then stand up and give you thanks.

Creation

From everlasting to everlasting your glorious name is praised

and lifted high above all blessing and praise.

6 You alone are the LORD.

You made heaven, the highest heaven, with all its armies.

You made the earth and everything on it,

the seas and everything in them.

You give life to them all, and the armies of heaven worship you.

9:6–8   You alone are the Lord. We worship you because you gave life to the world. You promised to build a people through Abraham.

Abraham

7 You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram

and took him from Ur of the Chaldeans

and gave him the name Abraham.

8 You found that his heart was faithful to you.

You made a promise[8] to him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hittites,

Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites to his descendants.

You kept your promise because you are fair.

The Exodus

9 You saw how our ancestors suffered in Egypt,

and you heard them crying at the Red Sea.

10 You performed miraculous signs and did amazing things to Pharaoh

and all his servants and all the people in his land

because you knew how arrogantly

they were treating our ancestors.

You made a name for yourself, a name which remains to this day.

11 You divided the sea in front of them

so that they could walk through the sea on dry ground.

You threw into deep water those who pursued your people

as someone throws a stone into raging water.

9:9–11   You saw your people’s suffering and did amazing things to rescue them. You split the sea and let them walk on dry land.

Wandering in the Wilderness

12 You led them during the day by a column of smoke

and during the night by a column of fire to give them light

to see the way they should go.

13 You came from heaven to Mount Sinai

and spoke with them from heaven.

You gave them fair rules, trustworthy teachings,

and good laws and commandments.

14 You taught them about your holy day of worship.

You gave them commandments, laws, and teachings

through your servant Moses.

15 You gave them bread from heaven to satisfy their hunger

and made water flow from a rock to quench their thirst.

You told them to take possession of the land

that you swore you would give them.

9:12–15   You led your people by smoke and fire. You gave them good laws and taught them to worship. You satisfied their hunger and quenched their thirst.

16 But they—our own ancestors—acted arrogantly.

They became stubborn and wouldn’t obey your commands.

17 They refused to listen.

They forgot the miracles you performed for them.

They became stubborn and appointed a leader

to take them back to slavery ⌞in Egypt⌟.

But you are a forgiving God,

one who is compassionate, merciful, patient,

and always ready to forgive.

You never abandoned them,

18 even when they made a metal statue of a calf for themselves

and said, ‘This is your god who took you out of Egypt.’

They committed outrageous sins.

19 But because of your endless compassion,

you didn’t abandon them in the desert.

The column of smoke didn’t leave them during the day,

but it led them on their way.

The column of fire didn’t leave them during the night,

but it gave them light to see the way they should go.

20 You gave them your good Spirit to teach them.

You didn’t keep your manna to yourself.

You gave them water to quench their thirst.

21 You provided for them in the desert for 40 years,

and they had everything they needed.

Their clothes didn’t wear out, and their feet didn’t swell.

9:16–21   Your people stubbornly refused your commands. They forgot your miracles. But you’re forgiving and patient. You gave them everything they needed in the desert.

Conquest of Canaan

22 You gave kingdoms and nations to the Israelites

and assigned them their boundaries.

So they took possession of the land of Sihon,

the land of the king of Heshbon,

and the land of King Og of Bashan.

23 You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky.

You brought them into the land you told their parents to enter and possess.

24 Their children took possession of the land.

You defeated for them the Canaanites, who lived in the land.

You handed the Canaanite kings and their people over to them

to do whatever they wanted with the Canaanites.

25 The Israelites captured fortified cities and a rich land.

They took possession of houses filled with all sorts of good things,

cisterns, vineyards, olive trees,

and plenty of fruit trees.

So they ate and were satisfied and grew fat.

They enjoyed the vast supply of good things you gave them.

9:22–25   You gave the Israelites a rich land and made their children as numerous as the stars. They ate and grew fat, enjoying your vast supply.

Israel’s Rebellion

26 But they were defiant and rebelled against you.

They threw your teachings over their shoulders

and killed your prophets who warned them to turn back to you.

They committed outrageous sins.

27 You handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer.

When they began to suffer, they cried to you.

You heard them from heaven.

You gave them saviors to rescue them from their enemies

because of your endless compassion.

28 As soon as they felt some relief,

they were again doing what you considered evil.

You abandoned them to their enemies, who conquered them.

They cried to you again, and you heard them from heaven.

You rescued them many times because of your compassion.

9:26–28   Your people threw away your teachings and killed your prophets. Instead of turning back to you they committed outrageous sins. So you let them suffer. As soon as they felt some relief, they went back to sinning.

29 You warned them in order to bring them back to your teachings,

but they became arrogant and would not obey your commandments.

They sinned by not following your regulations.

If anyone follows them, he will find life in them.

But they gave you the cold shoulder,

became impossible to deal with, and wouldn’t listen.

30 You were patient with them for many years.

You warned them by your Spirit through your prophets.

However, they wouldn’t listen.

So you handed them over to the people in the surrounding nations.

31 But your compassion is endless.

You didn’t destroy them or abandon them.

You are a merciful and compassionate God.

9:29–31   I won’t give you the cold shoulder. I won’t be impossible to deal with. Be patient and show me your endless compassion.

The Present

32 And now, our God, you are the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God.

You faithfully keep your promises.

Do not consider all the hardships

that we have been going through as unimportant.

The hardships have come to our kings, leaders, priests, prophets,

ancestors, and all your people

from the time of the kings of Assyria until now.

33 But you were fair about everything that has happened to us.

You have been faithful, but we have been wicked.

34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors didn’t obey your teachings.

They didn’t pay attention to your commandments or the warnings

that you gave them.

35 When they lived in their own kingdom and enjoyed the many good things

that you gave them in a vast, fertile land

which was set in front of them, they didn’t serve you

or turn away from their wicked lives.

36 Look ⌞at us⌟ now. We’re slaves!

In the land you gave our ancestors,

they could eat its produce and ⌞enjoy⌟ its good things.

But now we’re slaves!

37 The many products ⌞from our land⌟ go to the kings you put over us.

This is because of our sins.

These kings have control over our bodies,

and they do as they please with our livestock.

We are in agony.[9]

9:32–37   You’ve been faithful, but I’ve been wicked. You gave me good things, but I didn’t serve you. Look at me now. I’m a slave!

An Agreement in Writing

38 “We are making a binding agreement ⌞and putting it⌟ in writing because of all this. Our leaders, Levites, and priests are putting their seals on the document.”

9:38–10:29   Your people put their promises in writing. They signed an agreement and swore an oath to follow your teachings.

10  [10]

1 The following people sealed the agreement: Governor Nehemiah (son of Hacaliah), Zedekiah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchiah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

9 These were the Levites: Jeshua (son of Azaniah), Binnui (of the sons of Henadad), Kadmiel, 10 and their relatives Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

14 These were the leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

28 The rest of the people took an oath. These people included the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the inhabitants of the land for the sake of God’s Teachings. Their wives, sons, daughters, and everyone who is capable of understanding also took an oath. 29 They joined their relatives, the nobles, in binding themselves with a curse and an oath to follow God’s teachings given by Moses, God’s servant. They also bound themselves to follow all the commandments, rules, and regulations of the LORD our Lord.

30 We will not allow our daughters to marry the inhabitants of the land or allow their daughters to marry our sons. 31 If the inhabitants of the land bring merchandise or grain to sell on the day of worship, we won’t buy anything from them on the day of worship or any other holy day. During the seventh year, we won’t plant the fields or collect any debts.

32 Also, we take upon ourselves the obligation to give an eighth of an ounce of silver every year for worship in our God’s temple: 33 for rows of the bread of the presence, and for the daily grain offerings and daily burnt offerings, on the weekly days of worship, and on the New Moon Festivals, and at the appointed annual festivals, for the holy gifts and offerings for sin that make peace with God for Israel, and for all the other work in the temple of our God.

34 We priests, Levites, and laypeople have drawn lots to decide the order in which the heads of our families should bring wood to our God’s temple to burn on the altar of the LORD our God at appointed times every year according to the directions in the Teachings. 35 We have drawn lots to decide who should bring the first produce harvested and the first fruit from every tree each year to the LORD’s temple. 36 Following the directions in the Teachings, we have drawn lots to decide who should bring the firstborn of our sons, our cattle, and our flocks to the priests serving in our God’s temple. 37 Also, we have drawn lots to decide who should bring the best of our coarse flour, contributions, fruit from every tree, new wine, and olive oil to the priests, to the storerooms. We will bring for the Levites one-tenth of the produce from our fields, because the Levites are the ones who collect one-tenth of the produce from all our farm communities. 38 A priest—one of Aaron’s descendants—should be with the Levites when they collect the tenth. Then the Levites should bring one-tenth of these tenths to our God’s temple, into the rooms of the storehouses there. 39 The Israelites and the Levites should bring into the storerooms their contributions of grain, new wine, and olive oil. They should bring these products to the place where the utensils of the holy place are and where the priests who serve and the gatekeepers and the singers are. We won’t neglect our God’s temple.

10:30–39   I promise to marry within your family. I’ll worship you on the day you claim as your own. I’ll bring my best to you.

New Residents for Jerusalem

11

1 The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people drew lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city. The remaining nine-tenths were supposed to live in the other cities. 2 The people blessed everyone who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

3 These were the officials of the province who settled in Jerusalem. Some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants settled in the cities of Judah. They lived on their own property in their own cities.

4 Some of the descendants of Judah and of Benjamin settled in Jerusalem. The descendants of Judah were Athaiah, who was the son of Uzziah, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Shephatiah, who was the son of Mahalalel, who was the son of Perez; 5 Maaseiah was the son of Baruch, who was the son of Col Hozeh, who was the son of Hazaiah, who was the son of Adaiah, who was the son of Joiarib, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Shiloni. 6 All the descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem were 468 outstanding men. 7 These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu, who was the son of Meshullam, who was the son of Joed, who was the son of Pedaiah, who was the son of Kolaiah, who was the son of Maaseiah, who was the son of Ithiel, who was the son of Jeshaiah, 8 and after him, Gabbai ⌞and⌟ Sallai. ⌞The number of Benjamin’s descendants⌟ totaled 928. 9 Joel, son of Zichri, was in charge, and Judah, son of Senuah, was second-in-command over the city.

10 These were the priests: Jedaiah (son of Joiarib), Jachin, 11 Seraiah, who was the son of Hilkiah, who was the son of Meshullam, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Meraioth, who was the son of Ahitub, who was the supervisor of God’s temple. 12 From Seraiah’s relatives 822 did the work in the temple. Also, Adaiah worked in the temple. He was the son of Jeroham, who was the son of Pelaliah, who was the son of Amzi, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Pashhur, who was the son of Malchiah. 13 Adaiah’s relatives, the heads of the families, totaled 242. Amashsai was the son of Azarel, who was the son of Ahzai, who was the son of Meshillemoth, who was the son of Immer. 14 Their relatives, who were warriors, totaled 128. The man in charge of them was Zabdiel, son of Haggedolim.

15 These were the Levites: Shemaiah who was the son of Hasshub, who was the son of Azrikam, who was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Bunni. 16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, Levite leaders, who were in charge of the work outside God’s temple. 17 Mattaniah was the son of Mica, who was the son of Zabdi, who was the son of Asaph, the leader who led the prayer of thanksgiving. The Levite leader Bakbukiah was the second-in-command among his relatives; and so was Abda who was the son of Shammua, who was the son of Galal, who was the son of Jeduthum. 18 All the Levites in the holy city totaled 284.

19 These were the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives who guarded the gates totaled 172.

20 The rest of the Israelites, priests, and Levites lived in all the cities of Judah. Everyone lived on his own inherited property. 21 But the temple servants lived on Mount Ophel with Ziha and Gishpa in charge of them.

22 The man in charge of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi, who was the son of Bani, who was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Mattaniah, who was the son of Mica from Asaph’s descendants who were the singers in charge of worship in God’s temple. 23 They were under orders from the king, orders that determined which duties they should perform day by day. 24 Pethahiah, son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah, Judah’s son, was the king’s adviser on all matters concerning the people.

25 Many people lived in villages that had fields. Some people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its villages, in Dibon and its villages, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth Pelet, 27 in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its villages, 28 in Ziklag, and in Meconah and its villages, 29 in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, and Adullam and their villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled in the land from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

31 Benjamin’s descendants live in the area of Geba, in Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, 32 in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, Ono, and in the valley of the Craftsmen. 36 Some divisions of Levites in Judah were assigned to Benjamin.

11:1–36   You brought inhabitants back to your holy city. I’ll willingly live where you tell me.

The Priest and Levites Who Returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel

12

1 These are the priests and Levites who came back with Zerubbabel (Shealtiel’s son) and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and of their relatives at the time of Jeshua.

8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his relatives was in charge of the thanksgiving hymns. 9 Their relatives Bakbukiah and Unno stood across from them in worship.

10 Jeshua was the father of Joiakim. Joiakim was the father of Eliashib. Eliashib was the father of Joiada. 11 Joiada was the father of Jonathan. Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

12 At the time of Joiakim, these were the priests who were the leaders of their families: From Seraiah, Meraiah; from Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 from Ezra, Meshullam; from Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 from Malluchi, Jonathan; from Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 from Harim, Adna; from Meraioth, Helkai; 16 from Iddo, Zechariah; from Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 from Abijah, Zichri; from Miniamin, from Moadiah, Piltai; 18 from Bilgah, Shammua; from Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 from Joiarib, Mattenai; from Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 from Sallai, Kallai; from Amok, Eber; 21 from Hilkiah, Hashabiah; from Jedaiah, Nethanel.

22  ⌞The names of⌟ the family heads of the Levites and the priests at the time of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were recorded until the reign of Darius the Persian. 23  ⌞The names of⌟ the family heads of the Levites were recorded in the Book of Chronicles until the time of Johanan, grandson of Eliashib. 24 The heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua (son of Kadmiel). They and their relatives stood in groups across from one another to sing hymns of praise and thanksgiving antiphonally as David, the man of God, had ordered. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses by the gates. 26 They lived in the days of Joiakim, son of Jeshua, grandson of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe.

12:1–26   You set aside priests and Levites to serve you in worship. I’ll keep your command to sing to you.

Jerusalem’s Walls Are Dedicated to God

27 When the wall of Jerusalem was going to be dedicated, they went to wherever the Levites lived and had them come to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication joyfully with hymns of thanksgiving, with songs and cymbals, and with harps and lyres. 28 So the groups of singers came together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of Netophah, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 The priests and the Levites cleansed themselves. Then they cleansed the people, the gates, and the wall.

31 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I arranged two large choirs to give thanks and march in procession. One choir went to the right on the wall to Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them. 33 Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah also followed. 35 So did some priests with trumpets: Zechariah, who was the son of Jonathan, who was the son of Shemaiah, who was the son of Mattaniah, who was the son of Micaiah, who was the son of Zaccur, who was the son of Asaph. 36 Also, these relatives of Zechariah followed: Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe led them. 37 At Fountain Gate they went straight up the stairs of the City of David. There the wall rises past David’s palace and reaches Water Gate on the east.

38 The other choir went to the left. I followed them with the other half of the people. We walked on the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens, as far as Broad Wall, 39 then past Ephraim Gate, over Old Gate and Fish Gate, and by the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as Sheep Gate. The choir stopped at Guard’s Gate. 40 So both choirs stood in God’s temple, as did I and the half of the leaders who were with me. 41 Likewise, these priests stood in God’s temple: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah with trumpets, 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchiah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang under the direction of Jezrahiah.

43 That day they offered many sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them reason to rejoice. The women and children rejoiced as well. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard from far away.

44 On that day men were put in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, the first produce harvested, and a tenth of the people’s money. They stored in those rooms the gifts designated by Moses’ Teachings for the priests and Levites from the fields around the cities. The people of Judah were pleased with the ministry of the priests and Levites. 45 They were doing what their God required, what needed to be done for cleansing. The singers and the gatekeepers did what David and his son Solomon had ordered them to do. 46 Long ago in the time of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers to lead ⌞in singing⌟ the songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God. 47 At the time of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all the Israelites were giving gifts for the daily support of the singers and the gatekeepers. They set aside holy gifts for ⌞the daily support of⌟ the Levites, and the Levites set aside holy gifts for support of Aaron’s descendants.

12:27–47   I’ll celebrate your amazing accomplishments with your people. I’ll sing to you and rejoice. I’ll do whatever you require and bring holy gifts to your house.

13

1 On that day the Book of Moses was read while the people were listening. They heard the passage that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into God’s assembly. 2 (After all, they didn’t welcome the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.) 3 After the people heard this Teaching, they separated the non-Israelites from the Israelites.

4 Even before this, the priest Eliashib, who was related to Tobiah and had been put in charge of the storerooms of our God’s temple, 5 had provided a large room for Tobiah. Previously, this room had been used to store grain offerings, incense, utensils, a tenth of all the grain harvested, new wine, and olive oil. These things belonged by law to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. The contributions for the priests had also been stored there.

Nehemiah Evicts Tobiah from the Temple

6 While all of this was taking place, I wasn’t in Jerusalem. In the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes’ reign in Babylon, I returned to the king. Later, I asked the king for permission to return. 7 I went to Jerusalem and discovered the evil thing Eliashib had done by providing Tobiah with a room in God’s temple. 8 I was furious. So I threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. 9 Then I told them to cleanse the rooms, and I put back in there the utensils from God’s temple, the offerings, and the incense.

13:1–9   I’ll get rid of sin from every part of my life. I’ll make my life a holy place. Cleanse me from my sin!

Nehemiah Ensures That the Levites Receive Their Portion of the Offerings

10 I learned that the Levites had not been given their portions. So each of the Levites and singers, who conducted the worship ⌞in the temple⌟, had left for their own fields. 11 I reprimanded the leaders. “Why is God’s temple being neglected?” I asked. So I brought the Levites back together and put them back in their places of service. 12 Then all Judah brought a tenth of all the grain harvested, new wine, and olive oil to the storerooms. 13 I appointed the following men to be in charge of the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah the Levite, and I appointed Hanan, son of Zaccur and grandson of Mattaniah to help them. Since they could be trusted, I made them responsible for distributing ⌞the portions⌟ to their relatives.

14  ⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Remember me for what I have done, my God, and don’t wipe out the good things that I have done for your temple and for the worship that is held there.”

13:10–14   You keep watch over the people who serve you. I’ll bring you gifts from the harvest.

Nehemiah Ensures That No Work Is Done on the Day of Worship

15 In those days I saw people in Judah stomping grapes in the winepresses on the day of worship. I saw them bringing in loads of wine, grapes, figs, and every other kind of load. They piled the loads on donkeys and brought them into Jerusalem on the day of worship. I warned them about selling food on that day. 16 People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of goods. They were selling them on the day of worship to the people of Judah, even in Jerusalem. 17 I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and asked them, “What is this evil thing you’re doing? How dare you treat the day of worship as unholy! 18 Isn’t this what your ancestors did, with the results that our God brought all these evils on us and on this city? Now you’re making him even more angry with Israel by treating the day of worship as unholy.”

19 Before the day of worship, when the gates of Jerusalem were cleared of traffic, I ordered the doors to be shut and not to be reopened until after the day of worship. I stationed some of my men by the gates to make sure that no loads could be brought in on the day of worship. 20 Once or twice merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 I warned them. “Why are you spending the night in front of the wall?” I asked them. “If you do it again, I’ll arrest you.” After that, they no longer came on the day of worship. 22 Then I told the Levites to cleanse themselves and guard the gates to keep the day of worship holy.

13:15–22   I’ll worship you on the day you claim as your own. I won’t treat any day or hour as unholy.

⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Remember me also for this, my God, and spare me, since you are very kind.”

Nehemiah Dissolves Marriages to Foreigners

23 In those days I saw some Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 Half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or one of the other languages, but they couldn’t understand the language of Judah well enough to speak it. 25 So I reprimanded those Jews, cursed them, beat some of them, and pulled out their hair. I made them swear by God: “We won’t allow our daughters to marry their sons, and we won’t allow their daughters to marry us or our sons.” 26 I said, “Wasn’t it because of marriages like these that King Solomon of Israel sinned? There wasn’t a king like him among all nations. God loved him, and God made him king of all Israel. But his non-Israelite wives led him to sin. 27 Should we follow your example, commit such a serious crime against our God, and be unfaithful to him by marrying non-Israelite women?”

28 Even one of Joiada’s sons was a son-in-law of Sanballat from Beth Horon. (Joiada was the son of the chief priest Eliashib.) I chased Joiada’s son away from me.

29  ⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Remember them, my God, because they have contaminated the priestly office and the promise[11] you made to the priests and Levites.”

30 So I cleansed them from everything that was foreign. I assigned duties to the priests and Levites. Each one had his own assignment. 31 I also arranged for delivering wood at regular times and for bringing the first produce to be harvested.

13:23–31   I’ll marry within your family and choose a spouse who follows you. To do anything less is a serious crime against you.

⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Remember me, my God, for my benefit.”

ESTHER

INTRODUCTION

Esther demonstrates how to step up in difficult circumstances. This book’s fast-paced drama begins with King Xerxes of Persia welcoming all his political officials and military officers to a six-month palace party. When Queen Vashti refuses the king’s command to parade before his drunken guests, Xerxes sends his servants looking for her replacement. A poor orphan girl named Esther wins his ancient beauty pageant and gains the royal crown.

Following the advice of Mordecai, the older cousin who raised her, Esther hides her Jewish roots. Yet when a shrewd court official named Haman schemes to wipe out all the Jews, Mordecai sends word to Esther to plead with the king for her people’s survival. The new queen protests that without a personal summons from the king, she risks death by entering his presence. Mordecai warns Esther not to assume that hiding her true identity will keep her safe. “Even if you remain silent now,” he says, “someone else will help and rescue the Jews, but you and your relatives will die. And who knows, you may have gained your royal position for a time like this” (Esther 4:14).

As the story unfolds, Esther devises a plan to expose Haman and save her people, and the Jews rout their enemies. But the book’s essential lesson comes in Esther’s decision to do right despite the price she might pay. Praying this book motivates you to courageously stand up at “a time like this,” those moments where God calls you to do right no matter the cost.

ESTHER

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Queen Vashti Disobeys King Xerxes

1

1 In the days of Xerxes the following events took place. This was the same Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Sudan. 2 At the time when King Xerxes sat on the royal throne in the fortress of Susa, 3 he held a banquet in the third year of his reign. The banquet was for all his officials and advisers, that is, the military officers of the Persians and Medes, the nobles and officials of the provinces who had access to him. 4 He showed them the enormous wealth of his kingdom and the costly splendor of his greatness for many days, 180 to be exact. 5 When those days were over, the king held a banquet lasting seven days. This banquet was held in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace for all people in the fortress of Susa, whatever their rank.

6 The garden had white and violet linen curtains. These curtains were attached to silver rods and marble pillars by cords made of white and purple fine linen. Gold and silver couches were on a mosaic pavement of purple rock, white marble, pearl-like stone, and black marble. 7 People drank from golden cups. No two cups were alike. The king also provided plenty of royal wine out of his royal generosity. 8 The drinking followed this rule: Drink as you please. (The king had ordered all the waiters in his palace to let everyone do as he pleased.)

1:1–8   In the days of Xerxes, the king served his officials and advisers from golden cups. He had a rule: Drink as much as you want and do as you please.

9 Queen Vashti also held a banquet for the women at the royal palace of King Xerxes.

10 On the seventh day when the king was drunk on wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served under King Xerxes, 11 to bring Queen Vashti in front of the king, wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show the people, especially the officials, her beauty, because she was very attractive. 12 But Queen Vashti refused the king’s command that the eunuchs delivered to her. As a result, the king became very angry, and his rage burned inside him.

1:9–12   The drunken king wanted to show off his beautiful queen. His rage burned when Vashti said no.

13 Now, the king usually asked for advice from all the experts in royal decrees and decisions, 14 from those closest to him—Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These seven officials of the Persians and Medes had access to the king and held the highest rank in the kingdom. The king asked these wise men who knew the times,[1] 15 “According to the royal decrees, what must we do with Queen Vashti since she did not obey King Xerxes’ command, which the eunuchs delivered?”

16 Then Memucan spoke up in the presence of the king and the officials, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the officials and all the people in every province of King Xerxes. 17 The news of what the queen has done will spread to all women, and they will despise their husbands. They will say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought to him, but she would not come.’ 18 Today the wives of the officials in Persia and Media who have heard what the queen did will talk back to all the king’s officials. There will be contempt and short tempers. 19 If it pleases you, Your Majesty, issue a royal decree. It should be recorded in the decrees of the Persians and Medes, never to be repealed, that Vashti may never again appear in front of King Xerxes. Furthermore, Your Majesty, you should give her royal position to another woman who is more worthy than she. 20 When you issue your decree, your whole kingdom, great as it is, will hear it. Then all the wives will honor their husbands, regardless of their status.”

1:13–20   The king’s highest advisers said Vashti was a despicable example for other wives, and that she should be replaced by another woman more worthy than she.

21 The king and his officials approved of this, and so the king did as Memucan suggested. 22 He sent official documents to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script and to the people in each province in their own language: “Let every husband be the ruler in his own house and speak with authority.”[2]

1:21–22   I’ll rule my home with wisdom. I won’t let pride and wine and rage drive my decisions.

Esther Becomes Queen

2

1 Later, when King Xerxes got over his raging anger, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decided against her.

2 So the king’s personal staff said to him, “Search for attractive young virgins for the king. 3 And appoint scouts in all the provinces of your kingdom to gather all the attractive young virgins and bring them to the fortress of Susa, to the women’s quarters. There, in the care of the king’s eunuch Hegai, the guardian of the women, they will have their beauty treatment. 4 Then the young woman who pleases you, Your Majesty, will become queen instead of Vashti.”

2:1–4   The king sent scouts to gather attractive young virgins. The most pleasing would become his new queen.

The king liked the suggestion, and so he did just that.

5 In the fortress of Susa there was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, the grandson of Shimei, and the great-grandson of Kish. 6 (Kish had been taken captive from Jerusalem together with the others who had gone into exile along with Judah’s King Jehoiakin,[3] whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried away.) 7 Mordecai had raised Hadassah, also known as Esther, his uncle’s daughter, because she was an orphan. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was very attractive. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.

8 When the king’s announcement and decree were heard, many young women were gathered together and brought to the fortress of Susa. They were placed in the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and placed in the care of Hegai, the guardian of the women. 9 The young woman pleased him and won his affection. So he immediately provided her with the beauty treatment, a daily supply of food, and seven suitable female servants from the king’s palace. Then he moved her and her servants to the best place in the women’s quarters.

10 Esther did not reveal her nationality or her family background, because Mordecai had ordered her not to. 11 Every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the courtyard of the women’s quarters to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

12 Each young woman had her turn to go to King Xerxes after she had completed the required 12-month treatment for women. The time of beauty treatment was spent as follows: six months using oil of myrrh and six months using perfumes and other treatments for women.

13 After that, the young woman would go to the king. Anything she wanted to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace was given to her. 14 She would go in the evening and come back in the morning to the other quarters for women. There she would be in the care of the king’s eunuch Shaashgaz, the guardian of the concubines.[4] She never went to the king again unless the king desired her and requested her by name.

15 (Esther was the daughter of Abihail, Mordecai’s uncle. Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.)

When Esther’s turn came to go to the king, she asked only for what the king’s eunuch Hegai, the guardian of the women, advised. Everyone who saw Esther liked her. 16 So Esther was taken to King Xerxes in his royal palace in the month of Tebeth, the tenth month, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 Now, the king loved Esther more than all the other women and favored her over all the other virgins. So he put the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king held a great banquet for Esther. He invited all his officials and his advisers. He also declared that day a holiday in the provinces, and he handed out gifts from his royal generosity.

2:5–18   Young Esther won the king’s favor and he put the royal crown on her head. No one knew she was one of your people. But you make plans long before anyone knows what you’re up to.

Mordecai Saves the King’s Life

19 When the virgins were gathered a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 Esther still had not revealed her family background or nationality, as Mordecai had ordered her. Esther always did whatever Mordecai told her, as she did when she was a child.

21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, became angry and planned to kill King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about it and informed Queen Esther. Then Esther told the king, on behalf of Mordecai. 23 When the report was investigated and found to be true, the dead bodies of Bigthan and Teresh were hung on a pole. The matter was written up in the king’s presence in his official record of daily events.

2:19–23   Mordecai stopped the assassination of King Xerxes. He proved his loyalty to you and the king.

Haman’s Plot

3

1 Later, King Xerxes promoted Haman. (Haman was the son of Hammedatha and was from Agag.) He gave Haman a position higher in authority than all the other officials who were with him. 2 All the king’s advisers were at the king’s gate, kneeling and bowing to Haman with their faces touching the ground, because the king had commanded it. But Mordecai would not kneel and bow to him.

3 Then the king’s advisers at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you ignore the king’s command?” 4 Although they asked him day after day, he paid no attention to them. So they informed Haman to see if Mordecai’s actions would be tolerated, since Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not kneel and bow to him, Haman was infuriated. 6 Because the king’s advisers had informed him about Mordecai’s nationality, he thought it beneath himself to kill only Mordecai. So Haman planned to wipe out Mordecai’s people—all the Jews in the entire kingdom of Xerxes.

7 In Xerxes’ twelfth year as king, Pur (which means the lot) was thrown in front of Haman for every day of every month, from Nisan, the first month, until Adar, the twelfth month.

8 Now, Haman told King Xerxes, “Your Majesty, there is a certain nationality scattered among—but separate from—the nationalities in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws differ from those of all other nationalities. They do not obey your decrees. So it is not in your interest to tolerate them, Your Majesty. 9 If you approve, have the orders for their destruction be written. For this I will pay 750,000 pounds of silver to your treasurers to be put in your treasury.”

10 At that, the king removed his signet ring and gave it to Haman, the enemy of the Jews. (Haman was the son of Hammedatha and was from Agag.) 11 The king told Haman, “You can keep your silver and do with the people whatever you like.”

3:1–11   When Mordecai wouldn’t bow, Haman plotted the extermination of all Jews. Protect your people from vicious slander.

Haman Prepares to Kill the Jews

12 On the thirteenth day of the first month the king’s scribes were summoned. All Haman’s orders were written to the king’s satraps, the governors of every province, and the officials of every people. They wrote to each province in its own script and to the people in each province in their own language. The orders were signed in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s ring. 13 Messengers were sent with official documents to all the king’s provinces. ⌞The people were ordered⌟ to wipe out, kill, and destroy all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. Their possessions were also to be seized. 14 A copy of the document was made public in a decree to every province. All the people were to be ready for this day.

15 The messengers hurried out as the king told them. The decree was also issued at the fortress of Susa. So the king and Haman sat down to drink a toast, but the city of Susa was in turmoil.

3:12–15   The king and Haman sat down for a toast, but the kingdom was in turmoil. Does anyone care when your people are wiped out, killed, and destroyed?

4

1 When Mordecai found out about everything that had been done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went into the middle of the city and cried loudly and bitterly. 2 He even went right up to the king’s gate. (No one could enter it wearing sackcloth.)

3 In every province touched by the king’s command and decree, the Jews went into mourning, fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many put on sackcloth and ashes.

4:1–3   Mordecai cried bitterly at the king’s gate. All of your people mourned and fasted, wept and wailed at their fate.

Esther’s Problem

4 Esther’s servants and eunuchs came and informed her ⌞about Mordecai⌟. The queen was stunned. She sent clothing for Mordecai to put on in place of his sackcloth, but he refused to accept it. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to serve her. She commanded him to go to Mordecai and find out what was going on and why.

6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai informed him about everything that had happened to him. He told him the exact amount of silver that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasury to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the decree that was issued in Susa. The decree gave permission to exterminate the Jews. Hathach was supposed to show it to Esther to inform and command her to go to the king, beg him for mercy, and appeal to him for her people. 9 So Hathach returned and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

4:4–9   Esther was stunned by her uncle’s sadness. Instead of getting rid of his sackcloth he explained the dire situation. Help me deal with reality when I want to live in denial.

10 Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s advisers and the people in the king’s provinces know that no one approaches the king in the throne room without being summoned. By law that person must be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to him will he live. I, myself, have not been summoned to enter the king’s presence for 30 days now.” 12 So Esther’s servants told Mordecai what Esther said.

13 Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther, “Do not imagine that just because you are in the king’s palace you will be any safer than all the rest of the Jews. 14 The fact is, even if you remain silent now, someone else will help and rescue the Jews, but you and your relatives will die. And who knows, you may have gained your royal position for a time like this.”

15 Esther sent this reply back to Mordecai, 16 “Assemble all the Jews in Susa. Fast for me: Do not eat or drink at all for three entire days. My servants and I will also fast. After that, I will go to the king, even if it is against a royal decree. If I die, I die.”

17 Mordecai did just as Esther had commanded him.

4:10–17   Esther didn’t want to risk her own life. But you made her queen for a time like this. Embolden me to obey you at all costs.

Esther Brings Her Request to the King

5

1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes. She stood in the courtyard of the king’s palace, facing the king’s throne room. The king was sitting on the royal throne inside the palace, facing the entrance.

2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the entrance, she won his favor. So the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand to Esther. Esther went up to him and touched the top of the scepter.

3 Then the king asked her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? What would you like? Even if it is up to half of the kingdom, it will be granted to you.”

4 So Esther answered, “If it pleases you, Your Majesty, come today with Haman to a dinner I have prepared for you.”

5 The king replied, “Bring Haman right away, and do whatever Esther asks.” So the king and Haman came to the dinner that Esther had prepared.

6 While they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “What is your request? It will be granted to you. What would you like? Even if it is up to half of the kingdom, it will be granted.”

7 Esther answered, “My request? What would I like? 8 Your Majesty, come with Haman to a dinner I will prepare for you. And tomorrow I will answer you, Your Majesty. If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, Your Majesty, may you ⌞then⌟ grant my request and do what I would like.”

5:1–8   Esther risked everything to approach the king. Then she put her plan into action. Make me shrewd enough to survive real life.

Meanwhile, Haman Is Disgraced because of Mordecai

9 When Haman left that day, he was happy and feeling good. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, neither getting up nor trembling in his presence, Haman was furious with Mordecai. 10 However, Haman controlled himself. He went home and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

11 Then Haman began to relate in detail to them how very rich he was, the many sons he had, and all about how the king promoted him to a position over the officials and the king’s advisers. 12 Haman went on to say, “What’s more, Queen Esther allowed no one except me to come with the king to the dinner she had prepared. And again tomorrow I am her invited guest together with the king. 13 Yet, all this is worth nothing to me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, 75 feet high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai’s ⌞dead body⌟ hung on it. Then go with the king to the dinner in good spirits.”

5:9–14   Mordecai made Haman furious to the point of murder. His wealth and position meant nothing when Mordecai didn’t tremble in his presence. I want my faithfulness to unnerve people who oppose you.

Haman liked the idea, so he had the pole set up.

6

1 That night the king could not sleep. So he told ⌞a servant⌟ to bring the official daily records, and they were read to the king. 2 The records showed how Mordecai had informed him that Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted a rebellion against King Xerxes.

3 The king asked, “How did I reward and promote Mordecai for this?”

The king’s personal staff replied, “Nothing was done for him.”

4 The king asked, “Who is in the courtyard?” At that moment, Haman came through the courtyard to the king’s palace to ask the king about hanging Mordecai on the pole he had prepared for him.

5 The king’s staff answered him, “Haman happens to be standing in the courtyard.”

“Let him come in,” the king said.

6 So Haman came in. The king then asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to reward?”

Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to reward more than me?” 7 So Haman told the king, “This is what should be done: 8  ⌞The servants⌟ should bring a royal robe that the king has worn and a horse that the king has ridden, one that has a royal crest on its head. 9 Give the robe and the horse to one of the king’s officials, who is a noble. Put the robe on the man whom the king wishes to reward and have him ride on the horse in the city square. The king’s servants are also to shout ahead of him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward.’”

10 The king told Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse as you said. Do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Do not omit anything you have said.”

11 So Haman took the robe and the horse. He put the robe on Mordecai and had him ride in the city square, shouting ahead of him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward.”

12 After that, Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried home. He was in despair and covered his head. 13 There, Haman began to relate in detail to his wife Zeresh and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his counselors and his wife Zeresh told him, “You are starting to lose power to Mordecai. If Mordecai is of Jewish descent, you will never win out over him. He will certainly lead to your downfall.”

14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the dinner Esther had prepared.

6:1–14   Mordecai wore the robe and rode the horse Haman thought was meant for him. You reward the deserving and shame the proud.

Esther Brings About Haman’s Downfall

7

1 So the king and Haman came to have dinner with Queen Esther. 2 On the second day, while they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “What is your request, Queen Esther? It will be granted to you. And what would you like? Even if it is up to half of the kingdom, it will be granted.”

3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, Your Majesty, spare my life. That is my request. And spare the life of my people. That is what I ask for. 4 You see, we—my people and I—have been sold so that we can be wiped out, killed, and destroyed. If our men and women had only been sold as slaves, I would have kept silent because the enemy is not worth troubling you about, Your Majesty.”

7:1–4   Let truth come to light and every evil plot be exposed. Spare your people from being wiped out, killed, and destroyed.

5 Then King Xerxes interrupted Queen Esther and said, “Who is this person? Where is the person who has dared to do this?”

6 Esther answered, “Our vicious enemy is this wicked man Haman!” Then Haman became panic-stricken in the presence of the king and queen.

7 The king was furious as he got up from dinner and went into the palace garden. But Haman stayed to beg Queen Esther for his life, because he saw that the king had a terrible end in mind for him. 8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the palace dining room, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was lying. The king thought, “Is he even going to rape the queen while I’m in the palace?” Then the king passed sentence on him, and servants covered Haman’s face.

9 Harbona, one of the eunuchs present with the king, said, “What a coincidence! The 75-foot pole Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke up for the well-being of the king, is still standing at Haman’s house.”

The king responded, “Hang him on it!” 10 So servants hung Haman’s ⌞dead body⌟ on the very pole he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king got over his raging anger.

7:5–10   You spared Esther and your people. And what a coincidence—a pole was ready for Haman. Show mercy to victims and serve justice to evildoers.

8

1 On that same day King Xerxes gave the property of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Also, Mordecai came to the king because Esther had told him how Mordecai was related to her. 2 Then the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai in charge of Haman’s property.

Esther Brings Her Request to the King

3 Esther spoke again to the king. She fell down at his feet crying and begged him to have mercy and to undo the evil plot of Haman, who was from Agag, and his conspiracy against the Jews. 4 The king held out his golden scepter to Esther, and Esther got up and stood in front of the king. 5 She said, “Your Majesty, if it pleases you, and if I have found favor with you, if you consider my cause to be reasonable and if I am pleasing to you, cancel the official orders ⌞concerning⌟ the plot of Haman (who was the son of Hammedatha and was from Agag). He signed ⌞the order⌟ to destroy the Jews in all your provinces, Your Majesty. 6 I cannot bear to see my people suffer such evil. And I simply cannot bear to see the destruction of my relatives.”

7 King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “I have given Haman’s property to Esther, and Haman’s ⌞dead body⌟ was hung on the pole because he tried to kill the Jews. 8 You write what you think is best for the Jews in the king’s name. Seal it also with the king’s signet ring, because whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring cannot be canceled.”

Mordecai Uses His Position to Save the Jews

9 At that time on the twenty-third day of Sivan, the third month, the king’s scribes were summoned. What Mordecai had ordered was written to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and officers of the 127 provinces from India to Sudan. It was written to each province in its own script, to each people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and their own language.

10 Mordecai wrote in King Xerxes’ name and sealed the official documents with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent them by messengers who rode special horses bred for speed. ⌞He wrote⌟ 11 that the king had given permission for the Jews in every city to assemble, to defend themselves, to wipe out, to kill, and to destroy every armed force of the people and province that is hostile to them, even women and children, and to seize their goods. 12  ⌞This was permitted⌟ on one day in all the provinces of King Xerxes, on the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. 13 The copy of the document was made public in a decree to every province for all people. On that day the Jews were to be ready to take revenge on their enemies.

14 The messengers rode the king’s fastest horses. They left quickly, in keeping with the king’s command. The decree was issued also in the fortress of Susa.

15 Mordecai went out from the presence of the king wearing the royal violet and white robe, a large gold crown, and a purple outer robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa cheered and rejoiced.

8:10–15   You honored Mordecai with wealth and power. Give position and authority to good people.

16 So the Jews were cheerful, happy, joyful, and successful. 17 In every province and every city where the king’s message and decree arrived, the Jews were happy and joyful, feasting and enjoying a holiday. Then many common people pretended to be Jews because they were terrified of the Jews.

8:16–17   A day of fear turned into a happy feast. All of Susa cheered and rejoiced. I’m happy when you save your people. I’m glad when you spare anyone from death.

The Jews Defend Themselves

9

1 On the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month, the king’s command and decree were to be carried out. On that very day, when the enemies of the Jews expected to overpower them, the exact opposite happened: The Jews overpowered those who hated them.

2 The Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes to kill those who were planning to harm them. No one could stand up against them, because all the people were terrified of them. 3 All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the king’s treasurers assisted the Jews because they were terrified of Mordecai. 4 Mordecai was an important man in the king’s palace. Moreover, his reputation was spreading to all the provinces, since Mordecai was becoming more and more powerful.

5 Then with their swords, the Jews attacked all their enemies, killing them, destroying them, and doing whatever they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In the fortress of Susa the Jews killed and wiped out 500 men. 7 They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha. 10 These were the ten sons of Haman, who was the son of Hammedatha and the enemy of the Jews. But the Jews did not seize any of their possessions.

11 On that day the number of those killed in the fortress of Susa was reported to the king. 12 So the king said to Queen Esther, “In the fortress of Susa the Jews have killed and wiped out 500 men and Haman’s 10 sons. What must they have done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now, what is your request? It will be granted to you. And what else would you like? It, too, will be granted.”

13 Esther said, “If it pleases you, Your Majesty, allow the Jews in Susa to do tomorrow what was decreed for today. Let them hang Haman’s ten sons on poles.”

14 The king commanded this, issuing a decree in Susa. And so they hung Haman’s ten sons ⌞on poles⌟.

15 The Jews in Susa also assembled on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed 300 men in Susa, but they did not seize any of their possessions. 16 The other Jews who were in the king’s provinces had also assembled to defend and free themselves from their enemies. They killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they did not seize any of their possessions. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. On the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and celebration. 18 But the Jews in Susa had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth. They rested on the fifteenth and made it a day of feasting and celebration. 19 That is why the Jews who live in the villages and in the unwalled towns make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a holiday for feasting and celebration. They also send gifts of food to one another.

9:1–19   With the king’s blessing the Jews and their allies attacked all their enemies. They hung Haman’s sons on poles. Save your suffering people now!

The Festival of Purim Instituted by Esther and Mordecai

20 Now, Mordecai wrote these things down and sent official letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far. 21 He established the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as days they must observe every year. 22 They were to observe them just like the days when the Jews freed themselves from their enemies. In that month their grief turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He declared that these days are to be days for feasting and celebrating and for sending gifts of food to one another, especially gifts to the poor.

23 So the Jews accepted as tradition what they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them. 24 It was because Haman, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them. (Haman was the son of Hammedatha and was from Agag.) Haman had the Pur (which means the lot) thrown ⌞in order to determine when⌟ to crush and destroy them. 25 But when this came to the king’s attention, he ordered, in the well-known letter, that the evil plan Haman had plotted against the Jews should turn back on his own head. As a result, they hung Haman and his sons on poles.

26 So the Jews called these days Purim, based on the word Pur. Therefore, because of everything that was said in this letter—both what they had seen and what had happened to them—27 the Jews established a tradition for themselves and their descendants and for anyone who would join them. The tradition was that a person should never fail to observe these two days every year, as they were described and at their appointed time. 28 So these days must be remembered and observed in every age, family, province, and city. These days of Purim must not be ignored among the Jews, and the importance of these days must never be forgotten by the generations to come.

29 Abihail’s daughter Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew wrote with full authority in order to establish with this second letter the well-known celebration of Purim. 30 Mordecai sent official documents granting peace and security to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes. 31 He did this in order to establish these days of Purim at the appointed time. Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther established them for themselves, as they had established for themselves and their descendants the practices of fasting with sadness. 32 Esther’s command had established these practices of Purim, and they are written in a book.

9:20–32   You turn grief to joy and mourning into a holiday. I’ll feast and celebrate your mighty acts!

Mordecai’s Greatness

10

1 King Xerxes levied a tax on the country and the islands of the sea. 2 All his acts of power and might along with the whole account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are recorded in the history of the kings of the Medes and Persians. 3 Mordecai the Jew was ranked second only to King Xerxes. He was greatly respected by, and popular with, all of the other Jews, since he provided for the good of his people and spoke for the welfare of his fellow Jews.

10:1–3   You watch over your people and lift good people to greatness. Train me to provide for your people and speak for their welfare.

JOB

INTRODUCTION

Job moves you to trust God when you suffer. Despite this story’s placement near the middle of the Old Testament, it comes from the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It takes place in Uz, an unknown land likely east of the Jordan River. The man Job is unaware of its larger setting as a drama between heaven and earth.

In the book’s early scenes, Satan challenges God’s admiration of Job, arguing that Job reveres the Lord only because of the enormous blessings heaped on him. God allows Satan to strip away Job’s riches, family, and health to probe this good man’s faithfulness.

As Job uses a piece of broken pottery to scratch his open sores, his wife asks, “Are you still holding on to your principles? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). Three friends who come to his home can’t even recognize their disfigured friend. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar weep with him and shred their clothes in grief. At first the men are stunned into silence. When Job finally speaks, they also offer their own judgments on his situation, often accusing him of atrocious sin to have earned such suffering.

Job defends himself against his human accusers, but he directs his largest questions at God. Praying this book allows you to meet with God about your most agonizing concerns, pondering why your all-powerful and all-loving God doesn’t intervene to stop evil and pain. It also invites you to speak with awe when you grasp the Lord’s care for you even in your most incomprehensible suffering.

JOB

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Job’s Life

1

1 A man named Job lived in Uz. He was a man of integrity: He was decent, he feared God, and he stayed away from evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters. 3 He owned 7,000 sheep and goats, 3,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, 500 donkeys, and a large number of servants. He was the most influential person in the Middle East.

4 His sons used to go to each other’s homes, where they would have parties. (Each brother took his turn having a party.) They would send someone to invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5 When they finished having their parties, Job would send for them in order to cleanse them from sin. He would get up early in the morning and sacrifice burnt offerings for each of them. Job thought, “My children may have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job offered sacrifices for them all the time.

1:1–5   Job hadn’t escaped your notice. He was a decent man, a God fearer, an avoider of anything evil. You gave him everything he could ever want.

Satan Challenges the LORD

6 One day when the sons of God came to stand in front of the LORD, Satan the Accuser came along with them.

7 The LORD asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the LORD, “From wandering all over the earth.”

8 The LORD asked Satan, “Have you thought about my servant Job? No one in the world is like him! He is a man of integrity: He is decent, he fears God, and he stays away from evil.”

9 Satan answered the LORD, “Haven’t you given Job a reason to fear God? 10 Haven’t you put a protective fence around him, his home, and everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His cattle have spread out over the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand, and strike everything he has. I bet he’ll curse you to your face.”

12 The LORD told Satan, “Everything he has is in your power, but you must not lay a hand on him!”

Then Satan left the LORD’s presence.

1:6–12   The Accuser said Job only obeyed you because you made Job’s life rich and easy. He dared you to strike your servant. Does he beg you to strike me?

Job’s First Crisis

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s home, 14 a messenger came to Job. He said, “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 men from Sheba attacked. They took the livestock and massacred the servants. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”

16 While he was still speaking, another ⌞messenger⌟ came and said, “A fire from God fell from heaven and completely burned your flocks and servants. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”

17 While he was still speaking, another ⌞messenger⌟ came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three companies and made a raid on the camels. They took the camels and massacred the servants. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”

18 While he was still speaking, another ⌞messenger⌟ came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother’s home 19 when suddenly a great storm swept across the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people, and they died. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”

1:13–19   You let the Accuser wipe away Job’s livestock, servants, and children. What tests will my life bring?

20 Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,

“Naked I came from my mother,

and naked I will return.

The LORD has given,

and the LORD has taken away!

May the name of the LORD be praised.”

22 Through all this Job did not sin or blame God for doing anything wrong.

1:20–22   You give and take away. But I still praise you. When pain strikes I won’t say you’ve done me wrong.

Satan Challenges the LORD Again

2

1 One day when the sons of God came to stand in front of the LORD, Satan the Accuser came along with them.

2 The LORD asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the LORD, “From wandering all over the earth.”

3 The LORD asked Satan, “Have you thought about my servant Job? No one in the world is like him! He is a man of integrity: He is decent, he fears God, and he stays away from evil. And he still holds on to his principles. You’re trying to provoke me into ruining him for no reason.”

4 Satan answered the LORD, “Skin for skin! Certainly, a man will give everything he has for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand, and strike his flesh and bones. I bet he’ll curse you to your face.”

6 The LORD told Satan, “He is in your power, but you must spare his life!”

2:1–6   The Accuser dared you to strike Job’s flesh and bones. How could you let Job be ruined for no reason?

Job’s Second Crisis

7 Satan left the LORD’s presence and struck Job with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Job took a piece of broken pottery to scratch himself as he sat in the ashes.

9 His wife asked him, “Are you still holding on to your principles? Curse God and die!”

10 He said to her, “You’re talking like a godless fool. We accept the good that God gives us. Shouldn’t we also accept the bad?”

2:7–10   The Accuser dragged Job to the gates of death. But your servant wouldn’t talk like a godless fool. I accept the good you give me. Shouldn’t I also accept the bad?

Through all this Job’s lips did not utter one sinful word.

11 When Job’s three friends heard about all the terrible things that had happened to him, each of them came from his home—Eliphaz of Teman, Bildad of Shuah, Zophar of Naama. They had agreed they would go together to sympathize with Job and comfort him.

12 When they saw him from a distance, they didn’t even recognize him. They cried out loud and wept, and each of them tore his own clothes in grief. They threw dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw that he was in such great pain.

2:11–13   I need people to comfort me in my pain. Give me friends who will cry with me and say nothing.

Job Speaks: Job Curses the Day He Was Born

3

1 After all this, Job ⌞finally⌟ opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born. 2 Job said,

3 “Scratch out the day I was born

and the night that said, ‘A boy has been conceived!’

4 “That day—

let it be pitch-black.

Let God above not ⌞even⌟ care about it.

Let no light shine on it.

5 Let the darkness and long shadows claim it as their own.

Let a dark cloud hang over it.

Let the gloom terrify it.

6 “That night—

let the blackness take it away.

Let it not be included in the days of the year

or be numbered among the months.

7 Let that night be empty.

Let no joyful singing be heard in it.

8 Let those who curse the day[1]

(those who know how to wake up Leviathan[2])

curse that night.

9 Let its stars turn dark before dawn.

Let it hope for light and receive none.

Let it not see the first light of dawn

10 because it did not shut the doors of the womb ⌞from which I came⌟

or hide my eyes from trouble.

3:1–10   Forget about the night I was conceived. Let blackness take back the day I was born. That day is cursed!

Why Did I Survive at Birth?

11 “Why didn’t I die as soon as I was born

and breathe my last breath when I came out of the womb?

12 Why did knees welcome me?

Why did breasts let me nurse?

13 Instead of being alive,

I would now be quietly lying down.

I would now be sleeping peacefully.

14 I would be with the kings and the counselors of the world

who built for themselves ⌞what are now⌟ ruins.

15 I would be with princes

who had gold,

who filled their homes with silver.

16 I would be buried like a stillborn baby.

I would not exist.

I would be like infants who never saw the light.

17 There the wicked stop their raging.

There the weary are able to rest.

18 There the captives have no troubles at all.

There they do not hear the shouting of the slave driver.

19 There ⌞you find⌟ both the unimportant and important people.

There the slave is free from his master.

3:11–19   I wish I had never inhaled my first breath. Why did my mother bother to nurse me? If I had died then and there I’d be in a place where the weary can rest.

Why Do I Go on Living?

20 “Why give light to one in misery

and life to those who find it so bitter,

21 to those who long for death but it never comes—

though they dig for it more than for buried treasure?

22 They are ecstatic,

delighted to find the grave.

23 Why give light to those whose paths have been hidden,

to those whom God has fenced in?

24 “When my food is in front of me, I sigh.

I pour out my groaning like water.

25 What I fear most overtakes me.

What I dread happens to me.

26 I have no peace!

I have no quiet!

I have no rest!

And trouble keeps coming!”

3:20–26   My fear overtakes me and everything I dread comes to pass. I have no peace and trouble keeps coming!

Eliphaz Speaks: Be Patient and Listen, Job

4

1 Then Eliphaz from Teman replied ⌞to Job⌟,

2 “If someone tries to talk to you, will you become impatient?

But who can keep from talking?

3 Certainly, you have instructed many people:

When hands were weak, you made them strong.

4 When someone stumbled, you lifted him up with your words.

When knees were weak, you gave them strength.

5 But trouble comes to you, and you’re impatient.

It touches you, and you panic.

6 Doesn’t your fear of God give you confidence

and your lifetime of integrity give you hope?

4:1–6   People tell me to be patient and listen to their advice. I’m supposed to put into practice what I’ve taught others. Shouldn’t my awe of you make me confident?

Only Evil People Suffer

7 “Now think about this:

Which innocent person ⌞ever⌟ died ⌞an untimely death⌟?

Find me a decent person who has been destroyed.

8 Whenever I saw those who plowed wickedness and planted misery,

they gathered its harvest.

9 God destroys them with his breath

and kills them with a blast of his anger.

10 Though the roar of the lion

and the growl of the ferocious lion ⌞is loud⌟,

the young lions have had their teeth knocked out.

11 The old lions die without any prey ⌞to eat⌟,

and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

4:7–11   People say the innocent never die young. The decent are never destroyed. Someone must have leveled plenty of false accusations against me.

12 “I was told something secretly

and heard something whispered in my ear.

13 With disturbing thoughts from visions in the night,

when deep sleep falls on people,

14 fear and trembling came over me,

and all my bones shook.

15 A spirit passed in front of me.

It made my hair stand on end.

16 Something stood there.

I couldn’t tell what it was.

A vague image was in front of my eyes.

I heard a soft voice:

17 ‘Can ⌞any⌟ mortal be righteous to God?

Can ⌞any⌟ human being be pure to his maker?’

18 “You see, God doesn’t trust his own servants,

and he accuses his angels of making mistakes.

19 How much more will he accuse those who live in clay houses

that have their foundation in the dust.

Those houses can be crushed quicker than a moth!

20 From morning to evening, they are shattered.

They will disappear forever without anyone paying attention.

21 Haven’t the ropes of their tent been loosened?

Won’t they die without wisdom?

4:12–21   Fear makes my hair stand on end. I know I am but clay. I also know your judgments are never wrong.

Eliphaz Continues: Seek God’s Help, Job

5

1 “Cry out!

Is there anyone to answer you?

To which of the holy ones will you turn?

2 Certainly, anger kills a stubborn fool,

and jealousy murders a gullible person.

3 I have seen a stubborn fool take root,

but I quickly cursed his house.

4 His children are far from help.

They are crushed at the city gate,

and no one is there to rescue them.

5 What a stubborn fool gathers, hungry people eat.

They take it even from among the thorns,

and thirsty people pant after his wealth.[3]

6 Certainly, sorrow doesn’t come from the soil,

and trouble doesn’t sprout from the ground.

7 But a person is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly up ⌞from a fire⌟.

8 “But I would seek God’s help

and present my case to him.

5:1–8   People are born for trouble as surely as sparks fly up from a fire. So I’m supposed to cry out and let you decide my case.

9 He does great things that ⌞we⌟ cannot understand

and miracles that ⌞we⌟ cannot count.

10 He gives rain to the earth

and sends water to the fields.

11 He places lowly people up high.

He lifts those who mourn to safety.

12 He keeps shrewd people from carrying out their plans

so that they cannot do anything successfully.

13 He catches the wise with their own tricks.

The plans of schemers prove to be hasty.

14 In the daytime they meet darkness

and grope in the sunlight as if it were night.

15 “But he saves ⌞other people⌟ from their slander

and the needy from the power of the mighty.

16 Then the poor have hope

while wrongdoing shuts its mouth.

5:9–16   You do good things I can’t understand. You perform miracles too many to count. You stop evil schemes and save ordinary people.

Blessing Comes When God Corrects You

17 “Blessed is the person whom God corrects.

That person should not despise discipline from the Almighty.

18 God injures, but he bandages.

He beats you up, but his hands make you well.

19 He will keep you safe from six troubles,

and when the seventh one comes, no harm will touch you:

20 “In famine he will save you from death,

and in war he will save you from the sword.

21 “When the tongue lashes out, you will be safe,

and you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

22 “You will be able to laugh at destruction and starvation,

so do not be afraid of wild animals on the earth.

23 “You will have a binding agreement with the stones in the field,

and wild animals will be at peace with you.

24 “You will know peace in your tent.

You will inspect your house and find nothing missing.

25 “You will find that your children are many

and your descendants are like the grass of the earth.

26 “You will come to your grave at a ripe old age

like a stack of hay in the right season.

27 “We have studied all of this thoroughly! This is the way it is.

Listen to it, and learn it for yourself.”

5:17–27   Your hands discipline me and make me well. So I shouldn’t despise your discipline. I’m blessed when you correct me. People say that’s how it is.

Job Speaks: God Has Attacked Me Without Cause

6

1 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,

2 “If only my grief could be weighed,

if only my misery could be laid on the scales with it,

3 then they would be heavier than the sand of the seas.

I spoke carelessly

4 because the arrows of the Almighty ⌞have found their target⌟ in me,

and my spirit is drinking their poison.

God’s terrors line up in battle against me.

5 “Does a wild donkey bray when it’s ⌞eating⌟ grass,

or does an ox make a sound over its hay?

6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,

or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?[4]

7 I refuse to touch such things.

They are disgusting to me.[5]

6:1–7   My grief is heavier than the sands of the seas. Your poison arrows have found their target in me.

8 “How I wish that my prayer would be answered—

that God would give me what I’m hoping for,

9 that God would ⌞finally⌟ be willing to crush me,

that he would reach out to cut me off.

10 Then I would still have comfort.

I would be happy despite my endless pain,

because I have not rejected the words of the Holy One.

11 What strength do I have ⌞left⌟ that I can go on hoping?

What goal do I have that I would want to prolong my life?

12 Do I have the strength of rocks?

Does my body have the strength of bronze?

13 Am I not completely helpless?

Haven’t my skills been taken away from me?

6:8–13   I wish you would crush me and cut me off before I reject your words. I don’t have strength to go on living.

You Have Not Treated Me Like True Friends

14 “A friend should treat a troubled person kindly,

even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brothers have been as deceptive as seasonal rivers,

like the seasonal riverbeds that flood.

16 They are dark with ice.

They are hidden by snow.[6]

17 They vanish during a scorching summer.

In the heat their riverbeds dry up.

18 They change their course.

They go into a wasteland and disappear.

19 Caravans from Tema look for them.

Travelers from Sheba search for them.

20 They are ashamed because they relied on the streams.

Arriving there, they are disappointed.

21 “So you are as unreliable to me ⌞as they are⌟.[7]

You see something terrifying, and you are afraid.

6:14–21   My friends haven’t treated me kindly. They’re deceptive and unreliable.

22 Did I ever say, ‘Give me a gift,’

or ‘Offer me a bribe from your wealth,’

23 or ‘Rescue me from an enemy,’

or ‘Ransom me from a tyrant’?

24 Teach me, and I’ll be silent.

Show me where I’ve been wrong.

25 How painful an honest discussion can be!

In correcting me, you correct yourselves!

26 Do you think my words need correction?

Do you think they’re what a desperate person says to the wind?

27 Would you also throw dice for an orphan?

Would you buy and sell your friend?

28 “But now, if you’re willing, look at me.

I won’t lie to your face.

29 Please change your mind.

Don’t permit any injustice.

Change your mind because I am still right about this!

30 Is there injustice on my tongue,

or is my mouth unable to tell the difference between right and wrong?

6:22–30   I don’t mind an honest discussion. But I still think I’m right. Show me where I’m wrong!

Job Speaks about the Futility of Human Existence

7

1 “Isn’t a mortal’s stay on earth difficult

like a hired hand’s daily ⌞work⌟?

2 Like a slave, he longs for shade.

Like a hired hand, he eagerly looks for his pay.

3 Likewise, I have been given months that are of no use,

and I have inherited nights filled with misery.

4 When I lie down, I ask,

‘When will I get up?’

But the evening is long,

and I’m exhausted from tossing about until dawn.

5 My body is covered with maggots and scabs.

My skin is crusted over with sores; then they ooze.

7:1–5   My stay on earth is difficult. I’m like a slave longing for shade. My nights are filled with misery. My skin is covered in sores.

6 My days go swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.

They are spent without hope.

7 Remember, my life is only a breath,

and never again will my eyes see anything good.

8 The eye that watches over me will no longer see me.

Your eye will look for me, but I’ll be gone.

9 As a cloud fades away and disappears,

so a person goes into the grave and doesn’t come back again.

10 He doesn’t come back home again,

and his household doesn’t recognize him anymore.

11 So I won’t keep my mouth shut,

but I will speak from the distress that is in my spirit

and complain about the bitterness in my soul.

7:6–11   My life is only a breath. I don’t expect to ever again see anything good. I’m sure I’m disappearing into the grave.

Job Says to God: Leave Me Alone

12 “Am I the sea or a sea monster

that you have set a guard over me?

13 When I say,

‘My couch may give me comfort.

My bed may help me bear my pain,’

14 then you frighten me with dreams

and terrify me with visions.

15 My throat would rather be choked.

My body[8] would prefer death ⌞to these dreams⌟.

16 I hate my life; I do not want to live forever.

Leave me alone because my days are so brief.

7:12–16   I try to rest, but my dreams scare me. I’d rather die than face those dreams again.

17 “What is a mortal that you should make so much of him,

that you should be concerned about him?

18 ⌞What is he⌟ that you should inspect him every morning

and examine him every moment?

19 Why don’t you stop looking at me

long enough to let me swallow my spit?[9]

20 If I sin, what can I ⌞possibly⌟ do to you

since you insist on spying on people?

Why do you make me your target?

I’ve become a burden even to myself.

21 Why don’t you forgive my disobedience

and take away my sin?

Soon I’ll lie down in the dust.

Then you will search for me, but I’ll be gone!”

Bildad Speaks: You Are Unjustly Accusing God of Doing Evil, Job

8

1 Then Bildad from Shuah replied ⌞to Job⌟,

2 “How long will you say these things?

How long will your words be so windy?

3 Does God distort justice,

or does the Almighty distort righteousness?

4 If your children sinned against him,

he allowed them to suffer the consequences of their sinfulness.

5 If you search for God

and plead for mercy from the Almighty,

6 if you are moral and ethical,

then he will rise up on your behalf

and prove your righteousness by rebuilding your home.[10]

7 Then what you had in the past will seem small

compared with the great prosperity you’ll have in the future.

Learn from Past Generations

8 “Ask the people of past generations.

Find out what their ancestors had learned.

9 We have only been around since yesterday, and we know nothing.

Our days on earth are only a fleeting shadow.

10 Won’t their words teach you?

Won’t they share their thoughts with you?

8:1–10   People are appalled I say these things. They claim this: If I’m a good person, you’ll rise up on my behalf, fix everything you’ve broken, and give back everything you’ve taken.

God Does Not Punish the Innocent Person

8:11–22   People say you never reject people of integrity. You keep filling their mouths with laughter and their lips with happy shouting. Me? I feel clothed with shame. I worry that I will cease to exist.

11 “Can papyrus grow up where there is no swamp?

Can rushes grow tall without water?

12 Even if they were fresh and not cut,

they would wither quicker than grass.

13 The same thing happens to all who forget God.

The hope of the godless dies.

14 His confidence is easily shattered.

His trust is a spider’s web.

15 If one leans on his house, it collapses.

If one holds on to it, it will not support his weight.

16 He is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine.

The shoots spread over his garden.

17 Its roots weave through a pile of stones.

They cling to a stone house.

18 But when it is uprooted from its place,

⌞the ground⌟ denies it ⌞and says⌟, ‘I never saw you!’

19 That is its joy in this life,

and others sprout from the same ground to ⌞take its place⌟.

20 “Certainly, God does not reject a person of integrity

or give a helping hand to wicked people.

21 He will fill your mouth with laughter

and your lips with happy shouting.

22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,

and the tent of the wicked will cease to exist.”

7:17–21   Why must you spy on me? Why don’t you stop looking at me long enough so I can swallow my spit? Forgive me before I die.

Job Speaks: The Futility of Arguing with God

9

1 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,

2 “Yes, I know that this is true.

But how can a mortal be declared righteous to God?

3 If he wished to debate with God,

he wouldn’t be able to answer one question in a thousand.

4 “God is wise in heart and mighty in power.

Who could oppose him and win?

9:1–4   I know I can’t compare to your goodness. If I try to debate you I won’t answer one question in a thousand. You’re wise and powerful. No one opposes you and wins.

5 He moves mountains without their knowing it,

and he topples them in his anger.

6 He shakes the earth from its place,

and its pillars tremble.

7 He commands the sun not to rise.

He doesn’t let the stars come out.

8 He stretches out the heavens by himself

and walks on the waves of the sea.

9 He made ⌞the constellations⌟ Ursa Major, Orion, and the Pleiades,

and the clusters of stars in the south.

10 He does great things that are unsearchable

and miracles that cannot be numbered.

11 He passes alongside of me, and I don’t even see him.

He goes past me, and I don’t even notice him.

12 He takes something away, ⌞but⌟ who can stop him?

Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’

13 God does not hold back his anger.

Even Rahab’s[11] helpers bow humbly in front of him.

9:5–13   You command the sun to rise. You stretched out the heavens and made constellations and clusters of stars. You do unsearchable things. I can’t begin to understand what you’re doing.

14 “How can I possibly answer God?

How can I find the right words ⌞to speak⌟ with him?

15 Even if I were right, I could not answer ⌞him⌟.

I would have to plead for mercy from my judge.

16 If I cried out and he answered me,

I do not believe that he would listen to me.

17 He would knock me down with a storm

and bruise me without a reason.

18 He would not let me catch my breath.

He fills me with bitterness.

19 If it is a matter of strength,

then he is the mighty one.

If it is about justice,

who will charge me with a crime?

20 If I am righteous, my own mouth would condemn me.

It would declare that I am corrupt even if I am a man of integrity.

21 If I am a man of integrity, I have no way of knowing it.

I hate my life!

22 It is all the same.

That is why I say,

‘He destroys ⌞both⌟ the man of integrity and the wicked.’

23 When a sudden disaster brings death,

he makes fun of the despair of innocent people.

24 The earth is handed over to the wicked.

He covers the faces of its judges.

If he isn’t the one ⌞doing this⌟, who is?

9:14–24   How can I find the right words to talk with you? I fear you won’t listen to me. I can hardly catch my breath. It feels like you’re making fun of my despair. If you’re not causing all the pain in this world, who is?

25 “My days go by more quickly than a runner.

They sprint away.

They don’t see anything good.

26 They pass by quickly like boats made from reeds,

like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

27 ⌞Even⌟ if I say, ‘I will forget my complaining;

I will change my expression and smile,’

28 I ⌞still⌟ dread everything I must suffer.

I know that you won’t declare me innocent.

29 I’ve already been found guilty.

Why should I work so hard for nothing?

30 If I wash myself with lye soap[12]

and cleanse my hands with bleach,

31 then you would plunge me into a muddy pit,

and my own clothes would find me disgusting.

32 A human like me cannot answer God,

‘Let’s take our case to court.’

33 There is no mediator between us

to put his hand on both of us.

34 God should take his rod away from me,

and he should not terrify me.[13]

35 Then I would speak and not be afraid of him.

But I know that I am not like that.[14]

9:25–35   Even if I pretend to smile, I still dread my suffering. I can’t answer you or take you to court. I wish you would put away your rod and stop my terrors.

Job Says to God: I Hate My Life

10

1 “I hate my life.

I will freely express my complaint.

I will speak as bitterly as I feel.

2 I will say to God,

‘Don’t condemn me.

Let me know why you are quarreling with me.

3 What do you gain by mistreating me,

by rejecting the work of your hands

while you favor the plans of the wicked?

10:1–3   I hate my life. I’m done hiding that. I need to know why you quarrel with me. What good can this pain possibly accomplish?

4 Do you actually have human eyes?

Do you see as a mortal sees?

5 Are your days like a mortal’s days?

Are your years like a human’s years?

6 Is that why you look for guilt in me

and search for sin in me?

7 You know I’m not guilty,

but there is no one to rescue me from your hands.

8 “‘Your hands formed me and made every part of me,

then you turned to destroy me.[15]

9 Please remember that you made me out of clay

and that you will return me to the dust again.

10 Didn’t you pour me out like milk

and curdle me like cheese?

11 Didn’t you dress me in skin and flesh

and weave me together with bones and tendons?

12 You gave me life and mercy.

Your watchfulness has preserved my spirit.

13 But in your heart you hid these things.

I know this is what you did.

10:4–13   Why do you hunt for guilt in me when I’m not guilty? Why did you make me only to turn around and let me be destroyed? Don’t you remember you formed me from clay and gave me life?

14 “‘If I sin, you watch me

and will not free me from my guilt.

15 How terrible it will be for me if I’m guilty!

Even if I’m righteous, I dare not lift up my head.

I am filled with disgrace

while I look on my misery.

16 Like a proud, ferocious lion you hunt me down.

You keep working your miracles against me.[16]

17 You keep finding new witnesses against me.

You keep increasing your anger toward me.

You keep bringing new armies against me.

18 “‘Why did you take me out of the womb?

I wish I had breathed my last breath

before anyone had laid eyes on me.

19 Then it would be as if I had never existed,

as if I had been carried from the womb to the tomb.

20 “‘Isn’t my life short enough?

So stop ⌞this⌟, and leave me alone.

Let me smile a little

21 before I go away

to a land of darkness and gloom,

22 to a dismal land of long shadows and confusion

where light is as bright as darkness.

I’ll never return.’”

10:14–22   If I sin, I fear you won’t free me from guilt. If I’m righteous, I still don’t dare lift my head. Did I do something to make you angry? Let me smile for a while before I die and never return.

Zophar Speaks: Your Words Call for an Answer, Job

11

1 Then Zophar from Naama replied ⌞to Job⌟,

2 “Shouldn’t someone answer this flood of words?

Should a good public speaker be acquitted?

3 Should your empty talk silence others

so that you can make fun of us without any shame?

4 You say, ‘My teaching is morally correct,’

and, ‘As you can see, I’m innocent.’

5 I only wish God would speak

and open his mouth ⌞to talk⌟ to you.

6 He would tell you the secrets of wisdom,

because ⌞true⌟ wisdom is twice ⌞as great as your wisdom⌟,[17]

and you would know that God forgets your sin.

11:1–6   People try to answer my flood of words. They wish you would speak and show up my wisdom.

God Can Do as He Pleases

7 “Can you discover God’s hidden secrets,

or are you able to find the Almighty’s limits?

8 ⌞God’s wisdom is⌟ higher than heaven.

What can you do?

It is deeper than ⌞the depths⌟ of hell.

What can you know?

9 It is longer than the earth

and wider than the sea.

10 If God comes along and imprisons ⌞someone⌟

and then calls a court into session, who can stop him?

11 He knows who the scoundrels are.

And when he sees sin, doesn’t he pay attention to it?

12 But an empty-headed person will gain understanding

when a wild donkey is born tame.

11:7–12   They say I can’t discover your secrets. Your wisdom is higher than heaven and deeper than hell. I’m an empty-headed person who will never understand anything.

Confess Your Sin and Be Forgiven

13 “If you want to set your heart right,

then pray to him.

14 If you’re holding on to sin, put it far away,

and don’t let injustice live in your tent.

15 Then you will be able to show your face without being ashamed,

and you will be secure and unafraid.

16 ⌞Then⌟ you will forget your misery

and remember it like water that has flowed downstream.

17 Then your life will be brighter than the noonday sun.

The darkness in your life will become like morning.

18 You will feel confident because there’s hope,

and you will look around and rest in safety.

19 You will lie down with no one to frighten you,

and many people will try to gain your favor.

20 But the wicked will lose their eyesight.

Their escape route will be closed.

Their only hope is to take their last breath.”[18]

11:13–20   My friends say I need to set my heart right. I’m supposed to pray and put away my sin. Then I can speak to you without being ashamed. Then I’ll rest safely.

Job Speaks: My Friends Have No Wisdom

12

1 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,

2 “You certainly are ⌞wise⌟ people,

and when you die, wisdom will die.

3 Like you, I have a mind.

I am not inferior to you.

But who doesn’t know these things?

4 I am a laughingstock to my neighbors.

I am one who calls on God and expects an answer.

A man of integrity, a man who is righteous, has become a laughingstock.

5 “A person who has an easy life has no appreciation for misfortune.

He thinks it is the fate of those who slip up.

6 ⌞But⌟ robbers’ tents are prosperous,

and there is security for those who provoke God,

for those whose god is their power.[19]

7 “Instead, ask the animals, and they will teach you.

Ask the birds, and they will tell you.

8 Or speak with the earth, and it will teach you.

Even the fish will relate ⌞the story⌟ to you.

9 What creature doesn’t know that the LORD’s hands made it?

10 The life of every living creature

and the spirit in every human body are in his hands.

11 Doesn’t the ear distinguish sounds

and the tongue taste food?

12:1–11   I have a mind. I’m as smart as my friends. But they’ve had an easy life. They don’t comprehend my misfortune. They assume it’s my fate for slipping up.

Wisdom Comes from God

12 “Wisdom is with the ancient one.

The one who has had many days has insight.[20]

13 God has wisdom and strength.

Advice and insight are his.

14 When he tears ⌞something⌟ down, it cannot be rebuilt.

When he puts someone in prison, that person cannot be freed.

15 When he holds back the waters, there is a drought.

When he releases them, they flood the earth.

16 “God has power and priceless wisdom.

He owns ⌞both⌟ the deceiver and the person who is deceived.

17 He leads counselors away barefoot

and makes fools out of judges.

18 He loosens kings’ belts

and strips them of their pants.

19 He leads priests away barefoot

and misleads those who serve in a temple.

20 He makes trusted advisers unable to speak

and takes away the good judgment of respected leaders.

21 He pours contempt on influential people

and unbuckles the belt of the mighty.

22 He uncovers mysteries ⌞hidden⌟ in the darkness

and brings gloom into the light.

23 He makes nations important and then destroys them.

He makes nations large and leads them away.

24 He takes away the common sense of a country’s leaders

and makes them stumble about in a pathless wilderness.

25 They grope in the dark with no light,

and he makes them stumble like drunks.

12:12–25   You have both power and priceless wisdom. You pour contempt on influential people. You take away common sense so arrogant leaders stumble about.

Job Continues: You Are Not Listening to Me

13

1 “My eye has certainly seen all of this!

My ear has heard and understood it.

2 After all, I know it as well as you do.

I am not inferior to you.

3 However, I want to speak to the Almighty,

and I wish to argue my case in front of God.

4 But you are smearing me with lies.

All of you are worthless physicians.

5 I wish you would keep silent.

For you, that would be wisdom.

6 Please listen to my argument,

and pay attention to my plea.

13:1–6   I understand what I’m talking about. But my friends smear me with lies. The smartest thing they could do is keep their mouths shut.

Your Wisdom Misrepresents God

7 “Will you talk wickedly for God

and talk deceitfully on his behalf?

8 Will you favor him

⌞as⌟ if you were arguing in court on God’s behalf?

9 Will it go well when he cross-examines you?

Will you try to trick him as one mortal tricks another?

10 Will he really defend you

if you secretly favor ⌞him⌟?

11 Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?

Doesn’t the fear of him fall upon you?

12 “Your recollections are worthless proverbs.[21]

Your answers are absolutely useless.[22]

13 Be quiet, because I want to speak.

Let whatever may happen to me ⌞happen⌟!

14 I am biting off more than I can chew

and taking my life in my own hands.

15 If God would kill me, I would have no hope ⌞left⌟.[23]

Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.

16 This also will be my salvation

because no godless person could face him.

13:7–16   My friends try to speak for you, but it won’t go well when you cross-examine them. Their answers are absolutely worthless. I’m biting off more than I can chew, but I’ll never stop defending my behavior to your face.

Job Speaks to God

17 “Listen carefully to my words.

Hear my declaration.

18 I have prepared my case.

I know that I will be declared righteous.

19 Who can make a case against me?

If someone could, I’d be silent and die.

20 “Please don’t do two things to me

so that I won’t have to hide from you:

21 Stop oppressing me.

Don’t let your terror frighten me.

22 Then call, and I’ll answer.

Otherwise, I’ll speak, and you’ll answer me.

23 How many crimes and sins have I committed?

Make me aware of my disobedience and my sin.

24 Why do you hide your face ⌞from me⌟ and consider me your enemy?

25 Are you trying to make a fluttering leaf tremble

or trying to chase dry husks?

26 You write down bitter accusations against me.

You make me suffer for the sins of my youth.

27 You put my feet in shackles.

You follow my trail by engraving marks on the soles of my feet.

28 I am like worn-out wineskins,

like moth-eaten clothes.

13:17–28   Listen carefully to me. I’ve prepared my case, and I’m convinced I’m righteous. But do a couple things so I don’t have to hide from you. I need you to ease up on me. Quit scaring me.

Job Continues: Consider My Frail Human Nature, God

14

1 “A person who is born of a woman is short-lived

and is full of trouble.

2 He comes up like a flower; then he withers.

He is like a fleeting shadow; he doesn’t stay long.

3 You observe this

and call me to account to you.

14:1–3   My life is short and full of trouble. I come and go like a flower, then you call me to account.

4 “If only an unclean person could become clean![24]

It’s not possible.

5 If the number of his days

and the number of his months are determined by you,

and you set his limit,

then he cannot go past it.

6 Look away from him, and he will cease to be.[25]

Meanwhile, he loves life as a laborer loves work.

7 There is hope for a tree when it is cut down.

It will sprout again.

Its shoots will not stop sprouting.

8 If its roots grow old in the ground

and its stump dies in the soil,

9 merely a scent of water will make it sprout

and grow branches like a plant.

10 But a human dies and is powerless.

A person breathes his last breath, and where is he?

11 ⌞As⌟ water drains out of a lake,

or ⌞as⌟ a river dries up completely,

12 so each person lies down

and does not rise until the heavens cease to exist.

He does not wake up.

He is not awakened from his sleep.

13 I wish you would hide me in Sheol

and keep me hidden there until your anger cools.

Set a specific time for me when you will remember me.

14:4–13   You decide how long I live, and I won’t wake up when I die. I wish I could hide until your anger cools.

14 “If a person dies, will he go on living?

I will wait for my relief to come

as long as my hard labor continues.

15 You will call, and I will answer you.

You will long for the person your hands have made.

16 Though now you count my steps,

you will not keep ⌞a record of⌟ my sins.

17 My disobedience will be closed up in a bag,

and you will cover over my sins.

18 As surely as a mountain falls

and rocks are dislodged,

19 ⌞so⌟ water wears away stone,

floods wash away soil from the land,

and you destroy a mortal’s hope.

20 You overpower him forever, and he passes away.

You change his appearance and send him away.

21 His sons are honored, and he doesn’t know it.

Or they become unimportant, and he doesn’t realize it.

22 He feels only his body’s pain.

He is only worried about himself.”

14:14–22   Death will destroy my hope. If you choose to overpower me I will pass away. Nothing good or bad in my life will matter after I’m gone.

Eliphaz Speaks: You Are Speaking Sinfully, Job

15

1 Then Eliphaz from Teman replied ⌞to Job⌟,

2 “Should a wise person answer with endless details

and fill his stomach with the east wind?

3 Should he argue with words that don’t help,

with speeches that don’t help ⌞anyone⌟?

4 Yes, you destroy the fear ⌞of God⌟

and diminish devotion to God.

5 Your sin teaches you what to say.

You choose ⌞to talk with⌟ a sly tongue.

6 Your ⌞own⌟ mouth condemns you, not I.

Your lips testify against you.

15:1–6   My friends call my words useless. They think I don’t live in awe of you. They assume sin motivates my words.

You Are Not the Only Wise Person, Job

7 “Were you the first human to be born?

Were you delivered before the hills ⌞existed⌟?

8 Did you listen in on God’s council meeting

and receive a monopoly on wisdom?

9 What do you know that we don’t know?

What do you understand that we don’t?

10 Both the old and the gray-haired are among us.

They are older than your father.

11 Isn’t God’s comfort enough for you,

even when gently spoken to you?

12 Why have your emotions carried you away?

Why do your eyes flash

13 when you turn against God

and spit these words out of your mouth?

14 Why should a mortal be considered faultless

or someone born of a woman be considered righteous?

15 If God doesn’t trust his holy ones,

and the heavens are not pure in his sight,

16 how much less will he trust the one who is disgusting and corrupt,

the one who drinks wickedness like water.

15:7–16   They tell me I don’t have a monopoly on wisdom. Why don’t I appreciate your comfort? Why are my emotions out of control? Why do my eyes flash against you?

I Want to Tell You What I Know

17 “I’ll tell you; listen to me!

I’ll relate what I have seen.

18 I’ll tell you what wise people have declared

and what was not kept secret from their ancestors.

19 (The land was given to them alone,

and no stranger passed through their land.)

The Tortured Life of the Wicked Person

20 “The wicked person is tortured all his days.

Only a few years are reserved for the ruthless person.

21 Terrifying sounds are in his ears.

While he enjoys peace, the destroyer comes to him.

22 He doesn’t believe he’ll return from the dark.

He is destined ⌞to be killed⌟ with a sword.

23 He wanders around for food and asks, ‘Where is it?’[26]

He knows that his ruin is close at hand.

24 “The day of darkness[27] troubles him.

Distress and anguish terrify him

like a king ready for battle.

25 He stretches out his hand against God

and attacks the Almighty like a warrior.

26 He stubbornly charges at him with a thick shield.

27 “His face is bloated with fat,

and he is fat around the waist.

28 He lives in ruined cities

where no one dwells,

in houses that are doomed to be piles of rubble.

29 He won’t get rich,

and his wealth won’t last.

His possessions won’t spread out over the land.

15:17–29   These people say I’m tortured because I’m wicked. I can’t expect peace to last. I’m destined to be killed with a sword.

30 “He won’t escape the darkness.

A flame will shrivel his branches.

He will be blown away by his own breath.

31 He shouldn’t trust in worthless things and deceive himself

because he will get worthless things in return.

32 It will happen before his time has come,

and his branch will not become green.

33 He will drop his unripened grapes like a vine

and throw off his blossoms like an olive tree

34 because a mob of godless people produces nothing,

and fire burns up the tents of those who offer bribes.[28]

35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

Their wombs produce deception.”

15:30–35   They say I won’t escape darkness, and my own breath will blow me away. I’ve trusted in worthless things, and I’ll get nothing better in return.

Job Speaks: My Friends Do Not Help Ease My Pain

16

1 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,

2 “I have heard many things like this before.

You are all pathetic at comforting me.

3 Will ⌞your⌟ long-winded speeches never end?

What disturbs you that you keep on answering ⌞me⌟?

4 I, too, could speak like you

if we could trade places.

I could string words together against you

and shake my head at you.

5 I could encourage you with my mouth,

and my quivering lips could ease ⌞your pain⌟.

6 If I speak, my pain is not eased.

If I stop talking, how much of it will go away?

7 “But now, God has worn me out.

You, ⌞God,⌟ have destroyed everyone who supports me.

8 You have shriveled me up, which itself is a witness ⌞against me⌟.

My frail body rises up and testifies against me.

16:1–8   My friends are pathetic comforters. Their long-winded speeches never end. And I’m angry at you. These trials wear me out. Everyone who supports me is gone.

Job Describes What God Has Done to Him

9 “God’s anger tore me ⌞apart⌟ and attacked me.

He gritted his teeth at me.

My opponent looked sharply at me.

10 People gaped at me with wide-open mouths.

In scorn they slapped my cheeks.

They united against me.

11 God handed me over to unjust people

and threw me into the hands of wicked people.

12 I was at ease, and he shattered me.

He grabbed me by the back of the neck and smashed ⌞my skull⌟.

He set me up as his target,

13 and his archers surrounded me.

He slashes open my kidneys without mercy

and spills my blood[29] on the ground.

14 He inflicts wound after wound on me.

He lunges at me like a warrior.

15 “I have sewn sackcloth over my skin,

and I have thrown my strength in the dust.

16 My face is red from crying,

and dark shadows encircle my eyes,

17 although my hands have done nothing violent,

and my prayer is sincere.

16:9–17   Was it your anger that tore me apart? I’ve been thrown to the wicked. I was at ease when my skull was smashed in and my blood spilled on the ground.

Job Appeals His Case to Heaven

18 “Earth, don’t cover my blood.

Don’t ever let my cry ⌞for justice⌟ be stopped.

19 Even now, look! My witness is in heaven,

and the one who testifies for me is above,

20 the spokesman for my thoughts.[30]

My eyes drip ⌞with tears⌟ to God

22 because in a few short years I will take the path of no return.[31]

21 But my witness will plead for a human in front of God.

The Son of Man will plead for his friend!

16:18–21   I wish someone in heaven would plead my case! My eyes drip tears to you. Before long I’ll take the path of no return.

Job Pleads with God to Declare Him Honest

17

1 “My spirit is broken.

My days have been snuffed out.

The cemetery ⌞is waiting⌟ for me.

2 Certainly, mockers are around me.

My eyes are focused on their opposition.

3 Please guarantee my bail yourself.

Who else will guarantee it with a handshake?

4 You have closed their minds so that they cannot understand.[32]

That is why you will not honor them.

5 (Whoever turns in friends to get their property

should have his children’s eyesight fail.)

17:1–5   My spirit is broken. The cemetery awaits me. Everyone has closed their minds and can’t understand. When will you set me free?

Job Says to His Friends: I’m Still Wiser Than You

6 “Now he has made me a laughingstock for many people.

Now they spit in my face.

7 Now my eyes are blurred from grief.

Now all my limbs are like a shadow.

8 Decent people are shocked by this,

and it stirs up the innocent against godless people.

9 Yet, the righteous person clings to his way,

and the one with clean hands grows stronger.

10 “But now, all of you, come and try again!

I won’t find one wise man among you.

11 My days are passing by.

My plans are broken.

My dreams ⌞are shattered⌟.

12 You say that night is day.

Light has nearly become darkness.

13 If I look for the grave as my home

and make my bed in the darkness,

14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’

and to the worm, ‘You are my mother and sister,’

15 then where is my hope?

Can you see any hope left in me?

16 Will hope go down with me to the gates of the grave?

Will my hope rest with me in the dust?”

17:6–16   People think I’m a laughingstock. They spit in my face. But I’m wiser than all of them. They mistake night for day.

Bildad Speaks: Why Do You Think You Are So Great, Job?

18

1 Then Bildad from Shuah replied ⌞to Job⌟,

2“How long before your words will end?

Think it through, and then we’ll talk.

3 Why do you think of us as cattle?

Why are we considered stupid in your eyes?

4 Why do you rip yourself apart in anger?

Should the earth be abandoned for your sake

or a boulder be dislodged?

18:1–4   My friends caught on that I think they’re stupid. They want me to quit talking until I come to my senses.

What a Wicked Person Can Expect from Life

5 “Indeed, the light of the wicked is snuffed out.

The flame of his fire stops glowing.

6 The light in his tent becomes dark,

and the lamp above him is snuffed out.

7 “His healthy stride is shortened,

and his own planning trips him up.

8 His own feet get him tangled in a net

as he walks around on its webbing.

9 A trap catches his heel.

A snare holds him.

10 A rope is hidden on the ground for him.

A trap is on his path ⌞to catch⌟ him.

11 “Terrors suddenly pounce on him from every side

and chase him every step he takes.

12 Hunger undermines his strength.

Disaster is waiting beside him.

13 His skin is eaten away by disease.

Death’s firstborn son eats away at the limbs of his body.

14 He is dragged from the safety of his tent

and marched off to the king of terrors.

15 Fire lives in his tent.

Sulfur is scattered over his home.

16 His roots dry up under him.

His branches wither over him.

17 All memory about him will vanish from the earth,

and his reputation will not be known on the street corner.

18 He will be driven from the light into the dark

and chased out of the world.

19 He will not have any children or descendants among his people

or any survivor where he used to live.

20 People in the west are shocked by what happens to him.

People in the east are seized with horror.

21 This is what happens to the homes of wicked people

and to those who do not know God.”

18:5–21   They think I’m wicked—so I shouldn’t be surprised when terrors chase me. After all, disasters await me. Fire camps in my tent. I’ll die and vanish from memory. They say I don’t know you—so why should I expect anything better?

Job Speaks: Admit That God Is Mistreating Me

19

1 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,

2 “How long will you torment me

and depress me with words?

3 You have insulted me ten times now.

You’re not even ashamed of mistreating me.

4 Even if it were true that I’ve made a mistake without realizing it,

my mistake would affect only me.

5 If you are trying to make yourselves look better than me

by using my disgrace as an argument against me,

6 then I want you to know that God has wronged me

and surrounded me with his net.

7 Indeed, I cry, ‘Help! I’m being attacked!’ but I get no response.

I call for help, but there is no justice.

19:1–7   I feel like you’ve wronged me. I call for help but don’t get justice. How long will you let these people torment me?

What God Has Done to Me

8 “God has blocked my path so that I can’t go on.

He has made my paths dark.

9 He has stripped me of my honor.

He has taken the crown off my head.

10 He beats me down on every side until I’m gone.

He uproots my hope like a tree.

11 He is very angry at me.

He considers me to be his enemy.

12 His troops assemble against me.

They build a ramp to attack me

and camp around my tent.

13 “My brothers stay far away from me.

My friends are complete strangers to me.

14 My relatives and my closest friends have stopped coming.

My house guests have forgotten me.

15 My female slaves consider me to be a stranger.

I am like a foreigner to them.

16 I call my slave, but he doesn’t answer, though I beg him.

17 My breath offends my wife.

I stink to my own children.

18 Even young children despise me.

If I stand up, they make fun of me.

19 All my closest friends are disgusted with me.

Those I love have turned against me.

20 I am skin and bones,

and I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.

21 “Have pity on me, my friends!

Have pity on me because God’s hand has struck me down.

22 Why do you pursue me as God does?

Why are you never satisfied with my flesh?

19:8–22   My friends are complete strangers. My relatives have stopped coming to see me. My breath bothers my wife, my children say I stink, and I disgust everyone I love. Why are you doing this to me?

Job’s Confidence in His Defender

23 “I wish now my words were written.

I wish they were inscribed on a scroll.

24 I wish they were forever engraved on a rock

with an iron stylus and lead.[33]

25 But I know that my defender lives,

and afterwards, he will rise on the earth.

26 Even after my skin has been stripped off my body,

I will see God in my own flesh.

27 I will see him with my own eyes,

not with someone else’s.

My heart fails inside me!

Job Warns His Friends

28 “You say,

‘We will persecute him!

The root of the problem is found in him.’

29 Fear death,

because ⌞your anger⌟ is punishable by death.

Then you will know there is a judge.”

19:23–29   I know my defender lives. One day he’ll rise on the earth. Even when the skin has been stripped from my body, I’ll see God in my own flesh. My friends will find out there’s a righteous judge.

Zophar Speaks: Here Is My Answer

20

1 Then Zophar from Naama replied ⌞to Job⌟,

2 “My disturbing thoughts make me answer,

and because of them I am upset.

3 I have heard criticism that makes me ashamed,

but a spirit beyond my understanding gives me answers.

A Wicked Person’s Joy Is Short, His Pain Long

4 “Don’t you know

that from ancient times,

from the time humans were placed on earth,

5 the triumph of the wicked is short-lived,

and the joy of the godless person lasts only a moment?

6 If his height reaches to the sky

and his head touches the clouds,

7 he will certainly rot[34] like his own feces.

Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found.

He will be chased away like a vision in the night.

9 Eyes that saw him will see him no more.

His home will not look at him again.

10 His children will have to ask the poor for help.

His own hands will have to give back his wealth.

11 His bones, once full of youthful vigor,

will lie down with him in the dust.

20:1–11   My friends think they’re giving me some kind of higher wisdom. They tell me the wicked don’t last. I’m destined to rot.

12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth

and he hides it under his tongue. . . .

13 Though he savors it and won’t let go of it

and he holds it on the roof of his mouth,

14 the food in his belly turns sour.

It becomes snake venom in his stomach.

15 He vomits up the riches that he swallowed.

God forces them out of his stomach.

16 The godless person sucks the poison of snakes.

A viper’s fang kills him.

17 He won’t be able to drink from the streams

or from the rivers of honey and buttermilk.

18 He will give back what he earned without enjoying it.

He will get no joy from the profits of his business

19 because he crushed and abandoned the poor.

He has taken by force a house that he didn’t build.

20 He will never know peace in his heart.

He will never allow anything he desires to escape ⌞his grasp⌟.

20:12–20   They think I’m savoring some sweet evil, hiding it under my tongue. You’ll make it sour in my belly so I vomit it up.

21 “Nothing is left for him to eat.

His prosperity won’t last.

22 ⌞Even⌟ with all his wealth

the full force of misery comes down on him.

23 Let that misery fill his belly.

⌞God⌟ throws his burning anger at the godless person

and makes his wrath come down on him like rain.

24 If that person flees from an iron weapon,

a bronze bow will pierce him.

25 He pulls it out, and it comes out of his back.

The glittering point comes out of his gallbladder.

“Terrors come quickly to the godless person:

26 Total darkness waits in hiding for his treasure.

A fire that no one fans will burn him.

Whatever is left in his tent will be devoured.

27 Heaven exposes his sin.

Earth rises up against him.

28 A flood will sweep away his house,

a flash flood on the day of his anger.

29 This is the reward God gives to the wicked person,

the inheritance God has appointed for him.”

20:21–29   They say I’ll burn in a fire. Heaven will expose my sin and earth will rise against me. They say that’s the reward I deserve for my wickedness.

Job Speaks: Comfort Me by Listening to Me

21

1 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,

2 “Listen carefully to my words,

and let that be the comfort you offer me.

3 Bear with me while I speak.

Then after I’ve spoken, you may go on mocking.

4 Am I complaining about a person?

Why shouldn’t I be impatient?

5 Look at me, and be shocked,

and put ⌞your⌟ hand over ⌞your⌟ mouth.

6 When I remember it, I’m terrified,

and shuddering seizes my body.

21:1–6   I wish people would listen to me. They should hear me out before they mock me.

Wicked People Do Not Suffer for Their Sins

7 “Why do the wicked go on living, grow old,

and even become more powerful?

8 They see their children firmly established with them,

and they get to see their descendants.

9 Their homes are free from fear,

and God doesn’t use his rod on them.

10 Their bulls are fertile when they breed.

Their cows give birth to calves and never miscarry.

11 They send their little children out ⌞to play⌟

like a flock of lambs,

and their children dance around.

12 They sing with the tambourine and lyre,

and they are happy with the music of the flute.

13 They spend their days in happiness,

and they go peacefully to the grave.

21:7–13   Haven’t you noticed that the wicked grow old and powerful? I’m wondering when you will strike them with your rod. Their children frolic like lambs. They live happy and die peaceful.

14 But they say to God,

‘Leave us alone.

We don’t want to know your ways.

15 Who is the Almighty that we should serve him?

What do we gain if we pray to him?’

16 Anyhow, isn’t their happiness in their own power?

(The plan of the wicked is foreign to my way of thinking.)

17 “How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?

How often does disaster happen to them?

How often does an angry God give them pain?

18 How often are they like straw in the wind

or like husks that the storm sweeps away?

19 “⌞You say,⌟ ‘God saves a person’s punishment for his children.’

God should pay back that person

so that he would know that it is a punishment.

20 His eyes should see his own ruin.

He should drink from the wrath of the Almighty.

21 How can he be interested in his family after he’s gone,

when the number of his months is cut short?

No One Understands How God Deals with Humans

22 “Can anyone teach God knowledge?

Can anyone judge the Most High?

23 One person dies in his prime

and feels altogether happy and contented.

24 His stomach is full of milk,

and his bones are strong and healthy.

25 Another person, never having tasted happiness,

dies with a bitter soul.

26 Together they lie down in the dust,

and worms cover them.

21:14–26   Haven’t you heard the wicked tell you to get lost? They don’t want to know your ways. They have no idea why they should serve you. It’s like you give them a pass and punish their children.

My Friends Have Betrayed Me

27 “You see, I know your thoughts

and the schemes you plot against me

28 because you ask,

‘Where is the house of the influential person?

Where is the tent where wicked people live?’

29 Haven’t you asked travelers?

But you didn’t pay attention to their directions.

30 On the day of disaster the wicked person is spared.

On the day of ⌞God’s⌟ anger he is rescued.

31 Who will tell him to his face how he lived?

Who will pay him back for what he did?

32 He is carried to the cemetery,

and his grave is guarded.

33 The soil in the creekbed is sweet to him.

Everyone follows him.

Countless others went before him.

34 How can you comfort me with this nonsense

when your answers continue to betray me?”

21:27–34   My friends comfort me with nonsense. Their answers betray me. They ignore the fact that you spare wicked people from disaster.

Eliphaz Speaks: Admit You Are Wicked, Job

22

1 Then Eliphaz from Teman replied ⌞to Job⌟,

2 “Can a human be of any use to God

when even a wise person is only useful to himself?

3 Is the Almighty pleased when you are righteous?

Does he gain anything when you follow the path of integrity?

4 Does God correct you

and bring you into a court of law because you fear him?

5 “Aren’t you really very wicked?

Is there no end to your wrongdoing?

6 For no reason you take your brothers’ goods as security for a loan

and strip them of their clothes.[35]

Authentic Prayer

Job 23:1–12

Silence

If I go east, he isn’t there. If I go west, I can’t find him. If I go northward, where he is at work, I can’t observe him. If I turn southward, I can’t see him. Job 23:8–9

Job searched for God and couldn’t find him. This stricken man doesn’t understand the heavenly drama behind the scenes of the first chapters of Job. He can’t grasp that Satan struggles to provoke him to deny God, seeing only that he has lost every earthly blessing—his herds and flocks, his children, and his health.

Job accepts that the Lord both gives and takes away, and he refuses to blame his Lord for his losses. He persistently defends his own goodness, claiming he’s done nothing to earn such tragedy. He bitterly complains that he’s gone looking for God and can’t find him. He aches for an opportunity to present his case and hear what the Lord must have against him.

Amid dark nights and blazing tragedies you might go east, west, north, and south and not perceive God. He eludes you even when you run fast in his footsteps. He’s mute when you want nothing more than to hear his voice. Even when heaven seems silent as life strips you to nothing, your God lives (Job 19:25). You will meet him once again.

Pray the Scriptures Silence: Job 19:23–28, Psalm 116:1–9, Romans 8:31–39, Hebrews 11:1–3

7 You don’t even give a tired person a drink of water,

and you take food away from hungry people.

8 A strong person owns the land.

A privileged person lives in it.

9 You send widows away empty-handed,

and the arms of orphans are broken.

10 That is why traps are all around you

and great fear suddenly grips you.

11 ⌞That is why⌟ darkness surrounds you and you cannot see

and a flood of water covers you.

12 “Isn’t God high above in the heavens?

Look how high the highest stars are!

13 You ask, ‘What does God know?

Can he judge ⌞anything⌟ from behind a dark cloud?

14 Thick clouds surround him so that he cannot see.

He walks above the clouds.’[36]

22:1–14   These people won’t stop accusing me of sin. “Aren’t you really very wicked?” they accuse. They list everything I’ve done wrong. They think I’ve wrapped myself in darkness and blinded myself to you.

15 “Are you following the old path that wicked people have taken?

16 They are snatched up before their time.

A river washes their foundation away.

17 They told God, ‘Leave us alone!

What can the Almighty do for us?’

18 Yet, he filled their homes with good things.

(The plan of the wicked is foreign to my way of thinking.)

19 The righteous saw it and were glad,

and the innocent made fun of them by saying,

20 ‘Indeed, their wealth has been wiped out,

and a fire has burned up what ⌞little⌟ they had left.’

22:15–20   These people say I’m following the same old path as the rest of the wicked. I’m doomed to be washed away.

Make Peace with God

21 “Be in harmony and at peace with God.

In this way you will have prosperity.

22 Accept instruction from his mouth,

and keep his words in your heart.

23 If you return to the Almighty, you will prosper.

If you put wrongdoing out of your tent,

24 and lay your gold down in the dust,

and put your gold from Ophir among the pebbles in the rivers,

25 then the Almighty will become your gold

and your large supply of silver.

26 Then you will be happy with the Almighty

and look up toward God.

27 You will pray to him, and he will listen to you,

and you will keep your vow to him.

28 When you promise to do something, you will succeed,

and light will shine on your path.

29 When others are discouraged, you will say, ‘Cheer up!’

Then he will save the humble person.[37]

30 He will rescue one who is not innocent.

That person will be rescued by your purity.”

22:21–30   I can’t believe what they say. If I’m at peace with you, I’ll prosper. If I get rid of sin, you’ll be my treasure. If I pray, you’ll listen. Haven’t I been doing those things all along?

Job Speaks: Where Can I Find God?

23

1 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,

2 “My complaint is bitter again today.

I try hard to control my sighing.

3 “If only I knew where I could find God!

I would go where he lives.

4 I would present ⌞my⌟ case to him.

I would have a mouthful of arguments.

5 I want to know the words he would use to answer me.

I want to understand the things he would say to me.

6 Would he sue me and hide behind great legal maneuvers?

No, he certainly would press charges against me.

7 Then decent people could argue with him,

and I would escape my judgment forever.

8 However, if I go east, he isn’t there.

If I go west, I can’t find him.

9 If I go northward, where he is at work, I can’t observe him.

If I turn southward, I can’t see him.

10 ⌞I can’t find him⌟ because he knows the road I take.

When he tests me,

I’ll come out as pure as gold.

11 I have followed his footsteps closely.

I have stayed on his path and did not turn from it.

12 I have not left his commands behind.

I have treasured his words in my heart.

23:1–12   If only I could find you! I have a mouthful of arguments. I want to hear your answers. But I’ve followed your footsteps and still can’t track you down.

God Is Against Me

13 “But God is one of a kind.

Who can make him change his mind?

He does whatever he wants!

14 He will carry out ⌞his⌟ orders concerning me

as he does with so many other things.[38]

15 That is why I’m terrified of him.

When I think of it, I’m afraid of him.

16 God has discouraged me.

The Almighty has filled me with terror.

17 But I am not silenced by the dark

or by the thick darkness that covers my face.

23:13–17   Who can change your mind? You do whatever you want. That’s why I’m so afraid.

Job Continues: Why Doesn’t God Punish Those Who Do Evil?

24

1 “Why doesn’t the Almighty set aside times ⌞for punishment⌟?

Why don’t those who are close to him see his days ⌞of judgment⌟?

2 “⌞People⌟ move boundary markers.

They steal flocks and tend them as shepherds.

3 They drive away the orphan’s donkey.

They take the widow’s ox as security for a loan.

4 They force needy people off the road.

All the poor people of the country go into hiding.

5 Like wild donkeys in the desert,

poor people go out to do their work, looking for food.

The plains provide food for their children.

6 They harvest animal food in the field ⌞to feed themselves⌟.

They pick the leftover grapes in the wicked person’s vineyard.

7 All night they lie naked

without a covering from the cold.

8 They are drenched by the rainstorms in the mountains.

They hug the rocks because they can’t find shelter.

9 “⌞People⌟ snatch the ⌞nursing⌟ orphan from a breast

and take a poor woman’s baby as security for a loan.

10 ⌞That is why⌟ the poor go around naked.

They are hungry, yet they carry bundles of grain.

11 They press out olive oil between rows ⌞of olive trees⌟.

They stomp on grapes in wine vats, yet they are thirsty.

12 Those dying in the city groan.

Wounded people cry for help,

but God pays no attention to their prayers.

24:1–12   Why don’t I ever see you judge the wicked? Poor people work hard but have nothing. They harvest grain but go hungry. They stomp grapes but go thirsty. They lie naked in the cold. Do you hear their prayers?

13 “Such people are among those who rebel against the light.

They are not acquainted with its ways.

They do not stay on its paths.

14 At dawn murderers rise; they kill the poor and needy.

At night they become thieves.

15 Adulterers watch for twilight.

They say, ‘No one is watching us,’ as they cover their faces.

16 In the dark, they break into houses,

⌞but⌟ by day they lock themselves in.

They do not ⌞even⌟ know the light,

17 because morning and deep darkness are the same to them,

because they are familiar with the terrors of deep darkness.

18 Such people are like scum on the surface of the water.

Their property is cursed in the land.

People do not travel the road that goes to their vineyards.

19 ⌞Just as⌟ drought and heat steal water from snow,

so the grave steals people who sin.

20 The womb forgets them.

Worms feast on them.

No one remembers them anymore,

and wickedness is snapped like a twig.

21 These men take advantage of childless women.

These men show no kindness to widows.

22 ⌞God⌟ will drag away ⌞these⌟ mighty men by his power.

These people may prosper,

but they will never feel secure about life.

23 ⌞God⌟ may let them feel confident and self-reliant,

but his eyes are on their ways.

24 ⌞Such people⌟ may be prosperous for a little while,

but then they’re gone.

They are brought down low and disappear like everything else.[39]

They wither like heads of grain.

24:13–24   Murderers kill the poor and needy. Adulterers steal away in the dark. Won’t you drag away the powerful? Let them prosper for a little while, then bring them down.

25 “If it isn’t so, who can prove I’m a liar

and show that my words are worthless?”

Bildad Speaks: No One Is Righteous to God

25

1 Then Bildad from Shuah replied ⌞to Job⌟,

2 “Authority and terror belong to God.

He establishes peace in his high places.

3 Is there any ⌞limit to the⌟ number of his troops?

Is there anyone on whom his light does not rise?

4 How can a person be righteous to God?

How can anyone born of a woman be pure?

5 Even the moon isn’t bright,

and the stars aren’t pure in his sight.

6 How much less pure is a mortal—who is only a maggot—

a descendant of Adam—who is only a worm!”

25:1–6   They say authority and terror belong to you. No person is righteous. No one is pure. Mortals are nothing more than maggots.

Job Speaks: My Friends Have Offered Useless Advice

26

1 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,

2 “You have helped the person who has no power

and saved the arm that isn’t strong.

3 You have advised the person who has no wisdom

and offered so much assistance.

4 To whom have you spoken ⌞these⌟ words,

and whose spirit has spoken through you?

26:1–4   What do these so-called friends think they’re doing? They’re convinced they’re giving me strength and wisdom. But their help is worthless.

God’s Power over Creation

5 “The souls of the dead tremble beneath the water,

and so do the creatures living there.

6 Sheol is naked in God’s presence,

and Abaddon has no clothing.

7 “He stretches out his heavens[40] over empty space.

He hangs the earth on nothing whatsoever.

8 He holds the water in his thick clouds,

and the clouds don’t ⌞even⌟ split under its ⌞weight⌟.

9 He covers his throne[41]

by spreading his cloud over it.

10 He marks the horizon on the surface of the water

at the boundary where light meets dark.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble

and are astonished when he yells at them.

12 With his power he calmed the sea.

With his insight he killed Rahab ⌞the sea monster⌟.

13 With his wind the sky was cleared.

With his hand he stabbed the fleeing snake.

14 “These are only glimpses of what he does.

We ⌞only⌟ hear a whisper of him!

Who can understand the thunder of his power?”

26:5–14   I catch only a glimpse of what you do. I only hear a whisper of you. How can I understand your power?

Job Continues: I Insist I Am Innocent

27

1 Job continued his poems and said,

2 “I swear an oath

by God, the one who has taken away my rights,

by the Almighty, who has made my life bitter:

3 ‘As long as there is one breath ⌞left⌟ in me

and God’s breath fills my nostrils,

4 my lips will not say anything wrong,

and my tongue will not mumble anything deceitful.’

5 It’s unthinkable for me to admit that you are right.

Until I breathe my last breath, I will never give up my claim of integrity.

6 I cling to my righteousness and won’t let go.

My conscience won’t accuse me as long as I live.

7 “Let my enemy be ⌞treated⌟ like wicked people.

Let anyone who attacks me be ⌞treated⌟ like unrighteous people.

8 After all, what hope does the godless person have when he is cut off,

when God takes away his life?

9 Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?

10 Can he be happy with the Almighty?

Can he call on God at all times?

27:1–10   I swear by your name—even though I accuse you of taking my rights and making my life bitter. I won’t stop claiming I’m innocent.

What God Has in Store for Wicked People

11 “I will teach you about God’s power.

I will not hide what the Almighty has done.

12 Certainly, you have all seen it.

Why then do you chatter on about such nonsense?

13 This is what God has waiting for the wicked person,

the inheritance that tyrants receive from the Almighty:

14 If he has many children, swords will kill them,

and his descendants won’t have enough food.

15 Those who survive him will be buried by a plague,

and their widows won’t cry ⌞for them⌟.

16 Though he collects silver like dust

and piles up clothing like dirt,

17 righteous people will wear what he piles up,

and the innocent will divide the silver

⌞among themselves⌟.

18 He builds his house like a moth,

like a shack that a watchman makes.

19 He may go to bed rich, but he’ll never be rich again.

When he opens his eyes, nothing will be left.

20 Terrors overtake him like a flood.

A windstorm snatches him away at night.

21 The east wind carries him away, and he’s gone.

It sweeps him from his place.

22 It hurls itself at him without mercy.

He flees from its power.

23 It claps its hands over him.

It whistles at him from his own place.

27:11–23   I can teach people about your power. I can explain your plans for the wicked. Their children will die by the sword. Their silver will go to the innocent. Their wealth will vanish while they sleep.

Job Continues: Wisdom Is Inaccessible to Humans

28

1 “There is a place where silver is mined

and a place where gold is refined.

2 Iron is taken from the ground,

and rocks are melted for ⌞their⌟ copper.

3 ⌞Humans⌟ bring an end to darkness ⌞there⌟

and search to the limit of the gloomy, pitch-black rock.

4 They open up a mineshaft far from civilization,

where no one has set foot.

⌞In this shaft⌟ men dangle and swing back and forth.

5 “Above the ground food grows,

but beneath it the food decays as if ⌞it were burned⌟ by fire.

6 That place’s stones are sapphire.[42]

Its dust contains gold.

7 No bird of prey knows the way to it.

No hawk’s eye has ever seen it.

8 No proud beast has ever walked on it.

No ferocious lion has ever passed over it.

9 “Humans exert their power on the flinty rocks

and overturn mountains at their base.

10 They cut out mineshafts in the rocks.

Their eyes see every precious thing.

11 They explore[43] the sources of rivers

so that they bring hidden treasures to light.

Wisdom Is Inaccessible to Decay and Death

12 “Where can wisdom be found?

Where does understanding live?

13 No mortal knows where it is.[44]

It cannot be found in this world of the living.

14 The deep ocean says, ‘It isn’t in me.’

The sea says, ‘It isn’t with me.’

15 You cannot obtain it with solid gold

or buy it for any amount of silver.

16 It can’t be bought with the gold from Ophir

or with precious onyx or sapphire.

17 Neither gold nor glass can equal its value.

Nor can gold ornaments, jewels, or crystal[45]

18 be exchanged for it.

Wisdom is more valuable than gems.

19 Topaz from Ethiopia cannot equal its value.

It cannot be bought for ⌞any amount of⌟ pure gold.

20 “Where does wisdom come from?

Where does understanding live?

21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living being,

hidden even from the birds in the air.

22 Decay and Death say,

‘We’ve heard a rumor about it.’

28:1–22   Humans dig for silver deep in the ground. They risk their lives to search for gold. But no mortal can find wisdom. It can’t be bought with precious gems.

Wisdom Is Accessible Only to the Creator

23 “God understands the way to it.

He knows where it lives

24 because he can see to the ends of the earth

and observe everything under heaven.

25 When he gave the wind its force

and measured the water ⌞in the sea⌟,

26 when he made rules for the rain

and set paths for the thunderstorms,

27 then he saw it and announced it.

He confirmed it and examined it.

28 So he told humans,

‘The fear of the Lord is wisdom!

To stay away from evil is understanding.’”

28:23–28   Only you know the way to wisdom. You discovered it. You confirmed and examined it. And you said, “Respect me! That’s wisdom!”

Job Continues: My Glorious Past

29

1 Job continued his poems and said,

2 “If only my life could be like it used to be,

in the days when God watched over me,

3 when he made his lamp shine on my head,

when I walked through the dark in his light.

4 If only I were in the prime of my life ⌞again⌟,

when God was an adviser in my tent.

29:1–4   I wish I could get back the days when I was sure of you. I was in the prime of my life. You were my close adviser.

5 When the Almighty was still with me

and my children were around me,

6 my steps were bathed in buttermilk,

and the rocks poured streams of olive oil on me.

7 When I went through the city gate

and took my seat in the town square,

8 young men saw me and kept out of sight.

Old men stood up straight out of respect ⌞for me⌟.

9 Princes held back ⌞their⌟ words

and put their hands over their mouths.

10 The voices of nobles were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11 “⌞Any⌟ ears that heard me blessed me.

⌞Any⌟ eyes that saw me spoke well of me,

12 because I rescued the poor who called ⌞for help⌟

and the orphans who had no one to help them.

13 I received a blessing from the dying.

I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it was my clothing.

I practiced justice, and it was my robe and my turban.

15 I was eyes for the blind person.

I was feet for the lame person.

16 I was father to the needy.

I carefully investigated cases brought by strangers.

17 I broke the teeth of the wicked person

and made him drop the prey out of his mouth.

29:5–17   Once you were with me. My children surrounded me. I had wealth and respect. People blessed me and witnessed the good I did. I was father to the needy and put the wicked in their place.

18 “I thought, ‘I may die in my own house,

but I will make my days as numerous as the sand.

19 My roots will grow toward the water,

and dew will lie on my branches all night.

20 My power will be fresh ⌞every day⌟,

and the bow in my hand will remain new.’

21 “People listened to me eagerly,

quietly waiting for my advice.

22 After I had spoken, they wouldn’t speak again.

After all, my words fell gently on them.

23 They were as eager to hear me as they were for rain.

They opened their mouths wide as if waiting for a spring shower.

24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it,

but the expression on my face did not change.[46]

25 I decided how they should live.

I sat as their leader.

I lived like a king among his troops,

like one who comforts mourners.

29:18–25   I expected my days to be as numerous as the sand. You would refresh my power every day. I remember when people eagerly listened to me. I was their leader.

Job Talks about His Present Misery

30

1 “But now those who are younger than I am laugh at me.

I didn’t think their fathers were fit to sit with the dogs of my flock.

2 Of what use to me was the strength of their hands?

Their strength is gone.

3 Shriveled up from need and hunger,

they gnaw at the dry and barren ground during the night.[47]

4 They pick saltwort from the underbrush,

and the roots of the broom plant are their food.[48]

5 They are driven from the community.

People shout at them in the same way they shout at thieves.

6 They have to live in dry riverbeds,

in holes in the ground, and among rocks.

7 They howl in bushes

and huddle together under thornbushes.

8 Godless fools and worthless people

are forced out of the land with whips.

9 “And now they make fun of me with songs.

I have become a joke to them.

30:1–9   But now young people laugh at me. Their fathers weren’t fit to sit with my dogs. But these godless fools mock me with songs.

10 Since they consider me disgusting, they keep their distance from me

and don’t hesitate to spit in my face.

11 Because God has untied my cord and has made me suffer,

they are no longer restrained in my presence.

12 They have attacked me on my right side like a mob.

They trip my feet

and then prepare ways to destroy me.[49]

13 Yes, they remove all traces of my path in order to destroy me.

No one is there to help me against them.

14 They come through a wide hole ⌞in the wall⌟.

They crawl through the ruins.

15 Terrors are directed toward me.

They blow away my dignity like the wind.

My prosperity vanishes like a cloud.

16 “Now my life is pouring out of me.

Days of suffering seize me.

17 At night God pierces my bones.

My body[50] doesn’t rest.

18 With great strength he grabs my clothes.

He seizes me by the collar of my robe.

19 He throws me into the dirt

so that I become like dust and ashes.

30:10–19   I disgust these worthless people. They only come close to spit on my face. My life pours out of me. My bones are pierced. I grovel in the dirt.

Job Calls on God for Help

20 “I call to you for help,

but you don’t answer me.

I stand up, but you just look at me.

21 You have begun to treat me cruelly.

With your mighty hand you assault me.

22 You pick me up and let the wind carry me away.

You toss me around with a storm.

23 I know you will lead me to death,

to the dwelling place appointed for all living beings.

30:20–23   I call on you but don’t see an answer. When I stand up you just stare. This storm tosses me around. I fear I’m headed for death.

Job Says: I Am Being Punished by God

24 “But God doesn’t stretch out his hand against one who is ruined

when that person calls for help in his disaster.

25 Didn’t I cry for the person whose days were difficult?

Didn’t my soul grieve for the poor?

26 When I waited for good, evil came.

When I looked for light, darkness came.

27 My insides are churning and won’t calm down.

Days of misery are ahead of me.

28 I walk in the dark without the sun.

I stand up in public and call for help.

29 I’m a brother to jackals

and a companion of ostriches.

30 My skin turns dark and peels.

My body burns with fever.

31 So my lyre is used for mourning

and my flute for loud weeping.

30:24–31   I waited for good but was met with evil. I can only see misery ahead. I use my joyful instruments to mourn.

Job Wonders What Sin He May Have Committed

31

1 “I have made an agreement with my eyes.

Then how can I look with lust at a virgin?

2 What would God above do ⌞to me⌟?

What would be my inheritance from the Almighty on high?

3 Aren’t there catastrophes for wicked people

and disasters for those who do wrong?

4 Doesn’t he see my ways

and count all my steps?

5 “If I have walked with lies

or my feet have run after deception,

6 ⌞then⌟ let God weigh me on honest scales,

and he will know I have integrity.

7 “If my steps have left the ⌞proper⌟ path,

or my heart has followed ⌞the desire of⌟ my eyes,

or my hands are stained ⌞with sin⌟,

8 ⌞then⌟ let someone else eat what I have planted,

and let my crops be uprooted.

9 “If I have been seduced by a woman

or I have secretly waited near my neighbor’s door,

10 ⌞then⌟ let my wife grind for another ⌞man⌟,

and let other ⌞men⌟ kneel over her.

11 That would be a scandal,

and that would be a criminal offense.

12 It would be a fire that burns even in Abaddon.

It would uproot my entire harvest.

31:1–12   You bring disaster on those who do wrong. But can’t you see the real me? If my heart has wrong desires or my hands are stained with sin, then pay me back for my evil.

13 “If I have abused the rights of my servants, male or female,

when they have disagreed with me,

14 then what could I do if God rises up?

If he examines me, how could I answer him?

15 Didn’t he who made me in my mother’s belly make them?

Didn’t the same God form us in the womb?

16 “If I have refused the requests of the poor

or made a widow’s eyes stop ⌞looking for help⌟,

17 or have eaten my food alone

without letting the orphan eat any of it. . . .

18 (From my youth the orphan grew up with me

as though I were his father,

and from my birth I treated the widow kindly.)

19 If I have seen anyone die because he had no clothes

or a poor person going naked. . . .

20 (If his body didn’t bless me,

or the wool from my sheep didn’t keep him warm. . . .)

21 If I have shaken my fist at an orphan

because I knew that others would back me up in court,

22 ⌞then⌟ let my shoulder fall out of its socket,

and let my arm be broken at the elbow.

23 “A disaster from God terrifies me.

In the presence of his majesty I can do nothing.

24 “If I put my confidence in gold

or said to fine gold, ‘I trust you’. . . .

25 If I enjoyed being very rich

because my hand had found great ⌞wealth⌟. . . .

26 If I saw the light shine

or the moon move along in its splendor

27 so that my heart was secretly tempted,

and I threw them a kiss with my hand,

28 then that, too, would be a criminal offense,

and I would have denied God above.

29 “If I enjoyed the ruin of my enemy

or celebrated when harm came to him

30 (even though I didn’t speak sinfully

by calling down a curse on his life). . . .

31 “If the people who were in my tent had said,

‘We wish we had never filled ⌞our stomachs⌟ with his food’. . . .

32 (The visitor never spent the night outside,

because I opened my door to the traveler.)

33 “If I have covered my disobedience like Adam

and kept my sin to myself,

34 because I dreaded the large, noisy crowd

and because the contempt of the ⌞local⌟ mobs terrified me

so that I kept quiet and didn’t go outside. . . .

31:13–34   I’ve examined every part of my life but I still can’t see what I’ve done wrong. Do you have something against me? Is there some specific sin that deserves this torment?

35 “If only I had someone who would listen to me!

Look, here is my signature!

Let the Almighty answer me.

Let the prosecutor write ⌞his complaint⌟ on a scroll.

36 I would certainly carry it on my shoulder

and place it on my head like a crown.

37 I would tell him the number of my steps

and approach him like a prince.

38 “If my land has cried out against me,

and its furrows have wept. . . .

39 If I have eaten its produce without paying for it

and made its owners breathe their last,

40 ⌞then⌟ let it grow thistles instead of wheat,

and foul-smelling weeds instead of barley.”

This is the end of Job’s words.

31:35–40   If only someone would listen to me! Write your complaint and I’ll wear it on my head like a crown. That’s all I have to say.

Elihu Decides to Speak to Job

32

1  These three men stopped answering Job because Job thought he was righteous. 2 Then Elihu, son of Barachel, a descendant of Buz from the family of Ram, became very angry with Job because Job thought he was more righteous than God. 3 Elihu was also very angry with Job’s three friends because they had found no answer. They made it look as if God[51] were wrong. 4 Elihu waited as they spoke to Job because they were older than he was. 5 When Elihu saw that the had no further responses, he became very angry.

32:1–5   My friends couldn’t rebut my words. But now a youngster accuses me of thinking I’m more righteous than you.

Elihu Speaks: The Reason for Elihu’s Discourse

6 So Elihu, son of Barachel, the descendant of Buz, replied ⌞to Job⌟,

“I am young, and you are old.

That’s why I refrained from speaking

and was afraid to tell you what I know.

7 I thought, ‘Age should speak,

and experience should teach wisdom.’

8 However, there is in humans a Spirit,

the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

9 People do not become wise merely because they live long.

They don’t understand what justice is merely because they’re old.

10 “That is why I say, ‘Listen to me!

Let me tell you what I know.’

11 I waited for you to speak.

I listened for you to share your understanding

until you could find the right words.

12 I’ve paid close attention to you,

but none of you refuted Job.

None of you has an answer to what he says.

13 So don’t say, ‘We’ve found wisdom.

Let God, not humans, defeat him.’

14 Job did not choose his words to refute me,

so I won’t answer him with your speeches.

15 “Job’s friends have been overwhelmed and don’t have any more answers.

They don’t have another word to say.

16 Should I wait because they don’t speak,

because they stand there and don’t have any more answers?

17 “I’ll give my answer.

I’ll tell you what I know.

18 I’m full of words.

The Spirit within me forces me ⌞to speak⌟.

19 My belly is like ⌞a bottle of⌟ wine that has not been opened,

like new wineskins that are ready to burst.

20 I must speak to get relief.

I must open my mouth and answer.

21 I won’t be partial toward anyone

or flatter anyone.

22 I don’t know how to flatter.

If I did, my maker would soon carry me away.

32:6–22   A youngster says that merely living a long time doesn’t make someone wise. Old age is no proof of understanding. And now he thinks he has all the answers. I’ve silenced my friends, but now he wants to speak.

Elihu Continues: Listen, Job

33

1 “Please, Job, listen to my words

and consider everything I say.

2 I’ve opened my mouth.

The words are on the tip of my tongue.

3 My words are straight from the heart,

and I sincerely speak the knowledge that is on my lips.

4 “God’s Spirit has made me.

The breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 Answer me if you can.

Present your case to me, and take your stand.

6 Indeed, I stand in front of God as you do.

I, too, was formed from a piece of clay.

7 You certainly don’t need to be terrified of me.

I won’t put too much pressure on you.

God Doesn’t Have to Answer You, Job

8 “But you spoke directly to me,

and I listened to your words.

9 ⌞You said,⌟ ‘I’m pure—without any rebellious acts ⌞against God⌟.

I’m clean; I have no sin.

10 God is only looking for an excuse to attack me.

He considers me his enemy.

11 He puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.’

12 You aren’t right about this!

I’ve got an answer for you:

God is greater than any mortal.

13 Why do you quarrel with him

since he doesn’t answer any questions?

33:1–13   The youngster has it right. I do claim to be pure. I don’t think I’ve sinned against you. And right now I wonder if you’re my enemy.

Two Ways God Warns People

14 “God speaks in one way,

even in two ways without people noticing it:

15 In a dream, a prophetic vision at night,

when people fall into a deep sleep,

when they sleep on their beds,

16 he opens people’s ears

and terrifies them with warnings.

17 ⌞He warns them⌟ to turn away from doing ⌞wrong⌟

and to stop being arrogant.[52]

18 He keeps their souls from the pit

and their lives from crossing the River ⌞of Death⌟.

19 In pain on their sickbeds, they are disciplined

with endless aching in their bones

20 so that their whole being hates food

and they lose their appetite for a delicious meal.

21 Their flesh becomes so thin that it can’t be seen.

Their bones, not seen before, will be exposed.

22 Their souls approach the pit.

Their lives come close to those already dead.

33:14–22   The youngster says you send terrifying dreams to stop my arrogance. Your sickness disciplines me all the way to the pit.

A Third Way God Warns People

23 “If they have a messenger for them,

a spokesman, one in a thousand,

to tell people what is right for them,

24 then he will have pity on them and say,

‘Free them from going into the pit.

I have found a ransom.’

25 Then their flesh will become softer than a child’s.

They will go back to the days of their youth.

26 They will pray to God, who will be pleased with them.

They will see God’s face and shout for joy

as he restores their righteousness.[53]

27 Each one sings in front of other people and says,

‘I sinned and did wrong instead of what was right,

and it did me no good.

28 The messenger has freed my soul from going into the pit,

and my life will see the light.’

29 Truly, God does all this two or three times with people

30 to turn their souls away from the pit

and to enlighten them with the light of life.

Pay Attention, Job

31 “Pay attention, Job! Listen to me!

Keep quiet, and let me speak.

32 If you have a response, answer me.

Speak, because I’d be happy if you were right.

33 If not, you listen to me.

Keep quiet, and I’ll teach you wisdom.”

33:23–33   Your messenger pays my ransom and frees me from the pit. One day you’ll renew my flesh and take pleasure in my prayers. I’ll see your face and shout for joy. I sinned and it did me no good. But the messenger has set my soul free.

Elihu Continues: Listen, Everyone

34

1 Elihu continued to speak ⌞to Job and his friends⌟,

2 “Listen to my words, you wise men.

Open your ears to me, you intelligent men.

3 The ear tests words

like the tongue tastes food.

4 Let’s decide for ourselves what is right

and agree among ourselves as to what is good,

5 because Job has said,

‘I’m righteous, but God has taken away my rights.

6 I’m considered a liar in spite of my rights.

I’ve been wounded by a deadly arrow,

though I haven’t been disobedient.’

7 What person is like Job,

who drinks scorn like water,

8 who travels with troublemakers

and associates with evil people?

9 He says, ‘It doesn’t do any good to try to please God.’

10 “You people who have understanding, listen to me.

It is unthinkable that God would ever do evil

or that the Almighty would ever do wicked things.

11 God will repay humanity for what it has done

and will give each person what he deserves.

12 Certainly, God will never do anything evil,

and the Almighty will never pervert justice.

13 Who put him in charge of the earth?

Who appointed him to be over the whole world?

14 If he thought only of himself

and withdrew his Spirit and his breath,

15 all living beings would die together,

and humanity would return to dust.

34:1–15   The youngster says he has it all figured out. You never do evil. You only give us what we deserve. You can’t pervert justice. You’re in charge of the earth!

God Is Fair

16 “If you understand, listen to this.

Open your ears to my words!

17 Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern?

Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty?

18 Should anyone ⌞even⌟ say to a king,

‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’

or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’

19 The one who is righteous and mighty

does not grant special favors to princes

or prefer important people over poor people

because his hands made them all.

20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night.

People have seizures and pass away.

Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands.

34:16–20   No one can rebuke kings or nobles. So how could we ever condemn you—the one who is righteous and mighty?

21 God’s eyes are on a person’s ways.

He sees all his steps.

22 There’s no darkness or deep shadow

where troublemakers can hide.

23 He doesn’t have to set a time for a person

in order to bring him to divine judgment.

24 He breaks mighty people into pieces without examining them

and puts others in their places.

25 He knows what they do,

so he overthrows them at night, and they’re crushed.

26 In return for their evil, he strikes them in public,

27 because they turned away from following him

and didn’t consider any of his ways.

28 They forced the poor to cry out to him,

and he hears the cry of those who suffer.

29 If he keeps quiet, who can condemn him?

If he hides his face, who can see him

whether it is a nation or a single person?

30 ⌞He does this⌟ so that godless people cannot rule

and so that they cannot trap people.

31 “But suppose such a person says to God, ‘I am guilty,

I will stop my immoral behavior.

32 Teach me what I cannot see.

If I’ve done wrong, I won’t do it again.’

33 Should God reward you on your own terms since you have rejected his?

You must choose, not I.

Tell me what you know. Speak!

34:21–33   You see all my steps. You break mighty people into pieces. You repay evil in public. Do you reward people who come back to you?

Elihu Makes an Appeal to God

34 “People of understanding, the wise people

who listen to me, will say,

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge.

His words show no insight.’

36 “My Father, let Job be thoroughly tested

for giving answers like wicked people do.

37 He adds disobedience to his sin.

He claps his hands to insult us.

He multiplies his words against God.”

34:34–37   The youngster pleads for you to test me for insulting my friends and railing against you. What more can you do to me?

Elihu Continues: I Will Answer You and Your Friends, Job

35

1 Elihu continued to speak ⌞to Job and his friends⌟,

2 “Do you think this is right

when you say, ‘My case is more just than God’s,’

3 when you ask, ‘What benefit is it to you?’

and, ‘What would I gain by sinning?’

4 I will answer you and your friends.

Human Behavior Cannot Change God

5 “Look at the heavens and see.

Observe the clouds high above you.

6 If you’ve sinned, what effect can you have on God?

If you’ve done many wrongs, what can you do to him?

7 If you’re righteous, what can you give him,

or what can he get from you?

8 Your wickedness affects only someone like yourself.

Your righteousness affects only the descendants of Adam.

9 The weight of oppression makes them cry out.

The power of mighty people makes them call for help.

10 But no one asks,

‘Where is God, my Creator,

who inspires songs in the night,

11 who teaches us more than he teaches the animals of the earth,

who makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’

12 Then they cry out, but he doesn’t answer them

because of the arrogance of ⌞those⌟ evil people.

13 “Surely, God doesn’t listen to idle complaints.

The Almighty doesn’t even pay attention to them.

14 Although you say that you pay attention to him,

your case is in front of him, but you’ll have to wait for him.

15 And now ⌞you say⌟ that his anger doesn’t punish ⌞anyone⌟

and he isn’t too concerned about evil.[54]

16 Job opens his mouth for no good reason

and talks a lot without having any knowledge.”

35:1–16   He says my arrogance is why I can’t hear you. You don’t pay attention to my idle complaints. You know about my case and ignore it. I open my mouth for no good reason.

Elihu Continues: Hear Me Out

36

1 Elihu continued to speak ⌞to Job⌟,

2 “Be patient with me a little longer, and I will show you

that there is more to be said in God’s defense.

3 I will get my knowledge from far away

and prove that my Creator is fair.

4 Certainly, my words are not lies.

The one who knows everything is ⌞speaking⌟ with you.

36:1–4   My accuser claims to have a bigger grasp on reality than the rest of us. Does he actually think he knows everything?

God’s Justice Is Beyond Human Understanding

5 “Certainly, God is mighty.

He doesn’t despise anyone.

He is mighty and brave.

6 He doesn’t allow the wicked person to live.

He grants justice to those who are oppressed.

7 He doesn’t take his eyes off righteous people.

He seats them on thrones with kings to honor them forever.

8 However, if righteous people are bound in chains

and tangled in ropes of misery,

9 he tells them what they’ve done wrong

and that they’ve behaved arrogantly.

10 He makes them listen to his warning

and orders them to turn away from wrong.

36:5–10   The youngster says I’m getting what I deserve. You honor the righteous and warn them when they do wrong.

11 “If righteous people listen and serve ⌞him⌟,

they will live out their days in prosperity

and their years in comfort.

12 But if they don’t listen,

they will cross the River ⌞of Death⌟

and die like those who have no knowledge.

13 But those who have godless hearts remain angry.

They don’t even call for help when he chains them up.

14 They die while they’re young,

or they live on as male prostitutes in the temples of idols.

15 He rescues suffering people through their suffering,

and he opens their ears through distress.

36:11–15   If the righteous turn back and serve you, you’ll lavish them with prosperity and comfort. If they don’t, they die in their ignorance.

16 “Yes, he lured you away from the jaws of trouble

into an open area where you were not restrained,

and your table was covered with rich foods.

17 But you are given the judgment evil people deserve.

A fair judgment will be upheld.

18 Be careful that you are not led astray with riches.

Don’t let a large bribe turn you ⌞to evil ways⌟.

19 Will your riches save you from having to suffer?

Will all your mighty strength help you?

20 Don’t look forward to the night,

when people disappear from their places.

21 Be careful! Don’t turn to evil,

because you have chosen evil instead of suffering.[55]

36:16–21   You gave me riches, but they can’t stop my suffering. Maybe they were even a test. Maybe I failed.

22 “God does great things by his power.

Is there any teacher like him?

23 Who can tell him which way he should go?

Who can say to him, ‘You did wrong’?

24 Remember that you should praise his work.

People have sung about it.

25 Every person has seen it.

Mortals have looked at it from a distance.

26 “Certainly, God is so great

that he is beyond our understanding.

The number of his years cannot be counted.

27 He collects drops of water.

He distills rain from his mist,

28 which then drips from the clouds.

It pours down on many people.

29 Can anyone really understand how clouds spread out

or how he thunders from his dwelling place?

30 Look, he scatters his flashes of lightning around him

and covers the depths of the sea.

31 This is how he uses the rains to provide for people

and to give them more than enough food.

32 He fills his hands with lightning

and orders it to hit the target.

33 The thunder announces his coming.

The storm announces his angry wrath.

36:22–33   No one can tell you which way to go or accuse you of wrong. I should just praise your work. I should remind myself you’re beyond my understanding.

Elihu Continues: God’s Ways Are Beyond Human Understanding

37

1 “My heart pounds because of this

and jumps out of its place.

2 Listen! Listen to the roar of God’s voice,

to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

3 He flashes his lightning everywhere under heaven.

His light flashes to the ends of the earth.

4 It is followed by the roar of his voice.

He thunders with his majestic voice.

He doesn’t hold the lightning back when his thunder is heard.

5 God’s voice thunders in miraculous ways.

It does great things that we cannot understand.

6 “He says to the snow, ‘Fall to the ground,’

and to the pouring rain, ‘Rain harder!’

7 He makes it impossible to do anything[56]

so that people will recognize his work.

8 Animals go into their dens

and stay in their lairs.

9 A storm comes out of its chamber.

It is cold because of the strong winds.[57]

10 God’s breath produces ice,

and the seas freeze over.

11 Yes, he loads the thick clouds with moisture

and scatters his lightning from the clouds.

12 He guides the clouds as they churn round and round

over the face of the inhabited earth

to do everything he orders them.

13 Whether for discipline,

or for ⌞the good of⌟ his earth,

or out of mercy,

he makes the storm appear.

37:1–13   The youngster says you do amazing things. The roar of your voice makes our hearts pound. You send snow and ice. No one knows if you send a storm for our discipline or for the good of the ground.

14 “Open your ears to this, Job.

Stop and consider God’s miracles.

15 Do you know how God controls them

and makes the lightning flash from his clouds?

16 Do you know how the clouds drift

(these are the miracles of the one who knows everything),

17 you whose clothes are hot and sweaty,

when the earth is calm under a south wind?

18 Can you stretch out the skies with him

and make them as firm as a mirror made of metal?

19 Teach us what we should say to him.

We are unable to prepare ⌞a case⌟ because of darkness.

20 Should he be told that I want to speak?

Can a person speak when he is confused?

21 People can’t look at the sun

when it’s bright among the clouds

or after the wind has blown and cleared those clouds away.

22 A golden light comes from the north.

A terrifying majesty is around God.

23 The Almighty, whom we can’t reach,

is great in power and judgment,

has more than enough righteousness,

and does not oppress.

24 That is why people should fear him.

He does not respect those who think they’re wise.”

37:14–24   I admit that I’m baffled by your miracles. But I don’t understand how that fixes my problems. I know you have righteousness to match your power.

The LORD Speaks: Who Is Able to Challenge Me?

38

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm.

2 “Who is this that belittles my advice

with words that do not show any knowledge ⌞about it⌟?

3 Brace yourself like a man!

I will ask you, and you will teach me.

38:1–3   Now you speak from the storm. You say I don’t understand your advice. You demand I teach you.

The LORD Speaks about Creation

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me if you have ⌞such⌟ insight.

5 Who determined its dimensions?

Certainly, you know!

Who stretched a measuring line over it?

6 On what were its footings sunk?

Who laid its cornerstone

7 when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Who shut the sea behind gates

when it burst through and came out of the womb,

9 when I clothed it with clouds

and wrapped it up in dark clouds,

10 when I set a limit for it

and put up bars and gates,

11 when I said, ‘You may come this far but no farther.

Here your proud waves will stop’?

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning

or assigned a place for the dawn

13 so that it could grab the earth by its edges

and shake wicked people out of it?

14 The earth changes like clay stamped by a seal,

and ⌞parts of it⌟ stand out like ⌞folds in⌟ clothing.

15 Wicked people are deprived of their light,

and an arm raised ⌞in victory⌟ is broken.

16 Have you gone to the springs in the sea

or walked through the valleys of the ocean depths?

17 Have the gateways to death been revealed to you,

or have you seen the gateways to total darkness?

18 Have you ⌞even⌟ considered how wide the earth is?

Tell me, if you know all of this!

38:4–18   Where was I when you laid the foundations of the earth? Did I set limits for the sea? Have I ever given orders to the morning? Do I know how wide the earth is?

19 “What is the way to the place where light lives?

Where is the home of darkness

20 so that you may lead it to its territory,

so that you may know the path to its home?

21 You must know because you were born then

and have lived such a long time!

22 Have you been to the warehouses where snow is stored

or seen the warehouses for hail

23 that I have stored up for the time of trouble,

for the day of battle and war?

24 Which is the way to the place where light is scattered

and the east wind is spread across the earth?

25 “Who made a channel for the flooding rains

and a path for the thunderstorms

26 to bring rain on a land where no one lives,

on a desert where there are no humans,

27 to saturate the desolate wasteland

in order to make it sprout with grass?

28 Does the rain have a father?

Who gave birth to the dewdrops?

29 From whose womb came the ice,

and who has given birth to the frost in the air?

30 The water hardens like a stone,

and the surface of the ocean freezes over.

38:19–30   Where does darkness live? Where is snow stored? Who made the path for thunderstorms? Who makes ice?

31 “Can you connect the chains of the ⌞constellation⌟ Pleiades

or untie the ropes of Orion?

32 Can you bring out the constellations at the right time

or guide Ursa Major with its cubs?

33 Do you know the laws of the sky

or make them rule the earth?

34 Can you call to the clouds

and have a flood of water cover you?

35 Can you send lightning flashes so that they may go and say to you,

‘Here we are’?

36 Who put wisdom in the heart

or gave understanding to the mind?[58]

37 Who is wise enough to count the clouds

or pour out the water jars of heaven

38 when the dirt hardens into clumps

and the soil clings together?

The Lioness

39 “Can you hunt prey for the lioness

and satisfy the hunger of her cubs

40 as they crouch in their dens

and lie ready to ambush from their lairs?

The Crow

41 “Who provides food for the crow

when its young ones cry to God

and wander around in need of food?

38:31–41   Who connected the Pleiades? Who leads out Ursa Major and the cubs? Do I know the laws of the sky? Can I pour out the water jars of heaven?

The LORD Continues: The Mountain Goats

39

1 “Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth?

Do you watch the does when they are in labor?

2 Can you count the months they are pregnant

or know the time when they’ll give birth?

3 They kneel down to give birth and deliver their young.

Then the pain of giving birth is over.

4 Their young are healthy and grow up in the wild.

They leave and don’t come back.

The Wild Donkey

5 “Who lets the wild donkey go free?

Who unties the ropes of the wild donkey?

6 I gave it the desert to live in

and the salt flats as its dwelling place.

7 It laughs at the noise of the city

and doesn’t ⌞even⌟ listen to the shouting of its master.

8 It explores the mountains for its pasture

and looks for anything green.

The Wild Ox

9 “Will the wild ox agree to serve you,

or will it stay at night beside your feeding trough?

10 Can you guide a wild ox in a furrow,

or will it plow the valleys behind you?

11 Can you trust it just because it’s so strong

or leave your labor to it?

12 Can you rely on it to bring your grain back

and take it to your threshing floor?[59]

39:1–12   Do I know how long the mountain goats are pregnant? Do I know when they give birth? Do I let the wild donkey go free? Will a wild ox serve me?

The Ostrich

13 “Does the ostrich flap its wings in joy,

or do its wings lack feathers?[60]

14 It lays its eggs on the ground

and warms them in the dust.

15 It forgets that a foot may crush them

or a wild animal may trample them.

16 It acts harshly toward its young as if they weren’t its own.

It is not afraid that its work is for nothing

17 because God has deprived it of wisdom

and did not give it any understanding.

18 It laughs at the horse and its rider when it gets up to flee.

The Horse

19 “Can you give strength to a horse

or dress its neck with a flowing mane?

20 Can you make it leap like a locust,

when its snorting causes terror?

21 It paws in strength and finds joy in its power.

It charges into battle.

22 It laughs at fear,

is afraid of nothing,

and doesn’t back away from swords.

23 A quiver of arrows rattles on it

along with the flashing spear and javelin.

24 Anxious and excited, the horse eats up the ground

and doesn’t trust the sound of the ram’s horn.

25 As often as the horn sounds, the horse says, ‘Aha!’

and it smells the battle far away—

the thundering ⌞orders⌟ of the captains and the battle cries.

The Birds of Prey

26 “Does your understanding make a bird of prey fly

and spread its wings toward the south?

27 Is it by your order that the eagle flies high

and makes its nest on the heights?

28 It perches for the night on a cliff.

Its fortress is on a jagged peak.

29 From there it seeks food,

and its eyes see it from far away.

30 Its young ones feed on blood.

It is found wherever there are dead bodies.”

39:13–30   Did I make the ostrich stupid? Did I make the horse strong? Does my understanding make a bird of prey fly south? Does my order force the eagle to fly high?

The LORD Speaks

40

1 The LORD responded to Job,

2 “Will the person who finds fault with the Almighty correct him?

Will the person who argues with God answer him?”

Job Speaks

3 Job answered the LORD,

4 “I’m so insignificant. How can I answer you?

I will put my hand over my mouth.

5 I spoke once, but I can’t answer—

twice, but not again.”

40:1–5   I found fault with you. Now you inquire if I can correct you. But I’m too insignificant to answer. I’ll cover up my mouth.

The LORD Speaks: Can You Be Like Me, Job?

6 Then the LORD responded to Job out of a storm,

7 “Brace yourself like a man!

I will ask you, and you will teach me.

8 “Would you undo my justice?

Would you condemn me so that you can be righteous?

9 Do you have power like God’s?

Can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 Then dress yourself in majesty and dignity.

Clothe yourself in splendor and glory.

11 Unleash your outbursts of anger.

Look at all who are arrogant, and put them down.

12 Look at all who are arrogant, and humble them.

Crush wicked people wherever they are.

13 Hide them completely in the dust,

and cover their faces in the hidden place.

14 Then even I will praise you

because your right hand can save you.

40:6–14   Do I condemn you so I can declare myself righteous? Do I have power like you? If I do, then I should dress myself with majesty. I should unleash my anger on the arrogant.

Can You Conquer Behemoth, Job?

15 “Look at Behemoth,[61] which I made along with you.

It eats grass as cattle do.

16 Look at the strength in its back muscles,

the power in its stomach muscles.

17 It makes its tail stiff like a cedar.

The ligaments of its thighs are intertwined.

18 Its bones are bronze tubes.

They are like iron bars.

19 Behemoth is the first of God’s conquests.

Its maker approaches it with his sword.

20 The hills bring it food,

and all the wild animals play there.

21 It lies down under the lotus plants

in a hiding place among reeds and swamps.

22 Lotus plants provide it with cover.

Poplars by the stream surround it.

23 Though the river flows powerfully against it, it’s not alarmed.

It’s confident ⌞even⌟ when the Jordan rushes against its mouth.

24 Can anyone blind its eyes[62]

or pierce its nose with snares?

40:15–24   Can I subdue the great beast? Can I blind its eyes or pierce its nose?

The LORD Continues: Can You Conquer Leviathan, Job?

41  [63]

1 “Can you pull Leviathan[64] out ⌞of the water⌟ with a fishhook

or tie its tongue down with a rope?

2 Can you put a ring through its nose

or pierce its jaw with a hook?

3 Will it plead with you for mercy

or speak tenderly to you?

4 Will it make an agreement with you

so that you can take it as your permanent slave?

5 Can you play with it like a bird

or keep it on a leash for your girls?

6 Will traders bargain over it

and divide it among the merchants?

7 Can you fill its hide with harpoons

or its head with fishing spears?

8 Lay your hand on it.

Think of the struggle!

Don’t do it again!

9 Certainly, any hope ⌞of defeating it⌟ is a false hope.

Doesn’t the sight of it overwhelm you?

10 No one is brave enough to provoke Leviathan.

Then who can stand in front of me?[65]

11 Who can confront me that I should repay him?

Everything under heaven belongs to me!

12 “I will not be silent about Leviathan’s limbs,

its strength, or its graceful form.

13 Who can skin its hide?

Who can approach it with a harness?

14 Who can open its closed mouth?

Its teeth are surrounded by terror.

15 Its back has rows of scales that are tightly sealed.

16 One is so close to the other

that there is no space between them.

17 Each is joined to the other.

They are locked together and inseparable.

18 When Leviathan sneezes, it gives out a flash of light.

Its eyes are like the first rays of the dawn.

19 Flames shoot from its mouth.

Sparks of fire fly from it.

20 Smoke comes from its nostrils

like a boiling pot heated over brushwood.

21 Its breath sets coals on fire,

and a flame pours from its mouth.

22 Strength resides in its neck,

and power dances in front of it.

23 The folds of its flesh stick to each other.

They are solid and cannot be moved.

24 Its chest is solid like a rock,

solid like a millstone.

41:1–24   Can I conquer Leviathan? Can I put it in a harness or pry open its mouth? Its back is like armor. It sneezes light. Flames shoot from its mouth. Smoke pours from its nostrils.

25 “The mighty are afraid when Leviathan rises.

Broken down, they draw back.

26 A sword may strike it but not pierce it.

Neither will a spear, lance, or dart.

27 It considers iron to be like straw

and bronze to be like rotten wood.

28 An arrow won’t make it run away.

Stones from a sling turn to dust against it.

29 It considers clubs to be like stubble,

and it laughs at a rattling javelin.

30 Its underside is like sharp pieces of broken pottery.

It stretches out like a threshing[66] sledge on the mud.

31 It makes the deep sea boil like a pot.

It stirs up the ocean like a boiling kettle.

32 It leaves a shining path behind it

so that the sea appears to have silvery hair.

33 Nothing on land can compare to it.

It was made fearless.

34 It looks down on all high things.

It is king of everyone who is arrogant.”

41:25–34   Am I better than mighty people smart enough to fear the Leviathan? Can I pierce the monster with a spear? It laughs at a javelin. It stirs up the ocean like a kettle. It rules the arrogant.

Job Speaks: I Admit That I Was Wrong

42

1 Then Job answered the LORD,

2 “I know that you can do everything

and that your plans are unstoppable.

3 “⌞You said,⌟ ‘Who is this that belittles my advice

without having any knowledge ⌞about it⌟?’

Yes, I have stated things I didn’t understand,

things too mysterious for me to know.

4 “⌞You said,⌟ ‘Listen now, and I will speak.

I will ask you, and you will teach me.’

5 I had heard about you with my own ears,

but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

6 That is why I take back what I said,

and I sit in dust and ashes to show that I am sorry.”

42:1–6   I know you can do everything. Your plans are unstoppable. I said things I didn’t understand, and I spoke mysteries too deep for me to know. I take back my words. I’m so sorry.

Job’s Life Is Restored

7 After the LORD had said those things to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz from Teman, “I’m very angry with you and your two friends because you didn’t speak what is right about me as my servant Job has done. 8 So take seven young bulls and seven rams. Go to my servant Job, and make a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you. Then I will accept his prayer not to treat you as godless fools. After all, you didn’t speak what is right about me as my servant Job has done.”

9 Then Eliphaz of Teman, Bildad of Shuah, and Zophar of Naama went and did what the LORD had told them to do. And the LORD accepted Job’s prayer.

10 After Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored Job’s prosperity and gave him twice as much ⌞as he had before⌟. 11 Then all his brothers and sisters and everyone who had previously known him came to him. They ate with him at his house, sympathized with him, and comforted him for all the evil the LORD had brought to him. Each one gave him some money[67] and a gold ring.

12 The LORD blessed the latter years of Job’s life more than the earlier years. He had 14,000 sheep and goats, 6,000 camels, 2,000 oxen, and 1,000 donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 He named the first ⌞daughter⌟ Jemimah, the second Cassia, and the third Keren Happuch. 15 Nowhere in the whole country could be found women who were as beautiful as Job’s daughters. Their father gave them and their brothers an inheritance.

16 Job lived 140 years after this. He saw his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.[68] 17 Then at a very old age, Job died.

42:7–17   Correct me when I don’t speak rightly about you. When you’re done testing me, restore my prosperity. Raise up my family. Let me enjoy a long life.

PSALMS

INTRODUCTION

The Psalms breathe prayer from start to finish. These songs, poems, and prayers of God’s Old Testament people were composed by a variety of people over a thousand-year span. Many flowed from King David, “the singer of Israel’s psalms” (2 Samuel 23:1). Others come from Asaph and Ethan, national worship leaders appointed by David. Several of the earliest psalms trace back to Moses, Solomon added others, and a priestly family named the “Sons of Korah” contributed songs over a period of centuries.

Although Israel incorporated these psalms into formal group worship, many reveal intensely personal cries of individuals. Praise, confusion, remorse, anger, and joy come raw and unfiltered. And throughout history this songbook of Israel has become the prayerbook of all God’s people. Believers find here not only comforting words and beautiful prose but also a grid for processing life’s most extreme difficulties. The psalms leave no doubt God can handle your speaking out loud your most wrenching emotions. They also make obvious that God won’t abandon you to despair. He aims to lead you to new calm, purpose, and trust.

A surprising number of these songs talk about God and his acts in third person. Praying the psalms invites you to turn these declarations about God into prayers to God. Whatever the subject of these psalms, however much their bluntness challenges you, no matter how near or far their world seems from yours, you can make these inspired words part of your everyday conversation with God.

PSALMS

Book I

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8

9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16

17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | 23  | 24

25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | 29  | 30  | 31  | 32

33  | 34  | 35  | 36  | 37  | 38  | 39  | 40  | 41

Book II

42  | 43  | 44  | 45  | 46  | 47  | 48  | 49

50  | 51  | 52  | 53  | 54  | 55  | 56  | 57

58  | 59  | 60  | 61  | 62  | 63  | 64  | 65

66  | 67  | 68  | 69  | 70  | 71  | 72

Book III

73  | 74  | 75  | 76  | 77  | 78  | 79  | 80

81  | 82  | 83  | 84  | 85  | 86  | 87  | 88  | 89

Book IV

90  | 91  | 92  | 93  | 94  | 95  | 96  | 97  | 98

99  | 100  | 101  | 102  | 103  | 104  | 105  | 106

Book V

107  | 108  | 109  | 110  | 111  | 112  | 113  | 114

115  | 116  | 117  | 118  | 119  | 120  | 121  | 122

123  | 124  | 125  | 126  | 127  | 128  | 129  | 130

131  | 132  | 133  | 134  | 135  | 136  | 137  | 138

139  | 140  | 141  | 142  | 143  | 144  | 145  | 146

147  | 148  | 149  | 150

BOOK ONE

(Psalms 1–41)

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the person who does not

follow the advice of wicked people,

take the path of sinners,

or join the company of mockers.

2 Rather, he delights in the teachings of the LORD

and reflects on his teachings day and night.

1:1–2   I would rather search your Word day and night than indulge evil opinions or sinful paths or mocking crowds. Lift me to your place of blessing.

3 He is like a tree planted beside streams—

a tree that produces fruit in season

and whose leaves do not wither.

He succeeds in everything he does.[1]

1:3   Plant me beside life-giving streams where I can drink you deeply. Let me be and do everything you plan for me. Give me success as I live your way.

4 Wicked people are not like that.

Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away.

5 That is why wicked people will not be able to stand in the judgment

and sinners will not be able to stand where righteous people gather.

1:4–5   Don’t let me dry up and blow away in the wind of your judgment. I choose to stand side by side with those who love you.

6 The LORD knows the way of righteous people,

but the way of wicked people will end.

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations gather together?

Why do their people devise useless plots?

2 Kings take their stands.

Rulers make plans together

against the LORD and against his Messiah[2] by saying,

3 “Let’s break apart their chains

and shake off their ropes.”

2:1–3   The whole world revolts against you with useless plots. The powerful and powerless alike try to shake off your reign. But I bow to you as my Lord.

4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs.

The LORD makes fun of them.

5 Then he speaks to them in his anger.

In his burning anger he terrifies them by saying,

2:4–5   You laugh at human rebels and burn with anger against them. You terrify them with the announcement of your rule.

6 “I have installed my own king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will announce the LORD’s decree.

He said to me:

“You are my Son.

Today I have become your Father.

8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance

and the ends of the earth as your own possession.

2:6–8   You’ve enthroned your Son as the one and only King over the whole earth. Every nation belongs to him.

9 You will break them with an iron scepter.

You will smash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Now, you kings, act wisely.

Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

2:9–10   You break those who war against you, shattering them like brittle clay. I grow wise when I think hard about this fact!

11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, or he will become angry

and you will die on your way

because his anger will burst into flames.

Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him.

2:11–12   I serve you with trembling joy. I give you a loyal kiss. I smile as I submit to you. And I enjoy your blessing as I take refuge in you.

Psalm 3

A psalm by David when he fled from his son Absalom.

1 O LORD, look how my enemies have increased!

Many are attacking me.

2 Many are saying about me,

“Even with God ⌞on his side⌟,

he won’t be victorious.” Selah

3:1–2   My enemies swarm around me. They say your help isn’t enough.

3 But you, O LORD, are a shield that surrounds me.

You are my glory.

You hold my head high.

4 I call aloud to the LORD,

and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah

3:3–4   But you protect me on every side. You hold my head high. You are my powerful answer from heaven.

5 I lie down and sleep.

I wake up again because the LORD continues to support me.

3:5   Because you support me I can fall asleep each night and wake every morning.

6 I am not afraid of the tens of thousands

who have taken positions against me on all sides.

7 Arise, O LORD!

Save me, O my God!

You have slapped all my enemies in the face.

You have smashed the teeth of wicked people.

8 Victory belongs to the LORD!

May your blessing rest on your people. Selah

3:6–8   The thousands who entrap me don’t scare me, because I know you’ll come to my rescue. Strike the jaws set hard against me. Seize your victory!

Psalm 4

For the choir director; with stringed instruments; a psalm by David.

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness.

You have freed me from my troubles.

Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!

2 You important people,

how long are you going to insult my honor?

How long are you going to love what is empty

and seek what is a lie? Selah

4:1–2   Answer me, O God who makes me righteous. As you’ve freed me in the past, hear my prayer now! Important people hurl insults at me as they chase empty and untrue things. Protect me!

3 Know that the LORD singles out godly people for himself.

The LORD hears me when I call to him.

4 Tremble and do not sin.

Think about this on your bed and remain quiet. Selah

4:3–4   You’ve singled me out and made me your own. I’ll keep doing good while I wait quietly for your answer.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness

by trusting the LORD.

6 Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?”

Let the light of your presence shine on us, O LORD.

7 You put more joy in my heart

than when their grain and new wine increase.

4:5–7   You shine on everyone who trusts you. You give me more joy than every kind of abundant possession.

8 I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down

because you alone, O LORD, enable me to live securely.

Psalm 5

For the choir director; for flutes; a psalm by David.

1 Open your ears to my words, O LORD.

Consider my innermost thoughts.

2 Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God,

because I pray only to you.

3 In the morning, O LORD, hear my voice.

In the morning I lay my needs in front of you,

and I wait.

5:1–3   Help me! Hear my words and my unspoken thoughts. I count on you alone. Each morning I tell you my needs, and all day long I watch for your answers.

4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness.

Evil will never be your guest.

5 Those who brag cannot stand in your sight.

You hate all troublemakers.

6 You destroy those who tell lies.

The LORD is disgusted with bloodthirsty and deceitful people.

5:4–6   You can’t stand evil. You chase it from your presence. Braggers and troublemakers and liars can’t come close to you.

7 But I will enter your house because of your great mercy.

Out of reverence for you, I will bow toward your holy temple.

8 O LORD, lead me in your righteousness because of those who spy on me.

Make your way in front of me smooth.

5:7–8   Only your mercy allows me to come near you. Only your righteousness leads my path and smooths my way.

Authentic Prayer

Psalm 5:1–3

Waiting

Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God, because I pray only to you. . . . In the morning I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait. Psalm 5:2–3

Prayer cries out for attention. You speak to God hoping he listens. You invite him to dig through your mind to find your innermost thoughts. You long for him to hear your pleas for help. After all, he’s the only one you pray to, putting requests in front of him each morning and every moment. Then you wait.

“Waiting for God” can mean pausing to let God speak. Or watching for his answer to prayer. Or going about your life expecting his intervention, salvation, even his arrival on earth. Whatever kind of waiting you do, it causes an agonizing gap between your speaking and the Lord’s response. It aggravates your expectations of instant satisfaction. It tests whether you will keep waiting for God or go looking for another way to get what you want. That impatience often leads to sin.

The Lord is always attentive to your requests. When you quit demanding quick answers and instead worship your always-faithful God, you gain patience to wait. You rest calmly until he responds in his right way and right time.

Pray the Scriptures Waiting: Psalm 62:1–8, Psalm 145:15–16, Isaiah 40:28–31, Lamentations 3:21–30

9 Nothing in their mouths is truthful.

Destruction comes from their hearts.

Their throats are open graves.

They flatter with their tongues.

10 Condemn them, O God.

Let their own schemes be their downfall.

Throw them out for their many crimes

because they have rebelled against you.

5:9–10   Liars breathe death in my direction. Don’t let these rebels stand. Trap them in their own schemes. Toss them from your presence.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice.

Let them sing with joy forever.

Protect them, and let those who love your name triumph in you.

12 You bless righteous people, O LORD.

Like a large shield, you surround them with your favor.

5:11–12   But let me stay close to you and sing. Support those who do your will. Surround them with your favor.

Psalm 6

For the choir director; with stringed instruments, on the sheminith;[3] a psalm by David.

1 O LORD, do not punish me in your anger

or discipline me in your rage.

2 Have pity on me, O LORD, because I am weak.

Heal me, O LORD, because my bones shake with terror.

6:1–2   You have every reason to rage at me. But treat me with mercy, because I’m weak. Heal me, because I shake with terror.

3 My soul has been deeply shaken with terror.

But you, O LORD, how long . . . ?

4 Come back, O LORD.

Rescue me.

Save me because of your mercy!

5 In death, no one remembers you.

In the grave, who praises you?

6:3–5   I wonder where you’ve gone and when you’ll be back to save me. It won’t do you any good to watch me die, because no one will be left to worship you.

6 I am worn out from my groaning.

My eyes flood my bed every night.

I soak my couch with tears.

7 My eyes blur from grief.

They fail because of my enemies.

6:6–7   I can’t stop groaning and crying. My eyes overflow with tears and I can’t see straight.

8 Get away from me, all you troublemakers,

because the LORD has heard the sound of my crying.

9 The LORD has heard my plea for mercy.

The LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be put to shame and deeply shaken with terror.

In a moment they will retreat and be put to shame.

6:8–10   I know you’ve heard my cries. And now my tormenters will run scared because you’re coming to help me. You’ll push them away and put them to shame.

Psalm 7

A shiggaion[4] by David; he sang it to the LORD about the ⌞slanderous⌟ words of Cush, a descendant of Benjamin.

1 O LORD my God, I have taken refuge in you.

Save me, and rescue me from all who are pursuing me.

2 Like a lion they will tear me to pieces

and drag me off with no one to rescue me.

7:1–2   People hungry for my flesh hunt me. They mean to tear me apart. But you are my safe place.

3 O LORD my God,

if I have done this—

if my hands are stained with injustice,

4 if I have paid back my friend with evil

or rescued someone who has no reason to attack me—[5]

5 then let the enemy chase me and catch me.

Let him trample my life into the ground.

Let him lay my honor in the dust. Selah

7:3–5   If I’ve done wrong, then let my pursuers catch me and kill me. If I’ve acted unjustly or wronged my friends, then let them drag me to my death.

6 Arise in anger, O LORD.

Stand up against the fury of my attackers.

Wake up, my God.[6]

You have already pronounced judgment.

7 Let an assembly of people gather around you.

Take your seat high above them.

7:6–7   Wake up! You’ve already decided I’m right. Let the whole world hear your verdict. Let them watch you rise against my attackers.

8 The LORD judges the people of the world.

Judge me, O LORD,

according to my righteousness,

according to my integrity.

9 Let the evil within wicked people come to an end,

but make the righteous person secure,

O righteous God who examines thoughts and emotions.

7:8–9   You judge everybody on earth. So confirm my integrity. Examine my pure mind and heart. Consider my motives. Then shield me from sinners. Lock me in a safe place.

10 My shield is God above,

who saves those whose motives are decent.

11 God is a fair judge,

a God who is angered by injustice every day.

12 If a person does not change, God sharpens his sword.

By bending his bow, he makes it ready ⌞to shoot⌟.

13 He prepares his deadly weapons

and turns them into flaming arrows.

7:11–13   You never tolerate injustice. It angers you every time you see it. A person’s failure to change for the better invites your flaming arrows.

14 See how that person conceives evil,

is pregnant with harm,

and gives birth to lies.

15 He digs a pit and shovels it out.

Then he falls into the hole that he made ⌞for others⌟.

16 His mischief lands back on his own head.

His violence comes down on top of him.

17 I will give thanks to the LORD for his righteousness.

I will make music to praise the name of the LORD Most High.

7:14–17   You cause trouble to boomerang back at people who conceive, carry, and bear evil. They suffer the pain they plan for others. I’m grateful for your righteous verdict.

Psalm 8

For the choir director; on the gittith;[7] a psalm by David.

1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!

Your glory is sung above the heavens.[8]

2 From the mouths of little children and infants,

you have built a fortress against your opponents

to silence the enemy and the avenger.

8:1–2   Your name is regal everywhere on earth. Your glory inspires worship throughout the universe. All it takes is praise on the lips of babes to hush your enemies.

3 When I look at your heavens,

the creation of your fingers,

the moon and the stars that you have set in place—

4 what is a mortal that you remember him

or the Son of Man that you take care of him?

5 You have made him a little lower than yourself.

You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him rule what your hands created.

You have put everything under his control:

7 all the sheep and cattle, the wild animals,

8 the birds, the fish,

whatever swims in the currents of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!

8:3–4   I’m stunned and shrunken when I compare myself to the vastness of your creation. Why do you bother with me?

8:5–9 You seat me just below your throne and invest me with honor. You share your reign and put creation under my control. Your name is matchless in majesty and authority!

Psalm 9

For the choir director; according to muth labben;[9] a psalm by David.[10]

1 I will give ⌞you⌟ thanks, O LORD, with all my heart.

I will tell about all the miracles you have done.

2 I will find joy and be glad about you.

I will make music to praise your name, O Most High.

9:1–2   My heart bursts with gratitude for your miracles. You give me joy. Praise wells up inside me, O Most High.

3 When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and die in your presence.

4 You have defended my just cause:

You sat down on your throne as a fair judge.

5 You condemned nations.

You destroyed wicked people.

You wiped out their names forever and ever.

6 The enemy is finished—in ruins forever.

You have uprooted their cities.

Even the memory of them has faded.

9:3–6   My enemies collapse when they meet you. They hear you defend me even though you condemn whole nations and peoples. You wipe them out so completely that no one remembers that they ever existed.

7 Yet, the LORD is enthroned forever.

He has set up his throne for judgment.

8 He alone judges the world with righteousness.

He judges ⌞its⌟ people fairly.

9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 Those who know your name trust you, O LORD,

because you have never deserted those who seek your help.

9:7–10   Even as evildoers perish, you reign forever. You alone judge fairly and protect the oppressed. You never abandon anyone who counts on you for help.

11 Make music to praise the LORD, who is enthroned in Zion.

Announce to the nations what he has done.

12 The one who avenges murder has remembered oppressed people.

He has never forgotten their cries.

13 Have pity on me, O LORD.

Look at what I suffer because of those who hate me.

You take me away from the gates of death

14 so that I may recite your praises one by one

in the gates of Zion

and find joy in your salvation.

9:11–14   I see you on your throne and sing to you. I tell the world that you avenge murder and help the oppressed. Though others hate me, you pity me. You carry me back from the brink of death. I’ll praise you for every detail of how you have saved me.

15 The nations have sunk into the pit they have made.

Their feet are caught in the net they have hidden ⌞to trap others⌟.

16 The LORD is known by the judgment he has carried out.

The wicked person is trapped

by the work of his own hands. Higgaion Selah

9:15–16   Individuals and nations that plot evil get caught in their own traps. This is a sign of your judgment.

17 Wicked people, all the nations who forget God,

will return to the grave.

18 Needy people will not always be forgotten.

Nor will the hope of oppressed people be lost forever.

19 Arise, O LORD.

Do not let mortals gain any power.

Let the nations be judged in your presence.

20 Strike them with terror, O LORD.

Let the nations know that they are ⌞only⌟ mortal. Selah

9:17–20   Everyone who forgets you will die, but you never forget the needy or exploited. Don’t let mere human beings seize control of our world. Prove that you are boss. Warn them that they will disappear in your judgment.

Psalm 10

1 Why are you so distant, LORD?

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

10:1   Why can’t I see you when I need you most? Why are you so distant and hard to find?

2 The wicked person arrogantly pursues oppressed people.

He will be caught in the schemes that he planned.

3 The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires.

He blesses robbers, but he curses the LORD.

4 He turns up his nose ⌞and says⌟, “God doesn’t care.”

His every thought ⌞concludes⌟, “There is no God.”

5 He always seems to succeed.

Your judgments are beyond his understanding.

He spits at all his opponents.

6 He says to himself, “Nothing can shake me.

I’ll never face any trouble.”

10:2–6   Some people think they can get away with any kind of evil. They assume you don’t care. They even conclude you don’t exist. Why? Because these people always succeed. They can’t picture themselves facing your judgment. They can’t imagine failure.

7 His mouth is full of cursing, deception, and oppression.

Trouble and wrongdoing are on the tip of his tongue.

8 He waits in ambush in the villages.

From his hiding places he kills innocent people.

His eyes are on the lookout for victims.

9 He lies in his hiding place like a lion in his den.

He hides there to catch oppressed people.

He catches oppressed people when he draws them into his net.

10 ⌞His⌟ victims are crushed.

They collapse,

and they fall under ⌞the weight of⌟ his power.

11 He says to himself,

“God has forgotten.

He has hidden his face.

He will never see it!”

10:7–11   Do I need to remind you how the wicked act? They do evil with their words. They ambush and kill the innocent. They lure and crush the unsuspecting. And they think you don’t know or care!

12 Arise, O LORD!

Lift your hand, O God.

Do not forget oppressed people!

13 Why does the wicked person despise God?

Why does he say to himself, “God doesn’t care”?

14 You have seen ⌞it⌟; yes, you have taken note of trouble and grief

and placed them under your control.

The victim entrusts himself to you.

10:12–14   Stand up! Do something to save the oppressed! Don’t give the wicked one more reason to think you don’t care—especially while victims and orphans trust in your help.

You alone have been the helper of orphans.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil person.

Punish his wickedness until you find no more.

16 The LORD is king forever and ever.

The nations have vanished from his land.

10:15–16   Crush those who crush others. Punish every last bit of wickedness. Make evil nations disappear.

17 You have heard the desire of oppressed people, O LORD.

You encourage them.

You pay close attention to them

18 in order to provide justice for orphans and oppressed people

so that no mere mortal will terrify them again.

10:16–18   Rule over earth forever. Pay attention to the browbeaten and abandoned. Lift them out of discouragement. Give them justice so they can live free from fear.

Psalm 11

For the choir director; by David.

1 I have taken refuge in the LORD.

How can you say to me:

“Flee to your mountain like a bird?

2 Wicked people bend their bows.

They set their arrows against the strings

to shoot in the dark at people whose motives are decent.

3 When the foundations ⌞of life⌟ are undermined,

what can a righteous person do?”

11:1–3   People mock me for depending on you to protect me. Evildoers shoot at me and everyone decent. What are we supposed to do?

4 The LORD is in his holy temple.

The LORD’s throne is in heaven.

His eyes see.

They examine Adam’s descendants.

5 The LORD tests righteous people,

but he hates wicked people and the ones who love violence.

6 He rains down fire and burning sulfur upon wicked people.

He makes them drink from a cup filled with scorching wind.

11:4–6   From your throne in heaven you see everyone and everything. You study all of us. Even good people don’t escape your tests, but evil people face your stinking sulfur and scorching wind.

7 The LORD is righteous.

He loves a righteous way of life.

Decent people will see his face.

11:7   You are good. You love when people follow your good way. You let them see you.

Psalm 12

For the choir director; on the sheminith; a psalm by David.

1 Help, O LORD.

No godly person is left.

Faithful people have vanished from among Adam’s descendants!

2 All people speak foolishly.

They speak with flattering lips. They say one thing but mean another.

12:1–2   I need your help. I look around and see no one who loves you. Everyone left is a lying, flattering fool.

3 May the LORD cut off every flattering lip

and every bragging tongue

4 that has said,

“We will overcome with our tongues.

With lips such as ours, who can be our master?”

5 “Because oppressed people are robbed and needy people groan,

I will now arise,” says the LORD.

“I will provide safety for those who long for it.”

12:3–5   People who beat others with their words think no one can stop them. But put an end to them. Rescue the robbed and needy. Quiet their groaning and give them safety.

6 The promises of the LORD are pure,

like silver refined in a furnace[11] and purified seven times.

7 O LORD, you will protect them.

You will keep each one safe from those people forever.

8 Wicked people parade around

when immorality increases among Adam’s descendants.

12:6–8   I trust your promises. I fully expect you to protect the oppressed. Don’t let wicked people strut their sinfulness for everyone to see.

Psalm 13

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I make decisions alone

with sorrow in my heart day after day?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

13:1–2   Will you ever remember me? When will I see you again? How long will I be stuck here all by myself, paralyzed with sadness and struggling to know what to do?

3 Look at me! Answer me, O LORD my God!

Light up my eyes,

or else I will die

4 and my enemy will say, “I have overpowered him.”

My opponents will rejoice because I have been shaken.

5 But I trust your mercy.

My heart finds joy in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD because he has been good to me.

13:3–6   Look at me now! Answer me! Give me hope or I will die! I trust in your mercy and salvation. I will gladly sing of your goodness to me.

Psalm 14[12]

For the choir director; by David.

1 Godless fools say in their hearts,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt.

They do disgusting things.

There is no one who does good things.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven on Adam’s descendants

to see if there is anyone who acts wisely,

if there is anyone who seeks help from God.

3 Everyone has turned away.

Together they have become rotten to the core.

No one, not even one person, does good things.

14:1–3   Only a fool thinks you don’t exist. But every human on earth acts stupidly and refuses to rely on you. We have all run from you and become rotten to the core. None of us does good.

4 Are all those troublemakers,

those who devour my people as if they were devouring food,

so ignorant that they do not call on the LORD?

5 There they are—panic-stricken

because God is with the person who is righteous.

6 They put the advice of oppressed people to shame

because the LORD is their refuge.

14:4–6   Troublemakers eat your people like they gulp down food. Evildoers are so ignorant they don’t pray to you. They panic when they see you help people who obey you.

7 If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion!

When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,

Jacob will rejoice.

Israel will be glad.

14:7   Send help from your holy dwelling. Give us back our lives so we have reason to rejoice in you.

Psalm 15

A psalm by David.

1 O LORD, who may stay in your tent?

Who may live on your holy mountain?

2 The one who walks with integrity,

does what is righteous,

and speaks the truth within his heart.

3 The one who does not slander with his tongue,

do evil to a friend,

or bring disgrace on his neighbor.

15:1–3   Who is good enough to approach you? What kind of person can truly worship you? I’ll never experience your presence if my life is a lie. Or if I spend my days doing wrong. Or if I spread evil words. I commit all of myself to you—thoughts, words, and actions.

4 The one who despises those rejected by God

but honors those who fear the LORD.

The one who makes a promise and does not break it,

even though he is hurt by it.

15:4   Train me to honor your people. Push me to keep my promises even when it hurts.

5 The one who does not collect interest on a loan

or take a bribe against an innocent person.

Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 16

A miktam[13] by David.

1 Protect me, O God, because I take refuge in you.

2 I said to the LORD,

“You are my Lord. Without you, I have nothing good.”

16:1–2   Protect me because I trust in you. You are my master. Without you I have nothing.

3 Those who lead holy lives on earth

are the noble ones who fill me with joy.[14]

4 Those who quickly chase after other gods multiply their sorrows.

I will not pour out their sacrificial offerings of blood

or use my lips to speak their names.

16:3–4   I love being with your followers. Those who dedicate themselves to anything but you will encounter deep pain. I won’t worship their idols.

5 The LORD is my inheritance and my cup.

You are the one who determines my destiny.

6 Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me.

Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful.

16:5–6   You are my only real possession. You determine my future. When I live within your boundaries I find pleasure and beauty.

7 I will praise the LORD, who advises me.

My conscience warns me at night.

8 I always keep the LORD in front of me.

When he is by my side, I cannot be moved.

9 That is why my heart is glad and my soul rejoices.

My body rests securely

10 because you do not abandon my soul to the grave

or allow your holy one to decay.

11 You make the path of life known to me.

Complete joy is in your presence.

Pleasures are by your side forever.

16:7–11   Lead me and warn me. I won’t be shaken as long as I follow you. You are the reason I am happy, and because of you I rest. You won’t let me rot in the grave but will lift me up to be with you forever.

Psalm 17

A prayer by David.

1 Hear my plea for justice, O LORD.

Pay attention to my cry.

Open your ears to my prayer,

⌞which comes⌟ from lips free from deceit.

2 Let the verdict of my innocence come directly from you.

Let your eyes observe what is fair.

3 You have probed my heart.

You have confronted me at night.

You have tested me like silver,

but you found nothing wrong.

I have determined that my mouth will not sin.

17:1–3   Haven’t you noticed my cries for justice? I need you, because you alone can declare me innocent. You constantly probe and confront me, so you know my heart is faultless.

4 I have avoided cruelty because of your word.

In spite of what others have done,

5 my steps have remained firmly in your paths.

My feet have not slipped.

17:3–5   I’ve decided not to sin in what I say. Your Word keeps me from inflicting cruelty. Even when others stray from you, my feet grip your paths.

6 I have called on you because you answer me, O God.

Turn your ear toward me.

Hear what I have to say.

7 Reveal your miraculous deeds of mercy,

O Savior of those who find refuge by your side

from those who attack them.

8 Guard me as if I were the pupil in your eye.

Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

9 Hide me from wicked people who violently attack me,

from my deadly enemies who surround me.

17:7–9   Show me your miraculous mercy. You save everyone who runs to you for protection, so guard me as carefully as you guard your own eye. Hide me from the violent swarm.

10 They have shut out all feeling.[15]

Their mouths have spoken arrogantly.

11 They have tracked me down.

They have surrounded me.

They have focused their attention on throwing me to the ground.

12 Each one of them is like a lion eager to tear ⌞its prey⌟ apart

and like a young lion crouching in hiding places.

17:10–12   Wicked people are numb to their own evil. Their mouths spew pride. They circle me so they can toss me to the ground and tear me apart.

13 Arise, O LORD; confront them!

Bring them to their knees!

With your sword rescue my life from wicked people.

14 With your power rescue me from mortals, O LORD,

from mortals who enjoy their inheritance only in this life.

You fill their bellies with your treasure.

Their children are satisfied ⌞with it⌟,

and they leave what remains to their children.

15 I will see your face when I am declared innocent.

When I wake up, I will be satisfied ⌞with seeing⌟ you.

17:13–15   Confront these killers like you always confront me! Knock them down! For all I care they can enjoy a rich life and pass their treasures down to their children. That’s all they will get. But I want more. You alone can satisfy me.

Psalm 18[16]

For the choir director; by David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD when the LORD rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul. He said,

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior,

my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the strength of my salvation,

my stronghold.

18:1–2   My Lord, I love you. You are my strength, rock, fortress, and Savior. You are my God, shield, salvation, and stronghold.

3 The LORD should be praised.

I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.

4 The ropes of death had become tangled around me.

The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.

5 The ropes of the grave had surrounded me.

The clutches of death had confronted me.

18:3–5   I praise you because you saved me. I was tangled in death and drowning in destruction. Death held me in its clutches.

6 I called on the LORD in my distress.

I cried to my God for help.

He heard my voice from his temple,

and my cry for help reached his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and quaked.

Even the foundations of the mountains trembled.

They shook violently because he was angry.

8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,

and a raging fire came out of his mouth.

Glowing coals flared up from it.

18:6–8   I cried to you and you heard. In anger you shook the earth. Smoke and fire billowed from your breath.

9 He spread apart the heavens

and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.

10 He rode on one of the angels[17] as he flew,

and he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made the darkness his hiding place,

the dark rain clouds his covering.

12 Out of the brightness in front of him,

those rain clouds passed by with hailstones and lightning.

13 The LORD thundered in the heavens.

The Most High made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered them.

He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion.

18:9–14   You split the heavens as you rushed to my aid. You hid in the darkness. You hurled hailstones and flashed lightning as your voice thundered in the heavens. You threw my enemies into confusion and scattered them.

15 Then the ocean floor could be seen.

The foundations of the earth were laid bare

at your stern warning, O LORD,

at the blast of the breath from your nostrils.

16 He reached down from high above and took hold of me.

He pulled me out of the raging water.

17 He rescued me from my strong enemy

and from those who hated me,

because they were too strong for me.

18 On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me,

but the LORD came to my defense.

19 He brought me out to a wide-open place.

He rescued me because he was pleased with me.

18:15–19   Your stern warning bared the ocean floor, your breath pushing back the waters. You reached down and plucked me from raging waters and rescued me from hateful enemies. You came to my defense and deposited me in a wide-open place.

20 The LORD rewarded me

because of my righteousness,

because my hands are clean.

He paid me back

21 because I have kept the ways of the LORD

and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,

22 because all his judgments are in front of me

and I have not turned away from his laws.

23 I was innocent as far as he was concerned.

I have kept myself from guilt.

18:20–23   You reward me because I do right. You pay me back because I keep your ways and stay close to you. I remember your laws and keep them all. You know that I’m innocent.

24 The LORD paid me back

because of my righteousness,

because he can see that my hands are clean.

25 ⌞In dealing⌟ with faithful people you are faithful,

with innocent people you are innocent,

26 with pure people you are pure.

⌞In dealing⌟ with devious people you are clever.

18:25–26   Because I’m faithful, you’re faithful toward me. Because I live with integrity, I experience your integrity. Because I’m pure, I witness your purity. If I chose to be devious, you would outsmart me.

27 You save humble people,

but you bring down a conceited look.

28 O LORD, you light my lamp.

My God turns my darkness into light.

29 With you I can attack a line of soldiers.

With my God I can break through barricades.

18:29   With you on my side I can conquer an army. I can break through every barrier.

30 God’s way is perfect!

The promise of the LORD has proven to be true.

He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

31 Who is God but the LORD?

Who is a rock except our God?

18:30–31   Your way is perfect and your promises always true. There is no God but you. There is no rock except my God.

32 God arms me with strength

and makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like those of a deer

and gives me sure footing on high places.

34 He trains my hands for battle

so that my arms can bend an ⌞archer’s⌟ bow of bronze.

35 You have given me the shield of your salvation.

Your right hand supports me.

Your gentleness makes me great.

18:32–35   You make me like an agile deer and give me sure footing. You train me to fight so I can bend a bow of bronze. Your salvation is like a shield. And your gentleness makes me great.

36 You make a wide path for me to walk on

so that my feet do not slip.

37 I chased my enemies and caught up with them.

I did not return until I had ended their lives.

38 I wounded them so badly that they were unable to get up.

They fell under my feet.

39 You armed me with strength for battle.

You made my opponents bow at my feet.

40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,

and I destroyed those who hated me.

41 They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them.

They cried out to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

42 I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust blown by the wind.

I threw them out as though they were dirt on the streets.

18:37–42   I chase my enemies until I catch them. I don’t give up until they are gone, and you don’t give in to them when they suddenly beg you for help. Because of you they become like dirt under my feet.

43 You rescued me from my conflicts with the people.

You made me the leader of nations.

A people I did not know will serve me:

44 As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.

Foreigners will cringe in front of me.

45 Foreigners will lose heart,

and they will tremble when they come out of their fortifications.

18:43–45   You rescue me from conflict and lift me to leadership. People obey me because you put them under my authority. Evil gets its due reward because you are my avenger.

46 The LORD lives!

Thanks be to my rock!

May God my Savior be honored.

47 God gives me vengeance!

He brings people under my authority.

48 He saves me from my enemies.

You lift me up above my opponents.

You rescue me from violent people.

18:46–48   I’m convinced you are real. You’re my sure and solid rock! God my Savior, may my life honor you.

49 That is why I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations

and make music to praise your name.

50 He gives great victories to his king.

He shows mercy to his anointed,

to David, and to his descendant[18] forever.

18:49–50   I sing you thanks so loudly that everyone on earth can hear. Victory and mercy come from you!

Psalm 19

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky displays what his hands have made.

2 One day tells a story to the next.

One night shares knowledge with the next

3 without talking,

without words,

without their voices being heard.

19:1–3   I gaze at the stars and see your glory. I study the sky and grasp your workmanship. Both day and night spell out your greatness without speaking a word.

4 ⌞Yet,⌟ their sound has gone out into the entire world,

their message to the ends of the earth.

He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun,

5 which comes out of its chamber like a bridegroom.

Like a champion, it is eager to run its course.

6 It rises from one end of the heavens.

It circles around to the other.

Nothing is hidden from its heat.

19:4–6   Nowhere on earth is too remote to hear your message. The sun blazes your Word across the sky.

7 The teachings of the LORD are perfect.

They renew the soul.

The testimony of the LORD is dependable.

It makes gullible people wise.

8 The instructions of the LORD are correct.

They make the heart rejoice.

The command of the LORD is radiant.

It makes the eyes shine.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure.

It endures forever.

The decisions of the LORD are true.

They are completely fair.

19:7–9   Your flawless teachings renew me. Your trustworthy testimony makes this fool wise. Your accurate instructions cheer my heart. Your radiant commands ignite my eyes. You inspire me with unfading awe. Your true decisions strike me as completely fair.

10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.

They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb.

11 As your servant I am warned by them.

There is a great reward in following them.

19:10–11   Your words are far more precious than gold. Moment by moment they warn me as I serve you. Keeping your commands gives me breathtaking rewards.

12 Who can notice every mistake?

Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep me from sinning.

Do not let anyone gain control over me.

Then I will be blameless,

and I will be free from any great offense.

14 May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart

be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my defender.

19:12–14   Forgive my faults I can’t see. Keep evil habits from mastering me. Let my every word and thought please you. You are my master, my rock, and my defender.

Psalm 20

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 The LORD will answer you in times of trouble.

The name of the God of Jacob will protect you.

2 He will send you help from his holy place

and support you from Zion.

3 He will remember all your grain offerings

and look with favor on your burnt offerings. Selah

20:1–3   You answer me every time I hit trouble. You protect me when I rely on your name. You never forget my sincere worship.

4 He will give you your heart’s desire

and carry out all your plans.

5 We will joyfully sing about your victory.

We will wave our flags in the name of our God.

The LORD will fulfill all your requests.

20:4–5   You grant my heart’s wish and carry my plans to completion. You give me abundant reasons to sing with your people.

6 Now I know that the LORD will give victory to his anointed king.

He will answer him from his holy heaven

with mighty deeds of his powerful hand.

7 Some ⌞rely⌟ on chariots and others on horses,

but we will boast in the name of the LORD our God.

8 They will sink to their knees and fall,

but we will rise and stand firm.

9 Give victory to the king, O LORD.

Answer us when we call.

20:7–9   Some count on their own strength and speed, but I will never rely on anything but you. Others sink to their knees and crumble, but I will rise and stand firm. Answer me when I call!

Psalm 21

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 The king finds joy in your strength, O LORD.

What great joy he has in your victory!

21:1   I feel joy when I think of your strength. I rejoice whenever you win!

2 You gave him his heart’s desire.

You did not refuse the prayer from his lips. Selah

3 You welcomed him with the blessings of good things

and set a crown of fine gold on his head.

4 He asked you for life.

You gave him a long life, forever and ever.

21:2–4   You give me the longings of my heart and answer my prayers. You wrap me in blessings and crown me with gold. I ask you for long life and you give it.

5 Because of your victory his glory is great.

You place splendor and majesty on him.

6 Yes, you made him a blessing forever.

You made him glad with the joy of your presence.

7 Indeed, the king trusts the LORD,

and through the mercy of the Most High, he will not be moved.

21:5–7   You robe me with splendor and majesty. You make me a blessing to others and energize me with your presence. Because I trust in you I won’t be moved.

8 Your hand will discover all your enemies.

Your powerful hand will find all who hate you.

9 When you appear, you will make them ⌞burn⌟ like a blazing furnace.

The LORD will swallow them up in his anger.

Fire will devour them.

10 You will destroy their children from the earth

and their offspring from among Adam’s descendants.

11 Although they scheme and plan evil against you,

they will not succeed.

12 They turn their backs ⌞and flee⌟

because you aim your bow at their faces.[19]

13 Arise, O LORD, in your strength.

We will sing and make music to praise your power.

21:8–13   I know you will scorch your enemies and swallow them in anger. You will end their dynasties and halt their evil schemes. When they see your judgment aimed square at their faces they will flee in terror. I will praise your power.

Psalm 22

For the choir director; according to ayyeleth hashachar;[20] a psalm by David.

1 My God, my God,

why have you abandoned me?

Why are you so far away from helping me,

so far away from the words of my groaning?

2 My God,

I cry out by day, but you do not answer—

also at night, but I find no rest.

22:1–2   Why have you left me? Why is your help so distant? Can’t you hear my groans? I plead with you day and night, but you don’t answer me.

3 Yet, you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4 Our ancestors trusted you.

They trusted, and you rescued them.

5 They cried to you and were saved.

They trusted you and were never disappointed.

22:3–5   I worship your pure and perfect holiness. I trust you and you answer me. I cry to you and you save me.

6 Yet, I am a worm and not a man.

I am scorned by humanity and despised by people.

7 All who see me make fun of me.

Insults pour from their mouths.

They shake their heads and say,

8 “Put yourself in the LORD’s hands.

Let the LORD save him!

Let God rescue him since he is pleased with him!”

22:6–8   I don’t even feel like a human being. I’m a worm. People despise me and make fun of me. They mock me for trusting myself to you. They say you won’t rescue me.

9 Indeed, you are the one who brought me out of the womb,

the one who made me feel safe at my mother’s breasts.

10 I was placed in your care from birth.

From my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be so far away from me.

Trouble is near, and there is no one to help.

22:9–11   You brought me into this world, and you’ve been my safety since the day of my birth. You’ve always been my God. So don’t be so far from me. There’s no one else to help me.

12 Many bulls have surrounded me.

Strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me.

13 They have opened their mouths to attack me

like ferocious, roaring lions.

14 I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart is like wax.

It has melted within me.

15 My strength is dried up like pieces of broken pottery.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You lay me down in the dust of death.

22:12–15   Powerful enemies surround me. They spread their jaws to maul me. My insides melt and my life spills like water on dirt. I’m weak and can’t speak. Do you like watching me die in the dust?

16 Dogs have surrounded me.

A mob has encircled me.

They have pierced my hands and feet.

17 I can count all my bones.

People stare.

They gloat over me.

18 They divide my clothes among themselves.

They throw dice for my clothing.

22:16–18   Vicious and unfaithful people surround me. A mob pierces my hands and feet. They strip me naked. They can’t stop staring at this starving sack of bones.

19 Do not be so far away, O LORD.

Come quickly to help me, O my strength.

20 Rescue my soul from the sword,

my life from vicious dogs.

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion

and from the horns of wild oxen.

You have answered me.

22 I will tell my people about your name.

I will praise you within the congregation.

23 All who fear the LORD, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him!

Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel.

24 The LORD has not despised or been disgusted

with the plight of the oppressed one.

He has not hidden his face from that person.

The LORD heard when that oppressed person

cried out to him for help.

22:19–24   Don’t be so far from me. Come quickly to my side. Save me from the hideous death my enemies plan for me. Then I will praise you for all your people to hear.

22:23–24   I praise you because you are awesome. I worship you because I belong to you. I’m confident you don’t despise me. I’m sure you don’t run from me in disgust. I’m certain you hear me.

25 My praise comes from you while I am among those assembled for worship.

I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who fear the LORD.

26 Oppressed people will eat until they are full.

Those who look to the LORD will praise him.

May you live forever.

22:26   You’ll feed the starving until they’re full. Everyone who looks to you will praise you.

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the LORD.

All the families from all the nations will worship you

28 because the kingdom belongs to the LORD

and he rules the nations.

29 All prosperous people on earth will eat and worship.

All those who go down to the dust will kneel in front of him,

even those who are barely alive.

30 There will be descendants who serve him,

a generation that will be told about the Lord.

31 They will tell people yet to be born about his righteousness—

that he has finished it.

22:27–31   One day the whole world will realize you rule all humankind. The thriving and the dying alike will kneel and worship you. Children not yet born will learn about you.

Psalm 23

A psalm by David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd.

I am never in need.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside peaceful waters.

3 He renews my soul.

He guides me along the paths of righteousness

for the sake of his name.

23:1–3   Because you are my shepherd, I will never lack. You let me stretch out in peace. You fill my soul. You guide my life so your name receives glory.

4 Even though I walk through the dark valley of death,

because you are with me, I fear no harm.

Your rod and your staff give me courage.

Authentic Prayer

Psalm 23:1–6

Trust

The LORD is my shepherd. I am never in need. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. Psalm 23:1–2

When the Lord is your shepherd, you can count on him for everything you need. In this ancient song David the shepherd-turned-king assumes the role of a sheep, an animal that exists in utter dependence on a shepherd’s care.

When sheep lack a deep sense of security, they move in constant agitation, yet David lies down in lush grass. Sheep instinctively fear fast-moving streams, but the Lord leads his own beside calm waters. David looks to God for refreshment, guidance, safety, and courage. While his adversaries watch, the Lord feeds him sumptuous food, pours perfume on his head, and keeps his cup overflowing. David counts on God’s steady love every day of his life, and he fully expects to live forever in his presence. With the Lord leading him, David lacks nothing.

Calling yourself a sheep requires humility. Trusting the Lord means living in total reliance on him, admitting he has higher insights and power than you. Let that attitude of dependence spill out in your words. Tell the Lord you trust him to provide you with everything you need and more.

Pray the Scriptures Trust: Psalm 9:7–10, Psalm 84:11–12, Psalm 91:1–16, Isaiah 26:3

5 You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch.

You anoint my head with oil.

My cup overflows.

23:4–5   I won’t fear even when I face death, because you are with me. You replace my cowardice with courage. You invite me to feast while my enemies watch. My life overflows.

6 Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to me all the days of my life,

and I will remain in the LORD’s house for days without end.

23:6   Your goodness and mercy will never go away, and I will never leave your presence.

Psalm 24

A psalm by David.

1 The earth and everything it contains are the LORD’s.

The world and all who live in it are his.

2 He laid its foundation on the seas

and set it firmly on the rivers.

24:1–2   There’s not a thing on earth you didn’t make. Everything and everyone belongs to you.

3 Who may go up the LORD’s mountain?

Who may stand in his holy place?

4 ⌞The one who⌟ has clean hands and a pure heart

and does not long for what is false[21]

or lie when he is under oath.

5 ⌞This person⌟ will receive a blessing from the LORD

and righteousness from God, his savior.

6 This is the person who seeks him,

who searches for the face of the God of Jacob.[22] Selah

24:3–6   Who can draw close to you? People who are pure inside and out. If I seek your face and rely on your righteousness, I know I’ll receive your blessing.

7 Lift your heads, you gates.

Be lifted, you ancient doors,

so that the king of glory may come in.

8 Who is this king of glory?

The LORD, strong and mighty!

The LORD, heroic in battle!

9 Lift your heads, you gates.

Be lifted, you ancient doors,

so that the king of glory may come in.

24:7–9   I open my heart to you. You’re as welcome in me as you are in your own holy city. You’re the King of Glory—strong and mighty, heroic in battle. I open my life to you. Please enter in!

10 Who, then, is this king of glory?

The LORD of Armies is the king of glory! Selah

Psalm 25[23]

By David.

1 To you, O LORD, I lift my soul.

2 I trust you, O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame.

Do not let my enemies triumph over me.

25:1–2   I offer you my whole being. I trust in you with my whole heart. Don’t let my enemies shame me or beat me.

3 No one who waits for you will ever be put to shame,

but all who are unfaithful will be put to shame.

4 Make your ways known to me, O LORD,

and teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth and teach me

because you are God, my savior.

I wait all day long for you.

25:4–5   Show me how you want me to live. Instruct me in the real facts of life. You alone can do this for me, because you alone are my Savior.

6 Remember, O LORD, your compassionate and merciful deeds.

They have existed from eternity.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my rebellious ways.

Remember me, O LORD, in keeping with your mercy and your goodness.

25:6–7   Be merciful to me today just as you have been merciful from all eternity. Forgive and forget my youthful rebellion.

8 The LORD is good and decent.

That is why he teaches sinners the way they should live.

9 He leads humble people to do what is right,

and he teaches them his way.

10 Every path of the LORD is ⌞one of⌟ mercy and truth

for those who cling to his promise[24] and written instructions.

25:8–10   You’re always good and fair. You give your commands to give us life. You teach everyone who bows to you. And when I cling to your promises and instructions, I always discover your mercy and truth.

11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,

remove my guilt, because it is great.

25:11   Forgive my great guilt, for your name is even greater.

12 Who, then, is this person that fears the LORD?

He is the one whom the LORD will teach which path to choose.

13 He will enjoy good things in life,

and his descendants will inherit the land.

14 The LORD advises those who fear him.

He reveals to them the intent of his promise.

25:12–14   When I choose your path, I enjoy life’s best things. I see my children experience your presence and provision. And I comprehend your promises.

15 My eyes are always on the LORD.

He removes my feet from traps.

16 Turn to me, and have pity on me.

I am lonely and oppressed.

17 Relieve my troubled heart,

and bring me out of my distress.

18 Look at my misery and suffering,

and forgive all my sins.

25:16–18   Turn to me and meet me in my loneliness. Lift my burdens and release me from my distress. Don’t ignore my misery. Forgive my sins.

19 See how my enemies have increased in number,

how they have hated me with vicious hatred!

20 Protect my life, and rescue me!

Do not let me be put to shame.

I have taken refuge in you.

21 Integrity and honesty will protect me because I wait for you.

22 Rescue Israel, O God, from all its troubles!

25:19–22   My enemies and their hatred for me never stop multiplying. Protect me and rescue me, because I hide in you and no one else. I’m waiting for help. Save me! Save all your followers!

Psalm 26

By David.

1 Judge me favorably, O LORD,

because I have walked with integrity

and I have trusted you without wavering.

2 Examine me, O LORD, and test me.

Look closely into my heart and mind.

3 I see your mercy in front of me.

I walk in the light of your truth.

26:1–3   Rule in my favor, because you know my integrity and unwavering trust. Examine me up close, because you can peer into my heart and mind. Lead me with your mercy, and light my path with your truth.

4 I did not sit with liars,

and I will not be found among hypocrites.

5 I have hated the mob of evildoers

and will not sit with wicked people.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence.

I will walk around your altar, O LORD,

26:4–6   I don’t partner with liars or hypocrites. You won’t find me joining a mob of evildoers or plotting with the wicked. I’ll keep myself pure.

7 so that I may loudly sing a hymn of thanksgiving

and tell about all your miracles.

8 O LORD, I love the house where you live,

the place where your glory dwells.

26:7–8   I boldly sing you thanks and tell of the miracles you have worked on my behalf. I love to be in your presence.

9 Do not sweep away my soul along with hardened sinners

or my life along with bloodthirsty people.

10 Evil schemes are in their hands.

Their right hands are full of bribes.

11 But I walk with integrity.

Rescue me, and have pity on me.

12 My feet stand on level ground.

I will praise the LORD with the choirs in worship.

26:9–12   Don’t sweep me away with people committed to sinning, because I live with integrity. Keep my feet firmly planted, and I’ll worship you along with your people.

Psalm 27

By David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation.

Who is there to fear?

The LORD is my life’s fortress.

Who is there to be afraid of?

27:1   You’re my light and my salvation, so I have nothing to fear. With you as my fortress, I’m scared by no one.

2 Evildoers closed in on me to tear me to pieces.

My opponents and enemies stumbled and fell.

3 Even though an army sets up camp against me,

my heart will not be afraid.

Even though a war breaks out against me,

I will still have confidence ⌞in the LORD⌟.

27:2–3   Evildoers surrounded me to tear me apart, but they tripped and fell. Even if an army declared war on me, I would count on you.

4 I have asked one thing from the LORD.

This I will seek:

to remain in the LORD’s house all the days of my life

in order to gaze at the LORD’s beauty

and to search for an answer in his temple.

27:4   There’s only one thing I want from you—to live each day so close to you that I can gaze on your beauty and get the answers I need.

5 He hides me in his shelter when there is trouble.

He keeps me hidden in his tent.

He sets me high on a rock.

6 Now my head will be raised above my enemies who surround me.

I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in his tent.

I will sing and make music to praise the LORD.

27:5–6   You shelter me from my troubles. You raise me above my enemies. I shout joyfully to you!

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud.

Have pity on me, and answer me.

8 ⌞When you said,⌟

“Seek my face,”

my heart said to you,

“O LORD, I will seek your face.”[25]

9 Do not hide your face from me.

Do not angrily turn me away.

You have been my help.

Do not leave me!

Do not abandon me, O God, my savior!

27:8–9   You invite me to seek you—and so my heart searches high and low for more of you. Let me see your face. Don’t push me away in anger.

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,

the LORD will take care of me.

27:9–10   Savior, don’t abandon me! I will trust you to care for me even when I’m discarded by the people who should love me most.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD.

Lead me on a level path

because I have enemies who spy on me.

12 Do not surrender me to the will of my opponents.

False witnesses have risen against me.

They breathe out violence.

27:11–12   Teach me to know and do your will. Don’t hand me over to people who want to do me in.

13 I believe that I will see the goodness of the LORD

in this world of the living.

14 Wait with hope for the LORD.

Be strong, and let your heart be courageous.

Yes, wait with hope for the LORD.

27:13–14   I’m convinced I’ll live to see your goodness, so I’ll keep hoping in you. Fill me with strength and courage as I await you!

Psalm 28

By David.

1 O LORD, I call to you.

O my rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me.

If you remain silent,

I will be like those who go into the pit.

2 Hear my prayer for mercy when I call to you for help,

when I lift my hands toward your most holy place.

3 Do not drag me away with wicked people,

with troublemakers who speak of peace with their neighbors

but have evil in their hearts.

28:1–3   I’ve built my life on you, O my rock, so answer me before I die. I’m begging for mercy. Don’t punish me along with two-faced troublemakers, people who hate and harm their neighbors.

4 Pay them back for what they have done,

for their evil deeds.

Pay them back for what their hands have done,

and give them what they deserve.

5 The LORD will tear them down and never build them up again,

because they never consider what he has done

or what his hands have made.

28:4–5   Pay back evildoers for their evil deeds. Give them what they deserve. Demolish them and leave them broken. Why? Because they don’t acknowledge a single thing you have done.

6 Thank the LORD!

He has heard my prayer for mercy!

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield.

My heart trusted him, so I received help.

My heart is triumphant; I give thanks to him with my song.

28:6–7   Thank you for hearing my plea for mercy! I trusted you and got help, so my heart sings in triumph.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people

and a fortress for the victory of his Messiah.[26]

9 Save your people, and bless those who belong to you.

Be their shepherd, and carry them forever.

28:8–9   You are strong for your people. You ensure your Messiah’s victory. Save us. Shepherd us. Carry us forever.

Psalm 29

A psalm by David.

1 Give to the LORD, you heavenly beings.

Give to the LORD glory and power.

2 Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves.

Worship the LORD in ⌞his⌟ holy splendor.

29:1–2   Let every heavenly being praise your glory and power. Let them recognize the worthiness of your name. Let them bow whenever they see your magnificence.

3 The voice of the LORD rolls over the water.

The God of glory thunders.

The LORD shouts over raging water.

4 The voice of the LORD is powerful.

The voice of the LORD is majestic.

5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars.

The LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes Lebanon skip along like a calf

and Mount Sirion like a wild ox.

29:3–6   Your voice thunders over the ocean, powerful and majestic. It splits towering trees. It makes the nation skip like a calf.

7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.

8 The voice of the LORD makes the wilderness tremble.

The LORD makes the wilderness of Kadesh tremble.

9 The voice of the LORD splits the oaks[27]

and strips ⌞the trees of⌟ the forests bare.

Everyone in his temple is saying, “Glory!”

29:7–9   Your voice strikes like lightning. Its thunder strips the forests bare. Everyone who sees you shouts “Glory!”

10 The LORD sat enthroned over the flood.

The LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

11 The LORD will give power to his people.

The LORD will bless his people with peace.

29:10–11   You ruled mightily over the flood, and you will reign as King forever. Give your people power, and bless us with your peace.

Psalm 30

A psalm by David sung at the dedication of the temple.

1 I will honor you highly, O LORD,

because you have pulled me out ⌞of the pit⌟

and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God,

I cried out to you for help,

and you healed me.

3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave.

You called me back to life

from among those who had gone into the pit.

30:1–3   Nothing and no one deserves more honor than you, because you plucked me from the pit. You kept my enemies from dancing on my grave. You healed me and rescued me from death itself.

4 Make music to praise the LORD, you faithful people who belong to him.

Remember his holiness by giving thanks.

30:4   Because I belong to you I make music to praise you. I think about your holiness and give you thanks.

5 His anger lasts only a moment.

His favor lasts a lifetime.

Weeping may last for the night,

but there is a song of joy in the morning.

30:5   Your anger lasts only a moment, but your favor lasts a lifetime. Even if I weep all night, I will sing for joy in the morning.

6 When all was well with me, I said,

“I will never be shaken.”

7 O LORD, by your favor you have made my mountain stand firm.

When you hid your face, I was terrified.

8 I will cry out to you, O LORD.

I will plead to the Lord for mercy:

9 “How will you profit if my blood is shed,

if I go into the pit?

Will the dust ⌞of my body⌟ give thanks to you?

Will it tell about your truth?”

30:6–9   When my life went well, I was sure nothing could shake me. But when you hid, I feared my own bloody death. I wondered how that would help your cause. Can my dead body thank you? Can it tell anyone your truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me!

O LORD, be my helper!

11 You have changed my sobbing into dancing.

You have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy

12 so that my soul[28] may praise you with music and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

30:10–12   Your help turned my sobbing into dancing. You stripped off my mourning clothes and wrapped me with joy. I’ll sing to you forever. I’ll never be silent.

Psalm 31

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 I have taken refuge in you, O LORD.

Never let me be put to shame.

Save me because of your righteousness.

2 Turn your ear toward me.

Rescue me quickly.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a strong fortress to save me.

31:1–2   I look to you for help. Don’t make me feel stupid for counting on you. Come help me quickly and be the strength I need.

3 Indeed, you are my rock and my fortress.

For the sake of your name, lead me and guide me.

4 You are my refuge,

so pull me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me.

5 Into your hands I entrust my spirit.

You have rescued me, O LORD, God of truth.

6 I hate those who cling to false gods, but I trust the LORD.

31:3–6   Lead me and bring honor to your name. Break me free from my enemies’ secret traps. You save me and speak honestly with me, so I trust my innermost self to you. I won’t trust strange gods.

7 I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.

You have seen my misery.

You have known the troubles in my soul.

8 You have not handed me over to the enemy.

You have set my feet in a place where I can move freely.

31:7–8   You noticed my misery inside and out. You didn’t hand me over to my enemies. You put my feet on free land.

9 Have pity on me, O LORD, because I am in distress.

My eyes, my soul, and my body waste away from grief.

10 My life is exhausted from sorrow,

my years from groaning.

My strength staggers under ⌞the weight of⌟ my guilt,

and my bones waste away.

31:9–10   Years of agony have laid waste to my entire being. I stagger under the guilty burden I’ve piled on my own shoulders.

11 I have become a disgrace because of all my opponents.

I have become someone dreaded by my friends,

even by my neighbors.

Those who see me on the street run away from me.

12 I have faded from memory as if I were dead

and have become like a piece of broken pottery.

13 I have heard the whispering of many people—

terror on every side—

while they made plans together against me.

They were plotting to take my life.

31:11–13   My opponents have made me such a disgrace that even my friends and neighbors dread me. They treat me like trash, a tossed-out piece of shattered pottery. They whisper plans to destroy me.

14 I trust you, O LORD.

I said, “You are my God.”

15 My future is in your hands.

Rescue me from my enemies, from those who persecute me.

16 Smile on me.

Save me with your mercy.

31:14–16   In the midst of all my troubles I still trust in you. I forever call you my God. My future belongs to you, so smile on me.

17 O LORD, I have called on you, so do not let me be put to shame.

Let wicked people be put to shame.

Let them be silent in the grave.

18 Let ⌞their⌟ lying lips be speechless,

since they speak against righteous people with arrogance and contempt.

31:17–18   I’ve prayed to you, so don’t let me be put to shame. Let it be evildoers who experience disgrace. Stop their arrogant lies against good people.

19 Your kindness is so great!

You reserve it for those who fear you.

Adam’s descendants watch

as you show it to those who take refuge in you.

20 You hide them in the secret place of your presence

from those who scheme against them.

You keep them in a shelter,

safe from quarrelsome tongues.

31:19–20   You burst with kindness toward those who respect you. All humankind can see how you shower love on those who count on you, protecting them with your presence and sparing them from quarrels.

21 Thank the LORD!

He has shown me the miracle of his mercy

in a city under attack.

22 When I was panic-stricken, I said,

“I have been cut off from your sight.”

But you heard my pleas for mercy when I cried out to you for help.

31:22   I panicked when I thought I’d lost you. But you heard my cries and came to help.

23 Love the LORD, all you godly ones!

The LORD protects faithful people,

but he pays back in full those who act arrogantly.

24 Be strong, all who wait with hope for the LORD,

and let your heart be courageous.

31:23–24   Help me persist in my love for you. Protect your followers and pay back the arrogant. Give courageous hearts to everyone who counts on you.

Psalm 32

A psalm by David; a maskil.[29]

1 Blessed is the person whose disobedience is forgiven

and whose sin is pardoned.

2 Blessed is the person whom the LORD no longer accuses of sin

and who has no deceitful thoughts.

32:1–2   Your forgiveness is proof that I’m blessed. My happiness returns when you pardon my guilt.

3 When I kept silent ⌞about my sins⌟,

my bones began to weaken because of my groaning all day long.

4 Day and night your hand laid heavily on me.

My strength shriveled in the summer heat. Selah

5 I made my sins known to you, and I did not cover up my guilt.

I decided to confess them to you, O LORD.

Then you forgave all my sins. Selah

32:3–5   My bones shook when I hid my sins from you. Your judgment weighed on me day and night. Your heat baked away all my strength. But you forgave my sins when I quit hiding my guilt.

6 For this reason let all godly people pray to you

when you may be found.

Then raging floodwater will not reach them.

32:6   Use my pain to teach others to pray to you quickly—before floods overwhelm them.

7 You are my hiding place.

You protect me from trouble.

You surround me with joyous songs of salvation. Selah

32:7   You’re my hiding place, my protection from every trouble. You joyfully sing me songs to remind me that you save me.

8 ⌞The LORD says,⌟

“I will instruct you.

I will teach you the way that you should go.

I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.

9 Don’t be stubborn like a horse or mule.

⌞They need⌟ a bit and bridle in their mouth to restrain them,

or they will not come near you.”

32:8–9   You promise you’ll watch me and teach me how to live. I promise I’ll hear your instructions and quickly obey. You won’t have to bridle me like a beast to make me listen.

10 Many heartaches await wicked people,

but mercy surrounds those who trust the LORD.

11 Be glad and find joy in the LORD, you righteous people.

Sing with joy, all whose motives are decent.

32:10–11   Take me far away from the heartaches of sin. Surround me with mercy as I trust you. You are my joy!

Psalm 33

1 Joyfully sing to the LORD, you righteous people.

Praising ⌞the LORD⌟ is proper for decent people.

2 Give thanks with a lyre to the LORD.

Make music for him on a ten-stringed harp.

3 Sing a new song to him.

Play beautifully and joyfully on stringed instruments.

33:1–3   I’ll sing joyfully to you. I’ll sing thanks to you. I refuse to sing tired old words to you. I’ll find beautiful new songs.

4 The word of the LORD is correct,

and everything he does is trustworthy.

5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice.

His mercy fills the earth.

33:4–5   Your every word is true. Your every deed is dependable. You love doing right and acting justly. Your mercy spills over on the whole earth.

6 The heavens were made by the word of the LORD

and all the stars by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathers the water in the sea like a dam

and puts the oceans in his storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD.

Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him.

9 He spoke, and it came into being.

He gave the order, and there it stood.

33:6–9   Your Word lit up the heavens. Your hands stretched the ocean shores. I stand in awe of you. A command from your mouth brought everything into existence.

10 The LORD blocks the plans of the nations.

He frustrates the schemes of the people of the world.

11 The LORD’s plan stands firm forever.

His thoughts stand firm in every generation.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.

Blessed are the people he has chosen as his own.

33:10–12   You frustrate evildoers’ goals but your own plans always succeed. Your chosen people live in your blessing.

13 The LORD looks down from heaven.

He sees all of Adam’s descendants.

14 From the place where he sits enthroned,

he looks down upon all who live on earth.

15 The one who formed their hearts

understands everything they do.

33:13–15   From your throne you watch all humankind. Because you made our hearts, you understand everything we do.

16 No king achieves a victory with a large army.

No warrior rescues himself by his own great strength.

17 Horses are not a guarantee for victory.

Their great strength cannot help someone escape.

18 The LORD’s eyes are on those who fear him,

on those who wait with hope for his mercy

19 to rescue their souls from death

and keep them alive during a famine.

20 We wait for the LORD.

He is our help and our shield.

33:16–20   There’s not a single battle I can win in my own strength. There’s no mighty thing or powerful person who can help me like you do. You watch out for me because I live in awe of you. I look to you to save me from hunger and death. I wait for you.

21 In him our hearts find joy.

In his holy name we trust.

22 Let your mercy rest on us, O LORD,

since we wait with hope for you.

33:21–22   In you I find joy. In your perfect holiness I discover calm. Show mercy to me and everyone who relies on you.

Psalm 34[30]

By David when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech; Abimelech threw him out, so David left.

1 I will thank the LORD at all times.

My mouth will always praise him.

2 My soul will boast about the LORD.

Those who are oppressed will hear it and rejoice.

34:1–2   I won’t stop thanking you or praising you or boasting about you. Oppressed people will be glad to hear of your greatness.

3 Praise the LORD’s greatness with me.

Let us highly honor his name together.

4 I went to the LORD for help.

He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.

5 All who look to him will be radiant.[31]

Their faces will never be covered with shame.

34:5   I shine because of you. Shame never covers my face.

6 Here is a poor man who called out.

The LORD heard him and saved him from all his troubles.

7 The Messenger of the LORD camps around those who fear him,

and he rescues them.

34:6–7   Even at my poorest I can count on you to answer. You stand watch over all who respect you.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good.

Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the LORD, you holy people who belong to him.

Those who fear him are never in need.

10 Young lions go hungry and may starve,

but those who seek the LORD’s help have all the good things they need.

34:8–10   I test you in real life and you prove your goodness. Because I hide in you, I’m blessed. Because I belong to you, I never lack. You promise to meet my every real need.

11 Come, children, listen to me.

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

34:11   I come to you like a trusting child. Teach me to live in awe of you.

12 Which of you wants a full life?

Who would like to live long enough to enjoy good things?

13 Keep your tongue from saying evil things

and your lips from speaking deceitful things.

14 Turn away from evil, and do good.

Seek peace, and pursue it!

34:12–14   I can’t expect a long and full life if I don’t quit evil. Help me do good and find peace.

15 The LORD’s eyes are on righteous people.

His ears hear their cry for help.

16 The LORD confronts those who do evil

in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.

34:15–16   Moment by moment you keep watch over me, but you erase every sign that evildoers even existed.

17 ⌞Righteous people⌟ cry out.

The LORD hears and rescues them from all their troubles.

18 The LORD is near to those whose hearts are humble.

He saves those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person has many troubles,

but the LORD rescues him from all of them.

20 The LORD guards all of his bones.

Not one of them is broken.

34:18–20   You feel nearest when I bow to you. You save me when I’m crushed. You rescue me when I’m in trouble. You keep me whole.

21 Evil will kill wicked people,

and those who hate righteous people will be condemned.

22 The LORD protects the souls of his servants.

All who take refuge in him will never be condemned.

Psalm 35

By David.

1 O LORD, attack those who attack me.

Fight against those who fight against me.

2 Use your shields, ⌞both⌟ small and large.

Arise to help me.

3 Hold your spear to block the way of those who pursue me.

Say to my soul, “I am your savior.”

35:1–3   Fight those who fight me. Raise your shields and block my pursuers. Convince my quaking heart that you will save me.

4 Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgraced.

Let those who plan my downfall be turned back in confusion.

5 Let them be like husks blown by the wind

as the Messenger of the LORD chases them.

6 Let their path be dark and slippery

as the Messenger of the LORD pursues them.

35:4–6   Disgrace the people aiming to do me in. Confuse their plans. Scatter them. Chase them down a dark and slippery path.

7 For no reason they hid their net in a pit.

For no reason they dug the pit ⌞to trap me⌟.

8 Let destruction surprise them.

Let the net that they hid catch them.

Let them fall into their own pit and be destroyed.

35:7–8   My enemies turned on me for no reason. Catch them when they won’t see you coming. Push them into the same pit they dug for me.

9 My soul will find joy in the LORD

and be joyful about his salvation.

10 All my bones will say, “O LORD, who can compare with you?

You rescue the weak person from the one who is too strong for him

and weak and needy people from the one who robs them.”

35:9–10   My soul thrills at the thought of you and your salvation. In the core of my bones I know that nothing compares with you. You rescue me from enemies too strong for me.

11 Malicious people bring charges against me.

They ask me things I know nothing about.

12 I am devastated

because they pay me back with evil instead of good.

13 But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth.

I humbled myself with fasting.

When my prayer returned unanswered,

14 I walked around as if I were mourning for my friend or my brother.

I was bent over as if I were mourning for my mother.

15 Yet, when I stumbled,

they rejoiced and gathered together.

They gathered together against me.

Unknown attackers tore me apart without stopping.

35:11–15   Hateful people accuse me of things I know nothing about. Even when I do them good they pay me back with evil. I see them hurting and respond by mourning for their pain. I fast and pray for them. Yet they attack me and won’t stop.

16 With crude and abusive mockers,

they grit their teeth at me.

17 O Lord, how long will you look on?

Rescue me from their attacks.

Rescue my precious life from the lions.

18 I will give you thanks in a large gathering.

I will praise you in a crowd ⌞of worshipers⌟.

35:16–18   Can’t you see how these crude mockers threaten me? How long will you watch and do nothing? Lions pounce on me. Rescue me now! Then I will praise you for all your people to hear.

19 Do not let my treacherous enemies gloat over me.

Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink ⌞at me⌟.

20 They do not talk about peace.

Instead, they scheme against the peaceful people in the land.

21 They open their big mouths and say about me,

“Aha! Aha! Our own eyes have seen it.”

22 You have seen it, O LORD.

Do not remain silent.

O Lord, do not be so far away from me.

35:19–22   My enemies pretend to talk peace at the same time they plot to destroy me. They drum up false charges against me, but you have seen the truth. Stop their gloating. End their laughter.

23 Wake up, and rise to my defense.

Plead my case, O my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me by your righteousness, O LORD my God.

Do not let them gloat over me

35:22–24   Don’t be silent. Don’t wander from me. Wake up and defend me. Measure me by your perfect standard.

25 or think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”

Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26 Let those who gloat over my downfall

be thoroughly put to shame and confused.

Let those who promote themselves at my expense

be clothed with shame and disgrace.

27 Let those who are happy when I am declared innocent

joyfully sing and rejoice.

Let them continually say, “The LORD is great.

He is happy when his servant has peace.”

28 Then my tongue will tell about your righteousness,

about your praise all day long.

35:25–28   My enemies assume they’ve beat me. They think they’ve swallowed me alive. Disgrace those gloaters. Warm the hearts of everyone who believes in my innocence. Give them reason to praise your greatness.

Psalm 36

For the choir director; by David, the LORD’s servant.

1 There is an inspired truth about the wicked person

who has rebellion in the depths of his heart:

He is not terrified of God.

2 He flatters himself and does not hate or ⌞even⌟ recognize his guilt.

3 The words from his mouth are ⌞nothing but⌟ trouble and deception.

He has stopped doing what is wise and good.

4 He invents trouble while lying on his bed

and chooses to go the wrong direction.

He does not reject evil.

36:1–4   You’ve convinced me: Rebellion flows from a heart that forgets to fear you. So don’t let me flatter myself or overlook my guilt. Make my words true and my actions wise. When I map out my life, I’ll choose to go your direction.

5 O LORD, your mercy reaches to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the skies.

6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God,

your judgments like the deep ocean.

You save people and animals, O LORD.

36:5–6   Your mercy and faithfulness stretch to the skies. Your righteousness looms as large as the mountains. Your wisdom runs as deep as the sea.

7 Your mercy is so precious, O God,

that Adam’s descendants take refuge

in the shadow of your wings.

8 They are refreshed with the rich foods in your house,

and you make them drink from the river of your pleasure.

9 Indeed, the fountain of life is with you.

In your light we see light.

36:7–9   Your mercy reaches everyone who hides in your shadow. Refresh me with your richness. Let me drink full of everything you delight in. Light my life.

10 Continue to show your mercy to those who know you

and your righteousness to those whose motives are decent.

11 Do not let the feet of arrogant people step on me

or the hands of wicked people push me away.

36:10–11   Keep showing me mercy, and let me see your righteousness one more time. Don’t let arrogant people walk all over me.

12 Look at the troublemakers who have fallen.

They have been pushed down and are unable to stand up again.

Psalm 37[32]

By David.

1 Do not be preoccupied with evildoers.

Do not envy those who do wicked things.

2 They will quickly dry up like grass

and wither away like green plants.

37:1–2   I refuse to let evildoers cloud my mind for even a minute. They’re just like grass that quickly dries and withers.

3 Trust the LORD, and do good things.

Live in the land, and practice being faithful.

4 Be happy with the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Entrust your ways to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will act ⌞on your behalf⌟.

37:3–5   I’ll trust in you and do good. I’ll live close to you and practice being faithful. When I make you my greatest happiness, you’ll grant me my heart’s desire. When I trust my life to you, you’ll act on my behalf.

6 He will make your righteousness shine like a light,

your just cause like the noonday sun.

7 Surrender yourself to the LORD, and wait patiently for him.

Do not be preoccupied with ⌞an evildoer⌟ who succeeds in his way

when he carries out his schemes.

8 Let go of anger, and leave rage behind.

Do not be preoccupied.

It only leads to evil.

9 Evildoers will be cut off ⌞from their inheritance⌟,

but those who wait with hope for the LORD will inherit the land.

10 In a little while a wicked person will vanish.

Then you can carefully examine where he was,

but there will be no trace of him.

11 Oppressed people will inherit the land

and will enjoy unlimited peace.

37:7–11   I’ll let go of my rage. I won’t allow myself to envy the prosperity of evildoers. I’ll quit pondering their supposed success before I’m tempted to join them in sin. Evildoers will vanish, but if I count on you I’ll endure and enjoy peace.

12 The wicked person plots against a righteous one

and grits his teeth at him.

13 The Lord laughs at him

because he has seen that his time is coming.

14 Wicked people pull out their swords and bend their bows

to kill oppressed and needy people,

to slaughter those who are decent.

15 ⌞But⌟ their own swords will pierce their hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

37:12–15   The wicked plot my ruin because I do good. But you laugh at them, knowing their end is near. They’ll be destroyed by their own weapons.

16 The little that the righteous person has is better

than the wealth of many wicked people.

17 The arms of wicked people will be broken,

but the LORD continues to support righteous people.

18 The LORD knows the daily ⌞struggles⌟ of innocent people.

Their inheritance will last forever.

37:16–18   I would rather do good and have a little than sin and have a lot. I trust you to support me in my everyday struggles.

19 They will not be put to shame in trying times.

Even in times of famine they will be satisfied.

37:19   Don’t let me be put to shame. Feed me even when I’m surrounded by famine.

20 But wicked people will disappear.

The LORD’s enemies will vanish like the best part of a meadow.

They will vanish like smoke.

21 A wicked person borrows, but he does not repay.

A righteous person is generous and giving.

22 Those who are blessed by him will inherit the land.

Those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

37:21–22   I’ll repay my debts and be generous with all I have.

23 A person’s steps are directed by the LORD,

and the LORD delights in his way.

24 When he falls, he will not be thrown down headfirst

because the LORD holds on to his hand.

37:23–24   You direct my steps. You like the path you plan for me. If I stumble you’ll catch me, because you hold on to my hand.

25 I have been young, and now I am old,

but I have never seen a righteous person abandoned

or his descendants begging for food.

26 He is always generous and lends freely.

His descendants are a blessing.

27 Avoid evil, do good, and live forever.

37:25–27   You’ll never abandon me or let me go hungry. You provide for me so I can give and lend freely. I’ll do good with eternity in mind.

28 The LORD loves justice,

and he will not abandon his godly ones.

They will be kept safe forever,

but the descendants of wicked people will be cut off.

29 Righteous people will inherit the land

and live there permanently.

37:28–29   You love justice. You won’t abandon people committed to you. I’ll live close to you forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous person reflects on wisdom.

His tongue speaks what is fair.

31 The teachings of his God are in his heart.

His feet do not slip.

32 The wicked person watches the righteous person

and seeks to kill him.

33 But the LORD will not abandon him to the wicked person’s power

or condemn him when he is brought to trial.

37:31–33   Your teachings fill my heart, and I follow them wherever I go. Evildoers want to kill me, but you protect me from their power.

34 Wait with hope for the LORD, and follow his path,

and he will honor you by giving you the land.

When wicked people are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked person ⌞acting like⌟ a tyrant,

spreading himself out like a large cedar tree.

36 But he moved on, and now there is no trace of him.

I searched for him, but he could not be found.

37:34–36   When I follow your path, I encounter blessings of every kind. Though the wicked seem strong and healthy, they die and vanish.

37 Notice the innocent person,

and look at the decent person,

because the peacemaker has a future.

38 But rebels will be completely destroyed.

The future of wicked people will be cut off.

39 The victory for righteous people comes from the LORD.

He is their fortress in times of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and rescues them.

He rescues them from wicked people.

He saves them because they have taken refuge in him.

37:37–40   Innocent people have hope and a future, but rebels will be utterly destroyed. I depend on you as my fortress and victory, my help and my rescuer. I’ll always take refuge in you.

Psalm 38

A psalm by David; to be kept in mind.[33]

1 O LORD, do not angrily punish me

or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Your arrows have struck me.

Your hand has struck me hard.

3 No healthy spot is left on my body

because of your rage.

There is no peace in my bones

because of my sin.

4 My guilt has overwhelmed me.

Like a heavy load, it is more than I can bear.

38:1–4   Quit punishing me! Your hand has already struck me hard and bruised my whole body. My bones shake because of my sin. My guilt crushes me.

5 My wounds smell rotten.

They fester because of my stupidity.

6 I am bent over and bowed down very low.

All day I walk around in mourning.

7 My insides are filled with burning pain,

and no healthy spot is left on my body.

8 I am numb and completely devastated.

I roar because my heart’s in turmoil.

38:5–8   My wounds stink because my sins were so stupid. My shoulders sag as I walk around in mourning. My insides burn. I’m numb. My heart reels with such turmoil I do nothing but groan.

9 You know all my desires, O Lord,

and my groaning has not been hidden from you.

10 My heart is pounding.

I have lost my strength.

Even the light of my eyes has left me.

11 My loved ones and my friends keep their distance

and my relatives stand far away because of my sickness.

12 Those who seek my life lay traps for me.

Those who are out to harm me talk about ruining me.

All day long they think of ways to deceive me.

38:10–12   My heart pounds and my strength has vanished. I can’t even see straight. People who love me stay away because I’m diseased, and my enemies plot ways to ruin me.

13 But I am like a person who cannot hear

and like a person who cannot speak.

14 I am like one who cannot hear

and who can offer no arguments.

15 But I wait with hope for you, O LORD.

You will answer, O Lord, my God.

16 I said, “Do not let them gloat over me.

When my foot slips,

do not let them promote themselves at my expense.”

38:13–16   I’m deaf, mute, defenseless. But I’m sure you’ll answer me. You’ll keep my enemies from gloating and gaining an edge over me.

17 I am ready to fall.

I am continually aware of my pain.

18 I confess my guilt.

My sin troubles me.

38:17–18   I’m ready to fall over. Pain constantly nags me. I confess my guilt to you because my sin troubles me.

19 My mortal enemies are growing stronger.

Many hate me for no reason.

20 They pay me back with evil instead of good,

and they accuse me because I try to do what is good.

21 Do not abandon me, O LORD.

O my God, do not be so distant from me.

22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my savior.

38:19–22   My enemies keep getting stronger, many who hate me for no reason. They punish me for doing good. So don’t be distant from me. Come quickly to help me, my Savior!

Psalm 39

For the choir director; for Jeduthun; a psalm by David.

1 I said,

“I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue.

I will bridle my mouth while wicked people are in my presence.”

2 I remained totally speechless.

I kept silent, although it did me no good.

While I was deep in thought, my pain grew worse.

3 My heart burned like a fire flaring up within me.

Then I spoke with my tongue:

39:1–3   I tried hard not to sin with my words, but keeping silent did me no good. My mind raced and my pain grew worse. My heart burned until I spoke up.

4 “Teach me, O LORD, about the end of my life.

Teach me about the number of days I have left

so that I may know how temporary my life is.

5 Indeed, you have made the length of my days ⌞only⌟ a few inches.

My life span is nothing compared to yours.

Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind.

Selah

39:4–5   I need you to remind me that my days are short. The span of my life is nothing compared to your eternal existence. I’m just a whisper in the wind.

6 Each person who walks around is like a shadow.

They are busy for no reason.

They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them.”

39:6   People are just shadows. They act busy but accomplish nothing, because someone else always gets what they accumulate.

7 And now, Lord, what am I waiting for?

My hope is in you!

8 Rescue me from all my rebellious acts.

Do not disgrace me in front of godless fools.

39:7–8   I’m waiting for you to help me! Rescue me from my rebellion. Don’t disgrace me in front of fools who don’t believe in you.

9 I remained speechless.

I did not open my mouth

because you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove the sickness you laid upon me.

My life is over because you struck me with your hand.

11 With stern warnings you discipline people for their crimes.

Like a moth you eat away at what is dear to them.

Certainly, everyone is like a whisper in the wind. Selah

39:9–11   I’ve kept silent because you’re the one who makes me suffer. Remove my sickness and save me before I die. You have disciplined me for my crimes.

12 Listen to my prayer, O LORD.

Open your ear to my cry for help.

Do not be deaf to my tears,

for I am a foreign resident with you,

a stranger like all my ancestors.

13 Look away from me so that I may smile again

before I go away and am no more.

39:12–13   Hear my prayers. I feel like a stranger to you. Turn away your wrath so I can live.

Psalm 40

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD.

He turned to me and heard my cry for help.

2 He pulled me out of a horrible pit,

out of the mud and clay.

He set my feet on a rock

and made my steps secure.

40:1–2   I waited for you and you helped me. You pulled me out of a muddy pit, then set my feet on solid rock.

3 He placed a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see this and worship.

They will trust the LORD.

40:3   You filled me with a new song of praise to you. Many will see how you rescued me. They’ll worship and trust you.

4 Blessed is the person

who places his confidence in the LORD

and does not rely on arrogant people

or those who follow lies.

40:4   I’m completely satisfied when I count on you instead of trusting proud people.

5 You have done many miraculous things, O LORD my God.

You have made many wonderful plans for us.

No one compares to you!

I will tell others about your miracles,

which are more than I can count.

40:5   You do more miracles than I can count. You have wonderful plans for me. No one compares to you!

6 You were not pleased with sacrifices and offerings.

You have dug out two ears for me.[34]

You did not ask for burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin.

7 Then I said, “I have come!

(It is written about me in the scroll of the book.)

8 I am happy to do your will, O my God.”

Your teachings are deep within me.

40:6–8   You don’t want my sacrifices. You want my obedience. I’m happy to do your will. Your words live deep inside me.

9 I will announce the good news of righteousness

among those assembled for worship.

I will not close my lips.

You know that, O LORD.

10 I have not buried your righteousness deep in my heart.

I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation.

I have not hidden your mercy and your truth

from those assembled for worship.

40:9–10   You know I can’t keep quiet about you. I won’t keep silent about your righteousness and faithfulness and salvation. I promise to tell others about your mercy and truth.

11 Do not withhold your compassion from me, O LORD.

May your mercy and your truth always protect me.

12 Countless evils have surrounded me.

My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see.

They outnumber the hairs on my head.

I have lost heart.

40:11–12   Don’t hold back your kindness. Protect me with your mercy and truth. I’m surrounded by countless evils and my own wrongdoing blinds me.

13 O LORD, please rescue me!

Come quickly to help me, O LORD![35]

14 Let all those who seek to end my life

be confused and put to shame.

Let those who want my downfall

be turned back and disgraced.

15 Let those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”

be stunned by their own shame.

40:12–15   My sins outnumber the hairs on my head—and I am discouraged. Rescue me quickly. Confuse those who want to kill me. Disgrace those who want my downfall. Stun them with their own shame.

16 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you.

Let those who love your salvation continually say,

“The LORD is great!”

17 But I am oppressed and needy.

May the Lord think of me.

You are my help and my savior.

O my God, do not delay!

40:16–17   I will rejoice and be glad because of you. Because I love your salvation, I will continually speak of your greatness. You are my Savior. Help me now!

Psalm 41

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 Blessed is the one who has concern for helpless people.

The LORD will rescue him in times of trouble.

2 The LORD will protect him and keep him alive.

He will be blessed in the land.

Do not place him at the mercy of his enemies.

3 The LORD will support him on his sickbed.

You will restore this person to health when he is ill.

41:1–3   Because I worry about the helpless, you’ll rescue me from my own troubles. You’ll protect me and keep me alive. You’ll shower me with your blessings and restore my health.

4 I said, “O LORD, have pity on me!

Heal my soul because I have sinned against you.”

5 My enemies say terrible things about me:

“When will he die, and when will his family name disappear?”

6 When one of them comes to visit me, he speaks foolishly.

His heart collects gossip.

⌞Then⌟ he leaves to tell others.

41:4–6   I cry to you for pity because I’ve sinned against you. My enemies can’t wait for me to die and disappear. The only reason they visit me is to see my suffering and gossip about me.

7 Everyone who hates me whispers about me.

They think evil things about me and say,

8 “A devilish disease has attached itself to him.

He will never leave his sickbed.”

9 Even my closest friend whom I trusted,

the one who ate my bread,

has lifted his heel against me.

41:7–9   People who hate me are whispering about me. They say I’m too sick to recover. Even my most trusted friend has turned on me.

10 Have pity on me, O LORD!

Raise me up so that I can pay them back

11 and my enemy cannot shout in triumph over me.

When you do this, I know that you are pleased with me.

41:10–11   Pity me! Heal me so I can pay back my enemies and silence their shouts of victory. Then I will know that I please you.

12 You defend my integrity,

and you set me in your presence forever.

13 Thank the LORD God of Israel through all eternity!

Amen and amen!

41:12–13   Defend my integrity. Let me live close to you forever. I’ll thank you now and forever!

BOOK TWO

(Psalms 42–72)

Psalm 42

For the choir director; a maskil[36] by Korah’s descendants.

1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,

so my soul longs for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When may I come to see God’s face?

42:1–2   I long for you like a deer thirsts for fresh streams. I want more and more of the living God. When can I see your face?

3 My tears are my food day and night.

People ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

4 I will remember these things as I pour out my soul:

how I used to walk with the crowd

and lead it in a procession to God’s house.

⌞I sang⌟ songs of joy and thanksgiving

while crowds of people celebrated a festival.

42:3–4   Everyone hears my crying and wonders why you’ve deserted me. I used to lead crowds in jubilant worship.

5 Why are you discouraged, my soul?

Why are you so restless?

Put your hope in God,

because I will still praise him.

He is my savior and my God.

6 My soul is discouraged.

That is why I will remember you

in the land of Jordan, on the peaks of Hermon, on Mount Mizar.

42:5–6   Why am I so discouraged and agitated when I have you as my Savior? When sadness takes me down, I’ll purposely focus on you.

7 One deep sea calls to another at the roar of your waterspouts.

All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me.[37]

8 The LORD commands his mercy during the day,

and at night his song is with me—

a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will ask God, my rock,

“Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I walk around in mourning

while the enemy oppresses me?”

42:7–9   My soul’s despair runs as deep as the sea. Your judgment sweeps over me like waves. All day and night you send me mercy, but still I wonder why you’ve forgotten me.

10 With a shattering blow to my bones,

my enemies taunt me.

They ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you discouraged, my soul?

Why are you so restless?

Put your hope in God,

because I will still praise him.

He is my savior and my God.

42:10–11   My enemies keep asking where you are. Their taunts shatter my bones. I keep telling myself to trust you. I praise you, my Savior and God.

Psalm 43

1 Judge me, O God,

and plead my case against an ungodly nation.

Rescue me from deceitful and unjust people.

2 You are my fortress, O God!

Why have you rejected me?

Why must I walk around in mourning

while the enemy oppresses me?

43:1–2   Examine me, O God, then plead my case against liars. I’ve run to you for protection. So why do you reject me and force me to mourn and suffer?

3 Send your light and your truth.

Let them guide me.

Let them bring me to your holy mountain

and to your dwelling place.

4 Then let me go to the altar of God, to God my ⌞highest⌟ joy,

and I will give thanks to you on the lyre, O God, my God.

43:3–4   Send your light and truth to guide me home to you. Welcome me close and I’ll sing thanks to you. You are God, my highest joy.

5 Why are you discouraged, my soul?

Why are you so restless?

Put your hope in God,

because I will still praise him.

He is my savior and my God.

43:5   I’m discouraged and restless. But I keep reminding myself to trust and praise you. You’ll always be my Savior and God.

Psalm 44

For the choir director; a maskil by Korah’s descendants.

1 O God,

we have heard it with our own ears.

Our ancestors have told us

about the miracle you performed in their day,

in days long ago.

2 By your power you forced nations ⌞out of the land⌟,

but you planted our ancestors ⌞there⌟.

You shattered many groups of people,

but you set our ancestors free.[38]

44:1–2   I’ve heard the story of the miracle you did long ago. With brute strength you pushed out nations and planted your followers in a good land. You shattered others but set us free.

3 It was not with their swords that they took possession of the land.

They did not gain victory with their own strength.

It was your right hand, your arm,

and the light of your presence ⌞that did it⌟,

because you were pleased with them.

44:3   No human power gave your people victory. Only you did. Your might and your presence accomplished your purpose.

4 You alone are my king, O God.

You won those victories for Jacob.

5 With you we can walk over our enemies.

With your name we can trample those who attack us.

6 I do not rely on my bow,

and my sword will never save me.

44:4–6   You alone are my King and God. You’re my victory. You give me power to walk over my enemies. Human weapons can’t save me.

7 But you saved us from our enemies.

You put to shame those who hate us.

8 All day long we praise our God.

We give thanks to you forever. Selah

44:7–8   You save me, putting people who hate me to shame. All day long I praise and thank you.

9 But now you have rejected and disgraced us.

You do not even go along with our armies.

10 You make us retreat from the enemy.

Those who hate us rob us at will.

11 You hand us over to be butchered like sheep

and scatter us among the nations.

12 You sell your people for almost nothing,

and at that price you have gained nothing.

44:9–12   Long ago you did a miracle. But now you’ve rejected me and left me to fight my battles alone. I’m forced to retreat. I’m feeling robbed, butchered, and lost. You’re selling me out.

13 You made us a disgrace to our neighbors

and an object of ridicule and contempt to those around us.

14 You made our ⌞defeat⌟ a proverb among the nations

so that people shake their heads at us.

15 All day long my disgrace is in front of me.

Shame covers my face

16 because of the words of those who insult and slander us,

because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger.

44:13–16   My neighbors ridicule me. In fact, the story of my defeat has become legend. People shake their heads at me. Shame smears my face. My enemies spare no insult.

17 Although all of this happened to us,

we never forgot you.

We never ignored your promise.[39]

18 Our hearts never turned away.

Our feet never left your path.

19 Yet, you crushed us in a place for jackals

and covered us with the shadow of death.

44:17–19   Despite my suffering I never gave up on your promises. I never stopped loving or obeying you. Yet you crushed me and shrouded me in death.

20 If we forgot the name of our God

or stretched out our hands to pray to another god,

21 wouldn’t God find out,

since he knows the secrets in our hearts?

22 Indeed, we are being killed all day long because of you.

We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered.

44:20–22   You would know if I forgot you. You would overhear if I prayed to another god. But I’m dying because of you. I’m nothing but a sheep ready for slaughter.

23 Wake up! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?

Awake! Do not reject us forever!

24 Why do you hide your face?

Why do you forget our suffering and misery?

25 Our souls are bowing in the dust.

Our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Arise! Help us!

Rescue us because of your mercy!

44:23–26   Wake up! Why are you sleeping? Why are you hiding from me and forgetting my misery? My body lies in the dirt. Be merciful and help me!

Psalm 45

For the choir director; according to shoshannim;[40] a maskil by Korah’s descendants; a love song.

1 My heart is overflowing with good news.

I will direct my song to the king.

My tongue is a pen for a skillful writer.

2 You are the most handsome of Adam’s descendants.

Grace is poured on your lips.

That is why God has blessed you forever.

45:1–2   My heart overflows with good news. You, O King, inspire my song. You are the most handsome of all human beings. Grace fills your lips.

3 O warrior, strap your sword to your side

with your splendor and majesty.

4 Ride on victoriously in your majesty

for the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness.

Let your right hand teach you awe-inspiring things.

45:3–4   Mount your steed for the cause of truth, humility, and goodness. Show off your splendor and majesty.

5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies.

Nations fall beneath you.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.

The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice.

7 You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong.

That is why God, your God, has anointed you,

rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.

45:6–7   Your throne, O God, endures forever. Your reign stands for justice. You love what’s right and hate what’s wrong.

8 All your robes are ⌞fragrant⌟ with myrrh, aloes, and cassia.

From ivory palaces the music of stringed instruments delights you.

9 The daughters of kings are among your noble ladies.

The queen takes her place at your right hand

and wears gold from Ophir.

10 Listen, daughter! Look closely!

Turn your ear ⌞toward me⌟.

Forget your people, and forget your father’s house.

11 The king longs for your beauty.

He is your Lord.

Worship him.

45:9–11   Your bride is at your right hand. Her beauty is all for you. She worships you.

12 The people of Tyre, the richest people,

want to win your favor with a gift.

13 The daughter of the king is glorious inside ⌞the palace⌟.

Her dress is embroidered with gold.

14 Wearing a colorful gown, she is brought to the king.

Her bridesmaids follow her.

They will be brought to you.

15 With joy and delight they are brought in.

They enter the palace of the king.

45:12–15   Outsiders will honor your bride. She is dazzling as she enters your presence.

16 Your sons will take the place of your father.

You will make them princes over the whole earth.

17 I will cause your name to be remembered throughout every generation.

That is why the nations will give thanks to you forever and ever.

45:17   Every generation will recall your majestic name. Every nation will thank you forever and ever.

Psalm 46

For the choir director; a song by the descendants of Korah; according to alamoth.[41]

1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in times of trouble.

2 That is why we are not afraid

even when the earth quakes

or the mountains topple into the depths of the sea.

3 Water roars and foams,

and mountains shake at the surging waves.

Selah

46:1–3   You’re my refuge and strength, my always-present help in trouble. So I won’t fear when the ground shakes or mountains tumble, when waters roar or waves surge against the mountains.

4 There is a river

whose streams bring joy to the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High lives.

5 God is in that city.

It cannot fall.

God will help it at the break of dawn.

46:4–5   Your presence brings joy to your people. Nothing can topple your holy city, because you are there.

6 Nations are in turmoil, and kingdoms topple.

The earth melts at the sound of ⌞God’s⌟ voice.

7 The LORD of Armies is with us.

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

46:6–7   Turmoil engulfs the world and kingdoms tumble. The earth melts when it hears your voice. But you’re my strength.

8 Come, see the works of the LORD,

the devastation he has brought to the earth.

9 He puts an end to wars all over the earth.

He breaks an archer’s bow.

He cuts spears in two.

He burns chariots.

46:8–9   I can see your works, the judgments you pour out on earth. You end wars and halt violence.

10 Let go ⌞of your concerns⌟!

Then you will know that I am God.

I rule the nations.

I rule the earth.

11 The LORD of Armies is with us.

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

46:10–11   When I let go of my concerns, I find rest in you, ruler of the whole earth. Your strength is with me. You’re my stronghold.

Psalm 47

For the choir director; a psalm by Korah’s descendants.

1 Clap your hands, all you people.

Shout to God with a loud, joyful song.

2 We must fear the LORD, the Most High.

He is the great king of the whole earth.

3 He brings people under our authority

and ⌞puts⌟ nations under our feet.

4 He chooses our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah

47:1–4   I’ll clap and shout a joyful song to you. I live in awe of you, Lord Most High. You’re the great King of the whole world. You’re the source of my power. You’re the gift-giver of everything I have.

5 God has gone up with a joyful shout.

The LORD has gone up with the sound of a ram’s horn.

6 Make music to praise God.

Play music for him!

Make music to praise our king.

Play music for him!

7 God is the king of the whole earth.

Make your best music for him!

47:6–7   I’ll make music to praise my King. You rule the whole earth, so I’ll bring you my very best.

8 God rules the nations.

He sits upon his holy throne.

9 The influential people from the nations gather together

as the people of the God of Abraham.

The rulers of the earth belong to God.

He rules everything.

47:8–9   From your holy throne you rule the world. Powerful people from every nation gather as your own. Every human ruler belongs to you. You rule it all!

Psalm 48

A song; a psalm by Korah’s descendants.

1 The LORD is great.

He should be highly praised.

His holy mountain is in the city of our God.

2 Its beautiful peak is the joy of the whole earth.

Mount Zion is on the northern ridge.

It is the city of the great king.

3 God is in its palaces.

He has proved that he is a stronghold.

48:1–3   You’re great—and you deserve the highest praise. You dwell among your people on your holy mountain. Your presence graces your palace.

4 The kings have gathered.

They marched together.

5 ⌞When⌟ they saw ⌞Mount Zion⌟,

they were astonished.

They were terrified and ran away in fear.

6 Trembling seized them

like the trembling that a woman experiences during labor.

48:4–6   Kings march against you only to flee in fear when they see your dwelling. They tremble like women in labor.

7 With the east wind you smash the ships of Tarshish.

8 The things we had only heard about, we have now seen

in the city of the LORD of Armies,

in the city of our God.

God makes Zion stand firm forever. Selah

48:8   I’d only heard of your power, but now I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

9 Inside your temple we carefully reflect on your mercy, O God.

10 Like your name, O God,

your praise ⌞reaches⌟ to the ends of the earth.

Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

48:9–10   As I come near you, I’ll reflect on your mercy. Praise for you reaches to the ends of the earth.

11 Let Mount Zion be glad

and the cities of Judah rejoice

because of your judgments.

12 Walk around Zion.

Go around it.

Count its towers.

13 Examine its embankments.

Walk through its palaces.

Then you can tell the next generation,

14 “This God is our God forever and ever.

He will lead us beyond death.”

48:11–14   I’m glad because of your wise judgments. I’ll tell everyone who comes after me that you are God forever and ever. You’ll guide us to death and beyond.

Psalm 49

For the choir director; a psalm by Korah’s descendants.

1 Listen to this, all you people.

Open your ears, all who live in the world—

2 common people and important ones,

rich people and poor ones.

3 My mouth will speak wise sayings,

the insights I have carefully considered.

49:1–3   Let everyone in the world hear my words—everyday people and powerful people, the poor and the rich. Let them hear the wisdom you’ve taught me.

4 I will turn my attention to a proverb.

I will explain my riddle with the ⌞music of⌟ a lyre.

5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble,

when slanderers surround me with evil?

6 They trust their riches

and brag about their abundant wealth.

7 No one can ever buy back another person

or pay God a ransom for his life.

8 The price to be paid for his soul is too costly.

He must always give up

9 in order to live forever and never see the pit.

49:5–9   Why should I fear when slanderers surround me with evil? They think money means everything and brag about their abundance. But money can’t buy a life. Wealth won’t save a soul from death.

10 Indeed, one can see that wise people die,

that foolish and stupid people meet the same end.

They leave their riches to others.

11 Although they named their lands after themselves,

their graves[42] have become their homes for ages to come,

their dwelling places throughout every generation.

12 But mortals will not continue here with what they treasure.

They are like animals that die.

49:10–12   Everyone dies. Both the smart and the stupid die and leave their wealth behind. No mortal can enjoy earthly treasures forever.

13 This is the final outcome for fools and their followers

who are delighted by what they say: Selah

14 Like sheep, they are driven to hell

with death as their shepherd.

(Decent people will rule them in the morning.)

Their forms will decay in the grave,

far away from their comfortable homes.

15 But God will buy me back from the power of hell

because he will take me. Selah

49:14–15   Death pushes fools and their followers to the grave as if they were sheep. But you will buy my freedom from hell and welcome me to yourself.

16 Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich,

when the greatness of his house increases.

17 He will not take anything with him when he dies.

His greatness cannot follow him.

18 Even though he blesses himself while he is alive

(and they praise you when you do well for yourself),

19 he must join the generation of his ancestors,

who will never see light ⌞again⌟.

20 Mortals, with what they treasure, still don’t have understanding.

They are like animals that die.

49:16–20   I won’t fear when people pile up wealth or build big houses. They can’t take anything with them, and their greatness will end when they die. The wealthy congratulate themselves and others who do well at making money, but they don’t understand they will die like animals.

Psalm 50

A psalm by Asaph.

1 The LORD, the only true God, has spoken.

He has summoned the earth

from where the sun rises to where it sets.

2 God shines from Zion,

the perfection of beauty.

50:1–2   You’re the one true God, shining with beauty on your throne.

3 Our God will come and will not remain silent.

A devouring fire is in front of him

and a raging storm around him.

4 He summons heaven and earth to judge his people:

5 “Gather around me, my godly people

who have made a pledge to me through sacrifices.”

6 The heavens announce his righteousness

because God is the judge. Selah

50:1–6   You’ve gathered your people and won’t keep your thoughts to yourself. A devouring fire warns your judgment is near. The heavens announce your righteousness.

7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak.

Listen, Israel, and I will testify against you:

I am God, your God!

8 I am not criticizing you for your sacrifices or burnt offerings,

which are always in front of me.

9 ⌞But⌟ I will not accept ⌞another⌟ young bull from your household

or a single male goat from your pens.

50:7–9   You’re God, deserving every kind of worship. Yet you don’t want another sacrifice. You don’t need any more offerings.

10 Every creature in the forest,

⌞even⌟ the cattle on a thousand hills, is mine.

11 I know every bird in the mountains.

Everything that moves in the fields is mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

because the world and all that it contains are mine.

13 Do I eat the meat of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

50:10–13   Everything in the world is yours. If you were hungry you wouldn’t ask people for something to eat, because everything in the world is yours.

14 Bring ⌞your⌟ thanks to God as a sacrifice,

and keep your vows to the Most High.

15 Call on me in times of trouble.

I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”

50:14–15   You don’t need sacrifices and offerings. What you really long for is gratitude and obedience and worship.

16 But God says to wicked people,

“How dare you quote my decrees

and mouth my promises![43]

17 You hate discipline.

You toss my words behind you.

50:16–17   You hate when I mouth your commands but don’t keep them. I need your discipline. I want to hold tight to your words.

18 When you see a thief, you want to make friends with him.

You keep company with people who commit adultery.

19 You let your mouth say anything evil.

Your tongue plans deceit.

Authentic Prayer

Psalm 51:1–19

Confession

I admit that I am rebellious. My sin is always in front of me. I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil. Psalm 51:3–4

Confession means agreeing with God about sin. At first David didn’t know what the prophet Nathan was talking about when he told the story of a rich man who stole a poor man’s only lamb (2 Samuel 12:1–15). When David flew into a rage at the unjust theft, the prophet revealed that David was that rich man, a privileged king who stole the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers and committed murder to cover it up (2 Samuel 11).

David could have denied his wrongdoing, but he immediately admits his guilt, agreeing with God about his affair with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. His words pour out in Psalm 51. He pleads for undeserved mercy. He sees that his sin reaches past people to impact God himself. He asks the Lord to cleanse and remake him, giving him back the joy that comes from being in his presence.

God welcomes broken sinners, anyone who owns up to their failings and receives his forgiveness. Covering up your sin just compounds it. Admit everything to the Lord, holding nothing back.

Pray the Scriptures Confession: Psalm 32:1–7, Proverbs 28:18, James 5:16, 1 John 1:8–10

20 You sit and talk against your own brother.

You slander your own mother’s son.

50:18–20   Don’t let me partner with thieves or sexual sinners. Stop me when I lie and spread gossip.

21 When you did these things, I remained silent.

⌞That⌟ made you think I was like you.

I will argue my point with you

and lay it all out for you to see.

22 Consider this, you people who forget God.

Otherwise, I will tear you to pieces,

and there will be no one left to rescue you.

50:21–22   If you don’t confront me when I sin, I’ll think you don’t care. Speak to me now! Tear me to pieces if I ever forget you.

23 Whoever offers thanks as a sacrifice honors me.

I will let everyone who continues in my way

see the salvation that comes from God.”

50:23   Thanksgiving is the sacrifice that truly honors you. I want to obey you fully and see your salvation.

Psalm 51

For the choir director; a psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David’s adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy.

In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my guilt,

and cleanse me from my sin.

51:1–2   Pity me because of your mercy. With your unlimited compassion wipe away my rebellion. Cleanse every bit of my sin.

3 I admit that I am rebellious.

My sin is always in front of me.

4 I have sinned against you, especially you.

I have done what you consider evil.

So you hand down justice when you speak,

and you are blameless when you judge.

5 Indeed, I was born guilty.

I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.

51:3–5   I admit I’m rebellious. I’ve sinned against many but against none more than you. You’re right to judge me. I’ve been sinful my whole life.

6 Yet, you desire truth and sincerity.[44]

Deep down inside me you teach me wisdom.

7 Purify me from sin with hyssop,[45] and I will be clean.[46]

Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear ⌞sounds of⌟ joy and gladness.

Let the bones that you have broken dance.

51:6–8   You desire genuine truth and sincerity, so teach me wisdom deep inside. Scour me thoroughly, and I’ll finally be clean. Give me joy and fix my broken places.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

and wipe out all that I have done wrong.

10 Create a clean heart in me, O God,

and renew a faithful spirit within me.

11 Do not force me away from your presence,

and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me,

and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience.

51:9–12   Wipe away my guilt and give me a clean and faithful heart. Don’t push me away or take back your Spirit. Make me glad to be saved and eager to obey.

13 ⌞Then⌟ I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious,

and sinners will return to you.

51:13   Give me the chance to teach rebels and lead sinners back to you.

14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder,

O God, my savior.

Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness!

15 O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will tell about your praise.

51:14–15   Rescue me from the worst of my sins. I’ll let my tongue praise your righteousness.

16 You are not happy with any sacrifice.

Otherwise, I would offer one ⌞to you⌟.

You are not pleased with burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.

O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.

18 Favor Zion with your goodness.

Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—

with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.

Young bulls will be offered on your altar.

51:16–19   If a sacrifice could satisfy you I’d give it. But I’ll bring the broken heart you desire. Favor me with your goodness. Rebuild me and the people I’ve hurt. Then you’ll be pleased.

Psalm 52

For the choir director; a maskil; a psalm by David when Doeg (who was from Edom) told Saul that David had come to Ahimelech’s home.

1 Why do you brag about the evil you’ve done, you hero?

The mercy of God lasts all day long!

2 Your tongue makes up threats.

It’s like a sharp razor, you master of deceit.

3 You prefer evil to good.

You prefer lying to speaking the truth. Selah

52:1–3   Why do evildoers brag about their sins? These masters of deceit speak razor-sharp lies. They prefer evil to good.

4 You love every destructive accusation, you deceitful tongue!

5 But God will ruin you forever.

He will grab you and drag you out of your tent.

He will pull your roots out of this world of the living. Selah

52:4–5   Evildoers love to hurt others. But you’ll ruin the wicked. You’ll drag them out of this world of the living.

6 Righteous people will see ⌞this⌟ and be struck with fear.

They will laugh at you and say,

7 “Look at this person who refused to make God his fortress!

Instead, he trusted his great wealth

and became strong through his greed.”

52:6–7   I’ll be filled with awe when I see you act. Show me the foolishness of trusting money instead of you.

8 But I am like a large olive tree in God’s house.

I trust the mercy of God forever and ever.

9 I will give thanks to you forever

for what you have done.

In the presence of your godly people,

I will wait with hope in your good name.

52:8–9   Make me flourish as I’m planted close to you. I’ll forever trust in your mercy. I’ll always give you thanks. Together with your people I’ll continue to count on you.

Psalm 53[47]

For the choir director; according to mahalath,[48] a maskil by David.

1 Godless fools say in their hearts,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt.

They do disgusting things.

There is no one who does good things.

53:1   Fools think you don’t exist. They sin and do nothing good.

2 God looks down from heaven on Adam’s descendants

to see if there is anyone who acts wisely,

if there is anyone who seeks help from God.

3 Everyone has fallen away.

Together they have become rotten to the core.

No one, not even one person, does good things.

53:2–3   You study all humankind to see if anyone acts wisely or seeks your help. But all of us have sinned and become rotten to the core. I don’t do good. Nor does anyone else.

4 Are all those troublemakers,

those who devour my people as if they were devouring food,

so ignorant that they do not call on God?

53:4   Troublemakers swallow up your people. Are evildoers completely ignorant of you?

5 There they are—panic-stricken—

⌞but⌟ there was no reason to panic,

because God has scattered the bones

of those who set up camp against you.[49]

You put them to shame.

After all, God has rejected them.

53:5   Give our enemies reason to panic. Scatter their bones. Shame and reject them.

6 If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion!

When God restores the fortunes of his people,

Jacob will rejoice.

Israel will be glad.

53:6   Send victory from your throne! Restore the fortunes of your people and give us reason to be glad.

Psalm 54

For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a maskil by David when people from the city of Ziph told Saul that David was hiding among them.

1 O God, save me by your name,

and defend me with your might.

2 O God, hear my prayer,

and open your ears to the words from my mouth.

3 Strangers have attacked me.

Ruthless people seek my life.

They do not think about God.[50] Selah

54:1–3   Save me because of your character. Defend me with your power. I’m under attack by people who ignore you, so don’t ignore my pleas.

4 God is my helper!

The Lord is the provider for my life.

5 My enemies spy on me.

Pay them back with evil.

Destroy them with your truth!

54:4–5   You help me and provide for my life. Pay back evil to people who spy on me. Destroy them with your truth!

6 I will make a sacrifice to you along with a freewill offering.

I will give thanks to your good name, O LORD.

7 Your name rescues me from every trouble.

My eyes will gloat over my enemies.

54:6–7   I offer everything to you because you’re good. When you rescue me I’ll watch my enemies go down in defeat.

Psalm 55

For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a maskil by David.

1 Open your ears to my prayer, O God.

Do not hide from my plea for mercy.

55:1–2   Pay attention to me! Hear my prayers and don’t hide when I plead for mercy.

2 Pay attention to me, and answer me.

My thoughts are restless, and I am confused

3 because my enemy shouts at me

and a wicked person persecutes me.

They bring misery crashing down on me,

and they attack me out of anger.

55:2–3   I can’t think straight with my enemy shouting so loudly. Protect me from the misery crashing down on me.

4 My heart is in turmoil.

The terrors of death have seized me.

5 Fear and trembling have overcome me.

Horror has overwhelmed me.

6 I said, “If only I had wings like a dove—

I would fly away and find rest.

7 Indeed, I would run far away.

I would stay in the desert. Selah

8 I would hurry to find shelter

from the raging wind and storm.”

55:4–8   Trembling overwhelms me. Deathly terrors seize me. Horrors bury me. I wish I could fly away to find rest or run away to the desert. I need shelter from the raging storm.

9 Completely confuse their language, O Lord,

because I see violence and conflict in the city.

10 Day and night they go around on ⌞top of⌟ the city walls.

Trouble and misery are everywhere.

11 Destruction is everywhere.

Oppression and fraud never leave the streets.[51]

55:9–11   Confuse my enemies, the violent ones who creep around spreading misery.

12 If an enemy had insulted me,

then I could bear it.

If someone who hated me had attacked me,

then I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, my equal,

my best friend,

one I knew so well!

14 We used to talk to each other in complete confidence

and walk into God’s house with the festival crowds.

55:12–14   I wouldn’t be so grief-stricken if an enemy had attacked me. But it was my best friend who turned on me, someone I trusted and considered an equal in faith.

15 Let death suddenly take ⌞wicked people⌟!

Let them go into the grave while they are still alive,

because evil lives in their homes as well as in their hearts.

16 But I call on God,

and the LORD saves me.

17 Morning, noon, and night I complain and groan,

and he listens to my voice.

18 With ⌞his⌟ peace, he will rescue my soul

from the war waged against me,

because there are many ⌞soldiers fighting⌟ against me.

55:16–18   I call on you and you save me. I groan day and night and you hear me. Your peace will rescue my soul. You’ll deal with my enemies from your eternal throne.

19 God will listen.

The one who has sat enthroned from the beginning

will deal with them. Selah

They never change. They never fear God.

20 ⌞My best friend⌟ has betrayed his friends.

He has broken his solemn promise.

21 His speech is smoother than butter,

but there is war in his heart.

His words are more soothing than oil,

but they are like swords ready to attack.

55:19–21   Evildoers never change. I’m not the only one my best friend has betrayed. Over and over he’s broken his promises then smoothed things over with slippery words.

22 Turn your burdens over to the LORD,

and he will take care of you.

He will never let the righteous person stumble.

23 But you, O God, will throw ⌞wicked people⌟ into the deepest pit.

Bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days.

But I will trust you.

55:22–23   I give you my burdens and trust myself to your care. Keep me from stumbling. I’ll always keep trusting you.

Psalm 56

For the choir director; according to yonath elem rechokim;[52] a miktam by David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

1 Have pity on me, O God, because people are harassing me.

All day long warriors oppress me.

2 All day long my enemies spy on me.

They harass me.

There are so many fighting against me.

56:1–2   Pity me! I’m harassed and oppressed, the target of spies watching me without a break. I’m surrounded by enemies.

3 Even when I am afraid, I still trust you.

4 I praise the word of God.

I trust God.

I am not afraid.

What can mere flesh ⌞and blood⌟ do to me?

56:3–4   Even when fear grips me I keep trusting you. You quiet my fears. How can mere people hurt me?

5 All day long my enemies twist my words.

Their every thought is an evil plan against me.

6 They attack, and then they hide.

They watch my every step as they wait to take my life.

7 With the wrong they do, can they escape?

O God, angrily make the nations fall.

56:5–7   My enemies never stop twisting my words. They attack me, then retreat to prepare another attack. Are you really going to let them escape?

8 (You have kept a record of my wanderings.

Put my tears in your bottle.

They are already in your book.)

56:8   You remember the times I’ve wandered from you. You keep all my tears in a bottle.

9 Then my enemies will retreat when I call ⌞to you⌟.

This I know: God is on my side.

10 I praise the word of God.

I praise the word of the LORD.

11 I trust God.

I am not afraid.

What can mortals do to me?

56:9–11   My enemies flee when I pray to you. My fears fade when I trust in you. Nothing any humans do can hurt me.

12 I am bound by my vows to you, O God.

I will keep my vows by offering songs of thanksgiving to you.

13 You have rescued me from death.

You have kept my feet from stumbling

so that I could walk in your presence, in the light of life.

56:13   You’ve rescued me from death. Now keep me walking in the light of your presence.

Psalm 57

For the choir director; al tashcheth;[53] a miktam by David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

1 Have pity on me, O God. Have pity on me,

because my soul takes refuge in you.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until destructive storms pass by.

57:1   Take pity on me, because I hide my whole being in you. I tuck under your wings while life’s storms pass by.

2 I call to God Most High,

to the God who does everything for me.

3 He sends his help from heaven and saves me.

He disgraces the one who is harassing me. Selah

God sends his mercy and his truth!

57:2–3   I cry to you, God Most High. You do everything for me, sending help from heaven.

4 My soul is surrounded by lions.

I must lie down with man-eating lions.

Their teeth are spears and arrows.

Their tongues are sharp swords.

57:4   I feel trapped by man-eating lions with mouths like swords.

5 May you be honored above the heavens, O God.

Let your glory extend over the whole earth.

57:5   You deserve honor higher than the heavens. Your glory reaches to the whole earth.

6 ⌞My enemies⌟ spread out a net to catch me.

(My soul is bowed down.)[54]

They dug a pit to trap me,

but then they fell into it. Selah

57:6   When my enemies try to trap me, let them fall into their own pit.

7 My heart is confident, O God.

My heart is confident.

I want to sing and make music.[55]

8 Wake up, my soul![56]

Wake up, harp and lyre!

I want to wake up at dawn.

9 I want to give thanks to you among the people, O Lord.

I want to make music to praise you among the nations

10 because your mercy is as high as the heavens.

Your truth reaches the skies.

57:7–10   Because of you I’m confident. I’ll sing and make music to you. I’ll wake up at dawn to say thanks. I’ll praise you so everyone realizes that your mercy and truth reach to the skies.

11 May you be honored above the heavens, O God.

Let your glory extend over the whole earth.

57:11   You deserve honor higher than the heavens. Your glory reaches to the whole earth.

Psalm 58

For the choir director; al tashcheth; a miktam by David.

1 Do you rulers really give fair verdicts?

Do you judge Adam’s descendants fairly?

2 No, you invent new crimes on earth,

and your hands spread violence.

3 ⌞Even⌟ inside the womb wicked people are strangers ⌞to God⌟.

From their birth liars go astray.

58:1–3   Rulers judge unjustly, while they themselves commit violent crimes. Evildoers are strangers to you from the time they’re conceived.

4 They have poisonous venom like snakes.

They are like a deaf cobra that shuts its ears

5 so that it cannot hear the voice of a snake charmer

or of anyone trained to cast spells.

6 O God, knock the teeth out of their mouths.

Break the young lions’ teeth, O LORD.

7 Let them disappear like water that drains away.

When they aim their bows, let their arrows miss the target.[57]

8 Let them become like a snail that leaves behind a slimy trail

or like a stillborn child who never sees the sun.

58:4–8   The wicked bite with deadly venom, so knock out their teeth! Make them like water draining away. Let their arrows miss their targets. Make them nothing more than snails leaving slimy trails.

9 Let ⌞God⌟ sweep them away

faster than a cooking pot is heated by burning twigs.[58]

10 Righteous people will rejoice when they see ⌞God⌟ take revenge.

They will wash their feet in the blood of wicked people.

11 Then people will say,

“Righteous people certainly have a reward.

There is a God who judges on earth.”

58:9–11   Sweep evildoers away! Good people will be glad when they see you take your revenge. Show us that you’re real—and that you’re fair.

Psalm 59

For the choir director; al tashcheth; a miktam by David when Saul sent men to watch David’s home and kill him.

1 Rescue me from my enemies, O my God.

Protect me from those who attack me.

2 Rescue me from troublemakers.

Save me from bloodthirsty people.

3 They lie in ambush for me right here!

Fierce men attack me, O LORD,

but not because of any disobedience,

59:1–3   Rescue me. Protect me. Save me from bloodthirsty troublemakers. Can’t you see my enemies waiting in ambush?

4 or any sin, or any guilt on my part.

They hurry to take positions against me.

Wake up, and help me; see ⌞for yourself⌟.

5 O LORD God of Armies, God of Israel,

arise to punish all the nations.

Have no pity on any traitors. Selah

59:3–5   My enemies attack me for no reason. See for yourself, then rise up and stop them.

6 They return in the evening.

They howl like dogs.

They prowl the city.

7 See what pours out of their mouths—

swords from their lips!

⌞They think,⌟ “Who will hear us?”

8 O LORD, you laugh at them.

You make fun of all the nations.

59:6–8   My enemies howl at me like dogs. They speak deadly words, thinking you won’t hear them. But you do—and you laugh at them.

9 O my strength, I watch for you!

God is my stronghold, my merciful God!

10 God will come to meet me.

He will let me gloat over those who spy on me.

11 Do not kill them.

Otherwise, my people may forget.

Make them wander aimlessly by your power.

Bring them down, O Lord, our shield,

59:9–11   Because you’re my strength, I’ll watch for your help. You’ll meet me with mercy and make me victorious over my foes. Keep my enemies alive so others can see how aimlessly they wander.

12 ⌞because of⌟ the sins from their mouths

and the words on their lips.

Let them be trapped by their own arrogance

because they speak curses and lies.

13 Destroy them in your rage.

Destroy them until not one of them is left.

Then they will know that God rules Jacob

to the ends of the earth. Selah

59:12–13   Trap my enemies with their own arrogant words. Don’t let a single one escape. Bring an end to their evil.

14 They return in the evening.

They howl like dogs.

They prowl the city.

15 They wander around to find something to eat.

If they are not full enough,

they will stay all night.

59:14–15   My foes prowl the city hunting for something to eat. They stay up all night until they fill their stomachs with kills.

16 But I will sing about your strength.

In the morning I will joyfully sing about your mercy.

You have been my stronghold

and a place of safety in times of trouble.

17 O my strength, I will make music to praise you!

God is my stronghold, my merciful God!

59:16–17   I sing about your strength. I joyfully hum of your mercy. You’re my safe place when trouble strikes. I’ll always make music to you, my strong and merciful God!

Psalm 60

For the choir director; according to shushan eduth;[59] a miktam by David; for teaching. When David fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and ⌞when⌟ Joab came back and killed 12,000 men from Edom in the Dead Sea region.

1 O God, you have rejected us.

You have broken down our defenses.

You have been angry.

Restore us!

2 You made the land quake.

You split it wide open.

Heal the cracks in it

because it is falling apart.

60:1–2   You’ve rejected your people and left us defenseless. You shook the land and split it wide open. Heal the land, because it’s falling apart.

3 You have made your people experience hardships.

You have given us wine that makes us stagger.

4 Yet, you have raised a flag for those who fear you

so that they can rally to it

when attacked by bows ⌞and arrows⌟. Selah

60:3–4   You’re the reason we endure hardship and stagger in confusion. So pull us to safety. Gather us to yourself.

5 Save ⌞us⌟ with your powerful hand, and answer us

so that those who are dear to you may be rescued.[60]

6 God has promised the following through his holiness:

“I will triumph!

I will divide Shechem.

I will measure the valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine.

Manasseh is mine.

Ephraim is the helmet on my head.

Judah is my scepter.

8 Moab is my washtub.

I will throw my shoe over Edom.

I will shout in triumph over Philistia.”

60:6–8   You’ve spoken and said you’re in charge, ruler of all of us. Every place and people belong to you. You’re Lord over every enemy.

9 Who will bring me into the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

10 Isn’t it you, O God, who rejected us?

Isn’t it you, O God, who refused to accompany our armies?

11 Give us help against the enemy

because human assistance is worthless.

12 With God we will display great strength.

He will trample our enemies.

60:10–12   How can we count on you for help when you’ve rejected your people? Isn’t it true that you’ve refused to stand with us? Human assistance is worthless, so help us now. You alone make us strong.

Psalm 61

For the choir director; on a stringed instrument; by David.

1 Listen to my cry for help, O God.

Pay attention to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth, I call to you

when I begin to lose heart.

Lead me to the rock that is high above me.

61:1–2   Hear my cry for help. Pay attention to the words I pray from far-off places. Carry me to a safe and solid place.

3 You have been my refuge,

a tower of strength against the enemy.

4 I would like to be a guest in your tent forever

and to take refuge under the protection of your wings. Selah

61:3–4   You’re the place that I run, my safe place. I want to stay and enjoy your protection forever.

5 O God, you have heard my vows.

You have given me the inheritance

that belongs to those who fear your name.

6 Add days upon days to the life of the king.

May his years endure throughout every generation.

7 May he sit enthroned in the presence of God forever.

May mercy and truth protect him.

61:5–7   You hear everything I promise you—and you give me every gift you promise your people. Give me a long life and let me enjoy your presence forever. Protect me with your mercy and truth.

8 Then I will make music to praise your name forever,

as I keep my vows day after day.

Psalm 62

For the choir director; according to Jeduthun; a psalm by David.

1 My soul waits calmly for God alone.

My salvation comes from him.

2 He alone is my rock and my savior—my stronghold.

I cannot be severely shaken.

62:1–2   My soul waits calmly for you alone, because only you can save me. You’re my rock and Savior. Nothing can shake me.

3 How long will all of you attack a person?

How long will you try to murder him,

as though he were a leaning wall or a sagging fence?

4 They plan to force him out of his high position.

They are happy to lie.

They bless with their mouths,

but in their hearts they curse. Selah

62:3–4   How long do I have to endure these attacks? People try to topple me like a sagging fence. They’ll do anything to take me down.

5 Wait calmly for God alone, my soul,

because my hope comes from him.

6 He alone is my rock and my savior—my stronghold.

I cannot be shaken.

7 My salvation and my glory depend on God.

God is the rock of my strength, my refuge.

62:5–7   I wait calmly for you alone, because my hope comes from you. You’re my rock and my fortress.

8 Trust him at all times, you people.

Pour out your hearts in his presence.

God is our refuge. Selah

62:8   Show your people that they can always trust you. Invite them to come close and pour out their hearts to you.

9 Common people are only a whisper in the wind.

Important people are only a delusion.

When all of them are weighed on a scale, they amount to nothing.

They are less than a whisper in the wind.

62:9   Common people and powerful people all amount to nothing. Like them I’m less than a whisper in the wind.

10 Do not count on extortion ⌞to make you rich⌟.

Do not hope to gain anything through robbery.

When riches increase, do not depend on them.

11 God has spoken once.

I have heard it ⌞said⌟ twice:

“Power belongs to God.

12 Mercy belongs to you, O Lord.

You reward a person based on what he has done.”

62:10–12   I won’t turn to extortion or robbery to get rich, and even if you make me wealthy I’ll still cling to you. Power and mercy belong to you alone.

Psalm 63

A psalm by David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God.

At dawn I search for you.

My soul thirsts for you.

My body longs for you

in a dry, parched land where there is no water.

63:1   You are my God. I start searching for you at dawn, because my whole being wants more of you. I thirst for you like a desert wanderer.

2 So I look for you in the holy place

to see your power and your glory.

3 My lips will praise you

because your mercy is better than life ⌞itself⌟.

4 So I will thank you as long as I live.

I will lift up my hands ⌞to pray⌟ in your name.

63:2–4   I look for you to see your power and glory. I’ll praise you because your mercy is better than life. I’ll thank you forever and lift my hands to you in prayer.

5 You satisfy my soul with the richest foods.

My mouth will sing ⌞your⌟ praise with joyful lips.

6 As I lie on my bed, I remember you.

Through the long hours of the night, I think about you.

7 You have been my help.

In the shadow of your wings, I sing joyfully.

8 My soul clings to you.

Your right hand supports me.

63:5–8   You fill me up like rich food. I remember you all night long. I sing to you from the shadow of your protection. I cling to you and you hold me up.

9 But those who try to destroy my life

will go into the depths of the earth.

10 They will be cut down by swords.

Their dead bodies will be left as food for jackals.

11 But the king will find joy in God.

Everyone who takes an oath by God will brag,

but the mouths of liars will be shut.

63:9–11   Those who try to destroy me are done for. Others will finish them off and devour them. I’ll find joy in you.

Psalm 64

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 Hear my voice, O God, when I complain.

Protect my life from a terrifying enemy.

2 Hide me from the secret plots of criminals,

from the mob of troublemakers.

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords.

They aim bitter words like arrows

4 to shoot at innocent people from their hiding places.

They shoot at them suddenly, without any fear.

64:1–4   Hear my worried prayers, because I need your protection from terrifying enemies. They take aim at innocent people from safe hideouts.

5 They encourage one another in their evil plans.

They talk about setting traps and say,

“Who can see them?”

6 They search for the perfect crime and say,

“We have perfected a foolproof scheme!”

Human nature and the human heart are a mystery!

64:4–6   Evildoers don’t worry about getting caught. They think no one is looking. They cook up foolproof schemes.

7 But God will shoot them with an arrow.

Suddenly, they will be struck dead.

8 They will trip over their own tongues.

Everyone who sees them will shake his head.

9 Everyone will be afraid and conclude,

“This is an act of God!”

They will learn from what he has done.

10 Righteous people will find joy in the LORD and take refuge in him.

Everyone whose motives are decent will be able to brag.

64:7–10   You will put an end to evil people and their plans. Their own words will give them away. Everyone will know you caught them and will learn a lesson. You’ll make good people happy.

Psalm 65

For the choir director; a psalm by David; a song.

1 You are praised with silence in Zion, O God,

and vows ⌞made⌟ to you must be kept.

2 You are the one who hears prayers.

Everyone will come to you.

65:1–2   I worship you in silent awe. You hear our prayers. We all look to you.

3 Various sins overwhelm me.

You are the one who forgives our rebellious acts.

65:3   My sins overwhelm me, but you forgive all my rebellion.

4 Blessed is the person you choose

and invite to live with you in your courtyards.

We will be filled with good food from your house,

from your holy temple.

5 You answer us with awe-inspiring acts ⌞done⌟ in righteousness,

O God, our savior,

the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the most distant sea,

65:4–5   There’s nothing greater than living close to you. You fill me with good food. You do awesome acts of goodness. You’re the hope of everyone on earth.

6 the one who set the mountains in place with his strength,

the one who is clothed with power,

7 the one who calms the roar of the seas,

their crashing waves,

and the uproar of the nations.

65:6–7   You built the mountains. Your power calms the chaos of the oceans and the uproar of humankind.

8 Those who live at the ends of the earth are in awe of your miraculous signs.

The lands of the morning sunrise and evening sunset sing joyfully.

9 You take care of the earth, and you water it.

You make it much richer than it was.

(The river of God is filled with water.)

You provide grain for them.

Indeed, you even prepare the ground.

65:8–9   Everyone on earth lives in awe of you. They know you make the sun rise and set. You care for the earth and make it a good place to live.

10 You drench plowed fields ⌞with rain⌟

and level their clumps of soil.

You soften them with showers

and bless what grows in them.

11 You crown the year with your goodness,

and richness overflows wherever you are.

65:9–11   You prepare the earth and water our fields. You soften hard soil and bless our crops. The rich harvest shouts your goodness.

12 The pastures in the desert overflow ⌞with richness⌟.

The hills are surrounded with joy.

13 The pastures are covered with flocks.

The valleys are carpeted with grain.

All of them shout triumphantly. Indeed, they sing.

65:12–13   You fill the hills with joy. You cover the pastures with flocks and carpet the valleys with grain. Your whole creation shouts to you.

Psalm 66

For the choir director; a song; a psalm.

1 Shout happily to God, all the earth!

2 Make music to praise the glory of his name.

Make his praise glorious.

3 Say to God,

“How awe-inspiring are your deeds!

Your power is so great that your enemies will cringe in front of you.

4 The whole earth will worship you.

It will make music to praise you.

It will make music to praise your name.” Selah

66:1–4   I shout with happiness to you! I praise your bright shining greatness! I can’t stop repeating to you all the amazing things you do. The whole earth will join me in worship.

5 Come and see what God has done—

his awe-inspiring deeds for Adam’s descendants.

6 He turned the sea into dry land.

They crossed the river on foot.

We rejoiced because of what he did there.

66:5–6   I want others to notice the awe-inspiring things you’ve done for humankind. You dried up the sea so your people could escape from slavery in Egypt.

7 He rules forever with his might.

His eyes watch the nations.

Rebels will not be able to oppose him. Selah

66:7   You rule the whole world. Anyone who picks a fight with you won’t win.

8 Thank our God, you nations.

Make the sound of his praise heard.

9 He has kept us alive

and has not allowed us to fall.

66:8–9   Let the whole world thank you, because you keep us alive. You never let us fall.

10 You have tested us, O God.

You have refined us in the same way silver is refined.

11 You have trapped us in a net.

You have laid burdens on our backs.

12 You let people ride over our heads.

We went through fire and water,

but then you brought us out and refreshed us.

66:10–12   You test and refine your people. You put burdens on our backs. We face fire and water. But then you rescue and refresh us.

13 I will come into your temple with burnt offerings.

I will keep my vows to you,

14 the vows made by my lips and spoken by my ⌞own⌟ mouth

when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer you a sacrifice of fattened livestock for burnt offerings

with the smoke from rams.

I will offer cattle and goats. Selah

66:13–15   I’ll draw close to you to worship. I’ll keep the promises I made when I was in trouble. I’ll always offer you my very best.

16 Come and listen, all who fear God,

and I will tell you what he has done for me.

17 With my mouth I cried out to him.

High praise was on my tongue.

18 If I had thought about doing anything sinful,

the Lord would not have listened ⌞to me⌟.

19 But God has heard me.

He has paid attention to my prayer.

66:16–19   I want the God-fearers to hear what you’ve done for me. I cried to you. I praised you as best I know how. If my mind had been set on sinning, you wouldn’t have heard me. But you paid attention to my prayers.

20 Thanks be to God,

who has not rejected my prayer

or taken away his mercy from me.

Psalm 67

For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a psalm; a song.

1 May God have pity on us and bless us!

May he smile on us. Selah

2 Then your ways will be known on earth,

your salvation throughout all nations.

67:1–2   Pity us. Bless us. Smile on us. Then everyone will know your ways. The whole world will see your salvation.

3 Let everyone give thanks to you, O God.

Let everyone give thanks to you.

4 Let the nations be glad and sing joyfully

because you judge everyone with justice

and guide the nations on the earth. Selah

67:3–4   We thank you. We sing to you with joy because you’re just and guide every nation on earth.

5 Let the people give thanks to you, O God.

Let all the people give thanks to you.

6 The earth has yielded its harvest.

May God, our God, bless us.

7 May God bless us,

and may all the ends of the earth worship him.

67:5–7   May all humankind experience your blessing. May all of us say thanks for the food the earth produces. May the whole world worship you.

Psalm 68

For the choir director; a psalm by David; a song.

1 God will arise.

His enemies will be scattered.

Those who hate him will flee from him.

2 Blow them away like smoke.

Let wicked people melt in God’s presence like wax next to a fire.

68:1–2   You scatter people who hate you. You blow them away like smoke. You melt them like wax next to a flame.

3 But let righteous people rejoice.

Let them celebrate in God’s presence.

Let them overflow with joy.

4 Sing to God; make music to praise his name.

Make a highway for him to ride through the deserts.[61]

The LORD is his name.

Celebrate in his presence.

68:3–4   Let good people celebrate in your presence. Let them spill over with joy as they sing to you. They’ll clear a wide path for you in the deserts.

5 The God who is in his holy dwelling place

is the father of the fatherless and the defender of widows.

6 God places lonely people in families.

He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives,

but rebellious people must live in an unproductive land.

68:5–6   You act as Father to the fatherless. You defend widows and put the lonely in families. You make prisoners whole.

7 O God, when you went in front of your people,

when you marched through the desert, Selah

8 the earth quaked and the sky poured

in the presence of the God of Sinai,

in the presence of the God of Israel.

9 You watered the land with plenty of rain, O God.

You refreshed it when your land was exhausted.

10 Your flock settled there.

Out of your goodness, O God,

you provided for oppressed people.

68:7–10   The earth shook and the sky poured rain when you marched your people through the desert. You refreshed the land and gave your flock a home.

11 The Lord gives instructions.

The women who announce the good news are a large army.

12 ⌞They say,⌟ “The kings of the armies flee; they run away.

The women who remained at home will divide the goods.

13 Though you stayed among the sheep pens,

⌞you will be like⌟ the wings of a dove covered with silver,

its feathers with yellow gold.

14 Meanwhile, the Almighty was still scattering kings there

like snow falling on Mount Zalmon.”

15 The mountain of Bashan is the mountain of God.

The mountain of Bashan is the mountain with many peaks.

16 Why do you look with envy, you mountains with many peaks,

at the mountain where God has chosen to live?

Certainly, the LORD will live there forever.

68:15–16   Though the mountains are high, none measure up to the mountain where you dwell. You’ll live there forever.

17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand in number,

thousands upon thousands.

The Lord is among them.

⌞The God of⌟ Sinai is in his holy place.

18 You went to the highest place.

You took prisoners captive.

You received gifts from people,

even from rebellious people, so that the LORD God may live there.

68:17–18   Your power is beyond imagination. You live on a high holy mountain. Even rebellious people bring you gifts.

19 Thanks be to the Lord,

who daily carries our burdens for us.

God is our salvation. Selah

20 Our God is the God of victories.

The Almighty LORD is our escape from death.

68:19–20   Thanks for carrying our burdens day by day. You’re the one who saves us. You’re the God of victories.

21 Certainly, God will crush the heads of his enemies

⌞and destroy even⌟ the hair on the heads

of those who continue to be guilty.

22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan.

I will bring them back from the depths of the sea

23 so that you, ⌞my people,⌟ may bathe[62] your feet in blood

and the tongues of your dogs

may lick the blood of your enemies.”

68:21–23   You crush people who continue in sin, bringing them from near and far so your people can see your justice.

24 Your festival processions, O God, can be seen by everyone.

They are the processions for my God, my king, into the holy place.

25 The singers are in front.

The musicians are behind them.

The young women beating tambourines are between them.

26 Thank God, the Lord, the source of Israel, with the choirs.

27 Benjamin, the youngest, is leading them,

⌞next⌟ the leaders of Judah with their noisy crowds,

⌞then⌟ the leaders of Zebulun,

⌞then⌟ the leaders of Naphtali.

68:24–27   Everyone can see the festive parades that usher you to your throne. Singers lead. Musicians follow. The young women beat tambourines. All your people honor you with songs and noisy cheer.

28 Your God has decided you will be strong.

Display your strength, O God,

as you have for us before.

29 Kings will bring you gifts

because of your temple high above Jerusalem.

68:28–29   You are strong. Show your strength as you have before. Kings will honor you because of your greatness.

30 Threaten the beast who is among the cattails,

the herd of bulls with the calves of the nations,

until it humbles itself with pieces of silver.

Scatter the people who find joy in war.[63]

31 Ambassadors will come from Egypt.

Sudan will stretch out its hands to God ⌞in prayer⌟.

32 You kingdoms of the world, sing to God.

Make music to praise the Lord. Selah

68:30–32   Humble the powerful of this world and scatter the people who love war. Let every kingdom on earth sing to you.

33 God rides through the ancient heaven, the highest heaven.

Listen! He makes his voice heard, his powerful voice.

34 Acknowledge the power of God.

His majesty is over Israel, and his power is in the skies.

35 God, the God of Israel, is awe-inspiring in his holy place.

He gives strength and power to his people.

Thanks be to God!

68:33–35   You ride through the heavens and speak with a booming voice. We acknowledge your power. We bow in awe to you. Give us strength!

Psalm 69

For the choir director; according to shoshannim; by David.

1 Save me, O God!

The water is already up to my neck!

2 I am sinking in deep mud.

There is nothing to stand on.

I am in deep water.

A flood is sweeping me away.

69:1–2   Save me before I drown! I’m sinking in muck and can’t touch bottom. I’m being swept away by a flood.

3 I am exhausted from crying for help.

My throat is hoarse.

My eyes are strained ⌞from⌟ looking for my God.

4 Those who hate me for no reason

outnumber the hairs on my head.

Those who want to destroy me are mighty.

They have no reason to be my enemies.

I am forced to pay back what I did not steal.

69:3–4   My throat is hoarse from crying. My eyes hurt from looking for you. People who hate me for no reason outnumber the hairs on my head.

5 O God, you know my stupidity,

and the things of which I am guilty are not hidden from you.

6 Do not let those who wait with hope for you

be put to shame because of me, O Almighty LORD of Armies.

Do not let those who come to you for help

be humiliated because of me, O God of Israel.

69:5–6   You know I’ve been stupid. You and I both know I sin. Don’t let my failures humiliate your faithful people.

7 Indeed, for your sake I have endured insults.

Humiliation has covered my face.

69:7   People insult me because of you. My humiliation feels like a bag over my head.

8 I have become a stranger to my ⌞own⌟ brothers,

a foreigner to my mother’s sons.

9 Indeed, devotion for your house has consumed me,

and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

10 I cried and fasted, but I was insulted for it.

11 I dressed myself in sackcloth, but I became the object of ridicule.

12 Those who sit at the gate gossip about me,

and drunkards make up songs about me.

69:8–12   My own family treats me like a stranger. My devotion to you draws insults. My godly mourning makes me a joke. Even drunks make up songs about me.

13 May my prayer come to you at an acceptable time, O LORD.

O God, out of the greatness of your mercy,

answer me with the truth of your salvation.

14 Rescue me from the mud.

Do not let me sink ⌞into it⌟.

I want to be rescued from those who hate me

and from the deep water.

15 Do not let floodwaters sweep me away.

Do not let the ocean swallow me up,

or the pit close its mouth over me.

69:13–15   I hope my prayer reaches you at the right time. Answer me because of your great love. Rescue me from this muddy pit. Don’t let the floods sweep me away.

16 Answer me, O LORD, because your mercy is good.

Out of your unlimited compassion, turn to me.

17 I am in trouble, so do not hide your face from me.

Answer me quickly!

69:16–17   Answer my prayers because your compassion is unlimited. Don’t hide from me. Answer me quickly!

18 Come close, and defend my soul.

Set me free because of my enemies.

19 You know that I have been insulted, put to shame, and humiliated.

All my opponents are in front of you.

20 Insults have broken my heart, and I am sick.

I looked for sympathy, but there was none.

I looked for people to comfort me, but I found no one.

21 They poisoned my food,

and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.

69:19–21   You have heard all the insults and seen my shame. You know who my opponents are—how their insults break my heart and make me sick. They poison my food and pour vinegar in my cup.

22 Let the table set for them become a trap

and a snare for their friends.

23 Let their vision become clouded so that they cannot see.

Let their thighs continually shake.

24 Pour your rage on them.

Let your burning anger catch up with them.

69:22–24   Trap these enemies. Ensnare their friends. Cloud their vision. Make their thighs shake. Pour your rage on them. Don’t let them outrun your anger.

25 Let their camp be deserted

and their tents empty.

26 They persecute the one you have struck,

and they talk about the pain of those you have wounded.

27 Charge them with one crime after another.

Do not let them be found innocent.

28 Let their ⌞names⌟ be erased from the Book of Life.

Do not let them be listed with righteous people.

69:26–28   You struck me, and they mock my pain. Charge them and find them guilty. Erase their names from your book.

29 I am suffering and in pain.

Let your saving power protect me, O God.

30 I want to praise the name of God with a song.

I want to praise its greatness with a song of thanksgiving.

31 This will please the LORD more than ⌞sacrificing⌟ an ox

or a bull with horns and hoofs.

32 Oppressed people will see ⌞this⌟ and rejoice.

May the hearts of those who look to God for help be refreshed.

69:30–32   My praise means more to you than burning sacrifices. Let hurting people see my worship and be refreshed.

33 The LORD listens to needy people.

He does not despise his own who are in prison.

34 Let heaven and earth, the seas, and everything that moves in them, praise him.

35 When God saves Zion, he will rebuild the cities of Judah.

His servants will live there and take possession of it.

36 The descendants of his servants will inherit it.

Those who love him will live there.

69:33–36   You listen to the needy and cherish the captives. Let all heaven and earth praise you. Give your servants a safe and holy home.

Psalm 70[64]

For the choir director; by David; to be kept in mind.

1 Come quickly to rescue me, O God!

Come quickly to help me, O LORD!

2 Let those who seek my life

be confused and put to shame.

Let those who want my downfall

be turned back and disgraced.

3 Let those who say, “Aha! Aha!”

be turned back because of their own shame.

70:1–3   Help me now! Confuse everyone who wants to kill me. Chase them away in disgrace!

4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you.

Let those who love your salvation continually say,

“God is great!”

5 But I am oppressed and needy.

O God, come to me quickly.

You are my help and my savior.

O LORD, do not delay!

70:4–5   I’ll always seek you and smile because of you. I love your salvation. It makes me shout about your greatness. But help me quickly. You’re my help and my Savior. Don’t delay!

Psalm 71

1 I have taken refuge in you, O LORD.

Never let me be put to shame.

2 Rescue me and free me because of your righteousness.

Turn your ear toward me, and save me.

71:1–2   I count on your protection from people who want to shame me. Set me free because of your goodness.

3 Be a rock on which I may live,

a place where I may always go.

You gave the order to save me!

Indeed, you are my rock and my fortress.

4 My God, free me from the hands of a wicked person,

from the grasp of one who is cruel and unjust.

71:3–4   Be my solid home, the place I run for safety. Set me loose from wicked hands.

5 You are my hope, O Almighty LORD.

You have been my confidence ever since I was young.

6 I depended on you before I was born.

You took me from my mother’s womb.

My songs of praise constantly speak about you.

71:5–6   You’re my hope, the one I’ve depended on since before I was born. You brought me safely from my mother’s womb.

7 I have become an example to many people,

but you are my strong refuge.

8 My mouth is filled with your praise,

with your glory all day long.

71:6–8   I constantly sing about you. All day long my mouth is full of your glory.

9 Do not reject me when I am old

or abandon me when I lose my strength.

10 My enemies talk about me.

They watch me as they plot to take my life.

11 They say, “God has abandoned him.

Pursue him and grab him because there is no one to rescue him.”

71:9–11   Don’t reject me when I’m old and weak, because my enemies already plot to kill me. They think you’ve abandoned me. They scheme to hunt me down because they assume no one will help me.

12 O God, do not be so distant from me.

O my God, come quickly to help me.

13 Let those who accuse me come to a shameful end.

Let those who want my downfall be covered

with disgrace and humiliation.

14 But I will always have hope.

I will praise you more and more.

71:12–14   Don’t be so far from me. Come quickly to help me. You’re my only hope!

15 My mouth will tell about your righteousness,

about your salvation all day long.

Even then, it is more than I can understand.

16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Almighty LORD.

I will praise your righteousness, yours alone.

71:15–16   I won’t stop talking about your goodness and deliverance, even though they’re greater than I’ll ever understand. I’ll tell everyone you alone do right.

17 O God, you have taught me ever since I was young,

and I still talk about the miracles you have done.

18 Even when I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God.

Let me live to tell the people of this age

what your strength has accomplished,

to tell about your power to all who will come.

71:17–18   You’ve taught me since I was young, so don’t desert me when I’m gray. Let me grow old and tell people what your power has done.

19 Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God.

You have done great things.

O God, who is like you?

71:19   Your righteousness reaches the skies. You do awesome things. No one is like you.

20 You have made me endure many terrible troubles.

You restore me to life again.

You bring me back from the depths of the earth.

21 You comfort me and make me greater than ever.

71:20–21   You’ve made me face terrible troubles, yet you bring me back from death. You comfort me and make me stronger than ever.

22 Because of your faithfulness, O my God,

even I will give thanks to you as I play on a lyre.

I will make music with a harp to praise you, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will sing with joy when I make music to praise you.

My soul, which you have rescued, also will sing joyfully.

24 My tongue will tell about your righteousness all day long,

because those who wanted my downfall

have been disgraced and put to shame.

71:22–24   Because you’re faithful, I’ll always sing you thanks. I’ll sing with a heart full of joy and my tongue won’t stop recounting your goodness.

Psalm 72

By Solomon.

1 O God, give the king your justice

and the king’s son[65] your righteousness

2 so that he may judge your people with righteousness

and your oppressed ⌞people⌟ with justice.

72:1–2   Be just and good, my King, and judge the oppressed with justice.

3 May the mountains bring peace to the people

and the hills bring righteousness.

4 May he grant justice to the people who are oppressed.

May he save the children of needy people

and crush their oppressor.

5 May they fear you as long as the sun and moon ⌞shine⌟—

throughout every generation.

72:4–5   Bring justice to the broken. Save the children of the needy. Fend off every oppressor. May you receive the utter respect you deserve.

6 May he be like rain that falls on ⌞freshly⌟ cut grass,

like showers that water the land.

7 May righteous people blossom in his day.

May there be unlimited peace until the moon no longer ⌞shines⌟.

72:6–7   You are like rain watering my soul. You make me blossom and bring peace to my world.

8 May he rule from sea to sea,

from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

9 May the people of the desert kneel in front of him.

May his enemies lick the dust.

10 May the kings from Tarshish and the islands bring presents.

May the kings from Sheba and Seba bring gifts.

11 May all kings worship him.

May all nations serve him.

72:8–11   You reign over the whole world. May every person on earth bow to worship you. I want rulers and everyday people alike to serve you.

12 He will rescue the needy person who cries for help

and the oppressed person who has no one’s help.

13 He will have pity on the poor and needy

and will save the lives of the needy.

14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence.

Their blood will be precious in his sight.

72:12–14   You rescue the impoverished and powerless who call on you. Save their lives and spare them from violence.

15 May he live long.

May the gold from Sheba be given to him.

May ⌞the people⌟ pray for him continually.

May ⌞they⌟ praise him all day long.

16 May there be plenty of grain in the land.

May it wave ⌞in the breeze⌟ on the mountaintops,

its fruit like ⌞the treetops of⌟ Lebanon.

May those from the city flourish like the grass on the ground.

17 May his name endure forever.

May his name continue as long as the sun ⌞shines⌟.

May all nations be blessed through him and call him blessed.

72:16–17   Feed our world. Cause our cities to flourish. Make your name famous for all time. You bless every nation.

18 Thank the LORD God, the God of Israel,

who alone does miracles.

19 Thanks be to his glorious name forever.

May the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and amen!

72:18–19   You alone do miracles. I won’t stop telling you thanks. Show your splendor to the whole earth. Amen!

20 The prayers by David, son of Jesse, end here.

BOOK THREE

(Psalms 73–89)

Psalm 73

A psalm by Asaph.

1 God is truly good to Israel,

to those whose lives are pure.

2 But my feet had almost stumbled.

They had almost slipped

3 because I was envious of arrogant people

when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.

4 They suffer no pain.

Their bodies are healthy.

5 They have no drudgery in their lives like ordinary people.

They are not plagued ⌞with problems⌟ like others.

73:1–5   I know you’re good to people who are pure. But I don’t understand why you let evildoers prosper. They feel no pain. They enjoy good health. They’re never bored or troubled.

6 That is why they wear arrogance like a necklace

and acts of violence like clothing.

7 Their eyes peer out from their fat faces,[66]

and their imaginations run wild.

8 They ridicule.

They speak maliciously.

They speak arrogantly about oppression.

9 They verbally attack heaven,

and they order people around on earth.

10 That is why God’s people turn to wickedness[67]

and swallow their words.

73:6–10   The wicked strut and do violence. They mock and speak maliciously. Their eyes study the world from well-fed faces, dreaming up new ways to hurt others. They boast against you in heaven and bark at people here on earth. All of this is why your people turn to wickedness.

11 Then wicked people ask, “What does God know?”

“Does the Most High know anything?”

12 Look how wicked they are!

They never have a worry.

They grow more and more wealthy.

13 I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure

and washing my hands of any blame.

14 I’m plagued ⌞with problems⌟ all day long,

and every morning my punishment ⌞begins again⌟.

73:11–14   The wicked think you don’t see their sins. Do you? They continually prosper while I get nothing for living for you. I face nonstop problems. Every day I take another beating.

15 If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,”

I would have betrayed God’s people.

16 But when I tried to understand this,

it was too difficult for me.

73:15–16   If I tell others my struggles, I will lead them astray. All of this is too difficult for me to understand.

17 Only when I came into God’s holy place

did I ⌞finally⌟ understand what would happen to them.

18 You put them in slippery places

and make them fall into ruin.

19 They are suddenly destroyed.

They are completely swept away by terror!

20 As ⌞someone⌟ gets rid of a dream when he wakes up,

so you, O Lord, get rid of the thought of them

when you wake up.

73:17–20   Only when I bow to you do I see the truth. You put evil people in slippery places, then push them to destruction. You shake them off like a bad dream.

21 When my heart was filled with bitterness

and my mind was seized ⌞with envy⌟,

22 I was stupid, and I did not understand.

I was like a dumb animal in your presence.

23 Yet, I am always with you.

You hold on to my right hand.

24 With your advice you guide me,

and in the end you will take me to glory.

73:21–24   I was stupid to feel bitter and envious. I realize now that I’m always with you. You hold my hand and guide me in every step of life. When I die you’ll welcome me home.

25 As long as I have you,

I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.

26 My body and mind may waste away,

but God remains the foundation of my life

and my inheritance forever.

73:25–26   As long as I have you I don’t need anything else. Even if my body and mind waste away, you’ll always be my strength.

27 Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die.

You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 Being united with God is my highest good.

I have made the Almighty LORD my refuge

so that I may report everything that he has done.

73:27–28   People who live far from you will die. But living close to you is better than my biggest dreams.

Psalm 74

A maskil[68] by Asaph.

1 Why, O God, have you rejected us forever?

Why does your anger

smolder against the sheep in your care?

2 Remember your congregation.

Long ago you made it your own.

You bought this tribe to be your possession.

This tribe is Mount Zion, where you have made your home.

74:1–2   Why do you reject your people? Why does your anger smoke against your flock? Remember that you called us to be your people. You made our hearts your home.

3 Turn your steps toward[69] these pathetic ruins.

The enemy has destroyed everything in the holy temple.

4 Your opponents have roared inside your meeting place.

They have set up their own emblems as symbols.

74:3–4   Look at us—we’re pathetic ruins! Your enemies have destroyed your holy house and claimed it as their own.

5 Starting from its entrance, they hacked away

like a woodcutter in a forest.[70]

6 They smashed all its carved paneling with axes and hatchets.

7 They burned your holy place to the ground.

They dishonored the place where you live among us.

8 They said to themselves, “We will crush them.”

They burned every meeting place of God in the land.

74:5–8   Your enemies have hacked and burned your house. They want to crush us by burning the places we meet to honor you.

9 We no longer see miraculous signs.

There are no prophets anymore.

No one knows how long this will last.

10 How long, O God, will the enemy insult us?

Will the enemy despise you forever?

11 Why do you hold back your hand, especially your right hand?

Take your hands out of your pockets.

Destroy your enemies![71]

74:9–11   There are no more miracles, no more prophets. We don’t know when we’ll hear from you again or see you act. Get your hands out of your pockets and help us!

12 And yet, from long ago God has been my king,

the one who has been victorious throughout the earth.

13 You stirred up the sea with your own strength.

You smashed the heads of sea monsters in the water.

14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan[72]

and gave them to the creatures of the desert for food.

15 You opened the springs and brooks.

You dried up the ever-flowing rivers.

16 The day and the night are yours.

You set the moon and the sun in their places.

17 You determined all the boundaries of the earth.

You created summer and winter.

74:12–17   Despite my grief you’ve always been my King. You rule earth and sea. You make streams start and stop. All of nature marches to your orders—day and night, sun and moon, summer and winter.

18 Remember how the enemy insulted you, O LORD.

Remember how an entire nation of godless fools despised your name.

19 Do not hand over the soul of your dove to wild animals.

Do not forget the life of your oppressed people forever.

74:18–19   Godless fools hate you. Don’t forget how they insult you. Don’t hand over your treasured people to be mauled and eaten.

20 Consider your promise[73]

because every dark corner of the land is filled with violence.

21 Do not let oppressed people come back in disgrace.

Let weak and needy people praise your name.

22 Arise, O God!

Fight for your own cause!

Remember how godless fools insult you all day long.

74:20–22   In these dark days remember your promises to us. The weak and needy praise you. Stand up and fight for your people!

23 Do not forget the shouting of your opponents.

Do not forget the uproar made by those who attack you.

Psalm 75

For the choir director; al tashcheth; a psalm by Asaph; a song.

1 We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks.

You are present, and your miracles confirm that.

75:1   Thank you. And thank you again. Your miracles prove your presence with us.

2 When I choose the right time,

I will judge fairly.

3 When the earth and everyone who lives on it begin to melt,

I will make its foundations as solid as rock. Selah

4 I said to those who brag, “Don’t brag,”

and to wicked people,

“Don’t raise your weapons.

5 Don’t raise your weapons so proudly

or speak so defiantly.”

75:2–5   You set the perfect time for judgment. When the earth melts, you alone make it solid. I keep telling the proud not to brag. I warn them not to shake their weapons and words at you.

6 The ⌞authority⌟ to reward someone does not ⌞come⌟

from the east,

from the west,

or ⌞even⌟ from the wilderness.

7 God alone is the judge.

He punishes one person and rewards another.

8 A cup is in the LORD’s hand.

(Its foaming wine is thoroughly mixed with spices.)

He will empty it,

⌞and⌟ all the wicked people on earth

will have to drink every last drop.

75:6–8   You alone have real authority. Only you can judge, punish, and reward. You pour your cup of wrath and make the wicked drink every last drop.

9 But I will speak ⌞about your miracles⌟ forever.

I will make music to praise the God of Jacob.

10 I will destroy all the weapons of wicked people,

but the weapons of righteous people will be raised proudly.

75:9–10   I’ll always talk about your miracles. I’ll always praise you. You destroy the weapons of evildoers, but you empower your followers.

Psalm 76

For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a psalm by Asaph; a song.

1 God is known in Judah.

His name is great in Israel.

2 His tent is in Salem.

His home is in Zion.

76:1–2   Your people know you. You make your home with us.

3 There he destroyed flaming arrows,

shields, swords, and weapons of war. Selah

4 You are the radiant one.

You are more majestic than the ancient mountains.[74]

76:4   No person shines brighter than you. No mountain rises more majestic than you.

5 Brave people were robbed.

They died.

None of the warriors were able to lift a hand.

6 At your stern warning, O God of Jacob,

chariot riders and horses were put to sleep.

7 You alone must be feared!

Who can stand in your presence when you become angry?

76:5–7   No power can stand against you. You strike down armies. You prove that you alone must be feared. No one can stand in your anger.

8 From heaven you announced a verdict.

The earth was fearful and silent

9 when you rose to judge, O God,

when you rose to save every oppressed person on earth. Selah

76:8–9   From heaven you announce your verdicts. You rise to judge evildoers and save the oppressed.

10 Even angry mortals will praise you.

You will wear the remainder of ⌞their⌟ anger.[75]

11 Make vows to the LORD your God, and keep them.

Let everyone around him bring gifts to the one who must be feared.

12 He cuts short the lives of influential people.

He terrifies the kings of the earth.

76:11–12   I’ll keep my promises to you. I’ll bring you gifts because you fill me with awe. You put an end to influential people. Even kings fear you.

Psalm 77

For the choir director; according to Jeduthun; a psalm by Asaph.

1 Loudly, I cried to God.

Loudly, I cried to God

so that he would open his ears to ⌞hear⌟ me.

2 On the day I was in trouble, I went to the Lord for help.

At night I stretched out my hands in prayer without growing tired.

Yet, my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I sigh as I remember God.

I begin to lose hope as I think about him. Selah

77:1–3   I cried loudly so you would hear me. I was in trouble so I ran to you for help. I even prayed all night long. Yet I found no comfort. I’m starting to lose hope in you.

4 (You keep my eyelids open.)

I am so upset that I cannot speak.

5 I have considered the days of old,

the years long ago.

6 I remember my song in the night

and reflect ⌞on it⌟.

My spirit searches ⌞for an answer⌟:

7 Will the LORD reject ⌞me⌟ for all time?

Will he ever accept me?

8 Has his mercy come to an end forever?

Has his promise been canceled throughout every generation?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?

Has he locked up his compassion because of his anger? Selah

77:4–9   Now I’m too upset even to pray. I keep thinking of the songs I used to sing. Will you ever accept me? Have you run out of mercy? Have you quit keeping your promises? Are you too angry to show me compassion?

10 Then I said, “It makes me feel sick

that the power of the Most High is no longer the same.”[76]

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD.

I will remember your ancient miracles.

12 I will reflect on all your actions

and think about what you have done.

77:10–12   I feel sick that your infinite power seems to have faded. I force myself to think back to your ancient miracles. I ponder what you’ve done.

13 O God, your ways are holy!

What god is as great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles.

You have made your strength known among the nations.

15 With your might you have defended your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

77:13–15   Your ways are holy! No god is as mighty as you. You did miracles and demonstrated your strength to the world. With your might you defended your people.

16 The water saw you, O God.

The water saw you and shook.

Even the depths of the sea trembled.

17 The clouds poured out water.

The sky thundered.

Even your arrows flashed in every direction.

18 The sound of your thunder rumbled in the sky.[77]

Streaks of lightning lit up the world.

The earth trembled and shook.

19 Your road went through the sea.

Your path went through raging water,

but your footprints could not be seen.

20 Like a shepherd, you led your people.

You had Moses and Aaron take them by the hand.

77:16–20   The sea shook with fear when it saw you coming. The clouds burst, the sky thundered, and lightning lit the earth. You made a path through the sea for your people. You led your people like a shepherd, telling Moses and Aaron to take them by the hand.

Psalm 78

A maskil by Asaph.

1 Open your ears to my teachings, my people.

Turn your ears to the words from my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth to illustrate points.

I will explain what has been hidden long ago,

3 things that we have heard and known about,

things that our parents have told us.

4 We will not hide them from our children.

We will tell the next generation

about the LORD’s power and great deeds

and the miraculous things he has done.

78:1–4   I want everyone to hear my words because I have something important to say. I’ll explain what you did long ago. I’ll tell the stories passed down from our parents. I won’t hide the powerful deeds you’ve done.

5 He established written instructions for Jacob’s people.

He gave his teachings to Israel.

He commanded our ancestors to make them known to their children

78:5   You wrote down your commands so no one could miss them. You made them easy for children to learn.

6 so that the next generation would know them.

Children yet to be born ⌞would learn them⌟.

They will grow up and tell their children

7 to trust God, to remember what he has done,

and to obey his commands.

8 Then they will not be like their ancestors,

a stubborn and rebellious generation.

Their hearts were not loyal.

Their spirits were not faithful to God.

9 The men of Ephraim, well-equipped with bows ⌞and arrows⌟,

turned ⌞and ran⌟ on the day of battle.

10 They had not been faithful to God’s promise.[78]

They refused to follow his teachings.

78:6–10   You want each generation to teach their children to trust you, to remember your deeds, and to obey your commands. Then they won’t rebel like their unfaithful ancestors, those well-equipped warriors who fled when they should have stood on your promises.

11 They forgot what he had done—

the miracles that he had shown them.

12 In front of their ancestors he performed miracles

in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.

13 He divided the sea and led them through it.

He made the waters stand up like a wall.

14 He guided them by a cloud during the day

and by a fiery light throughout the night.

15 He split rocks in the desert.

He gave them plenty to drink, an ocean of water.

16 He made streams come out of a rock.

He made the water flow like rivers.

78:11–16   Never let me forget your miracles. You split the sea and led your people to freedom, with a cloud by day and a fiery light by night. You split rocks in the desert and gave them plenty to drink.

17 They continued to sin against him,

to rebel in the desert against the Most High.

18 They deliberately tested God by demanding the food they craved.

19 They spoke against God by saying,

“Can God prepare a banquet in the desert?

20 True, he did strike a rock,

and water did gush out,

and the streams did overflow.

But can he also give us bread or provide us, his people, with meat?”

78:17–20   Your people saw these miracles yet continued to rebel against you. They demanded you fill their cravings for bread and meat. They questioned your ability to provide. Show me when I treat you with such disrespect.

21 When the LORD heard this, he became furious.

His fire burned against Jacob

and his anger flared up at Israel

22 because they did not believe God

or trust him to save them.

23 In spite of that, he commanded the clouds above

and opened the doors of heaven.

24 He rained manna down on them to eat

and gave them grain from heaven.

25 Humans ate the bread of the mighty ones,

and God sent them plenty of food.

26 He made the east wind blow in the heavens

and guided the south wind with his might.

27 He rained meat down on them like dust,

birds like the sand on the seashore.

28 He made the birds fall in the middle of his camp,

all around his dwelling place.

78:21–28   You were furious when you overheard their doubts. They didn’t believe your promises. They didn’t trust you to save them. Yet you kindly dropped manna from heaven. You rained meat in the middle of their camp.

29 They ate more than enough.

He gave them what they wanted,

30 but they still wanted more.

While the food was still in their mouths,

31 the anger of God flared up against them.

He killed their strongest men

and slaughtered the best young men in Israel.

32 In spite of all this, they continued to sin,

and they no longer believed in his miracles.

78:29–32   Your people ate until they were stuffed but still they wanted more. Their mouths were full but they moaned about their hunger. In your anger you killed the strong and the young. And still they continued to sin.

33 He brought their days to an end like a whisper in the wind.

He brought their years to an end in terror.

34 When he killed ⌞some of⌟ them, ⌞the rest⌟ searched for him.

They turned from their sins and eagerly looked for God.

35 They remembered that God was their rock,

that the Most High was their defender.

36 They flattered him with their mouths

and lied to him with their tongues.

37 Their hearts were not loyal to him.

They were not faithful to his promise.

78:34–37   Some searched for you. They turned from their sins and looked for you. They called you their rock and defender. But it was all an act. Their hearts weren’t with you.

38 But he is compassionate.

He forgave their sin.

He did not destroy them.

He restrained his anger many times.

He did not display all of his fury.

39 He remembered that they were only flesh and blood,

a breeze that blows and does not return.

78:38–39   You are merciful and forgiving. You hold back your anger and remember that people are weak. We are but a breeze that blows once and disappears.

40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness!

How often they caused him grief in the desert!

41 Again and again they tested God,

and they pushed the Holy One of Israel to the limit.

42 They did not remember his power—

the day he freed them from their oppressor,

43 when he performed his miraculous signs in Egypt,

his wonders in the fields of Zoan.

78:40–43   I don’t want to push you to the limit like they did. Help me remember your power—how you used miraculous signs and wonders to free your people from slavery.

44 He turned their rivers into blood

so that they could not drink from their streams.

45 He sent a swarm of flies that bit them

and frogs that ruined them.

46 He gave their crops to grasshoppers

and their produce to locusts.

47 He killed their vines with hail

and their fig trees with frost.

48 He let the hail strike their cattle

and bolts of lightning strike their livestock.

78:44–48   You turned rivers bloody and undrinkable. You sent biting flies and hopping frogs. You served the slave masters’ crops to grasshoppers and destroyed their cattle with hail and lightning.

49 He sent his burning anger, rage, fury, and hostility against them.

He sent an army of destroying angels.

50 He cleared a path for his anger.

He did not spare them.

He let the plague take their lives.

51 He slaughtered every firstborn in Egypt,

the ones born in the tents of Ham when their fathers were young.

52 But he led his own people out like sheep

and guided them like a flock through the wilderness.

78:49–52   Anger. Rage. Fury. Hostility. You burned against the slave masters and killed their firstborn in barns and tents and homes. But like a shepherd leading his flock to safe pasture, you led your people to freedom.

53 He led them safely.

They had no fear while the sea covered their enemies.

54 He brought them into his holy land,

to this mountain that his power had won.

55 He forced nations out of their way

and gave them the land of the nations as their inheritance.

He settled the tribes of Israel in their own tents.

78:53–55   Your people watched from dry land while the sea piled onto their enemies. You brought your people to your holy land. You forced nations out of their way and gave your people a place to live.

56 They tested God Most High and rebelled against him.

They did not obey his written instructions.

57 They were disloyal and treacherous like their ancestors.

They were like arrows shot from a defective bow.

58 They made him angry because of their illegal worship sites.

They made him furious because they worshiped idols.

78:56–58   Your people saw all this and still rebelled against you. They disobeyed your written instructions. You fumed when they built altars to other gods.

59 When God heard, he became furious.

He completely rejected Israel.

60 He abandoned his dwelling place in Shiloh,

the tent where he had lived among humans.

61 He allowed his power to be taken captive

and handed his glory over to an oppressor.

62 He let swords kill his people.

He was furious with those who belonged to him.

63 Fire consumed his best young men,

so his virgins heard no wedding songs.

78:59–63   In your fury you rejected your people. You allowed the ark of your power to be captured by enemies. You let your people die in battle and sent fire to consume young men.

64 His priests were cut down with swords.

The widows ⌞of his priests⌟ could not even weep ⌞for them⌟.

65 Then the Lord woke up like one who had been sleeping,

like a warrior sobering up from ⌞too much⌟ wine.

66 He struck his enemies from behind

and disgraced them forever.

67 He rejected the tent of Joseph.

He did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

68 but he chose the tribe of Judah,

Mount Zion which he loved.

69 He built his holy place to be like the high heavens,

like the earth which he made to last for a long time.

70 He chose his servant David.

He took him from the sheep pens.

71 He brought him from tending the ewes that had lambs

so that David could be the shepherd of the people of Jacob,

of Israel, the people who belonged to the LORD.

72 With unselfish devotion David became their shepherd.

With skill he guided them.

78:65–72   Let me never give you reason to wake up angry, nor strike me from behind, nor disgrace me forever. Let me live as one of your chosen children. Give me the heart of David. Lift me from my mundane tasks to lead your people. Give me unselfish devotion and skill.

Psalm 79

A psalm by Asaph.

1 O God, the nations have invaded the land that belongs to you.

They have dishonored your holy temple.

They have left Jerusalem in ruins.

2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants

to the birds for food.

They have given the flesh of your godly ones

to the animals.

3 They have shed the blood of your people around Jerusalem

as though it were water.

There is no one to bury your people.

4 We have become a disgrace to our neighbors,

an object of ridicule and contempt to those around us.

79:1–4   The nations have invaded your land and dishonored your holy house. They serve our bodies to birds and animals, spilling our blood like water. There’s no one left to bury the dead. Our neighbors mock us.

5 How long, O LORD?

Will you remain angry forever?

Will your fury continue to burn like fire?

6 Pour your fury on the nations that do not know you,

on the kingdoms that have not called you.

7 They have devoured Jacob.

They have destroyed his home.

79:5–7   Will you always be angry with us? Turn your fury on the people who don’t worship you, those intent on destroying your people.

8 Do not hold the crimes of our ancestors against us.

Reach out to us soon with your compassion,

because we are helpless.

9 Help us, O God, our savior, for the glory of your name.

Rescue us, and forgive our sins for the honor of your name.

79:8–9   Don’t hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors. Touch us with compassion. Be our help so your name is honored. Rescue and forgive us.

10 Why should the nations ⌞be allowed to⌟ say,

“Where is their God?”

Let us watch as the nations learn

that there is punishment for shedding the blood of your servants.

11 Let the groans of prisoners come into your presence.

With your powerful arm rescue those who are condemned to death.

79:10–11   Why do you let everyone think you’ve left us? Teach the nations a lesson for killing your servants. Hear the groans of your imprisoned people. Rescue us from death row.

12 Pay each one of our neighbors back

with seven times the number of insults they used to insult you, O Lord.

13 Then we, your people, the flock in your pasture,

will give thanks to you forever.

We will praise you throughout every generation.

79:12–13   Pay back our persecutors for their insults. Give us reason to thank you forever.

Psalm 80

For the choir director; according to shoshannim eduth; by Asaph; a psalm.

1 Open your ears, O Shepherd of Israel,

the one who leads ⌞the descendants of⌟ Joseph like sheep,

the one who is enthroned over the angels.[79]

2 Appear in front of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.

Wake up your power, and come to save us.

80:1–2   Open your ears to your people. Be the Shepherd that you are. Stand high above the angels. Show yourself and save us.

3 O God, restore us and smile on us

so that we may be saved.

4 O LORD God, commander of armies, how long will you smolder in anger

against the prayer of your people?

5 You made them eat tears as food.

You often made them drink ⌞their own⌟ tears.

80:3–5   Restore us. Smile on us. Save us. Stop smoldering in anger when you hear our prayers. Our tears are the only thing left to drink.

6 You made us a source of conflict to our neighbors,

and our enemies made fun of us.

7 O God, commander of armies, restore us and smile on us

so that we may be saved.

80:6–7   People fight over us and make fun of us. Restore us. Smile on us. Save us.

8 You brought a vine from Egypt.

You forced out the nations and planted it.

9 You cleared the ground for it

so that it took root and filled the land.

10 Its shade covered the mountains.

Its branches covered the mighty cedars.

11 It reached out with its branches to the Mediterranean Sea.

Its shoots reached the Euphrates River.

12 Why did you break down the stone fences around this vine?

All who pass by are picking its fruit.

13 Wild boars from the forest graze on it.

Wild animals devour it.

80:8–13   You brought your people out of Egypt and planted us like a vine. You cleared the land around us so we could take root. We grew and spread our shade far and wide.Why have you quit protecting us? People are picking us clean. Wild animals graze on us.

14 O God, commander of armies, come back!

Look from heaven and see!

Come to help this vine.

15 Take care of what your right hand planted,

the son you strengthened for yourself.

16 The vine has been cut down and burned.

Let them be destroyed by the threatening look on your face.

80:14–16   God of armies, come help! Protect what you yourself planted. Just throw your enemies a threatening glance and they will be destroyed.

17 Let your power rest on the man you have chosen,

the son of man you strengthened for yourself.

18 Then we will never turn away from you.

Give us life again, and we will call on you.

19 O LORD God, commander of armies, restore us, and smile on us

so that we may be saved.

80:17–19   Give power to our leaders. Give life to our souls. Then we’ll stay faithful to you. Restore us. Smile on us. Then we will be saved.

Psalm 81

For the choir director; on the gittith;[80] by Asaph.

1 Sing joyfully to God, our strength.

Shout happily to the God of Jacob.

2 Begin a psalm, and strike a tambourine.

Play lyres and harps with their pleasant music.

3 Blow the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon,

on the day of the full moon,

on our festival days.

81:1–3   I sing joyfully to you, my strength, and shout happily to you. I sing and strike a tambourine. I dedicate days to celebrating you.

4 This is a law for Israel,

a legal decision from the God of Jacob.

5 These are the instructions God set in place for Joseph

when Joseph rose to power over Egypt.

I heard a message I did not understand:

6 “I removed the burden from his shoulder.

His hands were freed from the basket.

7 When you were in trouble, you called out ⌞to me⌟, and I rescued you.

I was hidden in thunder, but I answered you.

I tested your ⌞loyalty⌟ at the oasis of Meribah. Selah

81:4–7   You give clear instructions to your people. You set us free to live for you with total loyalty.

8 Listen, my people, and I will warn you.

Israel, if you would only listen to me!

9 Never keep any strange god among you.

Never worship a foreign god.

10 I am the LORD your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to me.

Israel wanted nothing to do with me.

12 So I let them go their own stubborn ways

and follow their own advice.

81:8–12   You warn us never to worship other gods. You’re the one who saved us from slavery. You fulfill our every need. Yet we refuse to listen to you. We turn from you and you let us walk away.

13 If only my people would listen to me!

If only Israel would follow me!

14 I would quickly defeat their enemies.

I would turn my power against their foes.

15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe in front of him,

and their time ⌞for punishment⌟ would last forever.

16 But I would feed Israel with the finest wheat

and satisfy them with honey from a rock.”

81:13–16   You grieve when we don’t listen to you or answer your invitation to follow. Only when we come back to you will you defeat people who hate you. Only then will you feed and satisfy us.

Psalm 82

A psalm by Asaph.

1 God takes his place in his own assembly.

He pronounces judgment among the gods:

2 “How long are you going to judge unfairly?

How long are you going to side with wicked people?” Selah

82:1–2   You can’t make yourself any clearer. You don’t tolerate unfair judgments. You’re tired of people siding with the wicked.

3 Defend weak people and orphans.

Protect the rights of the oppressed and the poor.

4 Rescue weak and needy people.

Help them escape the power of wicked people.

5 Wicked people do not know or understand anything.

As they walk around in the dark,

all the foundations of the earth shake.

82:3–5   You call me to defend the weak and orphaned. To protect the oppressed and poor. To rescue the weak and needy. Wicked people don’t understand any of this.

6 I said, “You are gods.

You are all sons of the Most High.

7 You will certainly die like humans

and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God!

Judge the earth, because all the nations belong to you.

82:6–8   The powerful will die like anyone else if they disregard your command. So rise up! Judge the world! We are yours!

Psalm 83

A song; a psalm by Asaph.

1 O God, do not remain silent.

Do not turn a deaf ear to me.

Do not keep quiet, O God.

2 Look, your enemies are in an uproar.

Those who hate you hold their heads high.

3 They make plans in secret against your people

and plot together against those you treasure.

4 They say, “Let’s wipe out their nation

so that the name of Israel will no longer be remembered.”

83:1–4   Don’t stay silent. Don’t pretend to be deaf. Your enemies plot to wipe out your people. They want to erase us so thoroughly that no one will know we ever existed.

5 They agree completely on their plan.

They form an alliance against you:

6 the tents from Edom and Ishmael,

Moab and Hagar,

7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,

Philistia, along with those who live in Tyre.

8 Even Assyria has joined them.

They helped the descendants of Lot. Selah

83:5–8   This evil alliance already has a plan. The nations around us have all joined together.

9 Do to them what you did to Midian,

to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.

10 They were destroyed at Endor.

They became manure to fertilize the ground.

11 Treat their influential people as you treated Oreb and Zeeb.

Treat all their leaders like Zebah and Zalmunna.

12 They said, “Let’s take God’s pasturelands for ourselves.”

13 O my God, blow them away like tumbleweeds,[81]

like husks in the wind.

14 Pursue them with your storms,

and terrify them with your windstorms

83:9–14   Deal with your enemies as you have in the past. Make them manure and use them to fertilize the ground. Blow away evil leaders like tumbleweeds in the wind. Terrify them with your windstorms.

15 the way fire burns a forest

and flames set mountains on fire.[82]

16 Let their faces blush with shame, O LORD,

so that they must look to you for help.

17 Let them be put to shame and terrified forever.

Let them die in disgrace

18 so that they must acknowledge you.

Your name is the LORD.

You alone are the Most High God of the whole earth.

83:16–18   Make evil leaders blush with shame until they turn to you for help. Let them suffer disgrace until they acknowledge you as Lord, the Most High God of the whole world.

Psalm 84

For the choir director; on the gittith; a psalm by Korah’s descendants.

1 Your dwelling place is lovely, O LORD of Armies!

2 My soul longs and yearns

for the LORD’s courtyards.

My whole body shouts for joy to the living God.

3 Even sparrows find a home,

and swallows find a nest for themselves.

There they hatch their young

near your altars, O LORD of Armies,

my king and my God.

84:1–3   I ache for the beauty of your presence. My whole body shouts for joy to you. Near you even birds find a home, a safe place to hatch their young. You’re my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who live in your house.

They are always praising you. Selah

5 Blessed are those who find strength in you.

Their hearts are on the road ⌞that leads to you⌟.[83]

84:4–5   You bless me when I stay close to you. I find abundant reasons to praise you. Drawing on your strength blesses me.

6 As they pass through a valley where balsam trees grow,[84]

they make it a place of springs.

The early rains cover it with blessings.[85]

7 Their strength grows as they go along

until each one of them appears

in front of God in Zion.

84:5–7   My heart is on the road that leads to you. When I pass through dry valleys, you fill them with springs. With each step closer to you my strength grows.

8 O LORD God, commander of armies, hear my prayer.

Open your ears, O God of Jacob. Selah

9 Look at our shield, O God.

Look with favor on the face of your anointed one.

10 One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand ⌞anywhere else⌟.

I would rather stand in the entrance to my God’s house

than live inside wicked people’s homes.

84:10   A single day with you is better than a thousand anywhere else. I’d rather stand on your doorstep than live inside a wicked person’s palace.

11 The LORD God is a sun and shield.

The LORD grants favor and honor.

He does not hold back any blessing

from those who live innocently.

12 O LORD of Armies, blessed is the person who trusts you.

84:11–12   You warm and protect me, giving me every blessing. All-powerful God, I’m happy because I trust in you.

Psalm 85

For the choir director; a psalm by Korah’s descendants.

1 You favored your land, O LORD.

You restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 You removed your people’s guilt.

You pardoned all their sins. Selah

3 You laid aside all your fury.

You turned away from your burning anger.

4 Restore us, O God, our savior.

Put an end to your anger against us.

85:1–4   In the past you showed your people your favor. You restored our fortunes and forgave our sins. Restore us once again!

5 Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you ever let go of your anger in the generations to come?

6 Won’t you restore our lives again

so that your people may find joy in you?

7 Show us your mercy, O LORD,

by giving us your salvation.

85:5–7   Quit your anger toward us. Don’t burn against us forever. Rebuild us so we find joy in you once again. Let us experience your merciful gift of salvation.

8 I want to hear what God the LORD says,

because he promises peace to his people, to his godly ones.

But they must not go back to their stupidity.

9 Indeed, his salvation is near those who fear him,

and ⌞his⌟ glory will remain in our land.

85:8–9   You promise us peace if we don’t go back to our stupidity. Your salvation is near everyone who respects you fully.

10 Mercy and truth have met.

Righteousness and peace have kissed.

11 Truth sprouts from the ground,

and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12 The LORD will certainly give us what is good,

and our land will produce crops.

85:10–12   Let us enjoy your mercy and truth, your righteousness and peace, your glory and everything good.

13 Righteousness will go ahead of him

and make a path for his steps.

Psalm 86

A prayer by David.

1 Turn your ear ⌞toward me⌟, O LORD.

Answer me, because I am oppressed and needy.

2 Protect me, because I am faithful ⌞to you⌟.

Save your servant who trusts you. You are my God.

86:1–2   Listen to me! Answer me! I live for you. I count on your protection.

3 Have pity on me, O Lord,

because I call out to you all day long.

4 Give me joy, O Lord,

because I lift my soul to you.

86:3–4   Pity me, because I call to you all day long. Give me joy, because I’ve given my heart to you alone.

5 You, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

full of mercy toward everyone who calls out to you.

6 Open your ears to my prayer, O LORD.

Pay attention when I plead for mercy.

7 When I am in trouble, I call out to you

because you answer me.

8 No god is like you, O Lord.

No one can do what you do.

86:5–8   You’re always good and forgiving, full of mercy to everyone who calls on you. I look to you because there’s no one like you, none as able as you.

9 All the nations that you have made

will bow in your presence, O Lord.

They will honor you.

10 Indeed, you are great, a worker of miracles.

You alone are God.

86:9–10   Your world will bow to you, great worker of miracles. You alone are God.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,

so that I may live in your truth.

Focus my heart on fearing you.

12 I will give thanks to you with all my heart, O Lord my God.

I will honor you forever

13 because your mercy toward me is great.

You have rescued me from the depths of hell.

86:11–13   Teach me to live in your truth with utter respect. I’ll thank you with all my heart, giving you the honor you deserve for saving me from hell.

14 O God, arrogant people attack me,

and a mob of ruthless people seeks my life.

They think nothing of you.

15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God.

You are patient, always faithful and ready to forgive.

16 Turn toward me, and have pity on me.

Give me your strength because I am your servant.

Save me because I am the son of your female servant.

17 Grant me some proof of your goodness

so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame.

You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

86:14–17   Cruel people who think nothing of you want to kill me. But you’re continually compassionate, merciful, patient, faithful, and forgiving. Strengthen me as I serve you. Prove your goodness to me and your world.

Psalm 87

By Korah’s descendants; a psalm; a song.

1 ⌞The city⌟ the LORD has founded ⌞stands⌟ on holy mountains.

2 The LORD loves the city of Zion

more than any other place in Jacob.

3 Glorious things are said about you, O city of God! Selah

87:1–3   You love your holy city and the people who live there. Others see it and say wonderful things.

4 ⌞The LORD says,⌟ “I will add Egypt and Babylon

as well as Philistia, Tyre, and Sudan

to the list of those who acknowledge me.

Each nation ⌞will claim that it⌟ was born there.”

5 But it will be said of Zion,

“Every race is born in it.

The Most High will make it secure.”

6 The LORD will record this in the Book of Nations:

“Every race ⌞claims that it⌟ was born there.” Selah

87:4–6   May every nation and race acknowledge you as God. Make the peoples of the world citizens of your kingdom. Let them enjoy the strength and security of your home.

7 Singers and dancers will sing,

“Zion is the source of all our blessings.”

Psalm 88

A song; a psalm by Korah’s descendants; for the choir director; according to mahalath leannoth;[86] a maskil by Heman the Ezrahite.

1 O LORD God, my savior,

I cry out to you during the day and at night.

2 Let my prayer come into your presence.

Turn your ear to hear my cries.

88:1–2   You are my God and Savior to whom I cry day and night. Welcome my prayers!

3 My soul is filled with troubles,

and my life comes closer to the grave.

4 I am numbered with those who go into the pit.

I am like a man without any strength—

5 abandoned with the dead,

like those who have been killed and lie in graves,

like those whom you no longer remember,

who are cut off from your power.

6 You have put me in the bottom of the pit—in deep, dark places.

7 Your rage lies heavily on me.

You make all your waves pound on me. Selah

88:3–7   I’m filled with troubles and my death looms near. I feel already dead, abandoned with others long forgotten and beyond your help. In anger you’ve buried me in a grave’s dark bottom.

8 You have taken my friends far away from me.

You made me disgusting to them.

I’m shut in, and I can’t get out.

9 My eyes grow weak because of my suffering.

All day long I call out to you, O LORD.

I stretch out my hands to you ⌞in prayer⌟.

88:8–9   You rob me of my friends. You make me repulsive to them. I’m trapped in this grave and can’t get out. I can’t see anything but my suffering.

10 Will you perform miracles for those who are dead?

Will the spirits of the dead rise and give thanks to you? Selah

11 Will anyone tell about your mercy in Sheol

or about your faithfulness in Abaddon?

12 Will anyone know about your miracles in that dark place

or about your righteousness in the place where forgotten people live?

88:10–12   What good are your miracles once I’m gone? How can I praise you from the grave? Dead people can’t tell others about your mercy and faithfulness.

13 I cry out to you for help, O LORD,

and in the morning my prayer will come into your presence.

14 Why do you reject my soul, O LORD?

Why do you hide your face from me?

88:13–14   I cry for your help, approaching you every morning in prayer. Why do you reject me? Why do you hide from me?

15 Ever since I was young, I have been suffering and near death.

I have endured your terrors, and now I am in despair.[87]

16 Your burning anger has swept over me.

Your terrors have destroyed me.

17 They swirl around me all day long like water.

They surround me on all sides.

18 You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me.

Darkness is my only friend![88]

88:15–18   I’ve been near death since I was born. The terrors I know too well cause me despair. Your anger swirls around me. I’m alone except for the darkness.

Psalm 89

A maskil by Ethan the Ezrahite.

1 I will sing forever about the evidence of your mercy, O LORD.

I will tell about your faithfulness to every generation.

89:1   I’ll sing now and forever of your mercy and faithfulness. I’ll tell of the evidence I’ve seen with my own eyes.

2 I said, “Your mercy will last forever.

Your faithfulness stands firm in the heavens.”

3 ⌞You said,⌟ “I have made a promise[89] to my chosen one.

I swore this oath to my servant David:

4 ‘I will make your dynasty continue forever.

I built your throne to last throughout every generation.’” Selah

89:3–4   You promised David a family line that lasts forever. You swore his throne will endure to every generation.

5 O LORD, the heavens praise your miracles

and your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.

6 Who in the skies can compare with the LORD?

Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD?

7 God is terrifying in the council of the holy ones.

He is greater and more awe-inspiring than those who surround him.

89:5–7   Who in heaven compares with you? Who is greater or more awe-inspiring than you? You strike fear in the heart of every living thing.

8 O LORD God of Armies, who is like you?

Mighty LORD, even your faithfulness surrounds you.

9 You rule the raging sea.

When its waves rise, you quiet them.

10 You crushed Rahab;[90] it was like a corpse.

With your strong arm you scattered your enemies.

11 The heavens are yours.

The earth is also yours.

You made the world and everything in it.

89:9–11   You rule the sea’s raging waves. You crush chaos and scatter your enemies. Everything from heaven to earth belongs to you, because you made it all.

12 You created north and south.

Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon sing your name joyfully.

13 Your arm is mighty.

Your hand is strong.

Your right hand is lifted high.

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne.

Mercy and truth stand in front of you.

89:12–14   You created every stretch of land. Majestic mountain heights sing your name with joy. Your strength rules with goodness and justice. Mercy and truth never leave you.

15 Blessed are the people who know how to praise you.

They walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

16 They find joy in your name all day long.

They are joyful in your righteousness

17 because you are the glory of their strength.

By your favor you give us victory.[91]

89:15–17   Happiness fills people who praise you, because your presence lights their paths. They never stop celebrating your good name. You strengthen them and give them victory.

18 Our shield belongs to the LORD.

Our king belongs to the Holy One of Israel.

19 Once in a vision you said to your faithful ones:

“I set a boy above warriors.[92]

I have raised up one chosen from the people.

20 I found my servant David.

I anointed him with my holy oil.

89:19–20   You passed over warriors and picked a boy as your chosen one. You raised up David to rule your people.

21 My hand is ready to help him.

My arm will also give him strength.

22 No enemy will take him by surprise.

No wicked person will mistreat him.

23 I will crush his enemies in front of him

and defeat those who hate him.

24 My faithfulness and mercy will be with him,

and in my name he will be victorious.[93]

89:21–24   You’re always ready to help the king, strengthening him and protecting him from evil surprises. You crush everyone who hates him. He goes to battle accompanied by your faithfulness and mercy.

25 I will put his ⌞left⌟ hand on the sea

and his right hand on the rivers.

26 He will call out to me,

‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.’

27 Yes, I will make him the firstborn.

He will be the Most High to the kings of the earth.

28 My mercy will stay with him forever.

My promise to him is unbreakable.

29 I will make his dynasty endure forever

and his throne like the days of heaven.

89:26–29   The king calls you Father and God. You exalt your firstborn as Most High over every earthly king. To him you make an unbreakable promise that his dynasty will last forever.

30 “If his descendants abandon my teachings

and do not live by my rules,

31 if they violate my laws

and do not obey my commandments,

32 then with a rod I will punish their rebellion

and their crimes with beatings.

33 But I will not take my mercy away from him

or allow my truth to become a lie.

34 I will not dishonor my promise

or alter my own agreement.

89:30–34   You promise to punish your people’s disobedience, but you won’t break your promise to the king. Your mercy will always endure.

35 On my holiness I have taken an oath once and for all:

I will not lie to David.

36 His dynasty will last forever.

His throne will be in my presence like the sun.

37 Like the moon his throne will stand firm forever.

It will be like a faithful witness in heaven.”

38 But you have despised, rejected,

and become angry with your anointed one.

39 You have refused to recognize the promise to your servant

and have thrown his crown into the dirt.

89:35–39   You swore on your holiness that David’s line will last forever. Like the sun and the moon it will endure. Yet you haven’t kept your promise. You’ve rejected your people.

40 You have broken through all his walls

and have laid his fortified cities in ruins.

41 (Everyone who passed by robbed him.

He has become the object of his neighbors’ scorn.)

42 You held the right hand of his enemies high

and made all of his adversaries rejoice.

43 You even took his sword out of his hand

and failed to support him in battle.

44 You put an end to his splendor

and hurled his throne to the ground.

45 You cut short the days of his youth

and covered him with shame. Selah

89:40–45   You sent enemies through our walls, letting us be robbed and scorned. You grabbed the right hand of our enemies, lifting it high in victory. You left us defenseless, allowing our enemies to cut us down.

46 How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?

How long will your anger continue to burn like fire?

47 Remember how short my life is!

Have you created Adam’s descendants for no reason?

89:46–47   Will you always hide from us? Will you always be angry? Life is too short for this!

48 Can a mortal go on living and never see death?

Who can set himself free from the power of the grave? Selah

49 Where is the evidence of your mercy, LORD?

You swore an oath to David

on ⌞the basis of⌟ your faithfulness.

50 Remember, O LORD,[94] how your servant[95] has been insulted.

Remember how I have carried in my heart ⌞the insults⌟ from so many people.

51 Your enemies insulted ⌞me⌟.

They insulted your Messiah[96] every step he took.

89:49–51   Where’s the proof of your mercy? Where’s the evidence of your oath? My heart aches with the insults heaped on me and on your Messiah.

52 Thank the LORD forever.

Amen and amen!

BOOK FOUR

(Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

A prayer by Moses, the man of God.

1 O Lord, you have been our refuge throughout every generation.

2 Before the mountains were born,

before you gave birth to the earth and the world, you were God.

You are God from everlasting to everlasting.

90:1–2   Forever and ever you’ve been our refuge. Before you formed the earth you reigned as the everlasting God.

3 You turn mortals back into dust

and say, “Return, descendants of Adam.”

4 Indeed, in your sight a thousand years are like a single day,

like yesterday—already past—

like an hour in the night.

5 You sweep mortals away.

They are a dream.

They sprout again in the morning like cut grass.

90:3–5   You’ll decide when my time on earth is up and then turn me back to dust. In your eyes a thousand years flicker like a single day. I’ll come and go like a dream.

6 In the morning they blossom and sprout.

In the evening they wither and dry up.

7 Indeed, your anger consumes us.

Your rage terrifies us.

8 You have set our sins in front of you.

You have put our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 Indeed, all our days slip away because of your fury.

We live out our years like one ⌞long⌟ sigh.

10 Each of us lives for 70 years—

or even 80 if we are in good health.

But the best of them[97] ⌞bring⌟ trouble and misery.

Indeed, they are soon gone, and we fly away.

90:7–10   Your anger consumes me. Your brilliance exposes every one of my sins. Your fury makes my days slip away, so that my years add up to no more than one long sigh. The best years of my life bring trouble, and soon they’ll all be gone.

11 Who fully understands the power of your anger?

A person fears you more when he better understands your fury.[98]

12 Teach us to number each of our days

so that we may grow in wisdom.

90:11–12   Your fury teaches me to respect you. The shortness of my life tells me to live wisely.

13 Return, LORD! How long . . . ?

Change your plans about ⌞us,⌟ your servants.

14 Satisfy us every morning with your mercy

so that we may sing joyfully and rejoice all our days.

15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have made us suffer,

for as many years as we have experienced evil.

90:14–15   Satisfy me morning by morning with your mercy. Give me reason to rejoice every day I have breath.

16 Let ⌞us,⌟ your servants, see what you can do.

Let our children see your glorious power.

17 Let the kindness of the Lord our God be with us.

Make us successful in everything we do.

Yes, make us successful in everything we do.

90:16–17   Show me your power. Lead me through life with your kindness. Make me successful in everything I do!

Psalm 91

1 Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High

will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD,

“⌞You are⌟ my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

91:1–2   You’re my refuge, my God, the one I trust. I live in your safety and find rest in your presence.

3 He is the one who will rescue you from hunters’ traps

and from deadly plagues.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge.

His truth is your shield and armor.

91:3–4   You rescue me from traps and deadly plagues. You pull me close and protect me. Your truth is my armor.

5 You do not need to fear

terrors of the night,

arrows that fly during the day,

6 plagues that roam the dark,

epidemics that strike at noon.

7 They will not come near you,

even though a thousand may fall dead beside you

or ten thousand at your right side.

8 You only have to look with your eyes

to see the punishment of wicked people.

91:5–8   Because of your care I’m unafraid of terror, no matter where it might strike. Ten thousand might die next to me, but you’ll spare me. I’ll see with my own eyes how you punish evil.

9 You, O LORD, are my refuge!

You have made the Most High your home.

10 No harm will come to you.

No sickness will come near your house.

11 He will put his angels in charge of you

to protect you in all your ways.

12 They will carry you in their hands

so that you never hit your foot against a rock.

13 You will step on lions and cobras.

You will trample young lions and snakes.

91:9–13   God Most High, you’re my home. Keep sickness and harm far from me. Command your angels to carry me through life. Let me trample on danger before it strikes.

14 Because you love me, I will rescue you.

I will protect you because you know my name.

15 When you call to me, I will answer you.

I will be with you when you are in trouble.

I will save you and honor you.

16 I will satisfy you with a long life.

I will show you how I will save you.

91:14–16   Rescue me because you love me. Protect me because I’m yours. Answer me when I’m in trouble. Save me, honor me, and satisfy me with long life.

Psalm 92

A psalm; a song; for the day of worship.

1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to make music to praise your name, O Most High.

2 It is good to announce your mercy in the morning

and your faithfulness in the evening

3 on a ten-stringed instrument and a harp

and with a melody on a lyre.

92:1–3   I praise you at dawn and dusk and every hour in between. It’s my chance to declare your mercy and faithfulness. I sing and strum melodies to you.

4 You made me find joy in what you have done, O LORD.

I will sing joyfully about the works of your hands.

5 How spectacular are your works, O LORD!

How very deep are your thoughts!

92:4–5   Your spectacular handiwork gives me joy! Your thoughts are exceedingly deep!

6 A stupid person cannot know

and a fool cannot understand

7 that wicked people sprout like grass

and all troublemakers blossom ⌞like flowers⌟,

only to be destroyed forever.

8 But you, O LORD, are highly honored forever.

92:6–8   Stupid people don’t grasp that evildoers come and go like grass. But you deserve honor forever.

9 Now look at your enemies, O LORD.

Now look at your enemies.

They disappear, and all troublemakers are scattered.

10 But you make me as strong as a wild bull,

and soothing lotion is poured on me.

11 My eyes gloat over those who spy on me.

My ears hear ⌞the cries⌟ of evildoers attacking me.

92:9–11   I’ve seen your enemies scatter even as you soothe me and make me strong. You keep me safe from lurking spies and evildoers on the attack.

12 Righteous people flourish like palm trees

and grow tall like the cedars in Lebanon.

13 They are planted in the LORD’s house.

They blossom in our God’s courtyards.

14 Even when they are old, they still bear fruit.

They are always healthy and fresh.

15 They make it known that the LORD is decent.

He is my rock.

He is never unfair.

92:12–15   I flourish like a palm planted in your courtyard, like a tree that will bear fruit even in old age. Keep me healthy and fresh. My well-being will declare your constant goodness and fairness.

Psalm 93

1 The LORD rules as king! He is clothed with majesty.

The LORD has clothed himself; he has armed himself with power.

The world was set in place; it cannot be moved.

2 Your throne was set in place a long time ago.

You are eternal.

93:1–2   You rule! You’re clothed with majesty and armed with power. You’ve reigned forever and you’ll never cease to exist.

3 The ocean rises, O LORD.

The ocean rises with a roar.

The ocean rises with its pounding waves.

4 The LORD above is mighty—

mightier than the sound of raging water,

mightier than the foaming waves of the sea.

93:3–4   I’m filled with awe as I watch the ocean roar and pound. Yet raging waters are feeble compared to you.

5 Your written testimonies are completely reliable.

O LORD, holiness is what makes your house beautiful for days without end.

93:5   Your Word is completely reliable. Your holiness makes heaven eternally beautiful.

Psalm 94

1 O LORD, God of vengeance,

O God of vengeance, appear!

2 Arise, O Judge of the earth.

Give arrogant people what they deserve.

3 How long, O LORD, will wicked people triumph?

How long?

94:1–7   Judge of the earth, arise and give proud people what they deserve. How long will you let them succeed?

4 They ramble.

They speak arrogantly.

All troublemakers brag about themselves.

5 They crush your people, O LORD.

They make those who belong to you suffer.

6 They kill widows and foreigners, and they murder orphans.

7 They say, “The LORD doesn’t see it.

The God of Jacob doesn’t even pay attention to it.”

94:4–7   Evildoers boast on and on. They crush your people. They kill widows and foreigners and orphans. Then they say you can’t see them. They claim you aren’t paying attention.

8 Pay attention, you stupid people!

When will you become wise, you fools?

9 God created ears.

Do you think he can’t hear?

He formed eyes.

Do you think he can’t see?

94:8–9   Do stupid people really think you can’t hear? You created our ears! Do they think you can’t see? You formed our eyes!

10 He disciplines nations.

Do you think he can’t punish?

He teaches people.

Do you think he doesn’t know anything?

94:10   Do fools actually think you won’t punish? You discipline the nations! Do they think you know nothing? You’re our teacher!

11 The LORD knows that people’s thoughts are pointless.

12 O LORD, blessed is the person

whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings.

94:11–12   You know the pointlessness of human thoughts. I’m happy when you train and teach me.

13 You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble

while a pit is dug to trap wicked people.

14 The LORD will never desert his people

or abandon those who belong to him.

94:13–14   In troubled times you give me peace and quiet. Because I’m yours you’ll never abandon me.

15 The decisions of judges will again become fair,

and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice.[99]

16 Who will stand up for me against evildoers?

Who will stand by my side against troublemakers?

94:15–16   Come lead our world. Make judges decide fairly and decent people work for justice. Take my side against evildoers.

17 If the LORD had not come to help me,

my soul would have quickly fallen silent ⌞in death⌟.

18 When I said, “My feet are slipping,”

your mercy, O LORD, continued to hold me up.

19 When I worried about many things,

your assuring words soothed my soul.

20 Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things

able to be your partners?

21 They join forces to take the lives of righteous people.

They condemn innocent people to death.

22 The LORD has become my stronghold.

My God has become my rock of refuge.

23 He has turned their own wickedness against them.

He will destroy them because of their sins.

The LORD our God will destroy them.

94:17–23   I would have died if you hadn’t helped me. I was slipping but you held me up. I was worried but you soothed my soul. You’re my rock and my refuge. You turn the sins of the wicked against them.

Psalm 95

1 Come, let’s sing joyfully to the LORD.

Let’s shout happily to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let’s come into his presence with a song of thanksgiving.

Let’s shout happily to him with psalms.

3 The LORD is a great God and a great king above all gods.

95:1–3   I shout my joy to you, rock of my salvation! I shout my happiness to you, great King above every so-called god!

4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth,

and the mountain peaks are his.

5 The sea is his.

He made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

95:4–5   You hold the depths and peaks of the earth in your hand. The land and sea belong to you. You made all of it.

6 Come, let’s worship and bow down.

Let’s kneel in front of the LORD, our maker,

7 because he is our God

and we are the people in his care,

the flock that he leads.

If only you would listen to him today!

95:6–7   I bow and worship you, Lord my maker. You’re my God. You lead me as one of your flock.

8 “Do not be stubborn like ⌞my people were⌟ at Meribah,

like the time at Massah in the desert.

9 Your ancestors challenged me and tested me there,

although they had seen what I had done.

10 For 40 years I was disgusted with those people.

So I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts continue to stray.

They have not learned my ways.’

11 That is why I angrily took this solemn oath:

‘They will never enter my place of rest!’”

95:8–11   Your people witnessed your miracles yet they tested you. They constantly strayed from you and refused to learn your ways. Train me to obey you. Give me a heart that follows you. I want to enjoy your rest!

Psalm 96

1 Sing to the LORD a new song!

Sing to the LORD, all the earth!

2 Sing to the LORD! Praise his name!

Day after day announce that the LORD saves his people.

3 Tell people about his glory.

Tell all the nations about his miracles.

96:1–3   My heart has fresh songs of praise for you. Day after day I announce how you save your people. I tell everyone about your glory and miracles.

4 The LORD is great!

He should be highly praised.

He should be feared more than all ⌞other⌟ gods

5 because all the gods of the nations are idols.

The LORD made the heavens.

96:4–5   You’re worthy of higher praise than I know how to bring. You’re nothing like false gods. You’re fearsome and real.

6 Splendor and majesty are in his presence.

Strength and beauty are in his holy place.

7 Give to the LORD, you families of the nations.

Give to the LORD glory and power.

8 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves.

Bring an offering, and come into his courtyards.

96:6–8   Splendor and majesty fill your presence. Strength and beauty abound in your holy place. I promise to give you the glory you deserve.

9 Worship the LORD in ⌞his⌟ holy splendor.

Tremble in his presence, all the earth!

96:9   Let me see your holy splendor. I tremble in your presence!

10 Say to the nations, “The LORD rules as king!”

The earth stands firm; it cannot be moved.

He will judge people fairly.

11 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad.

Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder.

12 Let the fields and everything in them rejoice.

Then all the trees in the forest will sing joyfully

13 in the LORD’s presence because he is coming.

He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness

and its people with his truth.

96:10–13   You reign over every human in every nation, judging without favoritism. So let heaven and earth rejoice. Let the sea roar. Let every field and forest sing your arrival. You’ll judge the world with righteousness and truth.

Psalm 97

1 The LORD rules as king.

Let the earth rejoice.

Let all the islands be joyful.

2 Clouds and darkness surround him.

Righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne.

3 Fire spreads ahead of him.

It burns his enemies who surround him.

97:1–3   Because you rule as King I rejoice. You surround yourself with dark clouds. You build your throne on goodness and fairness. You scorch your enemies with purifying fire.

4 His flashes of lightning light up the world.

The earth sees them and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax in the presence of the LORD,

in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

97:4–5   People see you light up the world with lightning and they tremble. Mountains melt in the heat of your presence.

6 The heavens tell about his righteousness,

and all the people of the world see his glory.

7 Everyone who worships idols

and brags about false gods will be put to shame.

All the gods will bow to him.

8 Zion hears about this and rejoices.

The people of Judah are delighted with your judgments, O LORD.

9 You, O LORD, the Most High, are above the whole earth.

You are highest. You are above all the gods.

97:6–9   The skies declare your goodness, showing off your glory for everyone to see. Maybe everyone will finally understand the worthlessness of false gods. I rejoice when others discover you’re real. You’re the Most High God, Lord over all.

10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil.

The one who guards the lives of his godly ones

will rescue them from the power of wicked people.

11 Light dawns for righteous people[100]

and joy for those whose motives are decent.

12 Find joy in the LORD, you righteous people.

Give thanks to him as you remember how holy he is.

97:11–12   You’ll make dawn break through my darkness. You’ll give me joy in you. Your holiness makes my heart well up with thanks.

Psalm 98

A psalm.

1 Sing a new song to the LORD

because he has done miraculous things.

His right hand and his holy arm have gained victory for him.

2 The LORD has made his salvation known.

He has uncovered his righteousness for the nations to see.

3 He has not forgotten to be merciful and faithful

to Israel’s descendants.

All the ends of the earth have seen how our God saves ⌞them⌟.

98:1–3   I sing to celebrate your miraculous acts, the power that assured you of victory. Every nation can see your salvation. They witness your faithfulness to your people.

4 Shout happily to the LORD, all the earth.

Break out into joyful singing, and make music.

5 Make music to the LORD with a lyre,

with a lyre and the melody of a psalm,

6 with trumpets and the playing of a ram’s horn.

Shout happily in the presence of the king, the LORD.

98:4–6   Let the whole world break out in music to you. Let lyres and trumpets make joyful tunes.

7 Let the sea, everything in it,

the world, and those who live in it roar like thunder.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands

and the mountains sing joyfully

9 in the LORD’s presence

because he is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice

and its people with fairness.

98:7–9   The sea roars with worship and rivers clap their hands to you. Mountains sing because you’re coming to judge the earth with fairness.

Psalm 99

1 The LORD rules as king.

Let the people tremble.

He is enthroned over the angels.[101]

Let the earth quake.

2 The LORD is mighty in Zion.

He is high above all people.

3 Let them give thanks to your great and fearful name.

He is holy!

99:1–3   You rule as King. Let everyone tremble! Let the earth quake with respect! You reign over every angel and every human being. I offer thanks to your awesome name. You are holy!

4 The king’s strength is that he loves justice.

You have established fairness.

You have done what is fair and right for Jacob.

5 Highly honor the LORD our God.

Bow down at his footstool.

He is holy!

99:4–5   Your love of justice makes you strong. You’re always fair and always right. You’re worthy of the highest honor and I bow to you. You are holy!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests.

Samuel was among those who prayed to him.

They called to the LORD, and he answered them.

7 He spoke to them from a column of smoke.

They obeyed his written instructions and the laws that he gave them.

8 O LORD, our God, you answered them.

You showed them that you are a forgiving God

and that you are a God who punishes their ⌞sinful⌟ deeds.

9 Highly honor the LORD our God.

Bow at his holy mountain.

The LORD our God is holy!

99:6–9   You answered the prayers of Moses and Aaron and Samuel. You spoke to them from a column of smoke and put your laws in writing. You’re a God who forgives yet you’ll punish the unrepentant. You’re worthy of the highest honor. I bow to you. You are holy!

Psalm 100

A psalm of thanksgiving.

1 Shout happily to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Serve the LORD cheerfully.

Come into his presence with a joyful song.

3 Realize that the LORD alone is God.

He made us, and we are his.[102]

We are his people and the sheep in his care.

100:1–3   I shout happily to you. I serve you gladly. I enter your presence with a joyful song. Why? Because you alone are God. You made me and I’m yours. I’m one of your flock.

4 Enter his gates with a song of thanksgiving.

Come into his courtyards with a song of praise.

Give thanks to him; praise his name.

5 The LORD is good.

His mercy endures forever.

His faithfulness endures throughout every generation.

100:4–5   I enter your presence with a song of praise and thanksgiving. Why? Because you’re always good. Your faithfulness endures forever.

Psalm 101

A psalm by David.

1 I will sing about mercy and justice.

O LORD, I will make music to praise you.

2 I want to understand the path to integrity.

When will you come to me?

I will live in my own home with integrity.

101:2   Help me grasp what integrity is all about. Come and show me! I want to live with integrity toward my family.

3 I will not put anything wicked in front of my eyes.

I hate what unfaithful people do.

I want no part of it.

4 I will keep far away from devious minds.

I will have nothing to do with evil.

5 I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor.

I will not tolerate anyone with a conceited look or arrogant heart.

101:3–5   I want nothing to do with unfaithfulness. I stay far from people who plot evil. I don’t tolerate conceit.

6 My eyes will be watching the faithful people in the land

so that they may live with me.

The person who lives with integrity will serve me.

7 The one who does deceitful things will not stay in my home.

The one who tells lies will not remain in my presence.

8 Every morning I will destroy all the wicked people in the land

to rid the LORD’s city of all troublemakers.

101:6–8   I’m studying the people around me. I’m on the lookout for faithfulness and failure. I won’t follow the lead of deceivers or liars. I’ll stay far from troublemakers.

Psalm 102

A prayer by someone who is suffering, when he is weary and pours out his troubles in the LORD’s presence.

1 O LORD, hear my prayer,

and let my cry for help come to you.

2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in trouble.

Turn your ear toward me.

Answer me quickly when I call.

102:1–2   Hear me when I cry to you for help. Don’t turn away when I’m in trouble.

3 My days disappear like smoke.

My bones burn like hot coals.

4 My heart is beaten down and withered like grass

because I have forgotten about eating.

5 I am nothing but skin and bones

because of my loud groans.

102:3–5   My life is going up in smoke. My bones burn and my heart is beaten down. I’m too sad to eat. I’ve shrunk to skin and bones.

6 I am like a desert owl,

like an owl living in the ruins.

7 I lie awake.

I am like a lonely bird on a rooftop.

8 All day long my enemies insult me.

Those who ridicule me use my name as a curse.

9 I eat ashes like bread

and my tears are mixed with my drink

10 because of your hostility and anger,

because you have picked me up and thrown me away.

102:8–10   My enemies use my name to curse. Ashes are all I eat and my tears fall into my cup—all because of your anger. You’ve tossed me into the trash.

11 My days are like a shadow that is getting longer,

and I wither away like grass.

12 But you, O LORD, remain forever.

You are remembered throughout every generation.

13 You will rise and have compassion on Zion,

because it is time to grant a favor to it.

Indeed, the appointed time has come.

102:11–13   I’m dying like grass but you’ll last forever. Soon you’ll rise and show me compassion, because the time to show me favor has finally come.

14 Your servants value Zion’s stones,

and they pity its rubble.

15 The nations will fear the LORD’s name.

All the kings of the earth will fear your glory.

16 When the LORD builds Zion,

he will appear in his glory.

17 He will turn his attention to the prayers

of those who have been abandoned.

He will not despise their prayers.

18 This will be written down for a future generation

so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:

19 “The LORD looked down from his holy place high above.

From heaven he looked at the earth.

20 He heard the groans of the prisoners

and set free those who were condemned to death.

21 The LORD’s name is announced in Zion

and his praise in Jerusalem

22 when nations and kingdoms gather

to worship the LORD.”

102:16–22   One day you’ll rebuild your people. You’ll hear the prayers of the abandoned. You’ll look down from heaven and see our suffering. You’ll listen closely and hear our groans. You’ll free us from death row. And one day all the world will gather to worship you.

23 He has weakened my strength along the way.

He has reduced ⌞the number of⌟ my days.

24 I said, “My God, don’t take me now in the middle of my life.

Your years ⌞continue on⌟ throughout every generation.

102:23–24   You’ve taken strength from my body and days from my life. Don’t cut me down now.

25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth.

Even the heavens are the works of your hands.

26 They will come to an end, but you will still go on.

They will all wear out like clothing.

You will change them like clothes,

and they will be thrown away.

27 But you remain the same, and your life will never end.

28 The children of your servants will go on living ⌞here⌟.

Their descendants will be secure in your presence.”

102:25–28   Long ago you formed the earth and the heavens. One day they’ll be finished, but you’ll live on. This world will wear out like old clothes. You’ll toss it aside, but you’ll live on. And your people will live forever in your presence.

Psalm 103

By David.

1 Praise the LORD, my soul!

Praise his holy name, all that is within me.

2 Praise the LORD, my soul,

and never forget all the good he has done:

103:1–2   I praise you with all my might. I’ll never forget the good you’ve done me.

3 He is the one who forgives all your sins,

the one who heals all your diseases,

4 the one who rescues your life from the pit,

the one who crowns you with mercy and compassion,

5 the one who fills your life with blessings

so that you become young again like an eagle.

6 The LORD does what is right and fair

for all who are oppressed.

103:3–6   You forgive my sins and heal my diseases. You rescue me from death and treat me with compassion. You fill my life with blessings and make me young again. You do right on behalf of all the oppressed.

7 He let Moses know his ways.

He let the Israelites know the things he had done.

8 The LORD is compassionate, merciful, patient,

and always ready to forgive.

9 He will not always accuse us of wrong

or be angry ⌞with us⌟ forever.

10 He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins

or paid us back for our wrongs.

103:8–10   Be compassionate to me. Be merciful, patient, and quick to forgive. Don’t pay me back for my sins or give me what I deserve.

11 As high as the heavens are above the earth—

that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west—

that is how far he has removed our rebellious acts from himself.

103:11–12   As far as the sky stretches above the earth—that’s the vastness of your mercy to me. As far as the east runs from the west—that’s how far you’ve cast away my rebellion.

13 As a father has compassion for his children,

so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.

14 He certainly knows what we are made of.

He bears in mind that we are dust.

15 Human life is as short-lived as grass.

It blossoms like a flower in the field.

16 When the wind blows over the flower, it disappears,

and there is no longer any sign of it.

103:14–16   You know I’m dust and my life is brief. Winds will blow over me and I will disappear.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting,

the LORD’s mercy is on those who fear him.

His righteousness belongs

to their children and grandchildren,

18 to those who are faithful to his promise,[103]

to those who remember to follow his guiding principles.

103:17–18   Though my life is short your mercy lasts forever—mercy you give to those who live in awe of you. Your righteousness belongs to my children and grandchildren. Each of your promises and principles is a gift to us.

19 The LORD has set his throne in heaven.

His kingdom rules everything.

20 Praise the LORD, all his angels,

you mighty beings who carry out his orders

and are ready to obey his spoken orders.

21 Praise the LORD, all his armies,

his servants who carry out his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his creatures

in all the places of his empire.

Praise the LORD, my soul!

103:19–22   You’ve established your throne in heaven and you rule everything that exists. Your angels will praise you. Your servants will praise you. Your creatures will praise you. And I too will praise you!

Psalm 104

1 Praise the LORD, my soul!

O LORD my God, you are very great.

You are clothed with splendor and majesty.

2 You cover yourself with light as though it were a robe.

You stretch out the heavens as though they were curtains.

3 You lay the beams of your home in the water.

You use the clouds for your chariot.

You move on the wings of the wind.

4 You make your angels winds

and your servants flames of fire.

5 You set the earth on its foundations

so that it can never be shaken.

104:1–5   Praise you! Praise your splendor and majesty! You wrap yourself in light. You stretch out the heavens. You lay the foundation of an unshakable earth.

6 You covered the earth with an ocean as though it were a robe.

Water stood above the mountains

7 and fled because of your threat.

Water ran away at the sound of your thunder.

8 The mountains rose and the valleys sank

to the place you appointed for them.

9 Water cannot cross the boundary you set

and cannot come back to cover the earth.

104:6–9   You covered the earth with water and raised the mountains to tower above the seas. You created peaks and valleys and hold back waters from flooding the earth.

10 You make water gush from springs into valleys.

It flows between the mountains.

11 Every wild animal drinks ⌞from them⌟.

Wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12 The birds live by the streams.

They sing among the branches.

13 You water the mountains from your home above.

You fill the earth with the fruits of your labors.

14 You make grass grow for cattle

and make vegetables for humans to use

in order to get food from the ground.

15 You make wine to cheer human hearts,

olive oil to make faces shine,

and bread to strengthen human hearts.

104:10–15   You make springs gush forth to give animals water to drink and birds a place to sing. You make grass grow for cattle and feed me with every good thing.

16 The LORD’s trees, the cedars in Lebanon which he planted,

drink their fill.

17 Birds build their nests in them.

Storks make their homes in fir trees.

18 The high mountains are for wild goats.

The rocks are a refuge for badgers.

104:16–18   You plant the tallest trees and let them drink from the ground. You create a home on earth for every living thing.

19 He created the moon, which marks the seasons,

and the sun, which knows when to set.

20 He brings darkness, and it is nighttime,

when all the wild animals in the forest come out.

21 The young lions roar for their prey

and seek their food from God.

22 When the sun rises,

they gather and lie down in their dens.

23 Then people go to do their work,

to do their tasks until evening.

104:19–23   You made the moon to mark the seasons and the sun to mark the day. By night young lions get their food from you. By day I arise and work.

24 What a large number of things you have made, O LORD!

You made them all by wisdom.

The earth is filled with your creatures.

25 The sea is so big and wide with countless creatures,

living things both large and small.

104:24–25   You made countless things. You wisely created all of them, filling the earth and seas with living things both large and small.

26 Ships sail on it,

and Leviathan,[104] which you made, plays in it.

27 All of them look to you to give them their food at the right time.

28 You give it to them, and they gather it up.

You open your hand, and they are filled with blessings.

29 You hide your face, and they are terrified.

You take away their breath, and they die and return to dust.

30 You send out your Spirit, and they are created.

You renew the face of the earth.

104:27–30   All of your creatures look to you for food. At the right time you open your hand of blessing, and when you take away their breath they die. By your Spirit you continually renew the earth.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever.

May the LORD find joy in what he has made.

32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles.

He touches the mountains, and they smoke.

33 I will sing to the LORD throughout my life.

I will make music to praise my God as long as I live.

34 May my thoughts be pleasing to him.

I will find joy in the LORD.

35 May sinners vanish from the world.

May there no longer be any wicked people.

Praise the LORD, my soul!

Hallelujah!

104:31–35   May your glory last forever. May you be happy with everything you made. I’ll never stop singing to you. I want you to be happy with my joyful thoughts of you. Praise you!

Psalm 105

1 Give thanks to the LORD.

Call on him.

Make known among the nations what he has done.

2 Sing to him.

Make music to praise him.

Meditate on all the miracles he has performed.

3 Brag about his holy name.

Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

4 Search for the LORD and his strength.

Always seek his presence.

5 Remember the miracles he performed,

the amazing things he did, and the judgments he pronounced,

6 you descendants of his servant Abraham,

you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

105:1–6   I thank you. I call on you. I tell the world what you have done. I make music to you and think hard about the miracles you’ve done for your people. Your amazing works give me reason upon reason to brag about you.

7 He is the LORD our God.

His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.

8 He always remembers his promise,[105]

the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,

9 the promise that he made to Abraham,

and his sworn oath to Isaac.

10 He confirmed it as a law for Jacob,

as an everlasting promise to Israel,

105:7–10   You are our God. And you always remember the promises you made long ago.

11 by saying, “I will give you the land of Canaan.

It is your share of the inheritance.”

12 While the people of Israel were few in number,

a small group of foreigners living in that land,

13 they wandered from nation to nation,

from one kingdom to another.

14 He didn’t permit anyone to oppress them.

He warned kings about them:

15 “Do not touch my anointed ones

or harm my prophets.”

105:11–15   You promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a homeland—just as you promise me rest. You didn’t let anyone oppress your chosen ones.

16 He brought famine to the land.

He took away their food supply.

17 He sent a man ahead of them.

He sent Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

18 They hurt his feet with shackles,

and cut into his neck with an iron collar.

19 The LORD’s promise tested him through fiery trials

until his prediction came true.

20 The king sent someone to release him.

The ruler of nations set him free.

21 He made Joseph the master of his palace

and the ruler of all his possessions.

22 Joseph trained the king’s officers the way he wanted

and taught his respected leaders wisdom.

105:16–22   You brought famine to the land, but you sent Joseph as a protector and provider. You allowed him to be sold into slavery, but you raised him up as a ruler of Egypt. You tested him with fiery trials, but your promise still held true.

23 Then Israel came to Egypt.

Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.

24 The LORD made his people grow rapidly in number

and stronger than their enemies.

25 He changed their minds so that they hated his people,

and they dealt treacherously with his servants.

26 He sent his servant Moses, and he sent Aaron, whom he had chosen.

27 They displayed his miraculous signs among them

and did amazing things in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness and made ⌞their land⌟ dark.

They did not rebel against his orders.

29 He turned their water into blood

and caused their fish to die.

30 He made their land swarm with frogs,

even in the kings’ bedrooms.

31 He spoke, and swarms of flies and gnats

infested their whole territory.

32 He gave them hail and lightning

instead of rain throughout their land.

33 He struck their grapevines and fig trees

and smashed the trees in their territory.

34 He spoke, and countless locusts and grasshoppers came.

35 They devoured all the plants in the land.

They devoured the crops in the fields.

36 He killed all the firstborn sons,

the first ones born in the land when their fathers were young.

105:24–36   You made your people many. You made them strong. When their enemies turned on them, you sent Moses and Aaron as deliverers. You sent darkness and plagues to defend your people—blood and frogs, flies and gnats, hail and lightning, locusts and death.

37 He brought Israel out with silver and gold,

and no one among his tribes stumbled.

38 The Egyptians were terrified of Israel,

so they were glad when Israel left.

39 He spread out a cloud as a protective covering

and a fire to light up the night.

40 The Israelites asked, and he brought them quail

and filled them with bread from heaven.

41 He opened a rock, and water gushed

and flowed like a river through the dry places.

105:37–41   You freed Israel from slavery. You sent them into the desert loaded down with gifts of silver and gold from their slave masters. You led them through the wilderness with a cloud by day and a fire by night. You fed them with quail and bread. You quenched their thirst with water from a rock. You met their every need.

42 He remembered his holy promise to his servant Abraham.

43 He brought his people out with joy,

his chosen ones with a song of joy.

44 He gave them the lands of ⌞other⌟ nations,

and they inherited what others had worked for

45 so that they would obey his laws

and follow his teachings.

Hallelujah!

105:42–45   You’ll always remember your promises to your people. You’ll always save us with joy. You’ll always bring us home and teach us to obey you. Hallelujah!

Psalm 106

1 Hallelujah!

Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,

because his mercy endures forever.

2 Who can speak about all the mighty things the LORD has done?

Who can announce all the things for which he is worthy of praise?

106:1–2   Hallelujah! Thanks for your goodness and unending mercy. Your mighty acts are too awesome for words.

3 Blessed are those who defend justice

and do what is right at all times.

4 Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people.

Come to help me with your salvation

5 so that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,

find joy in our people’s happiness,

and brag with the people who belong to you.

106:3–5   I’ll live in your blessing when I defend justice and do right. Save me so I can share in your people’s happiness and brag about what you’ve done.

6 We have sinned, and so did our ancestors.

We have done wrong.

We are guilty.

7 When our ancestors were in Egypt,

they gave no thought to your miracles.

They did not remember your numerous acts of mercy,

so they rebelled at the sea, the Red Sea.

8 He saved them because of his reputation

so that he could make his mighty power known.

9 He angrily commanded the Red Sea, and it dried up.

He led them through deep water as though it were a desert.

10 He rescued them from the power of the one who hated them.

He rescued them from the enemy.

11 Water covered their adversaries.

Not one Egyptian survived.

106:7–11   Back in Egypt your people forgot your mercy and miracles. They halted when you commanded them to move on. They couldn’t see your path to freedom. But you made a way through the Red Sea. Help me always remember your miracles!

12 Then our ancestors believed what he said.

They sang his praise.

13 They quickly forgot what he did.

They did not wait for his advice.

106:12–13   Your people saw what you did and believed. So they sang your praises. But they quickly forgot your mighty acts—and just as quickly they rebelled against you. Help me always remember your powerful kindness toward me!

14 They had an unreasonable desire ⌞for food⌟ in the wilderness.

In the desert they tested God.

15 He gave them what they asked for.

He ⌞also⌟ gave them a degenerative disease.

16 In the camp certain men became envious of Moses.

They also became envious of Aaron, the LORD’s holy one.

17 The ground split open and swallowed Dathan.

It buried Abiram’s followers.

18 A fire broke out among their followers.

Flames burned up wicked people.

19 At Mount Horeb they made ⌞a statue of⌟ a calf.

They worshiped an idol made of metal.

20 They traded their glorious God[106]

for the statue of a bull that eats grass.

21 They forgot God, their savior,

the one who did spectacular things in Egypt,

106:19–21   Your people traded their glorious God for a metal statue of a grass-eating bull. They forgot you had spectacularly saved them. Help me always remember you’ve saved me!

22 miracles in the land of Ham,

and terrifying things at the Red Sea.

23 God said he was going to destroy them,

but Moses, his chosen one, stood in his way

to prevent him from exterminating them.

24 They refused ⌞to enter⌟ the pleasant land.

They did not believe what he said.

25 They complained in their tents.

They did not obey the LORD.

26 Raising his hand, he swore

that he would kill them in the wilderness,

27 kill their descendants among the nations,

and scatter them throughout various lands.

28 They joined in worshiping the god Baal while they were at Peor,

and they ate what was sacrificed to the dead.

106:24–28   Your people refused to enter the pleasant land you had sworn to them—all because they didn’t believe your promises. Instead they grumbled and disobeyed. They infuriated you by bowing to the false god Baal. Help me always worship you as God!

29 They infuriated God by what they did,

and a plague broke out among them.

30 Then Phinehas stood between God and the people,

and the plague was stopped.

31 Because of this, Phinehas was considered righteous forever,

throughout every generation.

32 They made God angry by the water at Meribah.

Things turned out badly for Moses because of what they did,

33 since they made him bitter so that he spoke recklessly.

34 They did not destroy the people as the LORD had told them.

35 Instead, they intermarried with other nations.

They learned to do what other nations did,

36 and they worshiped their idols,

which became a trap for them.

37 They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.

38 They shed innocent blood,

the blood of their own sons and daughters

whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan.

The land became polluted with blood.

106:35–38   Your people married with people who didn’t know you. They worshiped their neighbors’ idols. They even sacrificed their children to false gods. Help me always obey your commands!

39 They became filthy because of what they did.

They behaved like prostitutes.

40 The LORD burned with anger against his own people.

He was disgusted with those who belonged to him.

41 He handed them over to other nations,

and those who hated them ruled them.

42 Their enemies oppressed them

and made them subject to their power.

43 He rescued them many times,

but they continued to plot rebellion against him

and to sink deeper because of their sin.

106:40–43   Your anger burned against your people and you handed them over to other nations. You rescued your people over and over, but they continued to rebel against you. Help me to make a clean break with sin!

44 He saw that they were suffering

when he heard their cry for help.

45 He remembered his promise[107] to them.

In keeping with his rich mercy, he changed his plans.

46 He let them find compassion

from all those who held them captive.

47 Rescue us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations

so that we may give thanks to your holy name

and make your praise our glory.

48 Thanks be to the LORD God of Israel

from everlasting to everlasting.

Let all the people say amen.

Hallelujah!

106:43–48   You saw your people sinking and heard their cries. You remembered your promise and showed them compassion. Thanks to you now and forevermore! Amen! Hallelujah!

BOOK FIVE

(Psalms 107–150)

Psalm 107

1 Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,

because his mercy endures forever.

2 Let the people the LORD defended repeat these words.

They are the people he defended from the power of their enemies

3 and gathered from other countries,

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

4 They wandered around the desert on a deserted road

without finding an inhabited city.

5 They were hungry and thirsty.

They began to lose hope.

6 In their distress they cried out to the LORD.

He rescued them from their troubles.

7 He led them on a road that went straight to an inhabited city.

107:1–7   Thanks for your unending goodness and mercy. We were desert wanderers when you found us hungry, thirsty, and out of hope. You heard our cries and saved us! You led us to everything we needed to live.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy.

He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.

9 He gave plenty to drink to those who were thirsty.

He filled those who were hungry with good food.

10 Those who lived in the dark, in death’s shadow

were prisoners in misery.

They were held in iron chains

11 because they had rebelled against God’s words

and had despised the advice given by the Most High.

12 So he humbled them with hard work.

They fell down, but no one was there to help them.

13 In their distress they cried out to the LORD.

He saved them from their troubles.

14 He brought them out of the dark, out of death’s shadow.

He broke apart their chains.

107:8–14   Thanks for your mercy and miracles. We were prisoners of misery, living in death’s shadow. You kept us in chains for rebelling against your words. You humbled us with hard work. But you heard our cries and saved us! You brought us out of the darkness.

15 Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy.

He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.

16 He shattered bronze gates

and cut iron bars in two.

17 Fools suffered because of their disobedience

and because of their crimes.

18 All food was disgusting to them,

and they came near death’s gates.

19 In their distress they cried out to the LORD.

He saved them from their troubles.

20 He sent his message and healed them.

He rescued them from the grave.

107:15–20   Thanks for your mercy and miracles. We were fools suffering for our disobedience and crimes. We couldn’t stomach the sight of food and we came close to dying. But you heard our cries and saved us! You healed us and spared us from the grave.

21 Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy.

He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.

22 Let them bring songs of thanksgiving as their sacrifice.

Let them tell in joyful songs what he has done.

23 Those who sail on the sea in ships,

who do business on the high seas,

24 have seen what the LORD can do,

the miracles he performed in the depths of the sea.

25 He spoke, and a storm began to blow,

and it made the waves rise high.

26 The sailors aboard ship rose toward the sky.

They plunged into the depths.

Their courage melted in ⌞the face of⌟ disaster.

27 They reeled and staggered like drunks,

and all their skills as sailors became useless.

28 In their distress they cried out to the LORD.

He led them from their troubles.

29 He made the storm calm down,

and the waves became still.

30 The sailors were glad that the storm was quiet.

He guided them to the harbor they had longed for.

107:21–30   Thanks for your mercy and miracles. We were sailing the sea when a storm began to blow. Our ship rose toward the sky and plunged to the depths. We staggered like drunks and our sailing skills became useless. But you heard our cries and saved us! You stilled the sea and guided us to safe harbor.

31 Let them give thanks to the LORD because of his mercy.

He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.

32 Let them glorify him when the people are gathered for worship.

Let them praise him in the company of respected leaders.

107:31–32   Thanks for your mercy and miracles. We promise to praise you whenever we gather.

33 He changes rivers into a desert,

springs into thirsty ground,

34 and fertile ground into a layer of salt

because of the wickedness of the people living there.

35 He changes deserts into lakes

and dry ground into springs.

36 There he settles those who are hungry,

and they build cities to live in.

37 They plant in fields and vineyards

that produce crops.

38 He blesses them, and their numbers multiply,

and he does not allow a shortage of cattle.

107:33–38   You drive the wicked from the land and make us a place to live. You turn dry ground into springs and give us crops and cattle. You bless us and we multiply.

39 They became few in number and were humiliated

because of oppression, disaster, and sorrow.

40 He poured contempt on their influential people

and made them stumble around in a pathless desert.

41 But now he lifts needy people high above suffering

and makes their families like flocks.

42 Decent people will see this and rejoice,

but all the wicked people will shut their mouths.

107:39–42   Our pride turned into humiliation. We suffered oppression, disaster, and sorrow. But you lift the needy high above suffering. You make us multiply again. Good people will see this and be glad.

43 Let those who ⌞think⌟ they are wise

pay attention to these things

so that they may understand the LORD’s blessings.

107:43   Make me truly wise! I’ll pay attention to the past so I can understand your blessings today.

Psalm 108[108]

A song; a psalm by David.

1 My heart is confident, O God.

I want to sing and make music even with my soul.[109]

2 Wake up, harp and lyre!

I want to wake up at dawn.

3 I want to give thanks to you among the people, O LORD.

I want to make music to praise you among the nations

108:1–3   In you my heart swells with confidence. I get up at dawn to worship. Let everyone everywhere hear!

4 because your mercy is higher than the heavens.

Your truth reaches the skies.

5 May you be honored above the heavens, O God.

Let your glory extend over the whole earth.

108:4–5   Your mercy and truth reach past the heavens. Your glory shines to the whole earth. Receive the honor you deserve!

6 Save ⌞us⌟ with your powerful hand, and answer us

so that those who are dear to you may be rescued.

7 God has promised the following through his holiness:

“I will triumph!

I will divide Shechem.

I will measure the valley of Succoth.

108:7   Your perfect holiness guarantees your promises. Thanks for every blessing you’ve sworn to your people!

8 Gilead is mine.

Manasseh is mine.

Ephraim is the helmet on my head.

Judah is my scepter.

9 Moab is my washtub.

I will throw my shoe over Edom.

I will shout in triumph over Philistia.”

10 Who will bring me into the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Isn’t it you, O God, who rejected us?

Isn’t it you, O God, who refused to accompany our armies?

12 Give us help against the enemy

because human assistance is worthless.

13 With God we will display great strength.

He will trample our enemies.

108:10–13   You alone will lead me in triumph. No human can help me. Show me your strength!

Psalm 109

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 O God, whom I praise, do not turn a deaf ear to me.

2 Wicked and deceitful people have opened their mouths against me.

They speak against me with lying tongues.

3 They surround me with hateful words.

They fight against me for no reason.

4 In return for my love, they accuse me,

but I pray for them.[110]

5 They reward me with evil instead of good

and with hatred instead of love.

109:2–5   Evildoers and liars speak hateful words against me. I show them love yet they accuse me. I pray for them but they pay me back with evil.

6 ⌞I said,⌟ “Appoint the evil one to oppose him.

Let Satan stand beside him.

7 When he stands trial,

let him be found guilty.

Let his prayer be considered sinful.

8 Let his days be few ⌞in number⌟.

Let someone else take his position.

109:7–8   I trust you to act with justice at my enemy’s trial. Open my eyes to my sins large and small so I can see them and turn from them.

9 “Let his children become fatherless and his wife a widow.

10 Let his children wander around and beg.

Let them seek help far from their ruined homes.

11 Let a creditor take everything he owns.

Let strangers steal what he has worked for.

12 Let no one be kind to him anymore.

Let no one show any pity to his fatherless children.

109:9–12   Teach me to show compassion to the fatherless and widowed and needy. Train me to imitate your kindness.

13 Let his descendants be cut off

and their family name be wiped out by the next generation.

14 Let the LORD remember the guilt of his ancestors

and not wipe out his mother’s sin.

15 Let their guilt and sin always remain on record

in front of the LORD.

Let the LORD remove every memory of him[111] from the earth,

16 because he did not remember to be kind.

“He drove oppressed, needy,

and brokenhearted people to their graves.

17 He loved to put curses ⌞on others⌟,

so he, too, was cursed.

He did not like to bless ⌞others⌟,

so he never received a blessing.

109:16–17   Prompt me to constant acts of kindness. Teach me to show mercy to the oppressed and needy and brokenhearted. Make me a blessing to everyone I encounter.

18 He wore cursing as though it were clothing,

so cursing entered his body like water

and his bones like oil.

19 Let cursing be his clothing,

a belt he always wears.”

20 This is how the LORD rewards those who accuse me,

those who say evil things against me.

21 O LORD Almighty, deal with me out of the goodness of your name.

Rescue me because of your mercy.

22 I am oppressed and needy.

I can feel the pain in my heart.

23 I fade away like a lengthening shadow.

I have been shaken off like a grasshopper.

24 My knees give way because I have been fasting.

My body has become lean, without any fat.

109:20–24   Pain pierces my heart and my knees wobble. Grief starves my body. So treat me with your goodness. Rescue me because of your mercy.

25 I have become the victim of my enemies’ insults.

They look at me and shake their heads.

26 Help me, O LORD my God.

Save me because of your mercy.

27 Then they will know that this is your doing,

that you, O LORD, are the one who saved me.

28 They may curse, but you will bless.

Let those who attack me be ashamed,

but let me rejoice.

29 Let those who accuse me wear disgrace as though it were clothing.

Let them be wrapped in their shame as though it were a robe.

109:25–29   My enemies hurl insults at me. But when you save me they’ll know you’ve come to my side. Bless me despite their curses. Let their attacks become their shame.

30 With my mouth I will give many thanks to the LORD.

I will praise him among many people,

31 because he stands beside needy people

to save them from those who would condemn them to death.

109:30–31   I’ll shout my thanks so everyone can hear. You side with the needy and save them from death.

Psalm 110

A psalm by David.

1 The LORD said to my Lord,

“Sit in the highest position in heaven

until I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The LORD will extend your powerful scepter from Zion.

Rule your enemies who surround you.

110:1–2   You’re seated at the highest position in heaven. You make your enemies a footstool and extend your reign in every direction. Let me gaze on your holy splendor.

3 Your people will volunteer when you call up your army.

Your young people will come to you in holy splendor

like dew in the early morning.[112]

4 The LORD has taken an oath and will not change his mind:

“You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.”

5 The Lord is at your right side.

He will crush kings on the day of his anger.

6 He will pass judgment on the nations

and fill them with dead bodies.

Throughout the earth he will crush ⌞their⌟ heads.

7 He will drink from the brook along the road.

He will hold his head high.

110:4–7   The Lord’s promise to his chosen one will not change: You’ll be a priest forever. You’ll crush kings and pass judgment on the nations. You’ll hold your head high in victory.

Psalm 111[113]

1 Hallelujah!

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart

in the company of decent people and in the congregation.

2 The LORD’s deeds are spectacular.

They should be studied by all who enjoy them.

3 His work is glorious and majestic.

His righteousness continues forever.

111:1–3   Your spectacular deeds command my attention. I enjoy studying your glorious and majestic work. Hallelujah!

4 He has made his miracles unforgettable.

The LORD is merciful and compassionate.

5 He provides food for those who fear him.

He always remembers his promise.[114]

6 He has revealed the power of his works to his people

by giving them the lands of other nations as an inheritance.

7 His works are done with truth and justice.

All his guiding principles are trustworthy.

111:3–7   Your goodness lasts forever and your miracles are unforgettable. You feed people who live with awe toward you. You do your work with truth and justice.

8 They last forever and ever.

They are carried out with truth and decency.

9 He has sent salvation to his people.

He has ordered that his promise should continue forever.

His name is holy and terrifying.

111:7–9   I can always count on your principles. They last forever like you. Your save your people and never stop keeping your promises.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

Good sense is shown by everyone who follows ⌞God’s guiding principles⌟.

His praise continues forever.

111:10   I’ve begun to learn wisdom when I live in awe of you. Your principles give me good sense.

Psalm 112[115]

1 Hallelujah!

Blessed is the person who fears the LORD

and is happy to obey his commands.

2 His descendants will grow strong on the earth.

The family of a decent person will be blessed.

112:1–2   I live in your blessing as I happily follow your commands. My children grow strong and you show kindness to my family.

3 Wealth and riches will be in his home.

His righteousness continues forever.

4 Light will shine in the dark for a decent person.

He is merciful, compassionate, and fair.

5 All goes well for the person who is generous and lends willingly.

He earns an honest living.

112:3–5   You’re the source of my wealth. Train me to be merciful, compassionate, and fair. Open doors for me to be generous and do honest work.

6 He will never fail.

A righteous person will always be remembered.

7 He is not afraid of bad news.

His heart remains secure, full of confidence in the LORD.

8 His heart is steady, and he is not afraid.

In the end he will look triumphantly at his enemies.

112:6–8   Because of you I’ll never really fail. I don’t fear bad news because my heart stays confident in you. You sweep away my worries.

9 He gives freely to poor people.

His righteousness continues forever.

His head is raised in honor.

112:9   When I give freely to the poor, you’ll make my good acts endure. You’ll raise my head in honor.

10 The wicked person sees this and becomes angry.

He angrily grits his teeth and disappears.

The hope that wicked people have will vanish.

Psalm 113

1 Hallelujah!

You servants of the LORD, praise him.

Praise the name of the LORD.

2 Thank the name of the LORD now and forever.

3 From where the sun rises to where the sun sets,

the name of the LORD should be praised.

113:1–3   Let all your servants praise you now and forever. Let people everywhere praise your name.

4 The LORD is high above all the nations.

His glory is above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God?

He is seated on his high throne.

113:4–5   You’re more glorious than anything in heaven or on earth. No one compares to you.

6 He bends down to look at heaven and earth.

7 He lifts the poor from the dust.

He lifts the needy from a garbage heap.

8 He seats them with influential people,

with the influential leaders of his people.

113:5–8   You’re seated on high, yet you stoop to lift the poor out of the dust. You honor the needy and make them equals with influential people. Teach me your kind grace!

9 He makes a woman who is in a childless home

a joyful mother.

Hallelujah!

Psalm 114

1 When Israel left Egypt,

when Jacob’s family left people who spoke a foreign language,

2 Judah became his holy place and Israel became his kingdom.

3 The Red Sea looked at this and ran away.

The Jordan River turned back.

4 The mountains jumped like rams.

The hills jumped like lambs.

114:1–4   You rescued your people from slavery in Egypt. You led them into your holy land. You made the Red Sea and the Jordan River turn back. You made the mountains and the hills jump.

5 Red Sea, why did you run away?

Jordan River, what made you turn back?

6 Mountains, what made you jump like rams?

Hills, what made you jump like lambs?

7 Earth, tremble in the presence of the Lord,

in the presence of the God of Jacob.

8 He turns a rock into a pool filled with water

and turns flint into a spring flowing with water.

114:7–8   The earth recognizes you as Lord and trembles before you. You turn rock into pools of water. You make flint into flowing springs.

Psalm 115

1 Don’t give glory to us, O LORD.

Don’t give glory to us.

Instead, give glory to your name

because of your mercy and faithfulness.

115:1   Don’t give me even a bit of glory. You deserve it all. Your mercy and faithfulness are boundless.

2 Why should other nations say, “Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in heaven.

He does whatever he wants.

115:2–3   Others wonder where you are. But beyond any doubt I know you’re in heaven. You do whatever you wish.

4 Their idols are made of silver and gold.

They were made by human hands.[116]

5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak.

They have eyes, but they cannot see.

6 They have ears, but they cannot hear.

They have noses, but they cannot smell.

7 They have hands, but they cannot feel.

They have feet, but they cannot walk.

They cannot ⌞even⌟ make a sound with their throats.

8 Those who make idols end up like them.

So does everyone who trusts them.

115:4–8   Idols made by human hands can’t speak or see. They can’t smell or feel. They can’t walk or make a noise. If I serve false gods I’ll end up as senseless as the idols I worship.

9 Israel, trust the LORD.

He is your helper and your shield.

10 Descendants of Aaron, trust the LORD.

He is your helper and your shield.

11 If you fear the LORD, trust the LORD.

He is your helper and your shield.

12 The LORD, who is ⌞always⌟ thinking about us, will bless us.

He will bless the descendants of Israel.

He will bless the descendants of Aaron.

13 He will bless those who fear the LORD,

from the least important to the most important.

115:9–13   I’ll trust in you, my helper and shield. I fear and trust you. I count on you to remember me and bless me and my children. You bless everyone who respects you. You don’t care whether the world thinks they’re important or ordinary.

14 May the LORD continue to bless you and your children.

15 You will be blessed by the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

16 The highest heaven belongs to the LORD,

but he has given the earth to the descendants of Adam.

17 Those who are dead do not praise the LORD,

nor do those who go into the silence ⌞of the grave⌟.

18 But we will thank the LORD now and forever.

Hallelujah!

115:14–18   I boldly believe you will bless me and my family. Heaven belongs to you and you entrust the world to our care. We’ll thank you now and forever! Hallelujah!

Psalm 116

1 I love the LORD because he hears my voice, my pleas for mercy.

2 I will call on him as long as I live

because he turns his ear toward me.

116:1–2   I love you because you hear my desperate pleas. I keep calling on you because you listen.

3 The ropes of death became tangled around me.

The horrors of the grave took hold of me.

I experienced pain and agony.

4 But I kept calling on the name of the LORD:

“Please, LORD, rescue me!”

5 The LORD is merciful and righteous.

Our God is compassionate.

6 The LORD protects defenseless people.

When I was weak, he saved me.

116:3–6   I was tangled in death and overcome with horror. But I begged you to rescue me and you showed me compassion. You saved me at my weakest.

7 Be at peace again, my soul,

because the LORD has been good to you.

8 You saved me from death.

You saved my eyes from tears ⌞and⌟ my feet from stumbling.

9 I will walk in the LORD’s presence in this world of the living.

116:7–9   I’m at peace because you did good to me. You dried my tears and steadied my feet. I’ll walk in your presence as long as I live.

10 I kept my faith even when I said,

“I am suffering terribly.”

11 I also said when I was panic-stricken,

“Everyone is undependable.”

116:10–11   I kept trusting you even when I lamented my terrible suffering. I panicked when I couldn’t count on anyone else.

12 How can I repay the LORD

for all the good that he has done for me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will keep my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD

is the death of his faithful ones.

116:12–15   How can I repay your amazing goodness? I’ll gratefully accept your saving grace and keep calling on you. Everyone will see me keep my promises to you. My death will open the door to your presence.

16 O LORD, I am indeed your servant.

I am your servant,

the son of your female servant.

You have freed me from my chains.

17 I will bring a song of thanksgiving to you as a sacrifice.

I will call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will keep my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courtyards of the LORD’s house,

in the middle of Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!

116:16–19   Because you loosed my chains I’ll always be your servant. I’ll sing thanks to you and live close to you always. Hallelujah!

Psalm 117

1 Praise the LORD, all you nations!

Praise him, all you people of the world!

2 His mercy toward us is powerful.

The LORD’s faithfulness endures forever.

Hallelujah!

117:1–2   I praise your powerful mercy! I praise your unending faithfulness! Hallelujah!

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,

because his mercy endures forever.

2 Israel should say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

3 The descendants of Aaron should say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

4 Those who fear the LORD should say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

118:1–4   Thanks for your goodness and unending mercy. I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again: “Your mercy endures forever.”

5 During times of trouble I called on the LORD.

The LORD answered me ⌞and⌟ set me free ⌞from all of them⌟.

6 The LORD is on my side.

I am not afraid.

What can mortals do to me?

118:5–6   I called on you when I was in trouble. You showed that you’re on my side. How can I ever again be afraid of mere people?

7 The LORD is on my side as my helper.

I will see ⌞the defeat of⌟ those who hate me.

8 It is better to depend on the LORD

than to trust mortals.

9 It is better to depend on the LORD

than to trust influential people.

118:8–9   It’s better to depend on you than trust people—even people with obvious power.

10 All the nations surrounded me,

⌞but armed⌟ with the name of the LORD, I defeated them.

11 They surrounded me. Yes, they surrounded me,

⌞but armed⌟ with the name of the LORD, I defeated them.

12 They swarmed around me like bees,

but they were extinguished like burning thornbushes.

⌞So armed⌟ with the name of the LORD, I defeated them.

13 They pushed hard to make me fall,

but the LORD helped me.

118:10–13   My enemies swarm around me like bees but you extinguish them. They push me hard but you hold me steady.

14 The LORD is my strength and my song.

He is my savior.

15 The sound of joyful singing and victory is heard

in the tents of righteous people.

The right hand of the LORD displays strength.

16 The right hand of the LORD is held high.

The right hand of the LORD displays strength.

17 I will not die,

but I will live and tell what the LORD has done.

118:15–17   I joyfully sing songs of victory because you showed your strength. You keep me alive to tell others what you’ve done.

18 The LORD disciplined me severely,

but he did not allow me to be killed.

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me.

I will go through them ⌞and⌟ give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD

through which righteous people will enter.

21 I give thanks to you,

because you have answered me.

You are my savior.

118:18–21   You let me be struck down but you didn’t allow me to die. Let me come close to you so I can thank you. You’re my Savior!

22 The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

23 The LORD is responsible for this,

and it is amazing for us to see.

24 This is the day the LORD has made.

Let’s rejoice and be glad today!

118:22–24   Builders rejected your hand-carved stone. But you made it the cornerstone of your work. You amaze me! I’ll rejoice because you made this day.

25 We beg you, O LORD, save us!

We beg you, O LORD, give us success!

118:25   I beg you to save me. I beg you to give me success!

26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD.

We bless you from the LORD’s house.

27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light.

March in a festival procession

with branches to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I give thanks to you.

My God, I honor you highly.

29 Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,

because his mercy endures forever.

118:27–29   You’re my God and you’ve given me light. I’ll march into your presence to say thanks and to honor you above everything else. Thanks for your goodness and unending mercy!

Psalm 119[117]

1 Blessed are those whose lives have integrity,

those who follow the teachings of the LORD.

119:1   When I follow your teachings I live in your blessing.

2 Blessed are those who obey his written instructions.

They wholeheartedly search for him.

3 They do nothing wrong.

They follow his directions.

4 You have commanded

that your guiding principles be carefully followed.

5 I pray that my ways may become firmly established

so that I can obey your laws.

119:2–5   You wrote down your instructions so I could understand them. You command me to follow your principles carefully. Make me unwavering in obeying you.

6 Then I will never feel ashamed

when I study all your commandments.

7 I will give thanks to you

as I learn your regulations, which are based on your righteousness.

8 I will obey your laws.

Never abandon me.

119:7–8   Thank you for teaching me your rules, ways of living based on your own righteousness. Don’t abandon me as I obey you.

9 How can a young person keep his life pure?

⌞He can do it⌟ by holding on to your word.

10 I wholeheartedly searched for you.

Do not let me wander away from your commandments.

119:9–10   How can I keep pure? By holding tight to your Word. I searched hard for you. Don’t let me lose sight of you now.

11 I have treasured your promise in my heart

so that I may not sin against you.

12 Thanks be to you, O LORD.

Teach me your laws.

13 With my lips I have repeated

every regulation that ⌞comes⌟ from your mouth.

119:11–13   I keep reminding myself of your promises to keep from sinning against you.

14 I find joy in the way ⌞shown by⌟ your written instructions

more than I find joy in all kinds of riches.

15 I want to reflect on your guiding principles

and study your ways.

16 Your laws make me happy.

I never forget your word.

119:14–16   Your instructions give me more joy than anything else in life. The more I know of your laws the happier I become.

17 Be kind to me so that I may live

and hold on to your word.

18 Uncover my eyes

so that I may see the miraculous things in your teachings.

19 I am a foreigner in this world.

Do not hide your commandments from me.

20 My soul is overwhelmed with endless longing for your regulations.

119:18–20   Open my eyes to your miraculous teachings. I can’t understand them without your help. My heart aches for your instructions.

21 You threaten arrogant people, who are condemned

and wander away from your commandments.

22 Remove the insults and contempt that have fallen on me

because I have obeyed your written instructions.

23 Even though influential people plot against me,

I reflect on your laws.

24 Indeed, your written instructions make me happy.

They are my best friends.

119:22–24   People mock me because I follow your teachings. But I won’t let them scare me away from your laws. Your Word is my best friend.

25 I am close to death.

Give me a new life as you promised.

26 I told you what I have done, and you answered me.

Teach me your laws.

27 Help me understand your guiding principles

so that I may reflect on your miracles.

28 I am drowning in tears.

Strengthen me as you promised.

119:25–28   When I’m close to death, I’ll cling to your promise of new life. When I’m drowning in tears, I’ll look for your strength.

29 Turn me away from a life of lies.

Graciously provide me with your teachings.

30 I have chosen a life of faithfulness.

I have set your regulations in front of me.

31 I have clung tightly to your written instructions.

O LORD, do not let me be put to shame.

119:29–31   Don’t let me get caught up in lies. Teach me to choose faithfulness instead. I cling tightly to your Word. Don’t let others shame me.

32 I will eagerly pursue your commandments

because you continue to increase my understanding.

33 Teach me, O LORD, how to live by your laws,

and I will obey them to the end.

34 Help me understand so that I can follow your teachings.

I will guard them with all my heart.

119:32–34   I hunt for your commandments because they always increase my understanding. Teach me to live what I know. Don’t let me forget what I learn.

35 Lead me on the path of your commandments,

because I am happy with them.

36 Direct my heart toward your written instructions

rather than getting rich in underhanded ways.

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things.

Give me a new life in your ways.

38 Keep your promise to me

so that I can fear you.

119:37–38   I refuse to lust for worthless things. New life with you is so much better. Keep your promises to me so I have abundant reasons to respect you.

39 Take away insults, which I dread,

because your regulations are good.

40 I long for your guiding principles.

Give me a new life in your righteousness.

41 Let your blessings reach me, O LORD.

Save me as you promised.

42 Then I will have an answer for the one who insults me

since I trust your word.

119:41–42   Don’t let me miss out on your blessings. Save me so I can silence people who insult me for trusting your Word.

43 Do not take so much as a single word of truth from my mouth.

My hope is based on your regulations.

44 I will follow your teachings forever and ever.

45 I will walk around freely

because I sought out your guiding principles.

119:43–45   Don’t let me forget a single word of your truth. Your rules give me hope. Your principles make me free.

46 I will speak about your written instructions in the presence of kings

and not feel ashamed.

47 Your commandments, which I love, make me happy.

119:46–47   I’ll talk about your Word to the most important people in my life. I won’t feel ashamed because I love your commands.

48 I lift my hands ⌞in prayer⌟ because of your commandments,

which I love.

I will reflect on your laws.

49 Remember the word ⌞you gave⌟ me.

Through it you gave me hope.

50 This is my comfort in my misery:

Your promise gave me a new life.

119:49–50   Don’t forget what you’ve told me. Your words give me hope. They comfort me in misery and promise me new life.

51 Arrogant people have mocked me with cruelty,

yet I have not turned away from your teachings.

119:51   The mocking of arrogant people won’t keep me from obeying you.

52 I remembered your regulations from long ago, O LORD,

and I found comfort ⌞in them⌟.

53 I am burning with anger because of wicked people,

who abandon your teachings.

54 Your laws have become like psalms to me

in this place where I am only a foreigner.

55 At night I remember your name, O LORD,

and I follow your teachings.

119:54–55   Your laws are my songs in a lonely place. I remember you in the dark of night and resolve to obey you.

56 This has happened to me

because I have obeyed your guiding principles.

57 You are my inheritance, O LORD.

I promised to hold on to your words.

58 With all my heart I want to win your favor.

Be kind to me as you promised.

119:56–58   You’re a gift to me in this world. I promise to keep my grip on your words. Please keep your kind promises to me.

59 I have thought about my life,

and I have directed my feet back to your written instructions.

60 Without any hesitation I hurry to obey your commandments.

61 ⌞Though⌟ the ropes of wicked people are tied around me,

I never forget your teachings.

119:59–61   I thought about running from you, but I came back to your instructions. I’ll obey you without hesitation. I won’t let wicked people drag me into disobedience.

62 At midnight I wake up to give thanks to you

for the regulations, which are based on your righteousness.

63 I am a friend to everyone who fears you

and to everyone who follows your guiding principles.

119:63   I make friends with anyone who shows you the respect you deserve. Give me partners in following your principles.

64 Your mercy, O LORD, fills the earth.

Teach me your laws.

65 You have treated me well, O LORD,

as you promised.

66 Teach me ⌞to use⌟ good judgment and knowledge,

because I believe in your commandments.

67 Before you made me suffer, I used to wander off,

but now I hold on to your word.

68 You are good, and you do good things.

Teach me your laws.

69 Arrogant people have smeared me with lies,

⌞yet⌟ I obey your guiding principles with all my heart.

70 Their hearts are cold and insensitive,

⌞yet⌟ I am happy with your teachings.

71 It was good that I had to suffer

in order to learn your laws.

119:66–71   Give me knowledge and good judgment as I trust your commands. I learned my lesson when I wandered from your Word. Learning your laws was worth the suffering I endured.

72 The teachings ⌞that come⌟ from your mouth are worth more to me

than thousands in gold or silver.

73 Your hands created me and made me what I am.

Help me understand so that I may learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you will see me and rejoice,

because my hope is based on your word.

75 I know that your regulations are fair, O LORD,

and that you were right to make me suffer.

76 Let your mercy comfort me

as you promised.

77 Let your compassion reach me so that I may live,

because your teachings make me happy.

119:75–77   You’re right when you use suffering to teach me. You show me mercy and compassion. You give me happiness through your teachings.

78 Let arrogant people be put to shame

because they lied about me,

⌞yet⌟ I reflect on your guiding principles.

79 Let those who fear you turn to me

so that they can come to know your written instructions.

119:79   I long to teach people who respect you. Send them to me so I can pass on your instructions.

80 Let my heart be filled with integrity in regard to your laws

so that I will not be put to shame.

81 My soul is weak from waiting for you to save me.

My hope is based on your word.

82 My eyes have become strained from looking for your promise.

I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

83 Although I have become like a shriveled and dried out wineskin,

I have not forgotten your laws.

119:81–83   My soul can’t wait much longer for you to save me. But your Word compels me to hope in you. My eyes hurt from watching for your promise. But I won’t forget your laws.

84 What is left of my life?

When will you bring those who persecute me to justice?

85 Arrogant people have dug pits to trap me

in defiance of your teachings.

86 (All your commandments are reliable.)

Those people persecute me with lies. Help me!

87 They almost wiped me off ⌞the face of⌟ the earth.

But I did not abandon your guiding principles.

119:85–87   Proud people entrap me. They persecute me with lies. They aim to wipe me off the face of the earth. But I won’t stop following your principles.

88 Give me a new life through your mercy

so that I may obey the written instructions,

⌞which came⌟ from your mouth.

89 O LORD, your word is established in heaven forever.

90 Your faithfulness endures throughout every generation.

You set the earth in place, and it continues to stand.

91 All things continue to stand today because of your regulations,

since they are all your servants.

119:88–91   Your Word lasts forever. Your faithfulness reaches every generation. Your rules hold everything together.

92 If your teachings had not made me happy,

then I would have died in my misery.

93 I will never forget your guiding principles,

because you gave me a new life through them.

94 I am yours.

Save me, because I have searched for your guiding principles.

119:92–94   I would die in misery if I didn’t have your commands to make me happy. I can live a new life because of your principles. I belong to you.

95 The wicked people have waited for me in order to destroy me,

⌞yet⌟ I want to understand your written instructions.

96 I have seen a limit to everything else,

⌞but⌟ your commandments have no limit.

119:96   Everything on earth has its limits. Only your commands know no bounds.

97 Oh, how I love your teachings!

They are in my thoughts all day long.

98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,

because your commandments are always with me.

99 I have more insight than all my teachers,

because your written instructions are in my thoughts.

100 I have more wisdom than those with many years of experience,

because I have obeyed your guiding principles.

119:97–100   I love your teachings! I think of them all day long. I’m smarter than my teachers because your instructions fill my thoughts. I’m wiser than my elders because I obey your principles.

101 I have kept my feet ⌞from walking⌟ on any evil path

in order to obey your word.

102 I have not neglected your regulations,

because you have taught me.

103 How sweet the taste of your promise is!

It tastes sweeter than honey.

119:101–103   I won’t venture down evil paths. I’ll choose instead to obey your Word. I pay attention to everything you’ve taught me. Your promise is sweeter than honey.

104 From your guiding principles I gain understanding.

That is why I hate every path that leads to lying.

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet

and a light for my path.

119:105   Your Word lights my path so I don’t stumble. Don’t let me settle for walking in darkness.

106 I took an oath, and I will keep it.

I took an oath to follow your regulations,

which are based on your righteousness.

119:106   I promised to keep your rules when I realized they flow from your goodness.

107 I have suffered so much.

Give me a new life, O LORD, as you promised.

108 Please accept the praise I gladly give you, O LORD,

and teach me your regulations.

109 I always take my life into my own hands,

but I never forget your teachings.

119:109   I face danger at every turn, but I rely on your teachings to keep me safe.

110 Wicked people have set a trap for me,

but I have never wandered away from your guiding principles.

111 Your written instructions are mine forever.

They are the joy of my heart.

112 I have decided to obey your laws.

119:111–112   Your written instructions never wear out. They make me glad and give me an eternal reward.

They offer a reward that never ends.

113 I hate two-faced people,

but I love your teachings.

114 You are my hiding place and my shield.

My hope is based on your word.

115 Get away from me, you evildoers,

so that I can obey the commandments of my God.

116 Help me God, as you promised, so that I may live.

Do not turn my hope into disappointment.

117 Hold me, and I will be safe,

and I will always respect your laws.

119:113–117   I hate two-faced people, but your teachings never deceive me. I count on you to protect me, and your words tell me why I should trust you. Hold me close, and I’ll always be safe.

118 You reject all who wander away from your laws,

because their lies mislead them.[118]

119 You get rid of all wicked people on earth as if they were rubbish.

That is why I love your written instructions.

120 My body shudders in fear of you,

and I am afraid of your regulations.

119:120   My body shudders when I think about your awesome greatness. I tremble when I hear your rules.

121 I have done what is fair and right.

Do not leave me at the mercy of those who oppress me.

122 Guarantee my well-being.

Do not let arrogant people oppress me.

123 My eyes are strained from looking for you to save me

and from looking for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

119:121–123   Don’t leave me at the mercy of cruel oppressors. My eyes hurt from searching for you to fulfill your promise to save me.

124 Treat me with kindness,

and teach me your laws.

125 I am your servant.

Help me understand

so that I may come to know your written instructions.

119:125   I’m your servant. Help me understand your instructions so I can do your bidding.

126 It is time for you to act, O LORD.[119]

Even though people have abolished your teachings,

127 I love your commandments more than gold, more than pure gold.

119:126–127   Other people do away with your teachings, but I treasure your commands more than gold.

128 I follow the straight paths of your guiding principles.

I hate every pathway that leads to lying.

129 Your written instructions are miraculous.

That is why I obey them.

130 Your word is a doorway that lets in light,

and it helps gullible people understand.

119:130   Your Word sheds light on life. Use it to help me understand your way.

131 I open my mouth and pant

because I long for your commandments.

119:131   My mouth opens wide panting for your Word. Fill me up!

132 Turn toward me, and have pity on me

as you have pledged to do for those who love your name.

133 Make my steps secure through your promise,

and do not let any sin control me.

134 Save me from human oppression

so that I may obey your guiding principles.

119:133–134   Help me live obediently by relying on your promises. Don’t let sin control me or people push me around.

135 Smile on me,

and teach me your laws.

136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes

because others do not follow your teachings.

119:135–136   You smile at me as you teach me your laws. But I weep when others don’t listen.

137 You are righteous, O LORD,

and your regulations are fair.

138 You have issued your written instructions.

They are fair and completely dependable.

139 My devotion ⌞for your words⌟ consumes me,

because my enemies have forgotten your words.

140 Your promise has been thoroughly tested,

and I love it.

119:137–140   Every one of your commands is fair and reliable. I’ve tested your promise and I love it.

141 I am unimportant and despised,

⌞yet⌟ I never forget your guiding principles.

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,

and your teachings are reliable.

143 Trouble and hardship have found me,

but your commandments ⌞still⌟ make me happy.

119:141–143   On my own I’m insignificant. But your guiding principles make my life count. Even when I struggle your commands make me happy.

144 Your written instructions are always right.

Help me understand ⌞them⌟ so that I will live.

145 I have called out with all my heart. Answer me, O LORD.

I want to obey your laws.

119:144–145   Your instructions lead to life. So help me understand them. With all my heart I want to obey you!

146 I have called out.

Save me, so that I can obey your written instructions.

147 I got up before dawn, and I cried out for help.

My hope is based on your word.

148 My eyes are wide-open throughout the nighttime hours

to reflect on your word.

149 In keeping with your mercy, hear my voice.

O LORD, give me a new life guided by your regulations.

119:146–149   Rescue me from anything that keeps me from obeying you. Give me a fresh start in following your guidance.

150 Those who carry out plots against me are near,

⌞yet⌟ they are far away from your teachings.

151 You are near, O LORD,

and all your commandments are reliable.

119:150–151   People nearby plot to take my life. But you and your Word are even nearer.

152 Long ago I learned from your written instructions

that you made them to last forever.

153 Look at my misery, and rescue me,

because I have never forgotten your teachings.

119:152–153   Your instructions will last forever. Help me never to forget them.

154 Plead my case ⌞for me⌟, and save me.

Give me a new life as you promised.

155 Wicked people are far from being saved,

because they have not searched for your laws.

156 Your acts of compassion are many in number, O LORD.

Give me a new life guided by your regulations.

119:155–156   Wicked people won’t experience your salvation because they don’t search your Word. I want your rules to guide me.

157 I have many persecutors and opponents,

⌞yet⌟ I have not turned away from your written instructions.

158 I have seen traitors,

and I am filled with disgust.

They have not accepted your promise.

159 See how I have loved your guiding principles!

O LORD, in keeping with your mercy, give me a new life.

119:157–159   People rage against me, but they can’t keep me from obeying your instructions. I love your principles because they lead me into life.

160 There is nothing but truth in your word,

and all of your righteous regulations endure forever.

161 Influential people have persecuted me for no reason,

but it is only your words that fill my heart with terror.

162 I find joy in your promise

like someone who finds a priceless treasure.

119:160–162   Your Word is wholly true and your rules last forever. Learning your promises is like unearthing priceless treasure.

163 I hate lying; I am disgusted with it.

I love your teachings.

164 Seven times a day I praise you

for your righteous regulations.

165 There is lasting peace for those who love your teachings.

Nothing can make those people stumble.

119:163–165   I love your teachings. I praise you all day long for your goodness. Your teachings bring me peace.

166 I have waited with hope for you to save me, O LORD.

I have carried out your commandments.

167 I have obeyed your written instructions.

I have loved them very much.

168 I have followed your guiding principles and your written instructions,

because my whole life is in front of you.

119:167–168   You don’t have to force me to keep your instructions. I love to obey them. I follow your principles and do life in your presence.

169 Let my cry for help come into your presence, O LORD.

Help me understand as you promised.

170 Let my plea for mercy come into your presence.

Rescue me as you promised.

171 Let my lips pour out praise

because you teach me your laws.

172 Let my tongue sing about your promise

because all your commandments are fair.

173 Let your hand help me

because I have chosen ⌞to follow⌟ your guiding principles.

119:171–173   I praise you for teaching me your laws. I sing because your commands are fair. Help me live up to my choice to follow you.

174 I have longed for you to save me, O LORD,

and your teachings make me happy.

175 Let my soul have new life so that it can praise you.

Let your regulations help me.

176 I have wandered away like a lost lamb.

Search for me,

because I have never forgotten your commandments.

119:174–176   My heart overflows with happiness because of your teachings. Give me new life so I have even more reason to praise you. When I wander away, search for me. I’ll never forget your commands.

Psalm 120

A song for going up to worship.

1 When I was in trouble, I cried out to the LORD,

and he answered me.

2 O LORD, rescue me from lying lips

and from a deceitful tongue.

120:1–2   You answer me when I cry about my troubles. I need you to save me from deceitful tongues.

3 You deceitful tongue, what can the LORD give you?

What more can he do for you?

4 He will give you a warrior’s sharpened arrows and red-hot coals.

5 How horrible it is to live as a foreigner in Meshech

or to stay in the tents of Kedar.

6 I have lived too long with those who hate peace.

7 I am for peace, but when I talk about it,

they only talk about war.

120:5–7   I live in a world of peace haters. I dream of peace but they only want war. Bring us peace as only you can!

Psalm 121

A song for going up to worship.

1 I look up toward the mountains.

Where can I find help?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

the maker of heaven and earth.

121:1–2   I look toward your dwelling place. Where can I get help? Only from you, maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let you fall.

Your guardian will not fall asleep.

4 Indeed, the Guardian of Israel never rests or sleeps.

121:3–4   You won’t let me fall. You never doze off when you watch over me.

5 The LORD is your guardian.

The LORD is the shade over your right hand.

6 The sun will not beat down on you during the day,

nor will the moon at night.

7 The LORD guards you from every evil.

He guards your life.

8 The LORD guards you as you come and go,

now and forever.

121:5–8   You shade me with your tender hand. You protect me from every bad thing. You guard me not only today but always.

Psalm 122

A song by David for going up to worship.

1 I was glad when they said to me,

“Let’s go to the house of the LORD.”

2 Our feet are standing inside your gates, Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built to be a city

where the people are united.[120]

122:1–3   Thanks for giving me people who encourage me to worship you. Give us one heart and mind when we approach you.

4 All of the LORD’s tribes go to that city

because it is a law in Israel

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

5 The court of justice sits there.

It consists of ⌞princes who are⌟ David’s descendants.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you prosper.

7 May there be peace inside your walls

and prosperity in your palaces.”

122:4–7   I worship you willingly. I’d bow before you even if worship weren’t a command. I offer you thanks. I praise you for your justice. Give your peace and prosperity to everyone who loves you.

8 For the sake of my relatives and friends, let me say,

“May it go well for you!”

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,

I will seek what is good for you.

122:8–9   Send your very best to my family and friends. They’ll receive your good gifts and bow to you in worship.

Psalm 123

A song for going up to worship.

1 I look up to you,

to the one who sits enthroned in heaven.

2 As servants depend on their masters,

as a maid depends on her mistress,

so we depend on the LORD our God

until he has pity on us.

123:1–2   You reign from your throne in heaven. Just as a servant depends on his master, I depend on your help here on earth.

3 Have pity on us, O LORD.

Have pity on us

because we have suffered more than our share of contempt.

4 We have suffered more than our share of ridicule

from those who are carefree.

We have suffered more than our share of contempt

from those who are arrogant.

123:3–4   Show me pity, because I’ve suffered more than my share of contempt. Raise me up, because arrogant people never stop ridiculing me.

Psalm 124

A song by David for going up to worship.

1 “If the LORD had not been on our side . . .”

(Israel should repeat this.)

2 “If the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us,

3 then they would have swallowed us alive

when their anger exploded against us.

4 Then the floodwaters would have swept us away.

An ⌞overflowing⌟ stream would have washed us away.

5 Then raging water would have washed us away.”

6 Thank the LORD, who did not let them sink their teeth into us.

7 We escaped like a bird caught in a hunter’s trap.

The trap was broken, and we escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

124:1–8   Without you on my side my enemies swallow me alive. Without you on my side raging floods sweep me away. Without you on my side my enemy’s teeth sink deep in my flesh. Maker of heaven and earth, you’re my one source of help.

Psalm 125

A song for going up to worship.

1 Those who trust the LORD are like Mount Zion,

which can never be shaken.

It remains firm forever.

2 ⌞As⌟ the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the LORD surrounds his people now and forever.

125:1–2   You hold me together and keep life from shaking me apart. You surround me with your strong protection like mountains ring your holy city.

3 A wicked ruler will not be allowed to govern

the land set aside for righteous people.

That is why righteous people do not use their power to do wrong.

4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,

to those whose motives are decent.

5 But when people become crooked,

the LORD will lead them away with troublemakers.

Let there be peace in Israel!

125:3–5   Don’t let evildoers rule over your followers. Do good to me because my motives are good, but discipline me when my heart becomes crooked.

Psalm 126

A song for going up to worship.

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,

it was as if we were dreaming.

2 Then our mouths were filled with laughter

and our tongues with joyful songs.

Then the nations said,

“The LORD has done spectacular things for them.”

126:1–2   When I finally experienced your goodness, it felt like a dream. My mouth spilled laughter and I sang joyful songs. Everyone sees the spectacular things you’ve done for me.

3 The LORD has done spectacular things for us.

We are overjoyed.

4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,

as you restore streams ⌞to dry riverbeds⌟ in the Negev.

5 Those who cry while they plant

will joyfully sing while they harvest.

6 The person who goes out weeping, carrying his bag of seed,

will come home singing, carrying his bundles of grain.

126:4–6   Make my life flow again like you make streams well up in the desert. Even if I weep during this season of planting, I’ll sing for joy at the harvest.

Psalm 127

A song by Solomon for going up to worship.

1 If the LORD does not build the house,

it is useless for the builders to work on it.

If the LORD does not protect a city,

it is useless for the guard to stay alert.

127:1   If I don’t put you first in my planning and building, my work is useless. If I don’t let you protect me and my loved ones, all my defenses are worthless.

2 It is useless to work hard for the food you eat

by getting up early and going to bed late.

The LORD gives ⌞food⌟ to those he loves while they sleep.

3 Children are an inheritance from the LORD.

They are a reward from him.

127:2–3   You give me food and sleep as gifts, so call me back to your rhythm when I’m tempted to work myself to death. You give me children as a gift, so send me the help I need to raise them.

4 The children born to a man when he is young

are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

5 Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them.

He will not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the city gate.

Psalm 128

A song for going up to worship.

1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD

and live his way.

2 You will certainly eat what your own hands have provided.

Blessings to you!

May things go well for you!

128:1–2   I’m blessed whenever I choose to live your way. You let me eat what I earn and make things go well for me.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine inside your home.

Your children will be like young olive trees around your table.

4 This is how the LORD will bless the person who fears him.

5 May the LORD bless you from Zion

so that you may see Jerusalem prospering

all the days of your life.

6 May you live to see your children’s children.

Let there be peace in Israel!

128:3–6   You sent my spouse as your blessing for every moment of life. My children come as gifts straight from your hand. Send us your blessing from heaven. Prosper us. Grant us long life. Give us peace!

Psalm 129

A song for going up to worship.

1 “From the time I was young, people have attacked me . . .”

(Israel should repeat this.)

2 “From the time I was young, people have attacked me,

but they have never overpowered me.

3 They have plowed my back ⌞like farmers plow fields⌟.

They made long slashes ⌞like furrows⌟.”

4 The LORD is righteous.

He has cut me loose

from the ropes that wicked people tied around me.

129:1–4   People attack me again and again, but they never overpower me. They slice my back like a farmer plowing rows, but you always set me free.

5 Put to shame all those who hate Zion.

Force them to retreat.

6 Make them be like grass on a roof,

like grass that dries up before it produces a stalk.

7 It will never fill the barns of those who harvest

or the arms of those who gather bundles.

8 Those who pass by will never say ⌞to them⌟,

“May you be blessed by the LORD”

or “We bless you in the name of the LORD.”

129:5–8   Put to shame people who won’t stop hating you. Let them dry up like sun-baked grass. Don’t let me do evil and die before the harvest. Don’t let me miss out on your blessings.

Psalm 130

A song for going up to worship.

1 O LORD, out of the depths I call to you.

2 O Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be open to my pleas for mercy.

130:1–2   I call to you from a deep dark place. Can you hear my prayers for mercy?

3 O LORD, who would be able to stand

if you kept a record of sins?

4 But with you there is forgiveness

so that you can be feared.

130:3–4   I could never survive your anger if you kept track of my sins. But your forgiveness wins my grateful respect.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

and with hope I wait for his word.

6 My soul waits for the LORD

more than those who watch for the morning,

more than those who watch for the morning.

7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,

because with the LORD there is mercy

and with him there is unlimited forgiveness.

8 He will rescue Israel from all its sins.

130:5–8   I long for your help. I hope for your mercy. I count on your unlimited forgiveness. I depend on you to rescue me from sin.

Psalm 131

A song by David for going up to worship.

1 O LORD, my heart is not conceited.

My eyes do not look down on others.

I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.

131:1   Humble my heart and keep me from looking down on others. Don’t let me think too much of myself.

2 Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet.

My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother’s arms.

3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD now and forever.

131:2–3   I’ll calm my soul as I rest in your arms. I’ll hope in you now and always.

Psalm 132

A song for going up to worship.

1 O LORD, remember David and all the hardships he endured.

2 Remember how he swore an oath to the LORD

and made this vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3 “I will not step inside my house,

4 get into my bed, shut my eyes, or close my eyelids

5 until I find a place for the LORD,

132:1–5   David longed to build you a house of worship. He swore he wouldn’t sleep until it was done. Give me that heart toward you. I don’t want to rest until I give you the worship you deserve.

a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6 Now, we have heard about the ark ⌞of the promise⌟ being in Ephrathah.

We have found it in Jaar.

7 Let’s go to his dwelling place.

Let’s worship at his footstool.

8 O LORD, arise, and come to your resting place

with the ark of your power.

9 Clothe your priests with righteousness.

Let your godly ones sing with joy.

132:7–9   I want to come to your dwelling and worship at your feet. Clothe me with righteousness and teach me a joyful song.

10 For the sake of your servant David,

do not reject your anointed one.

11 The LORD swore an oath to David.

This is a truth he will not take back:

“I will set one of your own descendants on your throne.

12 If your sons are faithful to my promise[121]

and my written instructions that I will teach them,

then their descendants will also sit on your throne forever.”

132:11–12   Praise you for your unbreakable promise to David that his descendant will always reign from his throne. Praise you for the righteous King born to David’s line.

13 The LORD has chosen Zion.

He wants it for his home.

14 “This will be my resting place forever.

Here I will sit enthroned because I want Zion.

15 I will certainly bless all that Zion needs.

I will satisfy its needy people with food.

16 I will clothe its priests with salvation.

Then its godly ones will sing joyfully.

17 There I will make a horn sprout up for David.

I will prepare a lamp for my anointed one.

18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,

but the crown on my anointed one will shine.”

132:14–18   You’ve made your chosen people your resting place. Bless me by meeting my every real need. Give me food and salvation and joyful songs. Crown me with your glory.

Psalm 133

A song by David for going up to worship.

1 See how good and pleasant it is

when brothers and sisters live together in harmony!

2 It is like fine, scented oil on the head,

running down the beard—down Aaron’s beard—

running over the collar of his robes.

3 It is like dew on ⌞Mount⌟ Hermon,

dew which comes down on Zion’s mountains.

That is where the LORD promised

the blessing of eternal life.

133:1–3   It’s right and good when your people get along. It’s like pouring fine perfume on your chosen ones. Train me to live in harmony with others!

Psalm 134

A song for going up to worship.

1 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,

all who stand in the house of the LORD night after night.

2 Lift your hands toward the holy place, and praise the LORD.

3 May the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.

134:1–3   I stand to worship you. I lift my hands to praise you. I’ll come to adore you night after night.

Psalm 135

1 Hallelujah!

Praise the name of the LORD.

Praise him, you servants of the LORD

2 who are standing in the house of the LORD,

in the courtyards of the house of our God.

3 Praise the LORD because he is good.

Make music to praise his name because his name is beautiful.

4 The LORD chose Jacob to be his own

and chose Israel to be his own special treasure.

135:1–4   Hallelujah! I enter your presence to worship. I praise you because you’re good. I make music because your name is beautiful. I thank you because you chose me to be your own special treasure.

5 I know that the LORD is great,

that our Lord is greater than all the false gods.

6 The LORD does whatever he wants in heaven or on earth,

on the seas or in all the depths of the oceans.

7 He is the one who makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth,

who makes lightning for the thunderstorms,

and who brings wind out of his storerooms.

8 He is the one who killed every firstborn male in Egypt.

He killed humans and animals alike.

9 He sent miraculous signs and amazing things into the heart of Egypt

against Pharaoh and all his officials.

10 He is the one who defeated many nations and killed mighty kings:

11 King Sihon of the Amorites,

King Og of Bashan,

and all the kingdoms in Canaan.

135:5–11   You’re greater than every false god. You do whatever you want. You rule over nature and reign over your enemies. You defend your people and defeat anyone who dares rise up against you.

12 He gave their land as an inheritance,

an inheritance to his people Israel.

13 O LORD, your name endures forever.

O LORD, you will be remembered throughout every generation.

14 The LORD will provide justice for his people

and have compassion on his servants.

135:13–14   Your fame lasts forever. You always show me justice and compassion.

15 The idols of the nations are made of silver and gold.

They were made by human hands.[122]

16 They have mouths, but they cannot speak.

They have eyes, but they cannot see.

17 They have ears, but they cannot hear.

They cannot breathe.

18 Those who make idols end up like them.

So does everyone who trusts them.

135:15–18   Idols are just metal objects shaped by human hands. They can’t speak or see. They can’t hear or breathe. If I serve false gods, I’ll end up as senseless as the idols I worship.

19 Descendants of Israel, praise the LORD.

Descendants of Aaron, praise the LORD.

20 Descendants of Levi, praise the LORD.

You people who fear the LORD, praise the LORD.

21 Thank the LORD in Zion.

Thank the one who lives in Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!

135:19–21   I praise you because I’m one of your chosen people. I live for you with utter respect. Thank you for dwelling close to me!

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,

because his mercy endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods

because his mercy endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords

because his mercy endures forever.

136:1–3   I thank you because you’re perfectly good—and your mercy lasts forever. I thank you because you’re Lord of lords—and your mercy lasts forever.

4 Give thanks to the only one who does miraculous things—

because his mercy endures forever.

5 to the one who made the heavens by his understanding—

because his mercy endures forever.

6 to the one who spread out the earth on the water—

because his mercy endures forever.

7 to the one who made the great lights—

because his mercy endures forever.

8 the sun to rule the day—

because his mercy endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to rule the night—

because his mercy endures forever.

136:4–9   I thank you because you do miracles—and your mercy lasts forever. I thank you because you made the skies by your wisdom. You strung out the sun, moon, and stars—and your mercy lasts forever.

10 Give thanks to the one who killed the firstborn males in Egypt—

because his mercy endures forever.

11 He brought Israel out from among them—

because his mercy endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and a powerful arm—

because his mercy endures forever.

13 Give thanks to one who divided the Red Sea—

because his mercy endures forever.

14 He led Israel through the middle of it—

because his mercy endures forever.

15 He swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea—

because his mercy endures forever.

136:11–15   I thank you because you rescued your people from slavery—and your mercy lasts forever. You saved us with your mighty power and swept away your enemies—and your mercy lasts forever.

16 Give thanks to the one who led his people through the desert—

because his mercy endures forever.

17 Give thanks to the one who defeated powerful kings—

because his mercy endures forever.

18 He killed mighty kings—

because his mercy endures forever.

19 King Sihon of the Amorites—

because his mercy endures forever.

20 and King Og of Bashan—

because his mercy endures forever.

136:16–20   I thank you because you led your people through the wilderness—and your mercy lasts forever. I thank you because you defeated powerful enemies—and your mercy lasts forever.

21 He gave their land as an inheritance—

because his mercy endures forever.

22 as an inheritance for his servant Israel—

because his mercy endures forever.

23 He remembered us when we were humiliated—

because his mercy endures forever.

24 He snatched us from the grasp of our enemies—

because his mercy endures forever.

25 He gives food to every living creature—

because his mercy endures forever.

136:23–25   I thank you because you didn’t abandon us in our humiliation—and your mercy lasts forever. I thank you because you feed every living thing—and your mercy lasts forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven

because his mercy endures forever.

Authentic Prayer

Psalm 136:1–26

Thanks

Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, because his mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1–2

Give thanks to God. Authentic thankfulness is more than a vague feeling of gratitude. It makes an effort to notice and name specific items for praise.

Scripture says that “every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars” (James 1:17), so you can be certain any blessing in your life comes from the Lord. But Psalm 136 illustrates how to give God more than a “thanks for everything.” He’s good to the core and reigns over every power in the universe. He does miraculous creative acts, from hanging the stars to filling the oceans. He sets consequences for evildoers and rescues his people. He clears a path to lead his followers onward. He feeds every creature he made. And his mercy never stops.

Before you begin to speak thanks, take time to take account everything God has done for you. Dig down to details. Then be specific as you express your gratitude. The Lord is the source of everything good, so give thanks for it all.

Pray the Scriptures Thanks: 1 Chronicles 29:11–13, Psalm 100:1–5, Luke 17:11–19, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and cried

as we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our lyres on willow trees.

3 It was there that those who had captured us demanded that we sing.

Those who guarded us wanted us to entertain them.

⌞They said,⌟ “Sing a song from Zion for us!”

137:1–3   I weep when I remember what it was like to live close to you. I ran away in sinful rebellion and you let me be captured. My captors make my praise a joke.

4 How could we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,

let my right hand forget ⌞how to play the lyre⌟.

6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth

if I don’t remember you,

if I don’t consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

137:4–6   How can I sing when I’m so far from you? But how can I forget your holy city? I remember what it was like to live close to you. Oh how I long to return!

7 O LORD, remember the people of Edom.

Remember what they did the day Jerusalem ⌞was captured⌟.

They said, “Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundation.”

8 You destructive people of Babylon,

blessed is the one who pays you back

with the same treatment you gave us.

9 Blessed is the one who grabs your little children

and smashes them against a rock.

137:7–9   Don’t overlook the evil others have done—the utter destruction they caused. I trust you to calm my rage.

Psalm 138

By David.

1 I will give thanks to you with all my heart.

I will make music to praise you in front of the false gods.

2 I will bow toward your holy temple.

I will give thanks to your name because of your mercy and truth.

You have made your name and your promise greater than everything.

138:1–2   I thank you with every part of my heart. I worship you even when so-called gods are watching. I bow to you and say thanks for your mercy and truth.

3 When I called, you answered me.

You made me bold by strengthening my soul.[123]

138:2–3   You and your promise are greater than anything I can imagine. You answer my cries and make me bold.

4 All the kings of the earth will give thanks to you, O LORD,

because they have heard the promises you spoke.

5 They will sing this about the ways of the LORD:

“The LORD’s honor is great!”

6 Even though the LORD is high above, he sees humble people ⌞close up⌟,

and he recognizes arrogant people from a distance.

138:6   Even though you reign from on high, you know the humble up close. You spot the proud from miles away.

7 Even though I walk into the middle of trouble,

you guard my life against the anger of my enemies.

You stretch out your hand,

and your right hand saves me.

8 The LORD will do everything for me.

O LORD, your mercy endures forever.

Do not let go of what your hands have made.

138:7–8   Even when I walk into trouble you guard my life. You reach out and save me. You mercifully do everything I need.

Psalm 139

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 O LORD, you have examined me, and you know me.

2 You alone know when I sit down and when I get up.

You read my thoughts from far away.

3 You watch me when I travel and when I rest.

You are familiar with all my ways.

4 Even before there is a ⌞single⌟ word on my tongue,

you know all about it, LORD.

139:1–4   You’ve studied me up close and you see my every move. You know my thoughts before I think them and my words before I speak.

5 You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me.

You lay your hand on me.

6 Such knowledge is beyond my grasp.

It is so high I cannot reach it.

139:5–6   I can’t escape your grip on me. There’s nowhere I can go to get away from you. Up or down, right or left—you always hold me tight.

7 Where can I go ⌞to get away⌟ from your Spirit?

Where can I run ⌞to get away⌟ from you?

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there.

If I make my bed in hell, you are there.

9 If I climb upward on the rays of the morning sun

⌞or⌟ land on the most distant shore of the sea where the sun sets,

10 even there your hand would guide me

and your right hand would hold on to me.

139:7–10   There’s no corner of heaven where you can’t find me. I can’t escape to hell or the sun or a distant shore. You always hold me tight.

11 If I say, “Let the darkness hide me

and let the light around me turn into night,”

12 even the darkness is not too dark for you.

Night is as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same ⌞to you⌟.

139:11–12   When I step into darkness, you see me as if it were broad daylight. You follow me wherever I go.

13 You alone created my inner being.

You knitted me together inside my mother.

14 I will give thanks to you

because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made.

Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.

15 My bones were not hidden from you

when I was being made in secret,

when I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop.

139:13–15   You made me inside and out, a pure miracle of complexity. My mother’s womb couldn’t hide me. It was you who was weaving me with great skill.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was only a fetus.

Every day ⌞of my life⌟ was recorded in your book

before one of them had taken place.

17 How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God!

How vast in number they are!

18 If I try to count them,

there would be more of them than there are grains of sand.

When I wake up, I am still with you.

139:16–18   Your eyes saw me before I was born. You saw my whole life stretched out before me before a single day had passed. Your thoughts amaze me! You think of me all day long.

19 I wish that you would kill wicked people, O God,

and that bloodthirsty people would leave me alone.

20 They say wicked things about you.

Your enemies misuse your name.

21 Shouldn’t I hate those who hate you, O LORD?

Shouldn’t I be disgusted with those who attack you?

22 I hate them with all my heart.

They have become my enemies.

139:19–22   You know all things. You know I hate what the wicked do. Shouldn’t I feel that way?

23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind.

Test me, and know my thoughts.

24 See whether I am on an evil path.

Then lead me on the everlasting path.

Psalm 140

For the choir leader; a psalm by David.

139:23–24   Examine me, my God. Keep checking my thoughts. Test me. Tell me when I’m headed into evil and put me back on the path toward you.

1 Rescue me from evil people, O LORD.

Keep me safe from violent people.

2 They plan evil things in their hearts.

They start fights every day.

140:1–2   Rescue me from evildoers. Keep me safe from people who pick fights.

3 They make their tongues as sharp as a snake’s ⌞fang⌟.

Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes. Selah

4 Protect me from the hands of wicked people, O LORD.

Keep me safe from violent people.

They try to trip me.

5 Arrogant people have laid a trap for me.

They have spread out a net with ropes.

They have set traps for me along the road. Selah

140:3–5   Protect me from violent people. Their words are like the fangs of venomous snakes. Their hands build traps to catch me unaware.

6 I said to the LORD, “You are my God.”

O LORD, open your ears to hear my plea for pity.

7 O LORD Almighty, the strong one who saves me,

you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 O LORD, do not give wicked people what they want.

Do not let their evil plans succeed,

⌞or⌟ they will become arrogant. Selah

140:6–8   I declare to you that you’re my God, so hear my plea for pity. You’re the strong one, so save me. If you let evil people succeed, their plans will only get bigger.

9 Let the heads of those who surround me

be covered with their own threats.

10 Let burning coals fall on them.

Let them be thrown into a pit, never to rise again.

11 Do not let slanderers prosper on earth.

Let evil hunt down violent people with one blow after another.

140:9–11   Turn my enemies’ threats back against them. Let them be caught in their own traps. Don’t let them prosper until they turn to you.

12 I know that the LORD will defend the rights of those who are oppressed

and the cause of those who are needy.

13 Indeed, righteous people will give thanks to your name.

Decent people will live in your presence.

140:12–13   You will defend the oppressed and needy. Good people will live close to you.

Psalm 141

A psalm by David.

1 O LORD, I cry out to you, “Come quickly.”

Open your ears to me when I cry out to you.

2 Let my prayer be accepted

as sweet-smelling incense in your presence.

Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted

as an evening sacrifice.

141:1–2   I need you now! Accept my prayer like incense and my lifted hands as a sacrifice.

3 O LORD, set a guard at my mouth.

Keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Do not let me be persuaded to do anything evil

or to become involved with wickedness,

with people who are troublemakers.

Do not let me taste their delicacies.

141:3–4   Silence me before I speak evil. Stop me when I’m about to step into wickedness. Don’t let me taste the rewards of doing wrong and develop a liking for them.

5 A righteous person may strike me or correct me out of kindness.

It is like lotion for my head.

My head will not refuse it,

because my prayer is directed against evil deeds.

141:5   I’ll gladly accept the correction of good people. I need their help to avoid evil.

6 When their judges are thrown off a cliff,

they will listen to what I have to say.

It will sound pleasant ⌞to them⌟.

7 As someone plows and breaks up the ground,

so our bones will be planted at the mouth of the grave.[124]

141:6–7   Put an end to evil judges at the time and place of your choosing.

8 My eyes look to you, LORD Almighty.

I have taken refuge in you.

Do not leave me defenseless.

9 Keep me away from the trap they set for me

and from the traps set by troublemakers.

141:8–9   I keep looking for you and your might. I count on your keeping me safe. Don’t leave me to fight my battles on my own. And save me from traps meant to hurt me.

10 Let wicked people fall into their own nets,

while I escape unharmed.

Psalm 142

A maskil[125] by David when he was in the cave; a prayer.

1 Loudly, I cry to the LORD.

Loudly, I plead with the LORD for mercy.

2 I pour out my complaints in his presence

and tell him my troubles.

142:1–2   I cry out to you. I plead for mercy and pour out my complaints.

3 When I begin to lose hope,

you ⌞already⌟ know what I am experiencing.

⌞My enemies⌟ have hidden a trap for me on the path where I walk.

4 Look to my right and see that no one notices me.

Escape is impossible for me.

No one cares about me.

142:3–4   I’m losing hope—and you know why. My enemies want to trap me and there’s no escape.

5 I call out to you, O LORD.

I say, “You are my refuge,

my own inheritance in this world of the living.”

142:4–5   No one cares for me but you. So I cry out to you, my refuge. You’re the only thing I have in this life.

6 Pay attention to my cry for help

because I am very weak.

Rescue me from those who pursue me

because they are too strong for me.

7 Release my soul from prison

so that I may give thanks to your name.

Righteous people will surround me

because you are good to me.

142:6–7   Pay attention to me because I am far too weak to fight. Set me free from this prison and I will thank you again and again.

Psalm 143

A psalm by David.

1 O LORD, listen to my prayer.

Open your ears to hear my urgent requests.

Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

2 Do not take me to court for judgment,

because there is no one alive

who is righteous in your presence.

143:1–2   Hear my urgent request! Answer me because you are good! Don’t judge me, because no human can measure up to your standards.

3 The enemy has pursued me.

He has ground my life into the dirt.

He has made me live in dark places

like those who have died long ago.

4 That is why I begin to lose hope

and my heart is in a state of shock.

5 I remember the days long ago.

I reflect on all that you have done.

I carefully consider what your hands have made.

6 I stretch out my hands to you in prayer.

Like parched land, my soul thirsts for you. Selah

143:3–6   The enemy has ground me into the dirt and made me lose hope. My heart is in shock. I feel parched as I pray. Yet I recall one by one all the awesome things you have done.

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD.

My spirit is worn out.

Do not hide your face from me,

or I will be like those who go into the pit.

8 Let me hear about your mercy in the morning,

because I trust you.

Let me know the way that I should go,

because I long for you.

143:7–8   Answer me soon because my spirit is worn out. I’m as good as dead if you keep hiding from me. Send your mercy and show me what to do. I long for you!

9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD.

I come to you for protection.

10 Teach me to do your will, because you are my God.

May your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

11 O LORD, keep me alive for the sake of your name.

Because you are righteous, lead me out of trouble.

12 In keeping with your mercy, wipe out my enemies

and destroy all who torment me,

because I am your servant.

143:9–12   Rescue me when I come to you for protection. You’re my Lord, so train me to do your will. I’m your servant, so keep me alive for the sake of your good reputation.

Psalm 144

By David.

1 Thank the LORD, my rock,

who trained my hands to fight

and my fingers to do battle,

2 my merciful one, my fortress,

my stronghold, and my savior,

my shield, the one in whom I take refuge,

and the one who brings people under my authority.

144:1–2   Thank you, my rock, for making me tough. Train me to stay in the fight. You’re my merciful one, my stronghold and Savior.

3 O LORD, what are humans that you should care about them?

What are mere mortals that you should think about them?

4 Humans are like a breath of air.

Their life span is like a fleeting shadow.

144:3–4   Why do you care about me? I’m nothing more than a breath of air. My life comes and goes like a shadow.

5 O LORD, bend your heaven low, and come down.

Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

6 Hurl bolts of lightning, and scatter them.

Shoot your arrows, and throw them into confusion.

7 Stretch out your hands from above.

Snatch me, and rescue me from raging waters

and from foreigners’ hands.

8 Their mouths speak lies.

Their right hands take false pledges.

144:5–8   Bring heaven to me here on earth. Come down to me now. Battle against my enemies. Scatter and confuse them. They tell lies and make phony promises.

9 O God, I will sing a new song to you.

I will sing a psalm to you on a ten-stringed harp.

10 You are the one who gives victory to kings.

You are the one who snatches your servant David

away from a deadly sword.

11 Snatch me, and rescue me from foreigners’ hands.

Their mouths speak lies.

Their right hands take false pledges.

144:9–11   I’ll sing a fresh song to you because you give me victory. You snatch me from my enemies, the ones who tell lies and make promises they don’t intend to keep.

12 May our sons be like full-grown, young plants.

May our daughters be like stately columns

that adorn the corners of a palace.

13 May our barns be filled with all kinds of crops.

May our sheep give birth to thousands of lambs,

tens of thousands in our fields.

14 May our cattle have many calves.[126]

May no one break in, and may no one be dragged out.

May there be no cries of distress in our streets.

15 Blessed are the people who have these blessings!

Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

144:12–15   Make my children strong and mature. Fill our house with food. Protect us from enemies who want to break into our lives and snatch us away. Keep our world free from distress. We’re blessed to call you our Lord!

Psalm 145[127]

A song of praise by David.

1 I will highly praise you, my God, the king.

I will bless your name forever and ever.

2 I will bless you every day.

I will praise your name forever and ever.

3 The LORD is great, and he should be highly praised.

His greatness is unsearchable.

145:1–3   I have endless reasons to praise you, so I’ll praise you today and forever. Your greatness is more than I can comprehend.

4 One generation will praise your deeds to the next.

Each generation will talk about your mighty acts.

5 I will think about the glorious honor of your majesty

and the miraculous things you have done.

6 People will talk about the power of your terrifying deeds,

and I will tell about your greatness.

7 They will announce what they remember of your great goodness,

and they will joyfully sing about your righteousness.

145:4–7   Let each generation of your people tell the next what you’ve done. We’ll all sing of your goodness when I tell of your glorious honor and miraculous deeds.

8 The LORD is merciful, compassionate, patient,

and always ready to forgive.

9 The LORD is good to everyone

and has compassion for everything that he has made.

10 Everything that you have made will give thanks to you, O LORD,

and your faithful ones will praise you.

145:8–10   You’re merciful and ready to forgive. You’re compassionate toward everything you’ve made. Everything you’ve made thanks you.

11 Everyone will talk about the glory of your kingdom

and will tell the descendants of Adam about your might

12 in order to make known your mighty deeds

and the glorious honor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

Your empire endures throughout every generation.

145:11–13   All of your followers praise you as they talk about your glorious might. Your kingdom lasts forever.

14 The LORD supports everyone who falls.

He straightens ⌞the backs⌟ of those who are bent over.

15 The eyes of all creatures look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand,

and you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is fair in all his ways

and faithful in everything he does.

145:14–17   You support the fallen. You straighten the bent over. You feed us and satisfy our every desire. You’re always fair and faithful.

18 The LORD is near to everyone who prays to him,

to every faithful person who prays to him.

19 He fills the needs of those who fear him.

He hears their cries for help and saves them.

20 The LORD protects everyone who loves him,

but he will destroy all wicked people.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,

and all living creatures will praise his holy name

forever and ever.

145:18–21   You’re near to everyone who prays to you, and you meet the needs of people who live for you with utter respect. When we ask you for help, you save us. Praise you now and forever!

Psalm 146

1 Hallelujah!

Praise the LORD, my soul!

2 I want to praise the LORD throughout my life.

I want to make music to praise my God as long as I live.

146:1–2   Hallelujah! Praise you! I’ll live my whole life as an act of worship. I’ll sing to you each day of my life.

3 Do not trust influential people,

mortals who cannot help you.

4 When they breathe their last breath, they return to the ground.

On that day their plans come to an end.

5 Blessed are those who receive help from the God of Jacob.

Their hope rests on the LORD their God,

6 who made heaven, earth,

the sea, and everything in them.

The LORD remains faithful forever.

146:3–6   I’m done with depending on influential people. They die and their plans die with them. Real help comes from you, the maker of heaven and earth. Your faithfulness never ends.

7 He brings about justice for those who are oppressed.

He gives food to those who are hungry.

The LORD sets prisoners free.

8 The LORD gives sight to blind people.

The LORD straightens ⌞the backs⌟ of those who are bent over.

The LORD loves righteous people.

9 The LORD protects foreigners.

The LORD gives relief to orphans and widows.

But he keeps wicked people from reaching their goal.

10 The LORD rules as king forever.

Zion, your God rules throughout every generation.

Hallelujah!

146:7–10   You grant justice to the oppressed and feed the hungry. You free prisoners and open blind eyes. You raise up the hurting, defend the outcast, and care for the needy. Rule as our King forever and ever!

Psalm 147

1 Hallelujah!

It is good to sing psalms to our God.

It is pleasant to sing ⌞his⌟ praise beautifully.

147:1   Hallelujah! It’s good to sing beautiful songs to you.

2 The LORD is the builder of Jerusalem.

He is the one who gathers the outcasts of Israel together.

3 He is the healer of the brokenhearted.

He is the one who bandages their wounds.

4 He determines the number of stars.

He gives each one a name.

5 Our Lord is great, and his power is great.

There is no limit to his understanding.

6 The LORD gives relief to those who are oppressed.

He brings wicked people down to the ground.

147:2–6   You make outcasts into a people and bandage the brokenhearted. You set stars in the sky and name each one. There’s no limit to your power and knowledge. You relieve the oppressed and bring down evildoers.

7 Sing to the LORD a song of thanksgiving.

Make music to our God with a lyre.

8 He covers the sky with clouds.

He provides rain for the ground.

He makes grass grow on the mountains.

9 He is the one who gives food to animals

and to young ravens when they call out.

147:7–9   I’ll sing thanks to you for sending rain and growing grass and feeding every living thing.

10 He finds no joy in strong horses,

nor is he pleased by brave soldiers.

11 The LORD is pleased with those who fear him,

with those who wait with hope for his mercy.

147:10–11   You aren’t impressed by human strength. You love hearts that hold you in awe and look to you for mercy.

12 Praise the LORD, Jerusalem!

Praise your God, Zion!

13 He makes the bars across your gates strong.

He blesses the children within you.

14 He is the one who brings peace to your borders

and satisfies your ⌞hunger⌟ with the finest wheat.

147:13–14   Strengthen our cities and build up our children. Bring peace to our land and satisfy our hunger.

15 He is the one who sends his promise throughout the earth.

His word travels with great speed.

16 He is the one who sends snow like wool

and scatters frost like ashes.

17 He is the one who throws his hailstones like breadcrumbs.

Who can withstand his chilling blast?

18 He sends out his word and melts his hailstones.

He makes wind blow ⌞and⌟ water flow.

19 He speaks his word to Jacob,

his laws and judicial decisions to Israel.

20 He has done nothing like this for any other nation.

The other nations do not know the decisions he has handed down.

Hallelujah!

147:15–20   Your promises speed around the world. They carry out your will and convey wisdom to your people. Hallelujah!

Psalm 148

1 Hallelujah!

Praise the LORD from the heavens.

Praise him in the heights above.

2 Praise him, all his angels.

Praise him, his entire heavenly army.

3 Praise him, sun and moon.

Praise him, all shining stars.

148:3   Hallelujah! Let your praises sound from the heavens. Let them ring from sun, moon, and stars.

4 Praise him, you highest heaven

and the water above the sky.

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD

because they were created by his command.

6 He set them in their places forever and ever.

He made it a law that no one can break.

148:5–6   The heavens exist because of your command. They stay in place because of your law.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth.

Praise him, large sea creatures and all the ocean depths,

8 lightning and hail,

snow and fog,

strong winds that obey his commands,

9 mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedar trees,

148:7–9   Let your praises sound from the earth. Let them ring from sea and sky, from mountains and hills, from snow and fog, from strong winds that obey you.

10 wild animals and all domestic animals,

crawling animals and birds,

11 kings of the earth and all its people,

officials and all judges on the earth,

12 young men and women,

old and young together.

148:10–12   Let your praises sound from your creatures. Let them ring from animals and birds, kings and commoners, women and men, old and young.

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD

because his name is high above all others.

His glory is above heaven and earth.

14 He has given his people a strong leader,[128]

someone praiseworthy for his faithful ones,

for the people of Israel, the people who are close to him.

Hallelujah!

148:13–14   Let your praises keep sounding forever. Your name is above any other name. Hallelujah!

Psalm 149

1 Hallelujah!

Sing a new song to the LORD.

Sing his praise in the assembly of godly people.

2 Let Israel find joy in their creator.

Let the people of Zion rejoice over their king.

149:1–2   Hallelujah! I’ll sing a new song to you. My Creator, I find joy in you. My King, I rejoice in you.

3 Let them praise his name with dancing.

Let them make music to him with tambourines and lyres,

4 because the LORD takes pleasure in his people.

He crowns those who are oppressed with victory.

149:3–4   I’ll praise you with dancing and music. You smile at me and crown me with victory.

5 Let godly people triumph in glory.

Let them sing for joy on their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats

and two-edged swords in their hands

7 to take vengeance on the nations,

to punish the people of the world,

8 to put their kings in chains

and their leaders in iron shackles,

9 to carry out the judgment that is written against them.

This is an honor that belongs to all his godly ones.

Hallelujah!

149:5–9   You declare judgment and avenge your honor. You shackle kings and punish people. Spare me from your day of wrath.

Psalm 150

1 Hallelujah!

Praise God in his holy place.

Praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his mighty acts.

Praise him for his immense greatness.

150:1–2   Hallelujah! I’ll praise your holiness here on earth. I’ll praise you when I come home to heaven. I’ll praise you for your immense greatness.

3 Praise him with sounds from horns.

Praise him with harps and lyres.

4 Praise him with tambourines and dancing.

Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.

5 Praise him with loud cymbals.

Praise him with crashing cymbals.

6 Let everything that breathes praise the LORD!

Hallelujah!

150:3–6   I’ll praise you with instruments and dancing. I’ll praise you with loud crashing cymbals. Let every living thing join me in worship. Hallelujah!

PROVERBS

INTRODUCTION

Proverbs instructs you to sit down and listen closely. Again and again it plainly tells about the good it seeks to accomplish. It offers “wisdom and discipline,” “deep thoughts,” everything you need to “acquire the discipline of wise behavior” along with “righteousness and justice and fairness.” It gives “insight to gullible people” and “knowledge and foresight to the young.” It lets even the wise “listen and continue to learn” and the discerning “gain direction” (Proverbs 1:1–5).

The first part of this book (Proverbs 1–9) introduces wisdom, explaining what it is and why you need it. The remainder of the book contains pithy sayings. A mostly random collection of 375 of these proverbs (Proverbs 10–22:16) comes from Solomon, a man uniquely gifted with God’s wisdom (1 Kings 3:12). Other sayings of the wise fill out the book, with material arranged more thematically (Proverbs 22:17–31:31).

Though the topics covered range from relationships and money to work, sex, parenting, and more, a single truth connects them all: Wisdom begins and ends with respect for God (Proverbs 1:7). The sayings in the book frequently use parallelism to make a point, repeating similar and contrasting thoughts.

Praying this book invites you to open yourself to God’s wisdom, to ask God to let these words permeate your heart and mind and change your life. Your challenge is to approach Proverbs not just as a collection of human sayings but as a gift of practical insight to you from the all-wise God.

PROVERBS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20

21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28  | 29  | 30

31

The Reasons for Proverbs

1

1 The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, ⌞given⌟

2 to grasp wisdom and discipline,

to understand deep thoughts,

3 to acquire the discipline of wise behavior—

righteousness and justice and fairness—

4 to give insight to gullible people,

to give knowledge and foresight to the young—

1:1–4   I crave wisdom! I need discipline! Teach me deep thoughts that train me to be good and fair. Expose my blind spots and give me insight beyond my years.

5 a wise person will listen and continue to learn,

and an understanding person will gain direction—

6 to understand a proverb and a clever saying,

the words of wise people and their riddles.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

1:5–7   I’m willing to learn and keep learning from smart people you put in my path. I’m finally starting to wise up when I give you the respect you deserve.

Listen to Wisdom

8 My son,

listen to your father’s discipline,

and do not neglect your mother’s teachings,

9 because discipline and teachings

are a graceful garland on your head

and a ⌞golden⌟ chain around your neck.

1:8–9   I won’t shut out my parents’ words or resent the ways they discipline me. I’ll let their wisdom grace my life.

10 My son,

if sinners lure you, do not go along.

11 If they say,

“Come with us.

Let’s set an ambush to kill someone.

Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun.

12 We’ll swallow them alive like the grave,

like those in good health who go into the pit.

13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable possessions.

We’ll fill our homes with stolen goods.

14 Join us.

We’ll split the loot equally.”

1:10–14   Help me be on guard against anyone aiming to lure me into sin. I won’t let them sell me on the so-called fun of hurting innocent people or taking what isn’t mine.

15 My son,

do not follow them in their way.

Do not even set foot on their path,

16 because they rush to do evil

and hurry to shed blood.

17 It does no good to spread a net

within the sight of any bird.

18 But these people set an ambush for their own murder.

They go into hiding only to lose their lives.

19 This is what happens to everyone

who is greedy for unjust gain.

Greed takes away his life.

1:15–19   I choose not to take a single step down the path to sin, because people who rush to do evil will get what they deserve. They’ll be killed in the ambush they set for others. Sooner or later their greed will catch up with them.

20 Wisdom sings her song in the streets.

In the public squares she raises her voice.

21 At the corners of noisy streets she calls out.

At the entrances to the city she speaks her words,

22 “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible?

How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking?

How long will you fools hate knowledge?

1:20–22   Your wisdom sings to me. You call me by name. You want to know how much longer I’ll be so gullible. You can’t figure out why I hate knowledge.

23 “Turn to me when I warn you.

I will generously pour out my spirit for you.

I will make my words known to you.

24 “I called, and you refused to listen.

I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.

25 You ignored all my advice.

You did not want me to warn you.

1:23–25   Warn me. Pour out your Spirit for me. Teach me wise words. I won’t let your efforts go to waste. I’ll act on your advice.

26 I will laugh at your calamity.

I will make fun of you

when panic strikes you,

27 when panic strikes you like a violent storm,

when calamity strikes you like a wind storm,

when trouble and anguish come to you.

28 “They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer.

They will look for me, but they will not find me,

29 because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the LORD.

1:26–29   I refuse to bring calamity on myself or give people reason to laugh at my panic. I don’t want anyone to say I ignored your advice. Don’t ever stop trying to get through to me!

30 They refused my advice.

They despised my every warning.

31 They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle.

They will be stuffed with their own schemes.

32 “Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away.

Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference.

33 But whoever listens to me will live without worry

and will be free from the dread of disaster.”

1:32–33   I have enough problems in life without bringing trouble on myself. I’d rather listen to you and live without worry.

The Benefit of Wisdom

2

1 My son,

if you take my words ⌞to heart⌟

and treasure my commands within you,

2 if you pay close attention to wisdom,

and let your mind reach for understanding,

3 if indeed you call out for insight,

if you ask aloud for understanding,

4 if you search for wisdom as if it were money

and hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure,

5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and you will find the knowledge of God.

2:1–5   Your wisdom never comes cheap or easy. So I’ll take your words to heart. I’ll pay close attention to everything you say. I’ll cry for understanding and hunt for wisdom like buried treasure. Then I’ll know and fear you.

6 The LORD gives wisdom.

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He has reserved priceless wisdom for decent people.

He is a shield for those who walk in integrity

8 in order to guard those on paths of justice

and to watch over the way of his godly ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—

every good course ⌞in life⌟.

2:6–9   Wisdom comes straight from you—and you save your best wisdom for people who won’t squander it. Guard me as I act on your wisdom. Show me how and where to do good.

10 Wisdom will come into your heart.

Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Foresight will protect you.

Understanding will guard you.

12 ⌞Wisdom will⌟ save you

from the way of evil,

from the person who speaks devious things,

13 from those who abandon the paths of righteousness

to walk the ways of darkness,

14 from those who enjoy doing evil,

from those who find joy in the deviousness of evil.

15 Their paths are crooked.

Their ways are devious.

2:10–15   Your wisdom pleases me. It guards me and saves me from evil. It protects me from people who want to pull me down dark crooked paths.

16 ⌞Wisdom will⌟ also save you

from an adulterous woman,

from a loose woman with her smooth talk,

17 who leaves ⌞her husband,⌟ the closest friend of her youth,

and forgets her marriage vows to her God.

18 Her house sinks down to death.

Her ways lead to the souls of the dead.

19 None who have sex with her come back.

Nor do they ever reach the paths of life.

2:16–19   Wisdom saves me from sinning against my spouse. It shows me the stupidity of abandoning my best friend and the vows we made in your presence. Wisdom shouts that sexual sin will ravage my world and kill my soul.

20 So walk in the way of good people

and stay on the paths of righteous people.

21 Decent people will live in the land.

People of integrity will remain in it.

22 But wicked people will be cut off from the land

and treacherous people will be torn[1] from it.

2:20–22   I’ll live in your blessings when I follow your ways. Don’t let anything tear me away from you!

Using Wisdom

3

1 My son,

do not forget my teachings,

and keep my commands in mind,

2 bring you

long life, good years, and peace.

3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you.

Fasten them around your neck.

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will find favor and much success

in the sight of God and humanity.

3:1–4   Your teachings bring me long life, good years, and peace. So I’ll never forget your commands. I’ll keep mercy and truth close to my heart. They bring me success.

5 Trust the LORD with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths smooth.[2]

3:5–6   I trust you with all my heart. Your wisdom is so much bigger than mine. I count on you to lead my every step. Smooth my path!

7 Do not consider yourself wise.

Fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

8 ⌞Then⌟ your body will be healed,

and your bones will have nourishment.

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth

and with the first and best part of all your income.[3]

10 Then your barns will be full,

and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.

3:7–10   When I turn from evil, you heal and nourish me. When I honor you with my wealth, you surprise me with abundance.

11 Do not reject the discipline of the LORD, my son,

and do not resent his warning,

12 because the LORD warns the one he loves,

even as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased.

3:11–12   I welcome your discipline as a sign you love me. I accept your warnings as proof I’m your child.

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom

and the one who obtains understanding.

14 The profit ⌞gained⌟ from ⌞wisdom⌟ is greater than

the profit ⌞gained⌟ from silver.

Its yield is better than fine gold.

15 ⌞Wisdom⌟ is more precious than jewels,

and all your desires cannot equal it.

3:14–15   Your wisdom brings riches greater than pure gold, true wealth more precious than my largest desires.

16 Long life is in ⌞wisdom’s⌟ right hand.

In ⌞wisdom’s⌟ left hand are riches and honor.

17 ⌞Wisdom’s⌟ ways are pleasant ways,

and all its paths lead to peace.

18 ⌞Wisdom⌟ is a tree of life

for those who take firm hold of it.

Those who cling to it are blessed.

3:17–18   Your wisdom points me down pleasant paths, leading me to life and peace. I’ll forever cling to your insights.

19 By Wisdom the LORD laid the foundation of the earth.

By understanding he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the deep waters were divided,

and the skies dropped dew.

21 My son,

do not lose sight of these things.

Use priceless wisdom and foresight.

22 Then they will mean life for you,

and they will grace your neck.

23 Then you will go safely on your way,

and you will not hurt your foot.

24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.

As you lie there, your sleep will be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror

or of the destruction of wicked people when it comes.

26 The LORD will be your confidence.

He will keep your foot from getting caught.

3:21–26   I’ll never let your wisdom out of my sight. It brings me life and leads me to safety. It lets me lie down unafraid and sleep sweetly. It spares me from fear. You are my confidence!

27 Do not hold back anything good

from those who are entitled to it

when you have the power to do so.

28 When you have the good thing with you, do not tell your neighbor,

“Go away!

Come back tomorrow.

I’ll give you something then.”

3:27–28   You have the power to give me everything I truly need. Don’t hold back! I’ll share everything you give me.

29 Do not plan to do something wrong to your neighbor

while he is sitting there with you and suspecting nothing.

30 Do not quarrel with a person for no reason

if he has not harmed you.

31 Do not envy a violent person.

Do not choose any of his ways.

32 The devious person is disgusting to the LORD.

The LORD’s intimate advice is with decent people.

3:29–32   I won’t plot evil against my neighbor or quarrel without cause. I won’t envy or imitate the violent. You guide and empower people intent on doing good.

33 The LORD curses the house of wicked people,

but he blesses the home of righteous people.

34 When he mocks the mockers,

he is gracious to humble people.

35 Wise people will inherit honor,

but fools will bear disgrace.

3:33–35   If I chase wickedness, I miss your blessing. I suffer disgrace when I act like a fool.

Cherish Wisdom

4

1 Sons,

listen to ⌞your⌟ father’s discipline,

and pay attention in order to gain understanding.

2 After all, I have taught you well.

Do not abandon my teachings.

3 When I was a boy ⌞learning⌟ from my father,

when I was a tender and only child of my mother,

4 they used to teach me and say to me,

“Cling to my words wholeheartedly.

Obey my commands so that you may live.

4:1–4   You use my parents to discipline me and give me understanding. They teach me your life-giving commands.

5 Acquire wisdom.

Acquire understanding.

Do not forget.

Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken.

6 Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you.

Love wisdom, and it will protect you.

4:5–6   I’m determined to acquire your wisdom. I won’t forget what you teach, and I’ll stay true to the words you speak. They guard and protect me.

7 The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom.

Acquire understanding with all that you have.

8 Cherish wisdom.

It will raise you up.

It will bring you honor when you embrace it.

9 It will give you a graceful garland for your head.

It will hand you a beautiful crown.”

4:8–9   I love your wisdom. It raises me up and honors me. It graces my head like a beautiful crown.

Stay on the Path of Wisdom

10 My son,

listen and accept my words,

and they will multiply the years of your life.

11 I have taught you the way of wisdom.

I have guided you along decent paths.

12 When you walk, your stride will not be hampered.

Even if you run, you will not stumble.

4:10–12   Your wisdom lengthens my life and leads me down good paths. With your wisdom I run strong and don’t stumble.

13 Cling to discipline.

Do not relax your grip on it.

Keep it because it is your life.

4:13   I’ll grab hold of your wisdom and never let go. Your wisdom is my life.

14 Do not stray onto the path of wicked people.

Do not walk in the way of evil people.

15 Avoid it.

Do not walk near it.

Turn away from it,

and keep on walking.

16 Wicked people cannot sleep

unless they do wrong,

and they are robbed of their sleep

unless they make someone stumble.

4:14–16   Lead me out of evil habits. Help me run fast and hard from evil ways. I want the peaceful slumber that comes from doing right.

17 They eat food obtained through wrongdoing

and drink wine obtained through violence.

18 But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn

that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday.

19 The way of wicked people is like deep darkness.

They do not know what makes them stumble.

4:18–19   You light up my path like the dawn, shining brighter and brighter as the hours pass. You keep me from stumbling in darkness.

Stay Focused on Wisdom

20 My son,

pay attention to my words.

Open your ears to what I say.

21 Do not lose sight of these things.

Keep them deep within your heart

22 because they are life to those who find them

and they heal the whole body.

4:20–22   I’ll listen closely to your words. Your wisdom gives me life and heals my whole body.

23 Guard your heart more than anything else,

because the source of your life flows from it.

4:23   Whatever I let flourish in my heart flows out to my whole life. So I’ll guard my heart above all else.

24 Remove dishonesty from your mouth.

Put deceptive speech far away from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead

and your sight be focused in front of you.

26 Carefully walk a straight path,

and all your ways will be secure.

27 Do not lean to the right or to the left.

Walk away from evil.

4:25–27   Keep me focused straight ahead as I walk toward you. Don’t let me veer off the path into evil.

Avoid Adultery

5

1 My son,

pay attention to my wisdom.

Open your ears to my understanding

2 so that you may act with foresight

and speak with insight.

5:1–2   I won’t plug my ears to your wisdom. I’ll listen and act with understanding.

3 The lips of an adulterous woman drip with honey.

Her kiss is smoother than oil,

4 but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,

as sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet descend to death.

Her steps lead straight to hell.

6 She doesn’t even think about the path of life.

Her steps wander, and she doesn’t realize it.

5:3–6   Sexual sin sounds sweet and smooth, but it cuts like a double-bladed sword. It leads straight to death.

7 But now, sons,

listen to me,

and do not turn away from what I say to you.

8 Stay far away from her.

Do not even go near her door.

5:7–8   I won’t run from your wise advice. I won’t go anywhere near the door of sexual sin. I’ll stay far from every person, place, or situation that tempts me to unfaithfulness. Help me!

9 Either you will surrender your reputation to others

and ⌞the rest of⌟ your years to some cruel person,

10 or strangers will benefit from your strength

and you will have to work hard in a pagan’s house.

11 Then you will groan when your end comes,

when your body and flesh are consumed.

You will say,

12 “Oh, how I hated discipline!

How my heart despised correction!

13 I didn’t listen to what my teachers said to me,

nor did I keep my ear open to my instructors.

14 I almost reached total ruin

in the assembly and in the congregation.”

5:11–14   The cost of adultery is total destruction, consuming bodies and hearts that hate correction. Convince me my teachers are right so I don’t end in ruin.

15 Drink water out of your own cistern

and running water from your own well.

16 Why should water flow out of your spring?

Why should your streams flow into the streets?

17 They should be yours alone,

so do not share them with strangers.

18 Let your own fountain be blessed,

and enjoy the girl you married when you were young,

19 a loving doe and a graceful deer.[4]

Always let her breasts satisfy you.

Always be intoxicated with her love.

5:15–19   I’ll share myself only with my spouse, because my body and heart belong to my love and no one else. I’ll delight in my spouse today even more than the day we wed. Fill us with intoxicating love!

20 Why should you, my son,

be intoxicated with an adulterous woman

and fondle a loose woman’s breast?

21 Each person’s ways are clearly seen by the LORD,

and he surveys all his actions.

22 A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs,

and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin.

23 He will die for his lack of discipline

and stumble around because of his great stupidity.

5:21–23   You see everything I do. Keep me from stumbling into deeper and deeper sin. Don’t let me die as a result of my own stupidity.

Avoid Disaster

6

1 My son,

if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor

or pledge yourself for a stranger with a handshake,

2 you are trapped by the words of your own mouth,

caught by your own promise.

3 Do the following things, my son, so that you may free yourself,

because you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:

Humble yourself,

and pester your neighbor.

4 Don’t let your eyes rest

or your eyelids close.

5 Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter

and like a bird from the hand of a hunter.

6:1–5   Don’t let me be so dumb that I make disastrous promises. Show me how to break free of pledges I’ve come to regret.

6 Consider the ant, you lazy bum.

Watch its ways, and become wise.

7 Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler,

8 in summertime it stores its food supply.

At harvest time it gathers its food.

6:6–8   Teach me to take charge of myself and work hard even when no one stands over me telling me what to do. Train me not to squander seasons of ease and plenty.

9 How long will you lie there, you lazy bum?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10 “Just a little sleep,

just a little slumber,

just a little nap.”

11 Then your poverty will come ⌞to you⌟ like a drifter,

and your need will come ⌞to you⌟ like a bandit.

6:9–11   Wake me when I want to doze off instead of working hard at everything you plan for me. Don’t let me sleep my life away or make rest my highest goal.

12 A good-for-nothing scoundrel is a person who has a dishonest mouth.

13 He winks his eye,

makes a signal with his foot,

⌞and⌟ points with his fingers.

14 He devises evil all the time with a twisted mind.

He spreads conflict.

15 That is why disaster will come on him suddenly.

In a moment he will be crushed beyond recovery.

16 There are six things that the LORD hates,

even seven that are disgusting to him:

17 arrogant eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that kill innocent people,

18 a mind devising wicked plans,

feet that are quick to do wrong,

19 a dishonest witness spitting out lies,

and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.

6:16–19   Free me from everything that displeases you—from arrogance and deceit, from rage and evil schemes, from chasing after sin, from speaking lies instead of truth, from provoking conflict in my family.

More Advice about Avoiding Adultery

20 My son,

obey the command of your father,

and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.

21 Fasten them on your heart forever.

Hang them around your neck.

22 When you walk around, they will lead you.

When you lie down, they will watch over you.

When you wake up, they will talk to you

23 because the command is a lamp,

the teachings are a light,

and the warnings from discipline are the path of life

6:20–23   My parents taught me right from wrong, so I’ll continually remind myself of what they said. Their wisdom watches over me and fills my ears. It warns me and puts me on your path to life.

24 to keep you from an evil woman

and from the smooth talk of a loose woman.

25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart.

Do not let her catch you with her eyes.

26 A prostitute’s price is ⌞only⌟ a loaf of bread,

but a married woman hunts for ⌞your⌟ life itself.

27 Can a man carry fire in his lap

without burning his clothes?

28 Can anyone walk on red-hot coals

without burning his feet?

29 So it is with a man who has sex with his neighbor’s wife.

None who touch her will escape punishment.

6:24–29   Keep my mind clear when sexual sin beckons me. Remind me that beauty is a trap and charming eyes deceive. Sexual sin always burns.

30 People do not despise a thief who is hungry

when he steals to satisfy his appetite,

31 but when he is caught,

he has to repay it seven times.

He must give up all the possessions in his house.

6:30–31   It’s too easy to explain away and justify my sins. Remind me that I can’t escape the consequences of doing wrong.

32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman has no sense.

Whoever does this destroys himself.

33 An adulterous man will find disease[5] and dishonor,

and his disgrace will not be blotted out,

34 because jealousy arouses a husband’s fury.

The husband will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

35 No amount of money will change his mind.

The largest bribe will not satisfy him.

6:32–35   Sexual sin makes no sense. Don’t let me ever forget how it leads to destruction, disease, and dishonor. It arouses a spouse’s fury.

7

1 My son,

pay attention to my words.

Treasure my commands that are within you.

2 Obey my commands so that you may live.

Follow my teachings just as you protect the pupil of your eye.

7:1–2   I pay close attention to your words. I treasure your commands deep in my heart. I keep your teachings as carefully as I protect my own eyes.

3 Tie them on your fingers.

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.”

Give the name “my relative” to understanding

5 in order to guard yourself from an adulterous woman,

from a loose woman with her smooth talk.

6 From a window in my house I looked through my screen.

7 I was looking at gullible people

when I saw a young man without much sense among youths.

8 He was crossing a street near her corner

and walking toward her house

9 in the twilight,

in the evening,

in the dark hours of the night.

10 A woman with an ulterior motive meets him.

She is dressed as a prostitute.

11 She is loud and rebellious.

Her feet will not stay at home.

12 One moment she is out on the street,

the next she is at the curb,

on the prowl at every corner.

7:4–12   Your wisdom guards me from sexual sin. But I’m surrounded by gullible people. I see them everywhere I look. Young men hook up with women on the prowl. They’re blind to each others’ evil motives. Give me more sense than that!

13 She grabs him and kisses him and brazenly says to him,

14 “I have some sacrificial meat.

Today I kept my vows.

15 That’s why I came to meet you.

Eagerly, I looked for you,

and I’ve found you.

16 I’ve made my bed,

with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.

17 I’ve sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.

Let’s enjoy making love,

19 because my husband’s not home.

He has gone on a long trip.

20 He took lots of money with him.

He won’t be home for a couple of weeks.”

21 With all her seductive charms, she persuades him.

With her smooth lips, she makes him give in.

7:13–21   Temptation never stays on the edge of my life. It hunts me down and grabs hold of me. It recites all the reasons I should give in to sin, promising me evil pleasures at no cost. Make your truth louder than these lies.

22 He immediately follows her

like a steer on its way to be slaughtered,

like a ram hobbling into captivity[6]

23 until an arrow pierces his heart,

like a bird darting into a trap.

He does not realize that it will cost him his life.

7:22–23   Sexual sin will lead me to slaughter. It will hobble me and pierce my heart. It will cost me my life. Remind me of these realities!

24 Now, sons,

listen to me.

Pay attention to the words from my mouth.

25 Do not let your heart be turned to her ways.

Do not wander onto her paths,

26 because she has brought down many victims,

and she has killed all too many.

27 Her home is the way to hell

and leads to the darkest vaults of death.

7:24–27   I want a heart stubbornly committed to staying on your path. Help me see sexual sin for what it is—a stop on the way to the darkest place in hell.

Wisdom’s Announcement

8

1 Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise its voice?

2 ⌞Wisdom⌟ takes its stand on high ground,

by the wayside where the roads meet,

3 near the gates to the city.

At the entrance ⌞wisdom⌟ sings its song,

4 “I am calling to all of you,

and my appeal is to all people.

5 You gullible people, learn how to be sensible.

You fools, get a heart that has understanding.[7]

8:1–5   Your wisdom calls out to every human being. It shouts from high ground so the crowds can hear. Let your wisdom teach me good sense. Let it give me the understanding I need for real life.

6 Listen! I am speaking about noble things,

and my lips will say what is right.

7 My mouth expresses the truth,

and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.

8 Everything I say is fair,

and there is nothing twisted or crooked in it.

9 All of it is clear to a person who has understanding

and right to those who have acquired knowledge.

8:6–9   In a world full of lies you speak pure truth. Your every word is fair. Not a single one twists the facts. Your wisdom is clear to anyone who wants it.

10 Take my discipline, not silver,

and my knowledge rather than fine gold,

11 because wisdom is better than jewels.

Nothing you desire can equal it.

8:10–11   I want your discipline more than silver, your knowledge more than gold, your wisdom more than jewels. Nothing in the world equals your wisdom.

Wisdom’s Authority

12 “I, Wisdom, live with insight,

and I acquire knowledge and foresight.

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil.

I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.

14 Advice and priceless wisdom are mine.

I, Understanding, have strength.

15 Through me kings reign,

and rulers decree fair laws.

16 Through me princes rule,

so do nobles and all fair judges.

8:12–16   Your wisdom gives insight and knowledge. It teaches me to hate evil—whether pride or arrogance, evil acts or twisted words. It gives kings power and compels judges to be fair.

17 I love those who love me.

Those eagerly looking for me will find me.

18 I have riches and honor,

lasting wealth and righteousness.

19 What I produce is better than gold, pure gold.

What I yield is better than fine silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, on the paths of justice,

21 to give an inheritance to those who love me

and to fill their treasuries.

8:17–21   You love those who love your insights, and you grant your wisdom to anyone who eagerly looks for it. Your wisdom bestows riches greater than pure gold. It points me to righteousness and justice.

Wisdom as Creator

22 “The LORD already possessed me long ago,

when his way began,

before any of his works.

23 I was appointed from everlasting

from the first,

before the earth began.

8:22–23   Your wisdom is an indispensable part of your heart and mind. It comes from the core of who you are. Your wisdom is as ancient as you.

24 I was born

before there were oceans,

before there were springs filled with water.

25 I was born

before the mountains were settled in their places

and before the hills,

26 when he had not yet made land or fields

or the first dust of the world.

27 “When he set up the heavens, I was there.

When he traced the horizon on the surface of the ocean,

28 when he established the skies above,

when he determined the currents in the ocean,

29 when he set a limit for the sea

so the waters would not overstep his command,

when he traced the foundations of the earth,

8:24–29   Your wisdom existed before earth began, before oceans and mountains, before fields and skies. It’s been around since before anything began.

30 I was beside him as a master craftsman.[8]

I made him happy day after day,

I rejoiced in front of him all the time,

31 found joy in his inhabited world,

and delighted in the human race.

8:30–31   Your wisdom makes you a master craftsman. It gives you joy in everything you made. It makes you happy with the people you created.

Wisdom as Lifegiver

32 “Now, sons, listen to me.

Blessed are those who follow my ways.

33 Listen to discipline, and become wise.

Do not leave my ways.

34 Blessed is the person who listens to me,

watches at my door day after day,

and waits by my doorposts.

35 Whoever finds me finds life

and obtains favor from the LORD.

36 Whoever sins against me harms himself.

All those who hate me love death.”

8:32–36   When I live according to your wisdom, I experience your blessing. So I listen to your every word. I watch and wait for your advice. Finding your wisdom brings me life, but forsaking your insights puts me in harm’s way.

Wisdom Hosts a Banquet

9

1 Wisdom has built her house.

She has carved out her seven pillars.

2 She has prepared her meat.

She has mixed her wine.

She has set her table.

3 She has sent out her servant girls.

She calls from the highest places in the city,

4 “Whoever is gullible turn in here!”

She says to a person without sense,

5 “Come, eat my bread,

and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 Stop being gullible and live.

Start traveling the road to understanding.”

9:1–6   Your wisdom stands like a well-built house, beautiful and complete. Your wisdom prepares a feast, calling out to me and other gullible people. It invites us to eat and enjoy.

Wisdom Prolongs Life

7 Whoever corrects a mocker receives abuse.

Whoever warns a wicked person gets hurt.

8 Do not warn a mocker, or he will hate you.

Warn a wise person, and he will love you.

9 Give ⌞advice⌟ to a wise person,

and he will become even wiser.

Teach a righteous person,

and he will learn more.

9:7–9   I fear correcting belligerent people, but often I have no choice. Make me brave and bold. Help me notice opportunities to share wisdom with people who want it. We can help each other grow.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 You will live longer because of me,

and years will be added to your life.

12 If you are wise, your wisdom will help you.

If you mock, you alone will be held responsible.

9:10–12   I’m finally starting to wise up when I give you the respect you deserve. Your wisdom will add years to my life. But if I mock your ways, I’ll never get the insight I need.

Stupidity Imitates Wisdom’s Banquet

13 The woman Stupidity is loud, gullible, and ignorant.[9]

14 She sits at the doorway of her house.

She is enthroned on the high ground of the city

15 and calls to those who pass by,

those minding their own business,

16 “Whoever is gullible turn in here!”

She says to a person without sense,

17 “Stolen waters are sweet,

and food eaten in secret is tasty.”

18 But he does not know

that the souls of the dead are there,

that her guests are in the depths of hell.

9:13–18   Wisdom calls out to me. But so does stupidity—in a loud and gullible and ignorant voice. I’m trying hard to do right, but stupidity still makes its case for doing wrong. Remind me that stupidity puts my soul on a path to death.

10

1 The proverbs of Solomon:

A Wise Son Is Righteous

A wise son makes his father happy,

but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2 Treasures gained dishonestly profit no one,

but righteousness rescues from death.

3 The LORD will not allow a righteous person to starve,

but he intentionally ignores the desires of a wicked person.

4 Lazy hands bring poverty,

but hard-working hands bring riches.

10:2–4   Train me to do right in every part of life, because living your way will rescue me from death. You won’t let me go hungry, and my hard work will bear fruit.

5 Whoever gathers in the summer is a wise son.

Whoever sleeps at harvest time brings shame.

6 Blessings cover the head of a righteous person,

but violence covers the mouths of wicked people.

7 The name of a righteous person remains blessed,

but the names of wicked people will rot away.

10:5–7   Teach me to seize moments when I need to put wisdom into action. I’ll miss out on your blessings if I don’t act.

Proverbs Concerning the Mouth

8 The one who is truly wise accepts commands,

but the one who talks foolishly will be thrown down headfirst.

9 Whoever lives honestly will live securely,

but whoever lives dishonestly will be found out.

10 Whoever winks with his eye causes heartache.

The one who talks foolishly will be thrown down headfirst.

11 The mouth of a righteous person is a fountain of life,

but the mouths of wicked people conceal violence.

10:8–11   Foolish words hurl me down headfirst. Save me from tripping myself up with my words. Let my words be a fountain of life to everyone who listens.

12 Hate starts quarrels,

but love covers every wrong.

10:12   I’m quick to talk on and on about how I’ve been wronged. Teach me to make up and move ahead.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of a person who has understanding,

but a rod is for the back of one without sense.

14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,

but the mouth of a stubborn fool invites ruin.

10:14   I don’t want your wisdom to come in one ear and go out the other. I promise to remember everything you teach me.

15 The rich person’s wealth is ⌞his⌟ strong city.

Poverty ruins the poor.

16 A righteous person’s reward is life.

A wicked person’s harvest is sin.

17 Whoever practices discipline is on the way to life,

but whoever ignores a warning strays.

18 Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips.

Whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk,

but whoever seals his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of a righteous person is pure silver.

The hearts of wicked people are worthless.

21 The lips of a righteous person feed many,

but stubborn fools die because they have no sense.

10:18–21   I’m a fake when my words don’t match my thoughts. I’m a fool when I spread insults. Whenever I open my mouth too much I’m bound to sin. So help me make my every word count for good.

22 It is the LORD’s blessing that makes a person rich,

and hard work adds nothing to it.

10:22   I can’t take credit for anything I’ve accomplished in life. Even my ability to work hard is a gift from you. Thank you!

23 Like the laughter of a fool when he carries out an evil plan,

so is wisdom to a person who has understanding.

Righteous People Contrasted to Wicked People

24 That which wicked people dread happens to them,

but ⌞the LORD⌟ grants the desire of righteous people.

25 When the storm has passed, the wicked person has vanished,

but the righteous person has an everlasting foundation.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth,

like smoke to the eyes,

so is the lazy person to those who send him ⌞on a mission⌟.

27 The fear of the LORD lengthens ⌞the number of⌟ days,

but the years of wicked people are shortened.

28 The hope of righteous people ⌞leads to⌟ joy,

but the eager waiting of wicked people comes to nothing.

10:25–28   You’re my everlasting foundation, my place to stand in a storm. Give me long days as I live completely for you. Give me joy as I hope in you.

29 The way of the LORD is a fortress for an innocent person

but a ruin to those who are troublemakers.

10:29   Your ways protect me like a fortress. They’re my place to run when evil comes my way. Troublemakers can’t make sense of you.

30 A righteous person will never be moved,

but wicked people will not continue to live in the land.

31 The mouth of a righteous person increases wisdom,

but a devious tongue will be cut off.

32 The lips of a righteous person announce good will,

but the mouths of wicked people are devious.

10:31–32   Good people’s words make me wise. Wicked people say nothing that helps me.

The Value of Righteousness

11

1 Dishonest scales are disgusting to the LORD,

but accurate weights are pleasing to him.

2 Arrogance comes,

then comes shame,

but wisdom remains with humble people.

3 Integrity guides decent people,

but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin.

11:1–3   You won’t settle for subtle changes in me. You aim to make me righteous in everything I do. You want honesty rather than lies, humility instead of arrogance, integrity in place of hypocrisy. Build those qualities in me!

4 Riches are of no help on the day of fury,

but righteousness saves from death.

5 The righteousness of innocent people makes their road smooth,

but wicked people fall by their own wickedness.

6 Decent people are saved by their righteousness,

but treacherous people are trapped by their own greed.

7 At the death of a wicked person, hope vanishes.

Moreover, his confidence in strength vanishes.

8 A righteous person is rescued from trouble,

and a wicked person takes his place.

9 With his talk a godless person can ruin his neighbor,

but righteous people are rescued by knowledge.

10 When righteous people prosper, a city is glad.

When wicked people die, there are songs of joy.

11:5–10   Let your warnings about wickedness sink deep in my soul. Sin trips me up and entraps me. It steals my hope and strength. It puts me in line for trouble. And the more I sin, the louder people will rejoice when I die.

11 With the blessing of decent people a city is raised up,

but by the words of wicked people, it is torn down.

12 A person who despises a neighbor has no sense,

but a person who has understanding keeps quiet.

13 Whoever gossips gives away secrets,

but whoever is trustworthy in spirit can keep a secret.

11:11–13   Evil words can destroy a whole city. They spill secrets and senselessly expose a neighbor. Show me when my words go bad.

14 A nation will fall when there is no direction,

but with many advisers there is victory.

11:14   Without vision a nation falls. Point our country in your direction.

15 Whoever guarantees a stranger’s loan will get into trouble,

but whoever hates the closing of a deal remains secure.

16 A gracious woman wins respect,

but ruthless men gain riches.

17 A merciful person helps himself,

but a cruel person hurts himself.

18 A wicked person earns dishonest wages,

but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay.

19 As righteousness leads to life,

so whoever pursues evil finds his own death.

20 Devious people are disgusting to the LORD,

but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent.

21 Certainly, an evil person will not go unpunished,

but the descendants of righteous people will escape.

11:18–21   Righteousness opens the door to honest work and leads me into life. You delight in my innocence and won’t let evil go unpunished.

22 ⌞Like⌟ a gold ring in a pig’s snout,

⌞so⌟ is a beautiful woman who lacks good taste.

11:22   Grant me good taste or I’ll be like a pig with a gold ring in its snout.

23 The desire of righteous people ends only in good,

but the hope of wicked people ends only in fury.

24 One person spends freely and yet grows richer,

while another holds back what he owes and yet grows poorer.

25 A generous person will be made rich,

and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied.[10]

11:25   Convince me I can trust you with my money. As I meet others’ needs I count on you to meet mine.

26 People will curse the one who hoards grain,

but a blessing will be upon the head of the one who sells it.

27 Whoever eagerly seeks good searches for good will,

but whoever looks for evil finds it.

11:27   I don’t have to look hard to find evil. Keep me searching for good.

28 Whoever trusts his riches will fall,

but righteous people will flourish like a green leaf.

11:28   Riches aren’t enough to keep me going. But following your ways will make me flourish.

29 Whoever brings trouble upon his family inherits ⌞only⌟ wind,

and that stubborn fool becomes a slave to the wise in heart.

30 The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life,

and a winner of souls is wise.

11:30   Make me wise. Show me how to win people to you.

31 If the righteous person is rewarded on earth,

how much more the wicked person and the sinner!

12

1 Whoever loves discipline loves to learn,

but whoever hates correction is a dumb animal.

12:1   I hate when I act like a mindless beast. I’ll choose to learn from your discipline.

2 A good person obtains favor from the LORD,

but the LORD condemns everyone who schemes.

3 A person cannot stand firm on a foundation of wickedness,

and the roots of righteous people cannot be moved.

12:3   I can’t build a life on wickedness. I’ll make righteousness my unshakable foundation.

4 A wife with strength of character is the crown of her husband,

but the wife who disgraces him is like bone cancer.

5 The thoughts of righteous people are fair.

The advice of wicked people is treacherous.

6 The words of wicked people are a deadly ambush,

but the words[11] of decent people rescue.

12:5–6   I want my thoughts to be fair and my advice truly helpful. Warn me when I’m about to ambush others with my words.

7 Overthrow wicked people, and they are no more,

but the families of righteous people continue to stand.

8 A person will be praised based on his insight,

but whoever has a twisted mind will be despised.

12:8   Give me insights worth hearing. Shield others from my twisted moments.

9 Better to be unimportant and have a slave

than to act important and have nothing to eat.

10 A righteous person cares ⌞even⌟ about the life of his animals,

but the compassion of wicked people is ⌞nothing but⌟ cruelty.

11 Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat,

but the one who chases unrealistic dreams has no sense.

12:11   Teach me to work hard at the jobs you provide for me. Give me sense to know when my dreams won’t work out.

12 A wicked person delights in setting a trap for ⌞other⌟ evil people,

but the roots of righteous people produce ⌞fruit⌟.[12]

13 An evil person is trapped by his own sinful talk,

but a righteous person escapes from trouble.

12:13   When I do evil, my own words will convict me. Keep my speech straightforward and true.

14 One person enjoys good things as a result of his speaking ability.

Another is paid according to what his hands have accomplished.

15 A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one,

but a person who listens to advice is wise.

16 When a stubborn fool is irritated, he shows it immediately,

but a sensible person hides the insult.

12:15–16   Don’t let me think I’m too smart to listen to others’ advice. Don’t let me be so sensitive that I react to every insult.

17 A truthful witness speaks honestly,

but a lying witness speaks deceitfully.

18 Careless words stab like a sword,

but the ords of wise people bring healing.

12:18   Give me a taste of the pain I inflict on others when I stab them with my words. Make my words wise and soothing.

19 The word of truth lasts forever,

but lies last only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil,

but joy belongs to those who advise peace.

21 No ⌞lasting⌟ harm comes to a righteous person,

but wicked people have lots of trouble.

12:21   I won’t stop following your ways. Help me bounce back from every hurt I endure.

22 Lips that lie are disgusting to the LORD,

but honest people are his delight.

23 A sensible person ⌞discreetly⌟ hides knowledge,

but foolish minds preach stupidity.

12:23   Stop me when I show off my knowledge—and when I put my stupidity on display.

24 Hard-working hands gain control,

but lazy hands do slave labor.

25 A person’s anxiety will weigh him down,

but an encouraging word makes him joyful.

12:25   Free me from the weight of my anxieties. Lift me up with an encouraging word.

26 A righteous person looks out for his neighbor,

but the path of wicked people leads others astray.

12:26   Show me when I’m only looking out for myself. I want to lead people to real life.

27 A lazy hunter does not catch[13] his prey,

but a hard-working person becomes wealthy.[14]

28 Everlasting life is on the way of righteousness.

Eternal death is not along its path.

A Wise Son Lives Righteously

13

1 A wise son listens to his father’s discipline,

but a mocker does not listen to reprimands.

13:1   I choose to embrace my father’s discipline. I won’t plug my ears to reprimands.

2 A person eats well as a result of his speaking ability,

but the appetite of treacherous people ⌞craves⌟ violence.

3 Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life.

Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin.

13:3   At times my mouth puts my life at risk. Teach me to filter my words.

4 A lazy person craves food and there is none,

but the appetite of hard-working people is satisfied.

5 A righteous person hates lying,

but a wicked person behaves with shame and disgrace.

6 Righteousness protects the honest way of life,

but wickedness ruins a sacrifice for sin.

13:5–6   Good people hate lying. They always stand up for honesty. Teach me to speak truth without compromise.

7 One person pretends to be rich but has nothing.

Another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.

13:7   Don’t let me pretend to be rich when I’m not. Don’t let me brag about the things I have.

8 A person’s riches are the ransom for his life,

but the poor person does not pay attention to threats.

9 The light of righteous people beams brightly,

but the lamp of wicked people will be snuffed out.

10 Arrogance produces only quarreling,

but those who take advice gain wisdom.

13:10   Make me wise through the advice of others. Help me escape stupid arguments.

11 Wealth ⌞gained⌟ through injustice dwindles away,

but whoever gathers little by little has plenty.

12 Delayed hope makes one sick at heart,

but a fulfilled longing is a tree of life.

13:12   When hope dies I feel sick. I count on you to keep my dreams alive.

13 Whoever despises ⌞God’s⌟ words will pay the penalty,

but the one who fears ⌞God’s⌟ commands will be rewarded.

13:13   You won’t let me escape the terrible consequences of despising your words. But you never let me miss the rewards of following your commands.

14 The teachings of a wise person are a fountain of life

to turn ⌞one⌟ away from the grasp of death.

15 Good sense brings favor,

but the way of treacherous people is always the same.[15]

16 Any sensible person acts with knowledge,

but a fool displays stupidity.

13:15–16   Give me good sense and wide-ranging knowledge. I’m beyond stupid without your help.

17 An undependable messenger gets into trouble,

but a dependable envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and shame come to a person who ignores discipline,

but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored.

13:18   Lack of discipline will send me into poverty. Thanks for helpful criticism that keeps me alive.

19 A fulfilled desire is sweet to the soul,

but turning from evil is disgusting to fools.

20 Whoever walks with wise people will be wise,

but whoever associates with fools will suffer.

13:20   Give me wise people to walk through life with. I won’t let fools drag me in the wrong direction.

21 Disaster hunts down sinners,

but righteous people are rewarded with good.

22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,

but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person.

23 When poor people are able to plow, there is much food,

but a person is swept away where there is no justice.

13:23   Show me when my own bad habits keep the poor from earning a living. Alert me to my unjust ways.

24 Whoever refuses to spank his son hates him,

but whoever loves his son disciplines him from early on.

25 A righteous person eats to satisfy his appetite,

but the bellies of wicked people are always empty.

Wise People Live Righteously

14

1 The wisest of women builds up her home,

but a stupid one tears it down with her own hands.

2 Whoever lives right fears the LORD,

but a person who is devious in his ways despises him.

14:2   I want my whole life to show I respect you. Teach me to live right in every way.

3 Because of a stubborn fool’s words a whip is lifted against him,

but wise people are protected by their speech.

4 Where there are no cattle, the feeding trough is empty,

but the strength of an ox produces plentiful harvests.

14:4   I can’t even feed myself without your help. I count on you for the resources I need to live and thrive.

5 A trustworthy witness does not lie,

but a dishonest witness breathes lies.

6 A mocker searches for wisdom without finding it,

but knowledge comes easily to a person who has understanding.

7 Stay away from a fool,

because you will not receive knowledge from his lips.

8 The wisdom of a sensible person guides his way of life,

but the stupidity of fools misleads them.

14:7–8   Fools can’t give me the knowledge I need for life. They stumble over their own advice. Show me when I’m allowing fools to lead me.

9 Stubborn fools make fun of guilt,

but there is forgiveness among decent people.

14:9   Fools make fun of guilt and refuse to admit their wrongs. Show me when I’m not owning up to my sins.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no stranger can share its joy.

11 The houses of wicked people will be destroyed,

but the tents of decent people will continue to expand.

12 There is a way that seems right to a person,

but eventually it ends in death.

14:12   I can be completely convinced I’m right and still be dead wrong. I welcome your correction!

13 Even while laughing a heart can ache,

and joy can end in grief.

14 A heart that turns ⌞from God⌟ becomes bored with its own ways,

but a good person is satisfied with God’s ways.

14:14   My life fades to nothing when my heart turns from you. You and your ways satisfy me fully!

15 A gullible person believes anything,

but a sensible person watches his step.

16 A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil,

but a fool is careless[16] and overconfident.

17 A short-tempered person acts stupidly,

and a person who plots evil is hated.

18 Gullible people are gifted with stupidity,

but sensible people are crowned with knowledge.

14:15–18   Free me from my foolish faults—gullibility, carelessness, overconfidence, a short temper, and outright stupidity.

19 Evil people will bow to good people.

Wicked people will bow at the gates of a righteous person.

20 A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,

but a rich person is loved by many.

14:19–20   I don’t want cheap admiration. Help me earn respect through genuine acts of goodness and generosity.

21 Whoever despises his neighbor sins,

but blessed is the one who is kind to humble people.

22 Don’t those who stray plan what is evil,

while those who are merciful and faithful plan what is good?

14:22   Good acts don’t happen by accident. Help me plan good deeds that flow from the mercy and faithfulness you show me.

23 In hard work there is always something gained,

but idle talk leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of wise people is their wealth.

The stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!

25 An honest witness saves lives,

but one who tells lies is dangerous.

26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,

and his children will have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life

to turn ⌞one⌟ away from the grasp of death.

14:26–27   Respect for you gives me strong confidence. It creates a hiding place for my children. Respect for you is a life-giving fountain flowing inside me.

28 A large population is an honor for a king,

but without people a ruler is ruined.

29 A person of great understanding is patient,

but a short temper is the height of stupidity.

14:29   I won’t ever be patient if I don’t first take time to understand. Stop me when I make assumptions and rush to conclusions.

30 A tranquil heart makes for a healthy body,

but jealousy is ⌞like⌟ bone cancer.

31 Whoever oppresses the poor insults his maker,

but whoever is kind to the needy honors him.

14:31   When I oppress the poor I insult not just people but you. I want to honor you through acts of kindness.

32 A wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing,

but even in his death a righteous person has a refuge.

33 Wisdom finds rest in the heart of an understanding person.

Even fools recognize this.[17]

14:33   Fill my heart with so much wisdom that everyone can see that it comes from you.

Wise Ways to Live

34 Righteousness lifts up a nation,

but sin is a disgrace in any society.

35 A king is delighted with a servant who acts wisely,

but he is furious with one who acts shamefully.

15

1 A gentle answer turns away rage,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge,

but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.

15:1–2   My harsh words only make a situation worse. Train me to answer gently and turn away rage. Don’t let my words pour out a flood of stupidity.

3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere.

They watch evil people and good people.

15:3   You see everything I do. Comfort and warn me with that fact!

4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,

but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.

5 A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,

but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.

15:5   I welcome the discipline of my parents and other wise people. Send them my way when I need their advice.

6 Great treasure is in the house of a righteous person,

but trouble comes along with the income of a wicked person.

7 The lips of wise people spread knowledge,

but a foolish attitude does not.

8 A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the LORD,

but the prayers of decent people please him.

9 The way of wicked people is disgusting to the LORD,

but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

15:8–9   My prayers and religious rituals disgust you when I keep making a habit of sin. Call me to account.

10 Discipline is a terrible ⌞burden⌟ to anyone who leaves the ⌞right⌟ path.

Anyone who hates a warning will die.

11 If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of the LORD

how much more the human heart!

15:11   If you can see into the darkest corners of death, I know you can see straight through my heart!

12 A mocker does not appreciate a warning.

He will not go to wise people.

13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,

but with a heartache comes depression.

14 The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.

15 Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person,

but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

15:13–15   Let the joy of my heart show on my face. Quiet the pains that linger inside me. I’ll make every day a celebration of you.

16 Better to have a little with the fear of the LORD

than great treasure and turmoil.

17 Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love

than juicy steaks where there is hate.

15:16–17   I’m content with having little as long as I can hang on to you. I’m happy with simple things as long as I have love in my home.

18 A hothead stirs up a fight,

but one who holds his temper calms disputes.

19 The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge,

but the road of decent people is an ⌞open⌟ highway.

A Wise Son Brings Blessings to Others

20 A wise son makes his father happy,

but a foolish child despises its mother.

21 Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense,

but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.

15:21   Stupidity feels fun until I obtain good sense. Teach me wisdom that takes me in a good direction.

22 Without advice plans go wrong,

but with many advisers they succeed.

15:22   I’m not smart enough to do life on my own. Lead me to advisers who can help my plans succeed.

23 A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth,

and a timely word—oh, how good!

24 The path of life for a wise person leads upward

in order to turn him away from hell below.

25 The LORD tears down the house of an arrogant person,

but he protects the property of widows.

26 The thoughts of evil people are disgusting to the LORD,

but pleasant words are pure to him.

15:24–26   Lead me upward. Turn me away from hell. Watch over my property. Don’t tear down my house. Let my words please you. Push evil from my mind.

27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family,

but whoever hates bribes will live.

15:27   Take away my greed for unjust gain. Show me when I’m wrongly working the system to my advantage.

28 The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer,

but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.

29 The LORD is far from wicked people,

but he hears the prayers of righteous people.

30 A twinkle in the eye delights the heart.

Good news refreshes the body.

15:29–30   Be close to me and hear my prayers. Refresh my body with good news.

31 The ear that listens to a life-giving warning

will be at home among wise people.

32 Whoever ignores discipline despises himself,

but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.

33 The fear of the LORD is discipline ⌞leading to⌟ wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

15:31–33   I want to hear your life-giving warnings. I long to hear them and gain understanding. I’ll humble myself and accept your discipline.

Wisdom’s Blessings Come from the LORD

16

1 The plans of the heart belong to humans,

but an answer on the tongue comes from the LORD.

2 A person thinks all his ways are pure,

but the LORD weighs motives.

3 Entrust your efforts to the LORD,

and your plans will succeed.

16:1–3   I can make plans and even put them into action, but you still check my motives. You want me to put all my efforts in your hands.

4 The LORD has made everything for his own purpose,

even wicked people for the day of trouble.

5 Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to the LORD.

Certainly, ⌞such a person⌟ will not go unpunished.

6 By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the LORD.

By the fear of the LORD, evil is avoided.

16:5–6   It doesn’t please you when I put myself first or make myself most important. I won’t live at peace with you as long as I stray from mercy and faithfulness. So I’ll humble myself and follow your ways.

7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better a few ⌞possessions⌟ gained honestly

than many gained through injustice.

9 A person may plan his own journey,

but the LORD directs his steps.

16:9   No matter how many plans I make, you still control where I go. I count on you to lead me.

10 When a divine revelation is on a king’s lips,

he cannot voice a wrong judgment.

11 Honest balances and scales belong to the LORD.

He made the entire set of weights.

16:11   You alone decide what’s honest. I submit to your truth.

12 Wrongdoing is disgusting to kings

because a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Kings are happy with honest words,

and whoever speaks what is right is loved.

14 A king’s anger announces death,

but a wise man makes peace with him.

15 When the king is cheerful, there is life,

and his favor is like a cloud bringing spring rain.

16:12–15   Give the authorities in my life a love for righteousness and honesty. Make their judgments fair and full of life.

16 How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold,

and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.

16:16   Your wisdom is more important than money. I’ll choose it over any kind of wealth.

17 The highway of decent people turns away from evil.

Whoever watches his way preserves his own life.

18 Pride precedes a disaster,

and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.

16:18   When I’m proud I’m headed for disaster. When I’m arrogant I’m about to fall.

19 Better to be humble with lowly people

than to share stolen goods with arrogant people.

20 Whoever gives attention to the LORD’s word prospers,

and blessed is the person who trusts the LORD.

16:20   I’ll pay attention to your word and trust everything I learn from you.

21 The person who is truly wise is called understanding,

and speaking sweetly helps others learn.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it,

but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity.

23 A wise person’s heart controls his speech,

and what he says helps others learn.

24 Pleasant words are ⌞like⌟ honey from a honeycomb—

sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body.

16:21–24   Make my words sweet to people who long to learn. Give us all greater understanding as you help me choose my words.

Words of Advice to a Wise Son

25 There is a way that seems right to a person,

but eventually it ends in death.

16:25   Stop me when I think I’m going in the right direction but I’m actually headed toward death.

26 A laborer’s appetite works to his advantage,

because his hunger drives him on.

27 A worthless person plots trouble,

and his speech is like a burning fire.

28 A devious person spreads quarrels.

A gossip separates the closest of friends.

29 A violent person misleads his neighbor

and leads him on a path that is not good.

16:27–29   There’s no end to the troubles I cause when I let my mouth run. I ignite fires and spread quarrels. I separate friends and send people down evil paths. Teach me a better way!

30 Whoever winks his eye is plotting something devious.

Whoever bites his lips has finished his evil work.

31 Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life.

32 Better to get angry slowly than to be a hero.

Better to be even-tempered than to capture a city.

33 The dice are thrown,

but the LORD determines every outcome.

16:33   Everything changes when you get involved in a situation. You decide every outcome.

17

1 Better a bite of dry bread ⌞eaten⌟ in peace

than a family feast filled with strife.

17:1   Peace at home matters more than fancy feasts. Put your peace at the heart of my family.

2 A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully,

and he will share the inheritance with the brothers.

3 The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold,

but the one who purifies hearts ⌞by fire⌟ is the LORD.

17:3   You purify my heart like a crucible refines silver. I need your refining fire.

4 An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips.

A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue.

5 Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker.

Whoever is happy ⌞to see someone’s⌟ distress will not escape punishment.

17:5   When I make fun of the poor, I insult you. I won’t escape punishment if I smile when others suffer.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents,

and parents are the glory of their children.

17:6   My grandparents are my crown and my parents my glory. I’ll look for ways to honor them.

The Consequences of Being a Fool

7 Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool.

How much less does lying fit a noble person!

8 A bribe seems ⌞like⌟ a jewel to the one who gives it.[18]

Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 Whoever forgives an offense seeks love,

but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.

17:9   I have love as my goal. I commit myself to forgiving wrongs instead of bringing them up again and again.

10 A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding

more than a hundred lashes impress a fool.

17:10   I want to be quick to respond to your discipline. Don’t let me miss your words of correction.

11 A rebel looks for nothing but evil.

Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent ⌞to punish⌟ him.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs

than a fool ⌞carried away⌟ with his stupidity.

13 Whoever pays back evil for good—

evil will never leave his home.

17:13   When others wrong me, give me your strength to pay them back with good.

14 Starting a quarrel is ⌞like⌟ opening a floodgate,

so stop before the argument gets out of control.

15 Whoever approves of wicked people

and whoever condemns righteous people

is disgusting to the LORD.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom

when he doesn’t have a mind to grasp anything?

17 A friend always loves,

and a brother is born to share trouble.

17:17   I need friends who love me nonstop and share my troubles. Guide me to people who will share the worst and best of our lives.

18 A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake.

He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend.

19 Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel.

Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction.

20 A twisted mind never finds happiness,

and one with a devious tongue ⌞repeatedly⌟ gets into trouble.

17:20   Straighten out my mind so I find happiness in life. Make me see the world like you do.

21 The parent of a fool has grief,

and the father of a godless fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,

but depression drains one’s strength.

17:22   Joy fills my heart and fixes my whole body. Give me strength when my heart grows weary.

23 A wicked person secretly accepts a bribe to corrupt the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is directly in front of an understanding person,

but the eyes of a fool ⌞are looking around⌟ all over the world.

17:24   You don’t make wisdom hard to find. You want me to act on what I already know is right.

How Fools Live

25 A foolish son is a heartache to his father

and bitter grief to his mother.

26 To punish an innocent person is not good.

To strike down noble people is not right.

27 Whoever has knowledge controls his words,

and a person who has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent.

He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.

17:27–28   Train me to filter what comes from my lips. People will think I’m wise if I keep my foolish thoughts to myself.

18

1 A loner is out to get what he wants for himself.

He opposes all sound reasoning.

2 A fool does not find joy in understanding

but only in expressing his own opinion.

18:1–2   Don’t let me go through life only looking out for myself. I need to stop talking and understand what other people think.

3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes,

and insult comes along with disgrace.

4 The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters.

The fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.

18:4   My words reveal who I am inside. Make wisdom spill from me like an overflowing stream.

5 It is not good to be partial toward a wicked person,

thereby depriving an innocent person of justice.

6 By talking, a fool gets into an argument,

and his mouth invites a beating.

7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin.

His lips are a trap to his soul.

18:6–7   At times I use words to pick fights or to make sure I end them. Change me before my mouth ruins me.

8 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,

and they go down into a person’s innermost being.

How to Avoid Fools and Foolishness

9 Whoever is lazy in his work is related to a vandal.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower.

A righteous person runs to it and is safe.

18:10   Your name is a strong tower. When I run to it I find safety.

11 A rich person’s wealth is his strong city

and is like a high wall in his imagination.

12 Before destruction a person’s heart is arrogant,

but humility comes before honor.

18:12   Arrogance leads to my destruction. Humility brings me honor. Why do I allow my pride to live?

13 Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful.

14 A person’s spirit can endure sickness,

but who can bear a broken spirit?

18:14   Heal the places I’m broken. Mend me in both body and spirit.

15 The mind of a person who has understanding acquires knowledge.

The ears of wise people seek knowledge.

16 A gift opens doors for the one who gives it

and brings him into the presence of great people.

17 The first to state his case seems right

⌞until⌟ his neighbor comes to cross-examine him.

18:17   Don’t let me fall for the first argument I hear. Teach me to think critically and not swallow everything whole.

18 Flipping a coin ends quarrels

and settles ⌞issues⌟ between powerful people.

19 An offended brother is more ⌞resistant⌟ than a strong city,

and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower.

20 A person’s speaking ability provides for his stomach.

His talking provides him a living.

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.

18:21   My tongue can kill or give life. But talking too much always gets me in trouble.

22 Whoever finds a wife finds something good

and has obtained favor from the LORD.

18:22   My spouse is my life’s greatest blessing, a gift straight from your hand.

23 A poor person is timid when begging,

but a rich person is blunt when replying.

24 Friends can destroy one another,[19]

but a loving friend can stick closer than family.

19

1 Better to be a poor person who lives innocently

than to be one who talks dishonestly and is a fool.

19:1   I’d rather be innocent and poor than dishonest and rich.

2 A person without knowledge is no good.

A person in a hurry makes mistakes.

3 The stupidity of a person turns his life upside down,

and his heart rages against the LORD.

19:2–3   Grant me the knowledge I need to get through life. Teach me to pace myself and do things right the first time. Don’t let me turn my life upside down by stupidly raging against you.

4 Wealth adds many friends,

but a poor person is separated from his friend.

5 A lying witness will not go unpunished.

One who tells lies will not escape.

19:5   Sooner or later even little lies will catch up with me. With your help I’ll aim for total honesty.

6 Many try to win the kindness of a generous person,

and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts.

7 The entire family of a poor person hates him.

How much more do his friends keep their distance from him!

When he chases them with words, they are gone.

8 A person who gains sense loves himself.

One who guards understanding finds something good.

19:8   Getting your wisdom is good for me. Gaining understanding benefits my entire life.

9 A lying witness will not go unpunished.

One who tells lies will die.

10 Luxury does not fit a fool,

much less a slave ruling princes.

11 A person with good sense is patient,

and it is to his credit that he overlooks an offense.

19:11   I want to have the same patience with others that you show to me. Help me see when it’s smart just to overlook an offense.

12 The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

A Foolish Son Brings Ruin to Others

13 A foolish son ruins his father,

and a quarreling woman is like constantly dripping water.

14 Home and wealth are inherited from fathers,

but a sensible wife comes from the LORD.

19:14   My family can give me wealth, but a good spouse comes only from you.

15 Laziness throws one into a deep sleep,

and an idle person will go hungry.

16 Whoever obeys the law preserves his life,

⌞but⌟ whoever despises the LORD’s ways will be put to death.

19:16   Obeying you gives me life. Despising your ways leads to certain death.

17 Whoever has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,

and he will repay him for his good deed.

18 Discipline your son while there is still hope.

Do not be the one responsible for his death.

19:18   Show me how and when to discipline my children. When I set boundaries, I protect them from self-destruction.

19 A person who has a hot temper will pay for it.

If you rescue him, you will have to do it over and over.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline

so that you may be wise the rest of your life.

21 Many plans are in the human heart,

but the advice of the LORD will endure.

19:21   I can dream enormous dreams, but your advice allows me to build a life that lasts.

22 Loyalty is desirable in a person,

and it is better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life,

and such a person will rest easy without suffering harm.[20]

19:23   Living with proper fear of you brings me peace and rest.

24 A lazy person puts his fork in his food.

He doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a mocker, and a gullible person may learn a lesson.

Warn an understanding person, and he will gain more knowledge.

19:25   I hate to learn lessons the hard way. I’m open to whatever you want to teach me.

Foolproof Instructions

26 A son who assaults his father ⌞and⌟ who drives away his mother

brings shame and disgrace.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son,

you will stray from the words of knowledge.

19:27   I won’t quit listening to your wisdom. I won’t stray from anything you teach me.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice,

and the mouths of wicked people swallow up trouble.

29 Punishments are set for mockers

and beatings for the backs of fools.

20

1 Wine ⌞makes people⌟ mock,

liquor ⌞makes them⌟ noisy,

and everyone under their influence is unwise.

20:1   Warn me whenever alcohol makes me anything less than you want me to be.

2 The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion.

Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life.

3 Avoiding a quarrel is honorable.

After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight.

20:3   Help me think clearly and step back from fights.

4 A lazy person does not plow in the fall.[21]

He looks for something in the harvest but finds nothing.

20:4   I can’t expect a harvest if I never put seed in the ground. Work in me so I learn to work hard.

5 A motive in the human heart is like deep water,

and a person who has understanding draws it out.

6 Many people declare themselves loyal,

but who can find someone who is ⌞really⌟ trustworthy?

20:6   Teach me true loyalty—not just words but constant trustworthiness.

7 A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity.

Blessed are his children after he is gone.

8 A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say,

“I’ve made my heart pure.

I’m cleansed from my sin”?

20:9   I can’t escape when you charge me with sin. I can’t claim to be pure, inside or out. I can’t cleanse myself, but you can. Wash me clean.

10 A double standard of weights and measures—

both are disgusting to the LORD.

11 Even a child makes himself known by his actions,

whether his deeds are pure or right.

20:11   You’ve seen the real me since my first day of life. Even though I’ve failed in the past, make me pure and right.

12 The ear that hears,

the eye that sees—

the LORD made them both.

13 Do not love sleep or you will end up poor.

Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty to eat.

14 “Bad! Bad!” says the buyer.

Then, as he goes away, he brags ⌞about his bargain⌟.

15 There are gold and plenty of jewels,

but the lips of knowledge are precious gems.

20:15   Your wise words are more precious than gemstones. Keep speaking to me.

16 Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger’s loan,

and hold responsible the person who makes a loan on behalf of a foreigner.

17 Food gained dishonestly tastes sweet to a person,

but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.

20:17   Catch me when I cheat or steal or deceive to get what I want. Don’t let me get by with anything less than honesty and integrity.

18 Plans are confirmed by getting advice,

and with guidance one wages war.

19 Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets.

Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open.

20:19   You hate gossip. Nudge me when my mouth hangs open.

20 The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother

will be snuffed out in total darkness.[22]

21 An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning

will never be blessed in the end.

22 Do not say, “I’ll get even with you!”

Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.

20:22   My bones ache to take revenge on my enemies. But I’ll wait for you to save me.

23 A double standard of weights is disgusting to the LORD,

and dishonest scales are no good.

24 The LORD is the one who directs a person’s steps.

How then can anyone understand his own way?

20:24   I need you to direct my steps. As hard as I try, I can’t find my way through life.

25 It is a trap for a person to say impulsively, “This is a holy offering!”

and later to have second thoughts about those vows.

26 A wise king scatters the wicked

and then runs them over.

27 A person’s soul is the LORD’s lamp.

It searches his entire innermost being.

20:27   You light up my soul and see everything going on inside me. Thanks that there are no secrets between us.

28 Mercy and truth protect a king,

and with mercy he maintains his throne.

29 While the glory of young men is their strength,

the splendor of older people is their silver hair.

20:29   Let me enjoy being young and strong. But let me celebrate being silver and wise.

30 Brutal beatings cleanse away wickedness.

Such beatings cleanse the innermost being.

The LORD Controls Wise and Foolish People

21

1 The king’s heart is like streams of water.

Both are under the LORD’s control.

He turns them in any direction he chooses.

2 A person thinks everything he does is right,

but the LORD weighs hearts.

3 Doing what is right and fair

is more acceptable to the LORD than offering a sacrifice.

21:2–3   I’m forever convinced I’m right, but you see the sin in my heart. Make me intent on doing right instead of looking good.

4 A conceited look and an arrogant attitude,

which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins.

21:4   You leave no room for debate—conceit and arrogance are sin.

5 The plans of a hard-working person lead to prosperity,

but everyone who is ⌞always⌟ in a hurry ends up in poverty.

6 Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time.

They are looking for death.

7 The violence of wicked people will drag them away

since they refuse to do what is just.

21:6–7   Getting rich by lying courts death. Refusing to do what is just will get me dragged away.

8 The way of a guilty person is crooked,

but the behavior of those who are pure is moral.[23]

9 Better to live on a corner of a roof

than to share a home with a quarreling woman.

21:9   Bring peace to my household before one of us needs to move to the roof.

10 The mind of a wicked person desires evil

and has no consideration for his neighbor.

11 When a mocker is punished, a gullible person becomes wise,

and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.

21:11   Help me watch and learn from the punishments others endure. Don’t let me repeat their mistakes.

12 A righteous person wisely considers the house of a wicked person.

He throws wicked people into disasters.

13 Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call and not be answered.

21:13   You always hear the cry of the poor. Don’t let me refuse their pleas.

14 A gift ⌞given⌟ in secret calms anger,

and a secret bribe calms great fury.

15 When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted,

but troublemakers are terrified.

21:15   I’m glad to see justice in this world. Troublemakers are the only ones who are terrified when good triumphs.

16 A person who wanders from the way of wise behavior

will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.

Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich.

21:17   Loving pleasure will make me poor. Expensive tastes will keep me from building wealth.

18 Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people,

and treacherous people will take the place of decent people.

19 Better to live in a desert

than with a quarreling and angry woman.

21:19   Bring peace to my marriage before one of us runs away and pitches a tent in the desert.

20 Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person,

but a fool devours them.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy

will find life, righteousness, and honor.

21:21   The only way I’ll find life and honor is by pursuing righteousness and mercy.

22 A wise man attacks a city of warriors

and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust.

23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

24 An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker.

His arrogance knows no limits.

21:24   Don’t allow me to become a mocker, a person with unlimited arrogance.

25 The desire of a lazy person will kill him

because his hands refuse to work.

26 All day long he feels greedy,

but a righteous person gives and does not hold back.

21:25–26   Laziness will kill me because I won’t ever get what I need. Compel me to hard work and generosity.

27 The sacrifice of wicked people is disgusting,

especially if they bring it with evil intent.

28 A lying witness will die,

but a person who listens to advice will continue to speak.

29 A wicked person puts up a bold front,

but a decent person’s way of life is his own security.

30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no advice

⌞can stand up⌟ against the LORD.

21:30   No amount of human wisdom or understanding or advice can stand up to you!

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to the LORD.

22

1 A good name is more desirable than great wealth.

Respect is better than silver or gold.

22:1   Help me live in a way that earns me a good reputation.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common:

the LORD is the maker of them all.

22:2   You made both the rich and the poor. You love us all the same.

3 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide ⌞from it⌟,

but gullible people go ahead and suffer ⌞the consequence⌟.

22:3   Help me be smart enough to see trouble coming and take shelter. Don’t let me be stupid and try to stand up to a storm.

4 On the heels of humility (the fear of the LORD)

are riches and honor and life.

5 A devious person has thorns and traps ahead of him.

Whoever guards himself will stay far away from them.

6 Train a child in the way he should go,

and even when he is old he will not turn away from it.

22:6   Use me to train my children in the way they should go. Even in their old age they won’t turn away.

7 A rich person rules poor people,

and a borrower is a slave to a lender.

8 Whoever plants injustice will harvest trouble,

and this weapon of his own fury will be destroyed.

9 Whoever is generous will be blessed

because he has shared his food with the poor.

22:9   I’m glad for the blessings you promise me when I’m generous. I’ll share with the poor the abundance you’ve already given me.

10 Drive out a mocker, and conflict will leave.

Quarreling and abuse will stop.

11 Whoever loves a pure heart and whoever speaks graciously

has a king as his friend.

22:11   Make me pure of heart and gracious in speech.

12 The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge,

but he overturns the words of a treacherous person.

13 A lazy person says,

“There’s a lion outside!

I’ll be murdered in the streets!”

22:13   Lazy people make up all kinds of excuses not to get up and go to work. Fill me with passion and purpose.

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit.

The one who is cursed by the LORD will fall into it.

15 Foolishness is firmly attached to a child’s heart.

Spanking will remove it far from him.

16 Oppressing the poor for profit

⌞or⌟ giving to the rich

certainly leads to poverty.

Listen to My Advice

17 Open your ears, and hear the words of wise people,

and set your mind on the knowledge I give you.

18 It is pleasant if you keep them in mind

⌞so that⌟ they will be on the tip of your tongue,

19 so that your trust may be in the LORD.

Today I have made them known to you, especially to you.

22:17–19   I open my ears to the words of wise people. I open my mind to the knowledge you impart. I’ll memorize your words so they stay on the tip of my tongue. Then I’ll trust you fully.

20 Didn’t I write to you previously with advice and knowledge

21 in order to teach you the words of truth

so that you can give an accurate report to those who send you?

Living with Your Neighbor

22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor

or trample on the rights of an oppressed person at the city gate,

23 because the LORD will plead their case

and will take the lives of those who rob them.

22:22–23   The poor and oppressed make easy targets. But if I harm them you’ll defend them.

24 Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper,

and never keep company with a hothead,

25 or you will learn his ways

and set a trap for yourself.

22:24–25   I can’t let myself be best friends with hotheads. It’s too easy to pick up their bad habits.

26 Do not be ⌞found⌟ among those who make deals with a handshake,

among those who guarantee other people’s loans.

27 If you have no money to pay back a loan,

why should your bed be repossessed?

28 Do not move an ancient boundary marker

that your ancestors set in place.

29 Do you see a person who is efficient in his work?

He will serve kings.

He will not serve unknown people.

22:29   Teach me to be efficient and get real work done. That will prepare me for greater responsibility.

23

1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,

pay close attention to what is in front of you,

2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.

3 Do not crave his delicacies,

because this is food that deceives you.

23:1–3   There’s no free lunch when I eat with important people. Give me good manners and wisdom in the gifts I accept.

4 Do not wear yourself out getting rich.

Be smart enough to stop.

5 Will you catch only a fleeting glimpse of wealth before it is gone?

It makes wings for itself like an eagle flying into the sky.

23:4–5   Warn me when I wear myself out getting rich. Make me smart enough to stop. Wealth doesn’t last.

6 Do not eat the food of one who is stingy,

and do not crave his delicacies.

7 As he calculates the cost to himself, this is what he does:

He tells you, “Eat and drink,”

but he doesn’t really mean it.

8 You will vomit the little bit you have eaten

and spoil your pleasant conversation.

23:6–8   I want to be truly generous when I share. I’m happy to see others enjoy what I give them. Alert me so I can repent of any reluctance I feel.

9 Do not talk directly to a fool,

because he will despise the wisdom of your words.

23:9   Fools don’t listen to wisdom. Tell me when I’m wasting words.

10 Do not move an ancient boundary marker

or enter fields that belong to orphans,

11 because the one who is responsible for them is strong.

He will plead their case against you.

23:10–11   I won’t cheat my neighbors or steal from the needy. You’re their defender.

Learning from Your Father

12 Live a more disciplined life,

and listen carefully to words of knowledge.

13 Do not hesitate to discipline a child.

If you spank him, he will not die.

14 Spank him yourself,

and you will save his soul from hell.

23:13–14   Teach me how to discipline my children. Let them experience your love and firmness through me.

15 My son,

if you have a wise heart,

my heart will rejoice as well.

16 My heart rejoices when you speak what is right.

23:15–16   My parents rejoice when they see my wise heart. Help me to not disappoint them.

17 Do not envy sinners in your heart.

Instead, continue to fear the LORD.

23:17   I choose to live for you with total respect rather than envy people who do wrong.

18 There is indeed a future,

and your hope will never be cut off.

19 My son,

listen, be wise,

and keep your mind going in the right direction.

20 Do not associate with those who drink too much wine,

with those who eat too much meat,

21 because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor.

Drowsiness will dress a person in rags.

23:19–21   Your wisdom keeps my mind going in the right direction. Guard me from people who drag me to drunkenness or greed or laziness.

22 Listen to your father since you are his son,

and do not despise your mother because she is old.

23 Buy truth (and do not sell it),

⌞that is,⌟ buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

23:23   I’m determined to get wisdom, discipline, and understanding. When I get hold of them I’ll never let them go.

24 A righteous person’s father will certainly rejoice.

Someone who has a wise son will enjoy him.

25 May your father and your mother be glad.

May she who gave birth to you rejoice.

26 My son,

give me your heart.

Let your eyes find happiness in my ways.

23:26   I freely give you my whole heart. Your ways make me exceedingly happy.

27 A prostitute is a deep pit.

A loose woman is a narrow well.

28 She is like a robber, lying in ambush.

She spreads unfaithfulness throughout society.

29 Who has trouble?

Who has misery?

Who has quarrels?

Who has a complaint?

Who has wounds for no reason?

Who has bloodshot eyes?

30 Those who drink glass after glass of wine

and mix it with everything.

23:29–30   Drinking too much brings trouble and misery, quarrels and complaints, pointless wounds and bloodshot eyes. Carve those facts in my mind.

31 Do not look at wine

because it is red,

because it sparkles in the cup,

because it goes down smoothly.

32 Later it bites like a snake

and strikes like a poisonous snake.

33 Your eyes will see strange sights,

and your mouth will say embarrassing things.

23:31–33   Wine sparkles in the glass and goes down smooth, but then it bites like a poisonous snake. It blurs my vision and makes my mouth say embarrassing things. Carve those facts in my mind.

34 You will be like someone lying down in the middle of the sea

or like someone lying down on top of a ship’s mast, saying,

35 “They strike me, but I feel no pain.

They beat me, but I’m not aware of it.

Whenever I wake up, I’m going to look for another drink.”

23:34–35   Too much wine makes my body heave as if I’m riding ocean waves. Someone could punch me but I wouldn’t feel pain. I’d just want another drink. Carve those facts in my mind.

24

1 Do not envy evil people

or wish you were with them,

2 because their minds plot violence,

and their lips talk trouble.

24:1–2   I won’t envy evildoers or wish I could hang out with them. In the end all they get is trouble.

3 With wisdom a house is built.

With understanding it is established.

4 With knowledge its rooms are filled

with every kind of riches, both precious and pleasant.

24:3–4   Wisdom not only builds a house but fills it with lavish riches. Build me and fill me like that.

5 A strong man knows how to use his strength,

but a person with knowledge is even more powerful.

24:5   Strong people often get what they want, but your knowledge makes me even stronger.

6 After all, with the right strategy you can wage war,

and with many advisers there is victory.

7 Matters of wisdom are beyond the grasp of a stubborn fool.

At the city gate he does not open his mouth.

8 Whoever plans to do evil will be known as a schemer.

24:8   Even worse than doing evil is scheming ahead of time how to carry it out. Clear my mind when I start planning to sin.

9 Foolish scheming is sinful,

and a mocker is disgusting to everyone.

10 If you faint in a crisis, you are weak.

11 Rescue captives condemned to death,

and spare those staggering toward their slaughter.

12 When you say, “We didn’t know this,”

won’t the one who weighs hearts take note of it?

Won’t the one who guards your soul know it?

Won’t he pay back people for what they do?

24:12   I can pretend I’ve done no wrong, but you take note when I sin. You guard my soul, so you know the evil I’ve been planning. And you pay me back for whatever I do.

13 Eat honey, my son, because it is good.

Honey that flows from the honeycomb tastes sweet.

14 The knowledge of wisdom is like that for your soul.

If you find it, then there is a future,

and your hope will never be cut off.

24:13–14   Your wisdom is like honey for my soul. I eat it because it tastes sweet. It gives me a hopeful future.

15 You wicked one,

do not lie in ambush at the home of a righteous person.

Do not rob his house.

16 A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again.

However, in a disaster wicked people fall.

17 Do not be happy when your enemy falls,

and do not feel glad when he stumbles.

18 The LORD will see it, he won’t like it,

and he will turn his anger away from that person.

24:16–18   I might fall seven times, but each time you pick me up. If I’m glad when my enemy stumbles then my attitude has become the problem.

19 Do not get overly upset with evildoers.

Do not envy wicked people,

20 because an evil person has no future,

and the lamps of wicked people will be snuffed out.

21 Fear the LORD, my son.

Fear the king as well.

Do not associate with those who always insist upon change,

22 because disaster will come to them suddenly.

Who knows what misery both may bring?

24:19–22   I won’t lose sleep over the wicked or envy their success, because you say evildoers don’t have a future. I’ll keep living in awe of you.

Learning from Wise People

23 These also are the sayings of wise people:

Showing partiality as a judge is not good.

24 Whoever says to a guilty person, “You are innocent,”

will be cursed by people and condemned by nations.

25 But people will be pleased with those who convict a guilty person,

and a great blessing will come to them.

24:23–25   You hate judges who play favorites and call the guilty innocent. Everyone knows it’s good to hold the guilty accountable.

26 Giving a straight answer is ⌞like⌟ a kiss on the lips.

24:26   Teach me to give answers as straightforward as a kiss on the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside,

and get things ready for yourself in the field.

Afterwards, build your house.

24:27   Give me wisdom to know what I should do first, second, and third.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without a reason,

and do not deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say,

“I’ll treat him as he treated me.

I’ll pay him back for what he has done to me.”

30 I passed by a lazy person’s field,

the vineyard belonging to a person without sense.

31 I saw that it was all overgrown with thistles.

The ground was covered with weeds,

and its stone fence was torn down.

32 When I observed ⌞this⌟, I took it to heart.

I saw it and learned my lesson.

33 “Just a little sleep,

just a little slumber,

just a little nap.”

34 Then your poverty will come like a drifter,

and your need will come like a bandit.

24:30–34   There’s laziness all around me—lives overgrown with weeds and left unprotected from enemies. Let that be a lesson to me. Too much sleep, and poverty will overwhelm me.

25

1 These also are Solomon’s proverbs that were copied

by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah.

Advice for Kings

2 It is the glory of God to hide things

but the glory of kings to investigate them.

3 ⌞Like⌟ the high heavens and the deep earth,

so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take the impurities out of silver,

and a vessel is ready for the silversmith to mold.

25:4   Remove the impurities from my life. Mold me into your perfect shape.

5 Take a wicked person away from the presence of a king,

and justice will make his throne secure.

6 Do not brag about yourself in front of a king

or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people,

7 because it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than to be put down in front of a prince

whom your eyes have seen.

25:6–7   I won’t assume I deserve a place of high honor. I’ll let you invite me up to a better seat rather than set myself up to be put down.

8 Do not be in a hurry to go to court.

What will you do in the end if your neighbor disgraces you?

25:8   I won’t hurry to court. I don’t want to be unnecessarily disgraced.

9 Present your argument to your neighbor,

but do not reveal another person’s secret.

10 Otherwise, when he hears about it, he will humiliate you,

and his evil report about you will never disappear.

25:9–10   I won’t tell another person’s secret. I don’t want to humiliate either of us.

11 ⌞Like⌟ golden apples in silver settings,

⌞so⌟ is a word spoken at the right time.

12 ⌞Like⌟ a gold ring and a fine gold ornament,

⌞so⌟ is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens.

25:11–12   I always want to speak the right word at the right time. I choose to welcome constructive criticism.

13 Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day,

⌞so⌟ is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him:

He refreshes his masters.

14 ⌞Like⌟ a dense fog or a dust storm,

⌞so⌟ is a person who brags about a gift that he does not give.

15 With patience you can persuade a ruler,

and a soft tongue can break bones.

25:15   Teach me to let patience do its amazing work. Remind me that a soft word is stronger than I can imagine.

16 When you find honey, eat only as much as you need.

Otherwise, you will have too much and vomit.

17 Do not set foot in your neighbor’s house too often.

Otherwise, he will see too much of you and hate you.

25:16–17   Give me good sense not to eat more sweets than I can stomach—and good sense not to overstay my welcome when I’m a guest.

18 ⌞Like⌟ a club and a sword and a sharp arrow,

⌞so⌟ is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

19 ⌞Like⌟ a broken tooth and a lame foot,

⌞so⌟ is confidence in an unfaithful person in a ⌞time of⌟ crisis.

20 ⌞Like⌟ taking off a coat on a cold day

or pouring vinegar on baking soda,

so is singing songs to one who has an evil heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him some water to drink.

22 ⌞In this way⌟ you will make him feel guilty and ashamed,

and the LORD will reward you.

25:21–22   Give me graciousness and generosity toward my enemies. I’ll feed their hunger, quench their thirst, and trust you to change their hearts.

23 ⌞As⌟ the north wind brings rain,

so a whispering tongue brings angry looks.

24 Better to live on a corner of a roof

than to share a home with a quarreling woman.

25 ⌞Like⌟ cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from far away.

25:25   Send me good news I don’t expect. It will be a cup of cold water to my thirsty soul.

26 ⌞Like⌟ a muddied spring and a polluted well,

⌞so⌟ is a righteous person who gives in to a wicked person.

25:26   When I give in to an evildoer I’m like a muddied spring. Purify me and help me stand up for what’s right.

27 Eating too much honey is not good,

and searching for honor is not honorable.[24]

28 ⌞Like⌟ a city broken into ⌞and⌟ left without a wall,

⌞so⌟ is a person who lacks self-control.

25:28   My lack of self-control exposes me like an unprotected city. Train me to take charge of myself!

All about Fools

26

1 Like snow in summertime and rain at harvest time,

so honor is not right for a fool.

26:1   No fool deserves honor. Help me rise above my foolishness.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow,

like a darting swallow,

so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.

3 A whip is for the horse,

a bridle is for the donkey,

and a rod is for the backs of fools.

26:3   I don’t want to be a fool who needs harsh discipline. I’ll respond quickly to your commands!

4 Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity,

or you will be like him.

26:4   If I answer stupid with stupid, I’ve become a fool. Don’t let me stoop to that.

5 Answer a fool with his own stupidity,

or he will think he is wise.

6 Whoever uses a fool to send a message

cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.

7 ⌞Like⌟ a lame person’s limp legs,

so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

8 Like tying a stone to a sling,

so is giving honor to a fool.

9 ⌞Like⌟ a thorn stuck in a drunk’s hand,

so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

10 ⌞Like⌟ many people who destroy everything,

so is one who hires fools or drifters.

11 As a dog goes back to its vomit,

⌞so⌟ a fool repeats his stupidity.

26:11   Teach me to recognize stupidity the first time around, so I don’t make the same mistake twice.

12 Have you met a person who thinks he is wise?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 A lazy person says,

“There’s a ferocious lion out on the road!

There’s a lion loose in the streets!”

14 ⌞As⌟ a door turns on its hinges,

so the lazy person turns on his bed.

15 A lazy person puts his fork in his food.

He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.

26:14–15   Wake me from my slumber when I make rest and recreation the most important part of my life.

16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.

26:16   Give me the sense to realize I’m never wiser than a group of sensible people.

17 ⌞Like⌟ grabbing a dog by the ears,

⌞so⌟ is a bystander who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel.

18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,

19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

26:18–19   When I say, “I was only joking!” I’m like a madman shooting flaming arrows of death. I’ll say what I mean and mean what I say.

20 Without wood a fire goes out,

and without gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 ⌞As⌟ charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire,

so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.

22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,

and they go down into a person’s innermost being.

26:22   Confront me when I greedily swallow gossip. Slanderous words poison me and all of my relationships.

23 ⌞Like⌟ a clay pot covered with cheap silver,

⌞so⌟ is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.

24 Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech,

but inside he holds on to deceit.

25 When he talks charmingly, do not trust him

because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.

26 His hatred is deceitfully hidden,

but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.

26:23–26   Smooth talkers conceal the evil in their hearts. They disguise the deceit inside them. Help me see through their charm. Then I’ll know enough not to trust them.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.

Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

All about Life

27

1 Do not brag about tomorrow,

because you do not know what another day may bring.

27:1   I won’t brag about tomorrow because I don’t know what it will bring. But I count on you to go with me no matter what I face.

2 Praise should come from another person and not from your own mouth,

from a stranger and not from your own lips.

27:2   Alert me when I don’t realize I’m boasting. I’ll wait to hear praise from the lips of others.

3 A stone is heavy, and sand weighs a lot,

but annoyance caused by a stubborn fool is heavier than both.

4 Anger is cruel, and fury is overwhelming,

but who can survive jealousy?

5 Open criticism is better than unexpressed love.

6 Wounds made by a friend are intended to help,

but an enemy’s kisses are too much to bear.[25]

27:5–6   Friends wound me to help me. But don’t let me fall for enemies who blow me a kiss.

7 One who is full despises honey,

but to one who is hungry,

even bitter food tastes sweet.

8 Like a bird wandering from its nest,

so is a husband wandering from his home.

9 Perfume and incense make the heart glad,

but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest.[26]

10 Do not abandon your friend or your father’s friend.

Do not go to a relative’s home when you are in trouble.

A neighbor living nearby is better than a relative far away.

27:9–10   Perfume is sweet but a true friend is even sweeter. Teach me to value friends nearby who give me everyday help.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad

so that I can answer anyone who criticizes me.

12 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide.

Gullible people go ahead ⌞and⌟ suffer.

27:12   Let me see trouble coming and find a good place to hide.

13 Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger’s loan,

and hold responsible the person

who makes a loan in behalf of a foreigner.

14 Whoever blesses his friend early in the morning with a loud voice—

his blessing is considered a curse.

27:14   I want to be a true blessing to all of my friends. Show me when my efforts fall short, and teach me fresh ways to love.

15 Constantly dripping water on a rainy day is like a quarreling woman.

16 Whoever can control her can control the wind.

He can even pick up olive oil with his right hand.[27]

17 ⌞As⌟ iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens the wits of another.

27:17   I need people to keep me sharp. Help me find friends and mentors and role models who will partner with me in following you.

18 Whoever takes care of a fig tree can eat its fruit,

and whoever protects his master is honored.

19 As a face is reflected in water,

so a person is reflected by his heart.

20 Hell and decay are never satisfied,

and a person’s eyes are never satisfied.

27:20   I know my eyes can long for more and more of everything. I’ll practice being content with what I have.

21 The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold,

but a person ⌞is tested⌟ by the praise given to him.

22 If you crush a stubborn fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,[28]

⌞even then⌟ his stupidity will not leave him.

27:22   I’ll submit to you and learn from you willingly. You won’t need to crush me to rid me of stupidity.

23 Be fully aware of the condition of your flock,

and pay close attention to your herds.

24 Wealth is not forever.

Nor does a crown last from one generation to the next.

25 ⌞When⌟ grass is cut short, the tender growth appears,

and vegetables are gathered on the hills.

26 Lambs ⌞will provide⌟ you with clothing,

and the money from the male goats will buy a field.

27 There will be enough goat milk to feed you,

to feed your family,

and to keep your servant girls alive.

27:25–27   Open my eyes to all the resources you’ve given me. They’re gifts from you to keep me alive.

28

1 A wicked person flees when no one is chasing him,

but righteous people are as bold as lions.

28:1   I’m bold as a lion but only because you back me up. No matter what I face I won’t flee in fear.

2 When a country is in revolt, it has many rulers,

but only with a person who has understanding and knowledge

will it last a long time.

28:2   Bring our country together. Give us leaders who get us all going in the right direction.

3 A poor person who oppresses poorer people

is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who abandon ⌞God’s⌟ teachings praise wicked people,

but those who follow ⌞God’s⌟ teachings oppose wicked people.

5 Evil people do not understand justice,

but those who seek the LORD understand everything.

28:5   Keep me from thinking only about me. Teach me about justice. Show me what I can do to make the world more just.

6 Better to be a poor person who has integrity

than to be rich and double-dealing.

7 Whoever follows ⌞God’s⌟ teachings is a wise son.

Whoever associates with gluttons disgraces his father.

8 Whoever becomes wealthy through ⌞unfair⌟ loans and interest

collects them for the one who is kind to the poor.

28:8   If I gain wealth unfairly, I know you’ll give it to someone else—someone who is kind to the poor.

9 Surely the prayer of someone who refuses

to listen to ⌞God’s⌟ teachings is disgusting.

28:9   My prayers disgust you if I refuse to follow your teachings.

10 Whoever leads decent people into evil will fall into his own pit,

but innocent people will inherit good things.

11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor person with understanding sees right through him.

28:11   Having a lot of money doesn’t mean someone is wise. I’ll listen to anyone who has genuine understanding.

12 When righteous people triumph, there is great glory,

but when wicked people rise, people hide themselves.

13 Whoever covers over his sins does not prosper.

Whoever confesses and abandons them receives compassion.

14 Blessed is the one who is always fearful ⌞of sin⌟,

but whoever is hard-hearted falls into disaster.

28:13–14   As long as I hide my sin I won’t prosper. So I’ll confess and abandon everything that goes against your commands. I trust in your compassion. I’m blessed to have a healthy fear of sin.

15 ⌞Like⌟ a roaring lion and a charging bear,

⌞so⌟ a wicked ruler is a threat to poor people.

16 A leader without understanding taxes ⌞his people⌟ heavily,

but those who hate unjust gain will live longer.

17 A person burdened with the guilt of murder

will be a fugitive down to his grave.

No one will help him.

18 Whoever lives honestly will be safe.

Whoever lives dishonestly will fall all at once.

28:18   Honesty keeps me safe. Dishonesty always puts me in a precarious place.

19 Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat.

Whoever chases unrealistic dreams will have plenty of nothing.

28:19   You provide me with plenty when I work hard.Show me when my dreams are unrealistic.

20 A trustworthy person has many blessings,

but anyone in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment.

21 Showing partiality is not good,

because some people will turn on you even for a piece of bread.

28:20–21   Let me enjoy the blessings of being regarded as trustworthy. Teach me to not play favorites but to show fairness to everyone.

22 A stingy person is in a hurry to get rich,

not realizing that poverty is about to overtake him.

23 Whoever criticizes people will be more highly regarded in the future

than the one who flatters with his tongue.

28:23   Nobody will take me seriously if I make a habit of flattery. Train me to offer helpful criticism in the right time and right way.

24 The one who robs his father or his mother

and says, “It isn’t wrong!” is a companion to a vandal.

25 A greedy person stirs up a fight,

but whoever trusts the LORD prospers.

26 Whoever trusts his own heart is a fool.

Whoever walks in wisdom will survive.

27 Whoever gives to the poor lacks nothing.

Whoever ignores the poor receives many curses.

28:25–27   Greed urges me to stir up fights to get what I want. But I’ll trust you to prosper me. I’ll rely on you to guide me. I’ll look for ways to give to the poor.

28 When wicked people rise, people hide.

When they die, righteous people increase.

29

1 A person who will not bend after many warnings

will suddenly be broken beyond repair.

29:1   I’ll flex when you warn me and bend your way. Rejecting your warnings will break me beyond repair.

2 When righteous people increase, the people ⌞of God⌟ rejoice,

but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans.

29:2   Build up your people to be your righteous and wholehearted followers. We’ll all rejoice to see what you do!

3 A person who loves wisdom makes his father happy,

but one who pays prostitutes wastes his wealth.

4 By means of justice, a king builds up a country,

but a person who confiscates religious contributions tears it down.

5 A person who flatters his neighbor

is spreading a net for him to step into.

6 To an evil person sin is bait in a trap,

but a righteous person runs away from it[29] and is glad.

29:6   Sin pulls me in like bait in a trap. Alert me to the dangers of temptation. I’ll run away and be glad!

7 A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor.

A wicked person does not understand this.

29:7   I understand the just complaints of the poor. I’ll defend the needy every chance I get.

8 Mockers create an uproar in a city,

but wise people turn away anger.

9 When a wise person goes to court with a stubborn fool,

he may rant and rave,

but there is no peace and quiet.

10 Bloodthirsty people hate an innocent person,

but decent people seek ⌞to protect⌟ his life.

11 A fool expresses all his emotions,

but a wise person controls them.

29:11   Train me to keep my emotions in check. Teach me the right time and way to express them.

12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,

all his servants become wicked.

13 A poor person and an oppressor have this in common:

The LORD gives both of them sight.

14 When a king judges the poor with honesty,

his throne will always be secure.

29:14   You’ll make me secure when I treat the poor with honesty. Help me see when I’m anything less than honest.

15 A spanking and a warning produce wisdom,

but an undisciplined child disgraces his mother.

16 When wicked people increase, crime increases,

but righteous people will witness their downfall.

17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace of mind.

He will bring delight to your soul.

29:17   I’ll choose to discipline my children for their long-term good. In the end I’ll enjoy peace of mind.

18 Without prophetic vision people run wild,

but blessed are those who follow ⌞God’s⌟ teachings.

29:18   Speak to your people and lead us. We’ll follow you wherever you want us to go.

19 A slave cannot be disciplined with words.

He will not respond, though he may understand.

20 Have you met a person who is quick to answer?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 Pamper a slave from childhood,

and later he will be ungrateful.[30]

22 An angry person stirs up a fight,

and a hothead does much wrong.

23 A person’s pride will humiliate him,

but a humble spirit gains honor.

29:22–23   I’ll cool my temper rather than do wrong. I’ll silence my pride before I humiliate myself.

24 Whoever is a thief’s partner hates his own life.

He will not testify under oath.

25 A person’s fear sets a trap ⌞for him⌟,

but one who trusts the LORD is safe.

29:25   Fear will trap and destroy me. I’ll trust in you and live unafraid.

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,

but justice for humanity comes from the LORD.

29:26   Everyone looks to powerful people for justice. But I’ll rely on you for real help.

27 An unjust person is disgusting to righteous people.

A decent person is disgusting to wicked people.

30

1 The words of Agur, son of Jakeh. Agur’s prophetic revelation.

Agur Speaks about God

[To God]

This man’s declaration:

“I’m weary, O God.

I’m weary and worn out, O God.

2 I’m more ⌞like⌟ a dumb animal than a human being.

I don’t ⌞even⌟ have human understanding.

3 I haven’t learned wisdom.

I don’t have knowledge of the Holy One.[31]

30:1–3   I feel weary when I lack a living knowledge of you. I haven’t mastered your wisdom and can’t claim great human understanding. I’m more like a dumb animal than a human being.

[To the audience]

4 “Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered the wind in the palm of his hand?

Who has wrapped water in a garment?

Who has set up the earth from one end to the other?

What is his name or the name of his son?

Certainly, you must know!

30:4   You dwell in heaven and come down to earth. You created earth from end to end. You are God’s Son.

5 “Every word of God has proven to be true.

He is a shield to those who come to him for protection.

6 Do not add to his words,

or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar.

30:5–6   Your every word proves true. I can’t add a single thought to what you say.

A Prayer

[To God]

7 “I’ve asked you for two things.

Don’t keep them from me before I die:

8 Keep vanity and lies far away from me.

Don’t give me either poverty or riches.

Feed me ⌞only⌟ the food I need,

9 or I may feel satisfied and deny you

and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’

or I may become poor and steal

and give the name of my God a bad reputation.

30:7–9   Keep me in a place where I need you—make me not too rich or too poor. If I have too much I won’t rely on you. If I have too little I’ll grow desperate and sin.

Against Slander

[To the audience]

10 “Do not slander a slave to his master.

The slave will curse you,

and you will be found guilty.”

Four Kinds of People

11 A certain kind of person curses his father

and does not bless his mother.

12 A certain kind of person thinks he is pure

but is not washed from his own feces.[32]

13 A certain kind of person looks around arrogantly

and is conceited.

14 A certain kind of person,

whose teeth are like swords

and whose jaws are ⌞like⌟ knives,

devours oppressed people from the earth

and people from among humanity.

30:11–14   Make me fully devoted to my whole family. Keep changing me until I’m truly unsoiled. Challenge me when I look down on others. And soften my sharp words.

Human Bloodsuckers

15 The bloodsucking leech has two daughters—“Give!” and “Give!”

Four Things That Are Never Satisfied

Three things are never satisfied.

Four never say, “Enough!”:

16 the grave,

a barren womb,

a land that never gets enough water,

a fire that does not say, “Enough!”

30:15–16   Shield me from harsh demands that won’t go away. Protect me from death and barrenness, from drought and raging fire.

Disrespectful Children—Their Punishment

17 The eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother

will be plucked out by ravens in the valley and eaten by young vultures.

30:17   Teach me to respect my father and mother. Don’t let me lose my sight.

Four Things of Intrigue

18 Three things are too amazing to me,

even four that I cannot understand:

19 an eagle making its way through the sky,

a snake making its way over a rock,

a ship making its way through high seas,

a man making his way with a virgin.

30:18–19   You created a world I can’t begin to understand—a place of slyness and flight, of adventure and love.

About the Woman Who Commits Adultery

20 This is the way of a woman who commits adultery:

She eats, wipes her mouth,

and says, “I haven’t done anything wrong!”

30:20   Compel me to admit my sin. Don’t let me get away with transgressions large or small.

Four Things That Are Intolerable

21 Three things cause the earth to tremble,

even four it cannot bear up under:

22 a slave when he becomes king,

a godless fool when he is filled with food,

23 a woman who is unloved when she gets married,

a maid when she replaces her mistress.

Four Things That Are Small—Yet Smart and Strong

24 Four things on earth are small,

yet they are very wise:

25 Ants are not a strong species,

yet they store their food in summer.

26 Rock badgers are not a mighty species,

yet they make their home in the rocks.

27 Locusts have no king,

yet all of them divide into swarms by instinct.

28 A lizard you can hold in your hands,

yet it can even be found in royal palaces.

30:24–28   Give me the wisdom I see in your creation. Teach me to plan ahead, to create a safe home, to work well with my companions, to be bold and daring.

Four Things That Move with Dignity

29 There are three things that walk with dignity,

even four that march with dignity:

30 a lion, mightiest among animals, which turns away from nothing,

31 a strutting rooster,[33]

a male goat,

a king at the head of his army.[34]

30:29–31   Give me the dignity I see in your creation. When I feel beaten down, help me walk with self-respect.

Keep Calm and Quiet

32 If you are such a godless fool as to honor yourself,

or if you scheme,

you had better put your hand over your mouth.

30:32   Teach me humility when I get out of hand in honoring myself. I’ll start by silencing my boasting mouth.

33 As churning milk produces butter

and punching a nose produces blood,

so stirring up anger[35] produces a fight.

31

1 The sayings of King Lemuel, a prophetic revelation, used by his mother to discipline him.

Advice to a Prince

2 “What, my son?

What, son to whom I gave birth?

What, son of my prayers?

3 Don’t give your strength to women

or your power to those who ruin kings.

4 “It is not for kings, Lemuel.

It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor.

5 Otherwise, they drink and forget what they have decreed

and change the standard of justice for all oppressed people.

31:4–5   Remind me of the risks of alcohol—making me forget my own important decisions and causing me to lower my standards of how I treat others.

6 Give liquor to a person who is dying

and wine to one who feels resentful.

7 Such a person drinks

and forgets his poverty

and does not remember his trouble anymore.

8 “Speak out for the one who cannot speak,

for the rights of those who are doomed.

9 Speak out,

judge fairly,

and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people.”

31:8–9   I’ll find ways to speak up for people who can’t speak up for themselves. I’ll defend the rights of the oppressed and needy.

A Poem in Hebrew Alphabetical Order

10 “Who can find a wife with a strong character?

She is worth far more than jewels.

11 Her husband trusts her with ⌞all⌟ his heart,

and he does not lack anything good.

12 She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life.

31:10–12   Discipline me so I develop strong character. Make me worthy of the total trust of others. Every day of my life I want to be a source of help, not harm.

13 “She seeks out wool and linen ⌞with care⌟

and works with willing hands.

14 She is like merchant ships.

She brings her food from far away.

15 She wakes up while it is still dark

and gives food to her family

and portions of food to her female slaves.

16 “She picks out a field and buys it.

She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned.

17 She puts on strength like a belt

and goes to work with energy.

18 She sees that she is making a good profit.

Her lamp burns late at night.

31:13–18   I can’t provide for my family without your help. I need your strength to work hard and long. I need your wisdom to earn a living.

19 “She puts her hands on the distaff,

and her fingers hold a spindle.

20 She opens her hands to oppressed people

and stretches them out to needy people.

21 She does not fear for her family when it snows

because her whole family

has a double layer of clothing.

22 She makes quilts for herself.

Her clothes are ⌞made of⌟ linen and purple cloth.

31:20–22   With your help I’ll give generously to the oppressed and needy. I’ll shelter my own family and keep them warm. I’ll provide them with good things.

23 “Her husband is known at the city gates

when he sits with the leaders of the land.

24 “She makes linen garments and sells them

and delivers belts to the merchants.

25 She dresses with strength and nobility,

and she smiles at the future.

26 “She speaks with wisdom,

and on her tongue there is tender instruction.

31:25–26   I dream of strength and nobility and optimism. I want wisdom for myself and others. I need watchful eyes for my family and energy for work. Increase those qualities in me.

27 She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family,

and she does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children and her husband

stand up and bless her.

In addition, he sings her praises, by saying,

29 ‘Many women have done noble work,

but you have surpassed them all!’

30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates,

⌞but⌟ a woman who has the fear of the LORD should be praised.

31:27–30   Make me a blessing and not a burden. I want my work to stand out. Give me enduring character as I live in awe of you.

31 Reward her for what she has done,

and let her achievements praise her at the city gates.”

ECCLESIASTES

INTRODUCTION

Ecclesiastes explores the meaning of life. This book introduces Solomon, David’s son and king of Jerusalem, as “the spokesman” or teacher. Remembered as the wisest and wealthiest ruler of his day (2 Chronicles 9:22–24), Solomon has ready access to everything he needs to search out life’s purpose. Yet everything he sees points him to one conclusion. “Absolutely pointless!” he says. “Everything is pointless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

As the spokesman launches into a lifetime of personal research, he tries to make himself feel better with wine. He experiments with foolishness. He outdoes his neighbors with accomplishments and acquisitions, and he denies himself no pleasure. Yet he surveys it all and deems it pointless, like trying to catch wind. “I gained nothing from any of my accomplishments,” he reports (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

The spokesman sees that good and evil happen to people whether they live wisely or foolishly. He studies suffering and oppression and suggests it would be better to never have been born. He notices that lovers of money never rest, so it’s best to enjoy life’s simple things—to eat, drink, and love. This is the lot of human beings.

At the end of all his searching, the spokesman comes to a sole conclusion. The only worthwhile approach to life is to “fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Praying Ecclesiastes compels you to talk to God about life’s frustrations and futility. It gives you opportunity to search out true meaning and say thanks to the Lord for his simple gifts.

ECCLESIASTES

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12

Introducing the Spokesman

1

1 The words of the spokesman, the son of David and the king in Jerusalem.

The Theme

2 “Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless.”

Life Is an Endless Circle

3 What do people gain from all their hard work under the sun?

4 Generations come, and generations go,

but the earth lasts forever.

5 The sun rises, and the sun sets,

and then it rushes back to the place where it will rise ⌞again⌟.

6 The wind blows toward the south and shifts toward the north.

Round and round it blows. It blows in a full circle.

7 All streams flow into the sea, but the sea is never full.

The water goes back to the place where the streams began

in order to ⌞start⌟ flowing again.

8 All of these sayings are worn-out phrases. They are more than anyone can express, comprehend, or understand.

9 Whatever has happened before will happen ⌞again⌟. Whatever has been done before will be done ⌞again⌟. There is nothing new under the sun. 10 Can you say that anything is new? It has already been here long before us. 11 Nothing from the past is remembered. Even in the future, nothing will be remembered by those who come after us.

1:1–11   Everything feels pointless. People live and die. The sun goes up and down. The wind blows back and forth. There’s never anything new, and no one will remember I was here.

The Spokesman Begins to Study Everything under Heaven

12 I, the spokesman, have been king of Israel in Jerusalem. 13 With all my heart I used wisdom to study and explore everything done under heaven.

The Spokesman’s General Conclusion

Mortals are weighed down with a terrible burden that God has placed on them. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun. Look at it! It’s all pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

15 No one can straighten what is bent.

No one can count what is not there.

1:12–15   Everything feels pointless. It’s like trying to catch the wind. Help me figure this out!

The Spokesman Begins to Study Life

16 I thought to myself, “I have grown wiser than anyone who ⌞has ruled⌟ Jerusalem before me. I’ve had a lot of experience with wisdom and knowledge.” 17 I’ve used my mind to understand wisdom and knowledge as well as madness and stupidity. ⌞Now⌟ I know that this is ⌞like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

18 With a lot of wisdom ⌞comes⌟ a lot of heartache.

The greater ⌞your⌟ knowledge, the greater ⌞your⌟ pain.

1:16–18   I’ve used my mind to understand wisdom and knowledge. I’ve probed madness and stupidity. It’s like trying to catch the wind. The more I know, the greater my pain.

The Spokesman Studies Laughter

2

1 I thought to myself, “Now I want to experiment with pleasure and enjoy myself.” But even this was pointless.

2 I thought, “Laughter doesn’t make any sense. What does pleasure accomplish?”

The Spokesman Studies Wine

3 I explored ways to make myself feel better by drinking wine. I also explored ways to do ⌞some⌟ foolish things. During all that time, wisdom continued to control my mind. I was able to determine whether this was good for mortals to do during their brief lives under heaven.

2:1–3   I’ve experimented with pleasure and enjoyment, but laughter made no sense. I got drunk and did foolish things.

The Spokesman Studies Personal Achievements

4 I accomplished some great things:

I built houses for myself.

I planted vineyards for myself.

5 I made gardens and parks for myself.

I planted every kind of fruit tree in them.

6 I made pools to water the forest of growing trees.

7 I bought male and female slaves.

In addition, slaves were born in my household.

I owned more herds and flocks

than anyone in Jerusalem before me.

8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself.

I gathered the treasures of kings and provinces.

I provided myself with male and female singers

and the pleasures men have with one concubine[1] after another.

9 So I grew richer than anyone in Jerusalem before me. Yet, my wisdom remained with me. 10 If something appealed to me, I did it. I allowed myself to have any pleasure I wanted, since I found pleasure in my work. This was my reward for all my hard work.

11 But when I turned to look at all that I had accomplished and all the hard work I had put into it, I saw that it was all pointless. ⌞It was like⌟ trying to catch the wind. I gained nothing ⌞from any of my accomplishments⌟ under the sun.

2:4–11   I’ve accomplished more than most people. I built and bought. I piled up treasure and pleasure. But everything I’ve done feels pointless. It’s like trying to catch the wind.

Death Is the Common Destiny of All Life

12 Then I turned ⌞my attention⌟ to experience wisdom, madness, and foolishness. For instance, what can the man who replaces the king do? Only what has already been done. 13 But I saw that wisdom has an advantage over foolishness as light has an advantage over darkness. 14 A wise person uses the eyes in his head, but a fool walks in the dark. But I have also come to realize that the same destiny waits for both of them.

15 I thought to myself, “⌞If⌟ the destiny that waits for the fool waits for me as well, then what is the advantage in being wise?” So I thought that even this is pointless.

Without God Everything Is Pointless

16 Neither the wise person nor the fool will be remembered for long, since both will be forgotten in the days to come. Both the wise person and the fool will die. 17 So I came to hate life because everything done under the sun seemed wrong to me. Everything was pointless. ⌞It was like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

2:12–17   Even kings don’t get to do anything new. Even though it’s better to be a philosopher than a fool, the same destiny awaits both. Both will be forgotten. Everything I’ve done feels pointless. It’s like trying to catch the wind.

18 I came to hate everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun, because I will have to leave it to the person who replaces me. 19 Who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? He will still have control over everything under the sun for which I worked so hard and used my wisdom. Even this is pointless.

20 Then I fell into despair over everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun. 21 Here is someone who had worked hard with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. Yet, he must turn over his estate to someone else, who didn’t work for it. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

22 What do people get from all of their hard work and struggles under the sun? 23 Their entire life is filled with pain, and their work is unbearable. Even at night their minds don’t rest. Even this is pointless.

2:18–23   My possessions seem worthless in the long run. I wonder if anything I do has lasting worth.

With God Even the Simplest Things Have a Point

24 There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God. 25 Who can eat or enjoy themselves without God? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting ⌞wealth⌟. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases God. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

2:24–26   Thank you for simple things. Everything I enjoy comes from you.

Everything in God’s Own Time

3

1 Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and

a time to die,

a time to plant and

a time to pull out what was planted,

3 a time to kill and

a time to heal,

a time to tear down and

a time to build up,

4 a time to cry and

a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and

a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and

a time to gather them,[2]

a time to hug and

a time to stop hugging,

6 a time to start looking and

a time to stop looking,

a time to keep and

a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear apart and

a time to sew together,

a time to keep quiet and

a time to speak out,

8 a time to love and

a time to hate,

a time for war and

a time for peace.

3:1–8   You’ve appointed a time for everything—to be born and to die, to cry and to laugh, to love and to hate. You decide when everything should happen.

God Gives Mortals a Sense of Eternity

9 What do working people gain from their hard labor? 10 I have seen mortals weighed down with a burden that God has placed on them. 11 It is beautiful how God has done everything at the right time. He has put a sense of eternity in people’s minds. Yet, mortals still can’t grasp what God is doing from the beginning to the end ⌞of time⌟.

3:9–11   You weigh down mortals with burdens. You put eternity in people’s minds. But no one can grasp your plans.

12 I realize that there’s nothing better for them to do than to be cheerful and enjoy what is good in their lives. 13 It is a gift from God to be able to eat and drink and experience the good that comes from every kind of hard work.

14 I realize that whatever God does will last forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away from it. God does this so that people will fear him.

15 Whatever has happened ⌞in the past⌟ is present now. Whatever is going to happen ⌞in the future⌟ has already happened ⌞in the past⌟. God will call the past to account.[3]

3:12–15   There’s nothing better than to be cheerful and enjoy life. It’s your gift to eat and drink and experience the results of hard work.

Humans and Animals Meet the Same End

16 I saw something else under the sun:

There is wickedness where justice should be found.

There is wickedness where righteousness should be found.

17 I thought to myself, “God will judge righteous people as well as wicked people, because there is a specific time for every activity and every work that is done.” 18 I thought to myself, “God is going to test humans in order to show them that they are ⌞like⌟ animals.” 19 Humans and animals have the same destiny. One dies just like the other. All of them have the same breath ⌞of life⌟. Humans have no advantage over animals. All ⌞of life⌟ is pointless. 20 All ⌞life⌟ goes to the same place. All ⌞life⌟ comes from the ground, and all of it goes back to the ground. 21 Who knows whether a human spirit goes upward or whether an animal spirit goes downward to the earth?

22 I saw that there’s nothing better for people to do than to enjoy their work because that is their lot ⌞in life⌟. Who will allow them to see what will happen after them?

3:16–22   I see wickedness where I expect justice. Everyone seems to meet the same end. People and animals all end up in the ground. There’s nothing better to do than enjoy the work you give me.

Better Not to Have Been Born

4

1 Next, I turned to look at all the acts of oppression that make people suffer under the sun. Look at the tears of those who suffer! No one can comfort them. Their oppressors have ⌞all⌟ the power. No one can comfort those who suffer. 2 I congratulate the dead, who have already died, rather than the living, who still have to carry on. 3 But the person who hasn’t been born yet is better off than both of them. He hasn’t seen the evil that is done under the sun.

4:1–3   I studied oppressive acts and came away convinced that oppressors have all the power. Nothing can wipe away the tears of suffering. It seems better to never live than to witness so much evil.

Hard Work Versus Laziness

4 Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind. 5 A fool folds his hands and wastes away. 6 One handful of peace and quiet is better than two handfuls of hard work and of trying to catch the wind.

Those Who Are All Alone

7 Next, I turned to look at something pointless under the sun: 8 There are people who are all alone. They have no children or other family members. So there is no end to all the hard work they have to do. Their eyes are never satisfied with riches. But ⌞they never ask themselves⌟ why they are working so hard and depriving themselves of good things. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

4:4–8   I’ve noticed that hard work comes from human rivalries. Some people never stop working and end up alone. They miss the best things of life. It all seems pointless.

Two Are Better Than One

9 Two people are better than one because ⌞together⌟ they have a good reward for their hard work. 10 If one falls, the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for the one who is ⌞all⌟ alone when he falls. There is no one to help him get up. 11 Again, if two people lie down together, they can keep warm, but how can one person keep warm? 12 Though one person may be overpowered by another, two people can resist one opponent. A triple-braided rope is not easily broken.

Rulers and Fickle Citizens

13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than an old, foolish king who won’t take advice any longer.

14 A young man came out of prison to rule as king, even though he had been born in poverty in that same kingdom. 15 I saw all living people moving about under the sun. They sided with the second young man, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all those people, everyone whom he led.[4] But those who will come later will not be happy with the successor. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

4:9–16   It’s not good to be alone. Two people make good partners for life. And it’s better to be poor and wise than old and foolish. Am I making any sense?

Don’t Daydream or Speak Carelessly When You Worship

5  [5]

1 Watch your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are unaware that they are doing ⌞something⌟ evil.

2 Don’t be in a hurry to talk. Don’t be eager to speak in the presence of God. Since God is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words.

3 Daydreaming comes when there are too many worries.

Careless speaking comes when there are too many words.

4 When you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it because God doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise. 5 It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth talk you into committing a sin. Don’t say in the presence of a ⌞temple⌟ messenger, “My promise was a mistake!” Why should God become angry at your excuse and destroy what you’ve accomplished?

7 In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, you should still fear God.

5:1–7   I’ll watch my step when I worship you. I won’t be quick to open my mouth and commit sin. I’ll do my best to give you my awestruck respect.

Corrupt Officials Have Corrupt Officials over Them

8 Don’t be surprised if you see poor people being oppressed, denied justice, or denied their rights in any district. One authority is watching over another, and they both have authorities watching over them. 9 Yet, a king is an advantage for a country with cultivated fields.[6]

5:8–9   Injustice is no surprise. But I grieve for the oppressed.

The Value of Money

10 Whoever loves money will never be satisfied with money. Whoever loves wealth will never be satisfied with more income. Even this is pointless. 11 As the number of goods increase, so do the number of people who consume them. What do owners gain ⌞from all their goods⌟ except ⌞the opportunity⌟ to look at them?

12 The sleep of working people is sweet, whether they eat a little or a lot. But the full stomachs that rich people have will not allow them to sleep.

Economic Ruin

13 There is a painful tragedy that I have seen under the sun: Riches lead to the downfall of those who hoard them. 14 These hoarded riches were then lost in bad business deals. The owners had children, but now they have nothing to give them. 15 They came from their mother’s womb naked. They will leave as naked as they came. They won’t even be able to take a handful of their earnings with them from all their hard work.

5:10–13   If I love money, I’ll never be satisfied with what I have. Hoarding riches will lead to my downfall.

16 This also is a painful tragedy: They leave exactly as they came. What advantage do they gain from working so hard for the wind? 17 They spend their entire lives in darkness, in constant frustration, sickness, and resentment.

5:13–17   Chasing wealth brings nothing but darkness, frustration, sickness, and resentment. I was born naked, and I’ll die naked.

Conclusion: God Alone Gives Contentment

18 At last I have seen what is good and beautiful: It is to eat and drink and to enjoy the good in all our hard work under the sun during the brief lives God gives us. That is our lot ⌞in life⌟. 19 It is a gift from God when God gives some people wealth and possessions, the power to enjoy them, ⌞the ability⌟ to accept their lot in life, and ⌞the ability⌟ to rejoice in their own hard work. 20 These people won’t give much thought to their brief lives because God keeps them occupied with the joy in their hearts.

5:18–20   I’ve seen the best of what’s good and beautiful—it’s to eat and drink and enjoy hard work. You might give me wealth in my brief life. But I’ll stay focused on life’s most important things.

The Rich Person and the Stillborn Baby

6

1 There is a tragedy that I have seen under the sun. It is a terrible one for mortals. 2 God gives one person riches, wealth, and honor so that he doesn’t lack anything he wants. Yet, God doesn’t give him the power to enjoy any of them. Instead, a stranger enjoys them. This is pointless and is a painful tragedy.

3 Suppose a rich person wasn’t satisfied with good things ⌞while he was alive⌟ and didn’t even get an honorable burial ⌞after he died⌟. Suppose he had a hundred children and lived for many years. No matter how long he would have lived, it ⌞still⌟ would have been better for him to have been born dead. 4 A stillborn baby arrives in a pointless birth and goes out into the darkness. The darkness then hides its name. 5 Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, the baby finds more rest than the rich person. 6 Even if the rich person lives two thousand years without experiencing anything good—don’t we all go to the same place?

6:1–6   Sometimes you give wealth without the power to enjoy it. A rich person’s money goes to a stranger. This makes no sense.

More Pointless Challenges

7 Everything that people work so hard for goes into their mouths, but their appetite is never satisfied.

8 What advantage does a wise person have over a fool? What advantage does a poor person have in knowing how to face life?

9 It is better to look at what is in front of you than to go looking for what you want. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

10 Whatever has happened ⌞in the past⌟ already has a name. Mortals are already known for what they are. Mortals cannot argue with the one who is stronger than they.

11 The more words there are, the more pointless they become. What advantage do mortals gain from this? 12 Who knows what may be good for mortals while they are alive, during the brief, pointless days they live? Mortals pass by like a shadow. Who will tell them about their future under the sun?

6:7–12   Hardworking people never have enough. Wisdom is no better than foolishness. It’s better to enjoy what’s in front of me than to go chase other things. Will you give purpose to my days?

Proverbs about Life

7

1 A good name is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you’re born. 2 It is better to go to a funeral than to a banquet because that is where everyone will end up. Everyone who is alive should take this to heart! 3 Sorrow is better than laughter because, in spite of a sad face, the heart can be joyful. 4 The minds of wise people think about funerals, but the minds of fools think about banquets.

5 It is better to listen to wise people who reprimand you than to fools who sing your praises. 6 The laughter of a fool is like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot. Even this is pointless.

7 Oppression can turn a wise person into a fool, and a bribe can corrupt the mind.

8 The end of something is better than its beginning. It is better to be patient than arrogant.

9 Don’t be quick to get angry, because anger is typical of fools. 10 Don’t ask, “Why were things better in the old days than they are now?” It isn’t wisdom that leads you to ask this!

Wisdom Gives Life

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. It is an advantage to everyone who sees the sun. 12 Wisdom protects us just as money protects us, but the advantage of wisdom is that it gives life to those who have it.

13 Consider what God has done! Who can straighten what God has bent?

7:1–13   Everyone ends up dead. I need to learn that before I die. In the meantime, your wisdom gives me life. I’ll think hard about what you’ve done!

A Truth for Every Situation

14 When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one time as well as the other so that mortals cannot predict their future.

Mortals Don’t Get What They Deserve

15 I have seen it all in my pointless life:

Righteous people die in spite of being righteous.

Wicked people go on living in spite of being wicked.

16 Don’t be too virtuous, and don’t be too wise. Why make yourself miserable? 17 Don’t be too wicked, and don’t be a fool. Why should you die before your time is up? 18 It’s good to hold on to the one and not let go of the other, because the one who fears God will be able to avoid both extremes.

7:14–18   You make good times and bad, and people don’t always get what they deserve. Give me wisdom to get through life.

The Advantages of Wisdom

19 Wisdom will help a wise person more than ten rulers can help a city. 20 Certainly, there is no one so righteous on earth that he always does what is good and never sins.

21 Don’t take everything that people say to heart, or you may hear your own servant cursing you. 22 Your conscience knows that you have cursed others many times.

23 I used wisdom to test all of this. I said, “I want to be wise, but it is out of my reach.” 24 Whatever wisdom may be, it is out of reach. It is deep, very deep. Who can find out what it is? 25 I turned my attention to study, to explore, and to seek out wisdom and the reason for things. I learned that wickedness is stupid and foolishness is madness.

26 I find that a woman whose thoughts are ⌞like⌟ traps and snares is more bitter than death itself. Even her hands are ⌞like⌟ chains. Whoever pleases God will escape her, but she will catch whoever continues to sin.

27 The spokesman said, “This is what I’ve found: I added one thing to another in order to find a reason for things. 28 I am still seeking a reason for things, but have not found any. I found one man out of a thousand who had it, but out of all these I didn’t find one woman. 29 I have found only this: God made people decent, but they looked for many ways ⌞to avoid being decent⌟.”[7]

8

1 Who is really wise? Who knows how to explain things? Wisdom makes one’s face shine, and it changes one’s grim look.

7:19–8:1   I know I’ve sinned. I won’t let harsh words pierce my heart. I’ll seek, explore, and study reason—and use your wisdom to test every thought.

The Power of Kings Versus the Power of Death

2 I ⌞advise⌟ you to obey the king’s commands because of the oath you took in God’s presence. 3 Don’t be in a hurry to leave the king’s service. Don’t take part in something evil, because he can do whatever he pleases. 4 Since a king’s word has such power, no one can ask him what he is doing. 5 Whoever obeys his commands will avoid trouble. The mind of a wise person will know the right time and the right way ⌞to act⌟. 6 There is a right time and a right way ⌞to act⌟ in every situation. Yet, a terrible human tragedy hangs over people.

7 They don’t know what the future will bring. So who can tell them how things will turn out? 8 No one has the power to prevent the spirit[8] of life from leaving. No one has control over the day of his own death. There is no way to avoid the war ⌞against death⌟. Wickedness will not save wicked people ⌞from dying⌟.

8:2–8   Wisdom makes my face shine. It teaches the best time to act. Instruct me in your ways!

Life Is Unfair

9 I have seen all of this, and I have carefully considered all that is done under the sun whenever one person has authority to hurt others. 10 Then I saw wicked people given an ⌞honorable⌟ burial. They used to go in and out of the holy place. They were praised in the city for doing such things. Even this is pointless.

The Need for Swift Justice

11 When a sentence against a crime isn’t carried out quickly, people are encouraged to commit crimes. 12 A sinner may commit a hundred crimes and yet live a long life. Still, I know with certainty that it will go well for those who fear God, because they fear him. 13 But it will not go well for the wicked. They will not live any longer. Their lives are like shadows, because they don’t fear God.

8:9–13   I’ve watched people misuse their authority to hurt others. I’ve seen wicked people receive honor. People sin again and again yet live forever. But it won’t go well for the wicked.

Enjoy Life

14 There is something being done on earth that is pointless. Righteous people suffer for what the wicked do, and wicked people get what the righteous deserve. I say that even this is pointless.

15 So I recommend the enjoyment ⌞of life⌟. People have nothing better to do under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. This joy will stay with them while they work hard during their brief lives which God has given them under the sun.

8:14–15   Evildoers make good people suffer. Bad people get what righteous people deserve. This is all pointless!

16 When I carefully considered how to study wisdom and how to look at the work that is done on earth (even going without sleep day and night), 17 then I saw everything that God has done. No one is able to grasp the work that is done under the sun. However hard a person may search for it, he will not find ⌞its meaning⌟. Even though a wise person claims to know, he is not able to grasp it.

8:16–17   I’ve seen everything you’ve done, but I can’t understand it. You amaze me!

Everything Is in the Hands of God

9

1 Now, I have carefully thought about all this, and I explain it in this way: Righteous people and wise people, along with their accomplishments, are in God’s hands. No one knows whether there will be love or hatred. 2 Everything turns out the same way for everyone. All people will share the same destiny, whether they are righteous, wicked, or good, clean or unclean,[9] whether they offer sacrifices or don’t offer sacrifices. Good people are treated like sinners. People who take oaths are treated like those who are afraid to take oaths.

Where There’s Life, There’s Hope

3 This is the tragedy of everything that happens under the sun: Everyone shares the same destiny. Moreover, the hearts of mortals are full of evil. Madness is in their hearts while they are still alive. After that, they join the dead. 4 But all who are among the living have hope, because a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 The living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything. There is no more reward for the dead when the memory of them has faded. 6 Their love, their hate, and their passions have already vanished. They will never again take part in anything that happens under the sun.

9:1–6   I can’t know if I’ll experience love or hatred. Does everyone share the same destiny?

Enjoy Life with Your Wife

7 Go, enjoy eating your food, and drink your wine cheerfully, because God has already accepted what you’ve done. 8 Always wear clean clothes, and never go without lotion on your head. 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, during all your brief, pointless life. God has given you your pointless life under the sun. This is your lot ⌞in life⌟ and what you get for the hard work that you do under the sun.

9:7–9   I’m grateful for the spouse you’ve given me. We love and face life together.

Work with All Your Might

10 Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with ⌞all⌟ your might, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or skill in the grave where you’re going.

Time and Unpredictable Events

11 I saw something else under the sun. The race isn’t ⌞won⌟ by fast runners, or the battle by heroes. Wise people don’t necessarily have food. Intelligent people don’t necessarily have riches, and skilled people don’t necessarily receive special treatment. But time and unpredictable events overtake all of them. 12 No one knows when his time will come. Like fish that are caught in a cruel net or birds caught in a snare, humans are trapped by a disaster when it suddenly strikes them.

9:10–12   I’ll work with all my might as long as I live, because I never know when my time will come.

Wisdom Is Despised

13 I also have seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it made a deep impression on me. 14 There was a small town with a few soldiers in it, and a powerful king came to attack it. He surrounded it and blockaded it. 15 A poor, wise person was found in that town. He saved the town using his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor person. 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,” even though that poor person’s wisdom was despised, and no one listened to what he said.

17 One should pay more attention to calm words from wise people than shouting from a ruler of fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

9:13–18   Wisdom is despised and forgotten, but I want your wisdom anyway.

10

1 Dead flies will make a bottle of perfume stink, and then it is spoiled. A little foolishness outweighs wisdom ⌞and⌟ honor.

Proverbs about Life in General

2 A wise person’s heart leads the right way. The heart of a fool leads the wrong way. 3 Even when a fool goes walking, he has no sense and shows everyone else that he’s a fool.

10:2   Give me common sense to guide me through life. Your wisdom will lead my heart the right way.

4 If a ruler becomes angry with you, don’t resign your position. If you remain calm, you can make up for serious offenses.

5 There is a tragedy that I’ve seen under the sun, an error often made by rulers. 6 Foolish people are often given high positions, and rich people are left to fill lower positions. 7 I have seen slaves sitting on horses and influential people going on foot like slaves.

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it. Whoever breaks through a stone wall may be bitten by a snake. 9 Whoever works in a stone quarry may get hurt. Whoever splits wood may be injured.

10 If an ax is blunt and the edge isn’t sharpened, then one has to use more strength. But wisdom prepares the way for success. 11 If a snake bites before it has been charmed, then there is no advantage in being a snake charmer.

10:8–11   Doing good always carries the risk of getting hurt. Grant me wisdom to work well and stay safe.

12 A wise person’s words win favors, but a fool’s lips are self-destructive. 13 A fool starts out by talking foolishness and ends up saying crazy things that are dangerous. 14 He never stops talking. No one knows what the future will bring, or what will happen after ⌞death⌟. Who can say! 15 Fools wear themselves out with hard work, because they don’t even know the way to town.

10:12–14   Stop my crazy words. Tell me when I’ve said enough.

16 How horrible it will be for any country where the king used to be a servant and where the high officials throw parties in the morning. 17 A country is blessed when the king is from a noble family and when the high officials eat at the right time in order to get strength and not to get drunk.

18 A roof sags because of laziness. A house leaks because of idle hands.

10:18   Don’t let my idleness lead to loss. Shake me before my house collapses.

19 A meal is made for laughter, and wine makes life pleasant, but money is the answer for everything.

20 Don’t curse the king even in your thoughts, and don’t curse rich people even in your bedroom. A bird may carry your words, or some winged creature may repeat what you say.

Live Boldly

11

1 Throw your bread on the surface of the water, because you will find it again after many days.

2 Divide what you have into seven parts, or even into eight, because you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth.

11:2   Show me how to prepare for disasters large and small. Make me ready for anything.

3 If the clouds are full of rain, they will let it pour down on the earth. If a tree falls north or south, the tree will remain where it fell.

4 Whoever watches the wind will never plant. Whoever looks at the clouds will never harvest.

5 Just as you don’t know how the breath of life enters the limbs of a child within its mother’s womb, you also don’t understand how God, who made everything, works.

6 Plant your seed in the morning, and don’t let your hands rest until evening. You don’t know whether this field or that field will be profitable or whether both of them will ⌞turn out⌟ equally well.

11:6   I’ll put plenty of seed in the ground. I’ll spend my days working hard. Yet I trust you to give me a harvest.

7 Light is sweet, and it is good for one’s eyes to see the sun. 8 Even though people may live for many years, they should enjoy every one of them. But they should also remember there will be many dark days. Everything that is coming is pointless.

Remember Your Creator While You’re Young

9 You young people should enjoy yourselves while you’re young. You should let your hearts make you happy when you’re young. Follow wherever your heart leads you and whatever your eyes see. But realize that God will make you give an account for all these things when he judges everyone. 10 Get rid of what troubles you or wears down your body, because childhood and youth are pointless.

11:9–10   I’ll follow my heart because being young is for fun. But I’ll give an account to you in the end.

12

1 Remember your Creator when you are young,

before the days of trouble come

and the years catch up with you.

They will make you say,

“I have found no pleasure in them.”

2 Remember your Creator before the sun, the light, the moon,

and the stars turn dark, ⌞and⌟ the clouds come back with rain.

3 Remember your Creator when those who guard the house tremble,

strong men are stooped over,

the women at the mill stop grinding

because there are so few of them,

⌞and⌟ those who look out of the windows

see a dim light.

4 Remember your Creator when the doors to the street are closed,

the sound of the mill is muffled,

you are startled at the sound of a bird,

⌞and⌟ those who sing songs become quiet.

5 Remember your Creator when someone is afraid of heights

and of dangers along the road,

the almond tree blossoms,

the grasshopper drags itself along,

⌞and⌟ the caper bush has ⌞no⌟ fruit.

Mortals go to their eternal rest, and mourners go out in the streets.

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is snapped,

the golden bowl is broken,

the pitcher is smashed near the spring,

and the water wheel is broken at the cistern.

7 Then the dust ⌞of mortals⌟ goes back to the ground as it was before,

and the breath of life goes back to God who gave it.

8 “Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Everything is pointless!”

12:1–8   I’ll remember you before I grow old and the world goes dark. I’ll remember you when others live in fear and before disaster strikes.

Lifelong Duty—Fear God and Keep His Commands

9 Besides being wise, the spokesman also taught the people what he knew. He very carefully thought about it, studied it, and arranged it in many proverbs. 10 The spokesman tried to find just the right words. He wrote the words of truth very carefully.

11 Words from wise people are like spurs. Their collected sayings are like nails that have been driven in firmly. They come from one shepherd. 12 Be warned, my children, against anything more than these. People never stop writing books. Too much studying will wear out your body. 13 After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone. 14 God will certainly judge everything that is done. This includes every secret thing, whether it is good or bad.

12:9–14   All wisdom comes from you, but too much study wears me out. I’ll fear you and obey your commands. You’re the one thing that makes sense to me.

SONG OF SONGS

INTRODUCTION

Song of Songs celebrates human love. Stumbling upon this expressive love poem in the middle of Scripture might surprise you. Rabbis regarded it as a picture of God’s love for Israel, and some Christians see it as an allegory of the relationship between Jesus and his bride, the church. Yet its startling images that begin with kisses “better than wine” and “the fragrance of cologne” (Song of Songs 1:23) point to an obvious reading as a pursuit and consummation of human passion.

This book calls itself “the most beautiful song of Solomon” (Song of Songs 1:1), and Solomon is specifically identified as the groom. His bride is the “young woman of Shulam,” a young country girl. A chorus of women speaks throughout the book, offering both praise and warnings.

Lavish metaphors fill the book, describing physical beauty of both male and female in blunt terms often odd to modern ears. The Shulamite, for example, has hair “like a flock of goats moving down Mount Gilead,” and her teeth “are like a flock of sheep about to be sheared. . . . All of them bear twins” (Song of Songs 4:1–2). Yet the ancient imagery makes the unmistakable impression that this couple is crazy with love.

The Song of Songs lifts up the pleasure of human love and its right place within marriage. It exalts the Lord as its creator. Praying this book allows you to converse with God about your own sexuality, committing yourself to passionate purity.

SONG OF SONGS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8

1

1 The most beautiful song of Solomon.

The Young Woman Arrives in Solomon’s Palace

[Bride]

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.

Your expressions of love are better than wine,

3 better than the fragrance of cologne.

(Cologne should be named after you.)

No wonder the young women love you!

4 Take me with you. Let’s run away.

The king has brought me into his private rooms.

[The chorus of young women]

We will celebrate and rejoice with you.

We will praise your expressions of love more than wine.

How right it is that the young women love you!

[Bride]

5 Young women of Jerusalem, I am dark and lovely

like Kedar’s tents,

like Solomon’s curtains.

6 Stop staring at me because I am so dark.

The sun has tanned me.

My brothers were angry with me.

They made me the caretaker of the vineyards.

I have not even taken care of my own vineyard.

7 Please tell me, you whom I love, where do you graze your flock?

Where does your flock lie down at noon?

⌞Tell me,⌟ or I will be considered a prostitute

⌞wandering⌟ among the flocks of your companions.

[The chorus of young women]

8 If you do not know, most beautiful of women,

follow the tracks of the flocks,

and graze your young goats near the shepherds’ tents.

1:1–8   Teach me to discern your design for true love. I celebrate human love. It’s your greatest idea, one of your very best gifts.

Solomon Searches for the Young Woman’s Love

[Groom]

9 My true love, I compare you to a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions.

10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,

your neck with strings of pearls.

[The chorus of young women]

11 We will make gold ornaments with silver beads for you.

[Bride]

12 While the king is at his table,

my perfume fills the air with its fragrance.

13 My beloved is a pouch of myrrh[1]

that lies at night between my breasts.

14 My beloved is a bouquet of henna flowers

in the vineyards of En Gedi.

[Groom]

15 Look at you! You are beautiful, my true love!

Look at you! You are so beautiful!

Your eyes are like doves!

[Bride]

16 Look at you! You are handsome, my beloved, so pleasing to me!

The leaf-scattered ground will be our couch.

17 The cedars will be the walls of our house.

The cypress trees will be our rafters.

1:9–17   You made my beloved beautiful. My beloved is beyond pleasing to me.

2

1 I am a rose of Sharon,

a lily ⌞growing⌟ in the valleys.

[Groom]

2 Like a lily among thorns,

so is my true love among the young women.

[Bride]

3 Like an apple tree among the trees in the forest,

so is my beloved among the young men.

I want to sit in his shadow.

His fruit tastes sweet to me.

4 He leads me into a banquet room

and looks at me with love.

5 Strengthen me with raisins

and refresh me with apples

because I am weak from love.

6 His left hand is under my head.

His right hand caresses me.

7 Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me

by the gazelles

or by the does in the field

that you will not awaken love

or arouse love before its proper time.

2:1–7   You made me distinctively beautiful, uniquely appealing to my mate. We won’t wake up love until the right time.

The Young Woman Remembers One Spring Day with Her Beloved

[Bride]

8 I hear my beloved’s voice.

Look! Here he comes,

sprinting over the mountains,

racing over the hills.

9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

Look! There he stands behind our wall,

peeking through the window,

looking through the lattice.

10 My beloved said to me,

“Get up, my true love, my beautiful one, and come with me.

11 Look! The winter is past.

The rain is over and gone.

12 Blossoms appear in the land.

The time of the songbird has arrived.

The cooing of the mourning dove is heard in our land.

13 The green figs ripen.

The grapevines bloom and give off a fragrance.

Get up, my true love, my beautiful one, and come with me.

14 My dove, in the hiding places of the rocky crevices,

in the secret places of the cliffs,

let me see your figure and hear your voice.

Your voice is sweet, and your figure is lovely.”

15 Catch the foxes for us,

the little foxes that ruin vineyards.

Our vineyards are blooming.

16 My beloved is mine, and I am his.

He is the one who grazes his flock among the lilies.

17 When the day brings a cooling breeze and the shadows flee,

turn around, my beloved.

Run like a gazelle or a young stag

on the mountains that separate us!

2:8–17   My mate and I run away together. Don’t let anything spoil our love. My beloved belongs to me, and I belong to my beloved.

The Young Woman Dreams about Searching for Her Beloved

[Bride]

3

1 Night after night on my bed

I looked for the one I love.

I looked for him but did not find him.

2 I will get up now and roam around the city,

in the streets, and in the squares.

I will look for the one I love.

I looked for him but did not find him.

3 The watchmen making their rounds in the city found me.

⌞I asked,⌟ “Have you seen the one I love?”

4 I had just left them when I found the one I love.

I held on to him and would not let him go

until I had brought him into my mother’s house,

into the bedroom of the one who conceived me.

5 Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me

by the gazelles

or by the does in the field,

that you will not awaken love

or arouse love before its proper time.

A Description of the Royal Procession

[The chorus of young women]

6 Who is this young woman coming up from the wilderness

like clouds of smoke?

She is perfumed with myrrh and incense

made from the merchants’ scented powders.

7 Look! Solomon’s sedan chair![2]

Sixty soldiers from the army of Israel surround it.

8 All of them are skilled in using swords,

experienced in combat.

Each one has his sword at his side

and guards against the terrors of the night.

9 King Solomon had a carriage made for himself[3]

from the wood of Lebanon.

10 He had its posts made out of silver,

its top out of gold,

its seat out of purple fabric.

Its inside—with inlaid scenes of love—

was made by the young women of Jerusalem.

11 Young women of Zion, come out and look at King Solomon!

Look at his crown,

the crown his mother placed on him on his wedding day,

his day of joyful delight.

3:1–11   I ache for the love you designed me to enjoy. I search for my beloved. We won’t wake up love until the right time.

Solomon Is Charmed by the Young Woman

[Groom]

4

1 Look at you! You are beautiful, my true love.

Look at you! You are so beautiful.

Your eyes behind your veil are like doves.

Your hair is like a flock of goats moving down Mount Gilead.

2 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep about to be sheared,

sheep that come up from the washing.

All of them bear twins, and not one has lost its young.

3 Your lips are like scarlet thread.

Your mouth is lovely.

Your temples behind your veil are like slices of pomegranate.

4 Your neck is like David’s beautifully-designed[4] tower.

A thousand round shields belonging to soldiers

are hung on it.

5 Your breasts are like two fawns,

like twin gazelles grazing among the lilies.

6 When the day brings a cool breeze and the shadows flee,

I will go to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of incense.

7 You are beautiful in every way, my true love.

There is no blemish on you.

8 You will come with me from Lebanon,

from Lebanon as my bride.

You will travel with me

from the peak of Mount Amana,

from the mountain peaks in Senir and Hermon,

from the lairs of lions,

from the mountains of leopards.

9 My bride, my sister, you have charmed me.[5]

You have charmed me

with a single glance from your eyes,

with a single strand of your necklace.

10 How beautiful are your expressions of love, my bride, my sister!

How much better are your expressions of love than wine

and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice.

11 Your lips drip honey, my bride.

Honey and milk are under your tongue.

The fragrance of your clothing is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

12 My bride, my sister is a garden that is locked,

a garden that is locked,

a spring that is sealed.

13 You are paradise that produces

pomegranates and the best fruits,

henna flowers and nard,

14 nard and saffron,

calamus,[6] cinnamon, and all kinds of incense,[7]

myrrh, aloes, and all the best spices.

15 ⌞You are⌟ a spring for gardens,

a well of living water flowing from Lebanon.

[Bride]

16 Awake, north wind!

Come, south wind!

Blow on my garden!

Let its spices flow from it.

Let my beloved come to his garden,

and let him eat his own precious fruit.

4:1–16   My beloved likes everything about me. My mate sees past all my flaws to appreciate your unique design.

[Groom]

5

1 My bride, my sister, I will come to my garden.

I will gather my myrrh with my spice.

I will eat my honeycomb with my honey.

I will drink my wine with my milk.

Eat, my friends!

Drink and become intoxicated with expressions of love!

The Young Woman Dreams of Marriage with Her Husband

[Bride]

2 I sleep, but my mind is awake.

Listen! My beloved is knocking.

[Groom]

Open to me, my true love, my sister,

my dove, my perfect one.

My head is wet with dew,

my hair with the dewdrops of night.

[Bride]

3 I have taken off my clothes! Why should I put them on ⌞again⌟?

I have washed my feet! Why should I get them dirty ⌞again⌟?

4 My beloved put his hand through the keyhole.

My heart throbbed for him.

5 I got up to open for my beloved.

My hands dripped with myrrh,

and my fingers were drenched with liquid myrrh,

on the handles of the lock.

6 I opened for my beloved,

but my beloved had turned away. He was gone!

I almost died when he left.

I looked for him, but I did not find him.

I called for him, but he did not answer me.

7 The watchmen making their rounds in the city found me.

They struck me!

They wounded me!

Those watchmen on the walls took my robe from me!

8 Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me

that if you find my beloved

you will tell him I am hopelessly lovesick.

[The chorus of young women]

9 Most beautiful of women,

what makes your beloved better than any other beloved?

What makes your beloved better than any other beloved

that you make us swear this way?

5:1–9   I want to be with my beloved forever. I’m hopelessly lovesick, because my beloved is fine. You made my beloved my best friend.

[Bride]

10 My beloved is dazzling yet ruddy.

He stands out among 10,000 men.

11 His head is the finest gold.

His hair is wavy, black as a raven.

12 His eyes are set like doves bathing in milk.

13 His cheeks are like a garden of spices,

a garden that produces scented herbs.

His lips are lilies that drip with myrrh.

14 His hands are disks of gold set with emerald.

His chest is a block of ivory covered with sapphires.

15 His legs are columns of marble set on bases of pure gold.

His form is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.

16 His mouth is sweet in every way.

Everything about him is desirable!

This is my beloved, and this is my friend, young women of Jerusalem.

5:10–16   Let me find the love of my life. My beloved is strong and beautiful.

[The chorus of young women]

6

1 Where did your beloved go, most beautiful of women?

Where did your beloved turn?

We will look for him with you.

[Bride]

2 My beloved went to his garden,

to the beds of spices,

to graze his flock in the gardens and gather lilies.

3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.

He is the one who grazes his flock among the lilies.

Solomon Desires the Young Woman More Than the Rest of His Wives

[Groom]

4 You are beautiful, my true love, like Tirzah,

lovely like Jerusalem,

awe-inspiring like those great cities.[8]

5 Turn your eyes away from me. They enchant me!

Your hair is like a flock of goats moving down from Gilead.

6 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep,

sheep that come up from the washing.

All of them bear twins, and not one has lost its young.

7 Your temples behind your veil are like slices of pomegranate.

8 There are 60 queens, 80 concubines,[9] and countless virgins,

9 but she is unique, my dove, my perfect one.

Her mother thinks she is unique.

She is pure to the one who gave birth to her.

Her sisters saw her and blessed her.

Queens and concubines saw her and praised her.

The Young Woman’s Home in Shulam

[The chorus of young women]

10 Who is this young woman?

She looks like the dawn.

She is beautiful like the moon,

pure like the sun,

awe-inspiring like those heavenly bodies.

[Bride]

11 I went to the walnut grove

to look at the blossoms in the valley,

to see if the grapevine had budded

and if the pomegranates were in bloom.

12 I did not know that I had become

like the chariots of my noble people.[10]

[The chorus of young women]

13 Come back! Come back, young woman from Shulam!

Come back! Come back so that we may look at you!

[Bride]

Why do you look at me, the young woman from Shulam,

as you look at the dance of Mahanaim?

6:1–13   I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. You brought us together. My beloved enchants me. My beloved is unique.

[The chorus of young women]

7  [11]

1 How beautiful are your feet in their sandals, noble daughter!

The curves of your thighs are like ornaments,

like the work of an artist’s hands.

2 Your navel is a round bowl.

May it always be filled with spiced wine.

Your waist is a bundle of wheat enclosed in lilies.

3 Your breasts are like two fawns,

twins of a gazelle.

4 Your neck is like an ivory tower.

Your eyes are like pools in Heshbon, pools by the gate of Bath Rabbim.

Your nose is like a Lebanese tower facing Damascus.

5 You hold your head as high as Mount Carmel.

Your dangling curls are royal beauty.

Your flowing locks could hold a king captive.

Solomon Longs for the Young Woman’s Affection

[Groom]

6 How beautiful and charming you are, my love, with your elegance.

7 Young woman,

your figure is like a palm tree,

and your breasts are like its clusters.

8 I thought, “I will climb the palm tree

and take hold of its fruit.”

May your breasts be like clusters on the vine.

May the fragrance of your breath be like apples.

9 May your mouth taste like the best wine . . .

[Bride]

. . . that goes down smoothly to my beloved

and glides over the lips of those about to sleep.[12]

10 I am my beloved’s, and he longs for me.

11 Come, my beloved.

Let’s go into the field.

Let’s spend the night among the henna flowers.[13]

12 Let’s go to the vineyards early.

Let’s see if the vines have budded,

if the grape blossoms have opened,

if the pomegranates are in bloom.

There I will give you my love.

13 The mandrakes[14] give off a fragrance,

and at our door are all kinds of precious fruits.

I have saved new and old things

for you alone, my beloved.

7:1–13   I’m stunned by my beloved’s beauty. It’s part of your perfect design. You made our bodies for love.

8

1 If only you were my brother,

one who nursed at my mother’s breasts.

If I saw you on the street,

I would kiss you, and no one would look down on me.

2 I would lead you.

I would bring you into my mother’s house.

(She is the one who was my teacher.)

I would give you some spiced wine to drink,

some juice squeezed from my pomegranates.

3 His left hand is under my head.

His right hand caresses me.

4 Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me

that you will not awaken love

or arouse love before its proper time!

8:1–4   We eagerly wait for each other. We won’t wake up love until the right time.

The Young Woman’s Love for Her Beloved

[The chorus of young women]

5 Who is this young woman coming from the wilderness

with her arm around her beloved?

[Bride]

Under the apple tree I woke you up.

There your mother went into labor with you.

There she went into labor

and gave birth to you!

6 Wear me as a signet ring on your heart,

as a ring on your hand.

Love is as overpowering as death.

Devotion is as unyielding as the grave.

Love’s flames are flames of fire,

flames that come from the LORD.

7 Raging water cannot extinguish love,

and rivers will never wash it away.

If a man exchanged all his family’s wealth for love,

people would utterly despise him.

8:5–7   Love’s fire comes from you. Raging waters can’t extinguish our love. Rivers can’t wash it away.

The Young Woman with Her Family and Her Beloved

[The brothers]

8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts.

What will we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged?

9 If she is a wall, we will build a silver barrier around her.

If she is a door, we will barricade her with cedar boards.

[Bride]

10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers.

So he considers me to be one who has found peace.[15]

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.

He entrusted that vineyard to caretakers.

Each one was to bring 25 pounds of silver

in exchange for its fruit.

12 My own vineyard is in front of me.

That 25 pounds is yours, Solomon,

and 5 pounds go to those who take care of its fruit.

[Groom]

13 Young woman living in the gardens,

while your friends are listening to your voice,

let me hear. . . .

[Bride]

14 Come away quickly, my beloved.

Run like a gazelle or a young stag

on the mountains of spices.

8:8–14   Our purity is our gift to each other. We’ll run away and discover love.

ISAIAH

INTRODUCTION

Isaiah reveals God’s majestic plans. Isaiah looked up and saw the Lord on a lofty throne, his robe filling the temple. Angels flew above him and cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). As their voices shake the foundations, Isaiah feels doomed. He is a man of sinful words who has seen God.

Then an angel takes a burning coal and presses it to Isaiah’s lips, declaring his sins forgiven. When the Lord asks, “Whom will I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah answers, “Here I am. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8).

With that commission, the prophet Isaiah spreads the Lord’s message for the next sixty years. He begins preaching following the death of Judah’s King Uzziah, whose reign ushered in an age of peace and prosperity. He preaches against immorality and idol worship. He warns that unless people quit sinning and turn back to God, they will suffer the divine consequence of exile to Babylon.

Those difficult words come with concrete assurances of God’s mercy. The Lord promises a son who will rule the world (Isaiah 9:6–7). He vows to gather his people like a shepherd takes sheep in his arms (Isaiah 40:11). He will send a servant to suffer for the world’s sins (Isaiah 53:4–5).

The book of Isaiah overflows with sweeping vision and intense devotion. Praying this book helps you see your mighty God and commit to him and his purposes for you.

ISAIAH

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1

1 This is the vision which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Judah and Jerusalem at the time of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

The LORD Accuses Israel of Sin

2 Listen, heaven, and pay attention, earth!

The LORD has spoken,

“I raised ⌞my⌟ children and helped them grow,

but they have rebelled against me.

3 Oxen know their owners,

and donkeys know where their masters feed them.

But Israel doesn’t know ⌞its owner⌟.

My people don’t understand ⌞who feeds them⌟.

1:1–3   You call me your child and help me grow, but I rebel against you. You feed me, but I don’t recognize you.

4 “How horrible it will be for a nation that sins.

⌞Its⌟ people are loaded down with guilt.

They are descendants of evildoers

and destructive children.

They have abandoned the LORD.

They have despised the Holy One of Israel.

They have turned their backs on him.

5 “Why do you still want to be beaten?

Why do you continue to rebel?

Your whole head is infected.

Your whole heart is failing.

6 From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head

there is no healthy spot left on your ⌞body⌟—

only bruises, sores, and fresh wounds.

They haven’t been cleansed, bandaged,

or soothed with oil.

1:4–6   I’ve despised you and turned away. Why do I put myself in a position to suffer your discipline? From head to toe I’m bruised. I’m covered with untended wounds.

7 “Your country is devastated.

Your cities are burned down.

Your fields are destroyed right before your eyes by foreigners.

Your fields are devastated and taken over by foreigners.

8 My people Zion are left like a hut in a vineyard,

like a shack in a cucumber field,

like a city under attack.”

9 If the LORD of Armies hadn’t left us a few survivors,

we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.

1:7–9   I’m devastated. If not for your mercy, I would have been completely destroyed.

Israel’s Corrupt Religion

10 Listen to the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom!

Pay attention to the teachings from our God, you people of Gomorrah!

11 The LORD asks, “What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me?

I’ve had enough of your burnt offerings of rams

and enough fat from your fattened calves.

I’m not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats.

12 When you appear in my presence,

who asked you to trample on my courtyards?

13 Don’t bring any more worthless grain offerings.

Your incense is disgusting to me,

so are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship,

and the assemblies you call.

I can’t stand your evil assemblies.

14 I hate your New Moon Festivals and your appointed festivals.

They’ve become a burden to me,

and I’m tired of putting up with them.

15 So when you stretch out your hands ⌞in prayer⌟,

I will turn my eyes away from you.

Even though you offer many prayers,

I will not listen because your hands are covered with blood.

1:10–15   You’ve had enough of my religious shows. You don’t want more blood and fat. As long as I’m covered with guilt, you refuse my prayers.

The LORD Invites Israel to Turn Away from Sin

16 “Wash yourselves! Become clean!

Get your evil deeds out of my sight.

Stop doing evil.

17 Learn to do good.

Seek justice.

Arrest oppressors.

Defend orphans.

Plead the case of widows.”

18 “Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the LORD.

“Though your sins are bright red,

they will become as white as snow.

Though they are dark red,

they will become as white as wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the best from the land.

20 But if you refuse and rebel,

you will be destroyed by swords.”

The LORD has spoken.

1:16–20   I’ll stop doing evil and learn to do good. I’ll seek justice and defend the helpless. Though my sins are bright red, you’ll wash them as white as snow.

Jerusalem’s Future

21 How the faithful town has become a prostitute!

She was full of justice,

and righteousness lived in her.

But now murderers live there!

22 Your silver is not pure.

Your wine is watered down.

23 Your rulers are rebels, friends with thieves.

They all love bribes and run after gifts.

They never defend orphans.

They don’t notice the widows’ pleas.

24 That’s why the Lord, the LORD of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says,

“How horrible it will be when I take revenge on my opponents!

I will avenge myself against my enemies.

25 I will turn my power against you.

I will remove your impurities with bleach.

I will get rid of all your impurities.

26 I will give you judges like you had long ago,

advisers like you had in the beginning.

After that you will be called the Righteous City,

the Faithful Town.”

1:21–26   You ache at my wayward heart. You long to see justice and righteousness once again. Purify and restore me!

27 Zion will be pardoned by ⌞the LORD’s⌟ justice,

and those who return will be pardoned

by ⌞the LORD’s⌟ righteousness.

28 Rebels and sinners will be crushed at the same time,

and those who abandon the LORD will come to an end.

29 You will be ashamed of the oaks that you wanted to worship

and embarrassed by the garden that you have chosen for your gods.

30 You will be like an oak whose leaves wither

and like a garden without water.

31 Strong people will become tinder for a fire,

and their work will be the spark.

Both of them will burn together,

and there will be no one to put out the fire.

1:27–31   I’m embarrassed by my collection of false gods. But you pardon me and spare me from flames.

The LORD Will Teach the Nations—Micah 4:1–3

2

1 This is the message which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Judah and Jerusalem.

2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s house

will be established as the highest of the mountains

and raised above the hills.

All the nations will stream to it.

3 Then many people will come and say,

“Let’s go to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them.”

The teachings will go out from Zion.

The word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem.

2:1–3   Bring the nations to your mountain. Cause us to say, “Teach us your ways! Show us true life!”

4 Then he will judge disputes between nations

and settle arguments between many people.

They will hammer their swords into plowblades

and their spears into pruning shears.

Nations will never fight against each other,

and they will never train for war again.

5 Come, descendants of Jacob,

let’s live in the light of the LORD.

2:4–5   Judge between us and settle our disputes. Then we’ll hammer swords and spears into peaceful tools. We’ll stop training for war and live in your light.

Israel’s Sins

6 LORD, you have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob,

because they are filled with Eastern influences.

They are fortunetellers like the Philistines,

and they make deals with foreigners.

7 Their land is filled with silver and gold,

and there is no end to their treasures.

Their land is filled with horses,

and there is no end to their chariots.

8 Their land is filled with idols,

and they worship what their hands have shaped

and what their fingers have molded.

9 People will be brought down. Everyone will be humbled.

Do not forgive them.

10 Go in among the rocks and hide underground

because of the LORD’s terrifying presence

and the honor of his majesty.

11 The eyes of arrogant people will be humbled.

High and mighty people will be brought down.

On that day the LORD alone will be honored.

2:6–11   I consider myself wise and well-connected. I feel powerful and rich. But you’ll bring me down, because you alone deserve honor.

The Day of the LORD’s Judgment

12 The LORD of Armies will have his day

against all who are arrogant and conceited

and all who are proud of themselves (they will be humbled),

13 against all the towering and mighty cedars of Lebanon

and all the oaks of Bashan,

14 against all the high mountains

and all the lofty hills,

15 against every high tower

and every fortified wall,

16 against all the large ships of Tarshish

and all the beautiful boats.

17 Then arrogant people will be brought down,

and high and mighty people will be humbled.

On that day the LORD alone will be honored.

2:12–17   You’ll have your day against all the tall and proud. You’ll humble the high and mighty. The world will honor you alone.

18 Then idols will disappear completely.

19 People will go into caves in the rocks

and into holes in the ground

because of the LORD’s terrifying presence

and the honor of his majesty

when he rises to terrify the earth.

20 On that day people will throw to the moles and the bats

the silver and gold idols that they made

for themselves to worship.

21 They will go into caves in the rocks

and into cracks in the cliffs

because of the LORD’s terrifying presence

and the honor of his majesty
when he rises to terrify the earth.

22 Stop trusting people.

Their life is in their nostrils.

How can they be worth anything?

2:18–22   One day your presence and majesty will rise on the earth. People will throw away their idols. They’ll flee to cracks and caves.

The LORD’s Judgment on Sinners in Zion

3

1 See now, the Lord, the LORD of Armies,

is going to take from Jerusalem and Judah

every kind of support

and their entire supply of food and water.

2 ⌞He will take their⌟ heroes and soldiers,

judges and prophets,

fortunetellers and statesmen,

3 military leaders and civilian leaders,

counselors, skilled workers, and experts in magic.

4 “I will make boys their leaders.

Children will govern them.”

5 People will oppress each other,

and everyone will oppress his neighbor.

The young will make fun of the old,

and common people will make fun of their superiors.

6 A person will grab one of his relatives

from his father’s family and say,

“You have a coat.

You’ll be our leader.

This pile of ruins will be under your control.”

7 When that day comes the relative will cry out,

“I’m not a doctor!

I don’t have any food or a coat in my home.

Don’t make me a leader of our family.”

3:1–7   You bring chaos on people who cling to evil. You bring down leaders and let children rule in their place. Everyone lacks courage.

8 Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen,

because what they say and what they do is against the LORD.

They are defiant in his honored presence.

9 The look on their faces will be held against them.

They boast about their sins,

which are like ⌞those of the people of⌟ Sodom.

They don’t even bother to hide them.

How horrible it will be for these people,

because they have brought disaster on themselves.

3:8–9   I stumble and fall over my own words and deeds. You hold me accountable for my defiant boasts.

10 Tell the righteous that blessings will come to them.

They will taste the fruit of their labor.

11 How horrible it will be for the wicked! Disaster will strike them.

What they have done will be done to them.

12 “Children will oppress my people.

Women will rule them.

My people, your guides mislead you,

and you don’t know which way to go.”

3:10–12   You send the righteous your blessings. You let them enjoy the fruit of their hard work. But disaster strikes the wicked. They can’t find their way through life.

13 The LORD takes his place in the courtroom.

He stands to judge his people.

14 The LORD presents his case to the respected leaders

and the officials of his people:

“You have burned down the vineyard!

Your houses are filled with goods stolen from the poor.”

15 The Almighty LORD of Armies asks,

“How can you crush my people

and grind the faces of the poor ⌞into the ground⌟?”

3:13–15   You see leaders who steal from the poor. You see how they crush your people.

16 The LORD adds,

“The women of Zion are arrogant.

They walk with their noses in the air,

making seductive glances,

taking short little steps,

jingling the ankle bracelets on their feet.”

17 The Lord will cause sores ⌞to appear⌟

on the heads of the women of Zion,

and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.

18 On that day the Lord will take away their fine things: jingling anklets, headbands, crescent-shaped necklaces, 19 pendants, bracelets, scarfs, 20 hats, ankle bracelets, blouses, perfume boxes, charms, 21 signet rings, nose rings, 22 fine robes, coats, shawls, purses, 23 mirrors, underwear, headdresses, and veils.

24 Instead of the smell of perfume, there will be the smell of decay.

They will wear ropes instead of belts.

They will have bald heads instead of beautiful hair.

They will wear sackcloth instead of expensive clothes.

Their beauty will be scarred.[1]

25 ⌞Women,⌟ your warriors will die in combat.

Your mighty men will die in battle.

26 The gates of Zion will cry and grieve,

and Zion will sit on the ground, exhausted.

4

1 When that day comes, seven women will grab one man and say,

“We’ll eat our own food and provide our own clothes.

Just let us marry you for your name.

Take away our disgrace.”

3:16–4:1   You strip arrogant women of every fine thing. You tear out their beautiful hair. You replace their seductive glances with scars.

The LORD’s New Glory for Zion

2 When that day comes, the branch of the LORD

will be beautiful and wonderful.

The fruit of the land

will be the pride and joy of Israel’s survivors.

3 Then whoever is left in Zion and whoever remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of Zion’s people.[2] He will clean bloodstains from Jerusalem with a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning. 5 The LORD will create a cloud of smoke during the day and a glowing flame of fire during the night over the whole area of Mount Zion and over the assembly. His glory will cover everything. 6 It will be a shelter from the heat during the day as well as a refuge and hiding place from storms and rain.

4:2–6   Bring a new day for your holy people. Wash away our filth and cover us with glory. Shelter us from heat and hide us from storms.

The Song about the Vineyard

5

1 Let me sing a lovesong to my beloved about his vineyard:

My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill.

2 He dug it up, removed its stones,

planted it with the choicest vines,

built a watchtower in it,

and made a winepress in it.

Then he waited for it to produce good grapes,

but it produced only sour, wild grapes.

5:1–2   You cleared a fertile hill and planted it with the choicest vines. But the fruit grew up sour and wild.

3 Now then, you inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah,

judge between me and my vineyard!

4 What more could have been done for my vineyard

than what I have already done for it?

When I waited for it to produce good grapes,

why did it produce only sour, wild grapes?

5 Now then, let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard.

I will tear away its hedge so that it can be devoured

and tear down its wall so that it can be trampled.

6 I will make it a wasteland.

It will never be pruned or hoed.

Thorns and weeds will grow in it,

and I will command the clouds not to rain on it.

7 The vineyard of the LORD of Armies is the nation of Israel,

and the people of Judah are the garden of his delight.

He hoped for justice but saw only slaughter,

for righteousness but heard only cries of distress.

5:3–7   You gave your vineyard everything good. There was nothing more you could do. When the fruit grew up sour and wild, you let your vineyard fall to waste.

Six Sins Condemned

8 How horrible it will be for you

who acquire house after house and buy field after field

until there’s nothing left

and you have to live by yourself in the land.

9 With my own ears I heard the LORD of Armies say,

“Many houses will become empty.

Large, beautiful houses will be without people to live in them.

10 A ten-acre vineyard will produce only six gallons of wine,

and two quarts of seed will produce only four quarts of grain.”

11 How horrible it will be for those

who get up early to look for a drink,

who sit up late until they are drunk from wine.

12 At their feasts there are lyres and harps,

tambourines and flutes, and wine.

Yet, they don’t pay attention to what the LORD is doing

or see what his hands have done.

5:8–12   The rich end up lonely on sprawling estates. Drinkers can’t see straight to notice the work of your hands.

13 “My people will go into exile

because they don’t understand what I’m doing.

Honored men will starve,

and common people will be parched with thirst.”

14 That is why the grave’s appetite increases.

It opens its mouth very wide

so that honored people and common people will go down into it.

Those who are noisy and joyous will go down into it.

15 People will be brought down. Everyone will be humbled.

And the eyes of arrogant people will be humbled.

5:13–15   Captivity awaits people who don’t understand your deeds. The grave’s wide mouth swallows people happy in their sin.

16 The LORD of Armies will be honored when he judges.

The holy God will show himself to be holy when he does what is right.

17 Then lambs will graze as if they were in their own pasture,

and foreigners will eat among the ruins of the rich.

18 How horrible it will be for those

who string people along with lies and empty promises,

whose lives are sinful.

19 They say,

“Let God hurry and quickly do his work

so that we may see what he has in mind.

Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel happen quickly

so that we may understand what he is doing.”

5:16–19   You deserve honor when you discern between good and evil. You show yourself to be holy when you do what’s right.

20 How horrible it will be for those

who call evil good and good evil,

who turn darkness into light and light into darkness,

who turn what is bitter into something sweet

and what is sweet into something bitter.

21 How horrible it will be for those

who think they are wise

and consider themselves to be clever.

22 How horrible it will be for those

who are heroes at drinking wine,

who are champions at mixing drinks,

23 who declare the guilty innocent for a bribe,

who take away the rights of righteous people.

5:20–23   Those who consider themselves clever can’t tell the difference between good and evil. They fail to distinguish darkness and light. Horrors await dishonest judges and champion drinkers.

The LORD Will Use Another Nation to Punish His People

24 As flames burn up straw

and dry grass shrivels in flames,

so their roots will rot,

and their blossoms will blow away like dust.

They have rejected the teachings of the LORD of Armies

and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25 That’s why the anger of the LORD burns hot against his people,

and he is ready to use his power to strike them down.

The hills tremble,

and dead bodies lie like garbage in the streets.

Even after all this, his anger has not disappeared,

and he is still ready to use his power.

5:24–25   Your anger burns against all who reject your teachings. They’ll burn up like straw. You know how to exercise discipline.

26 The LORD raises up a flag for the nations far away.

With a whistle he signals those at the ends of the earth.

Look, they are coming very quickly!

27 None of them grow tired or stumble.

None of them slumber or sleep.

The belts on their waists aren’t loose

or their sandal straps broken.

28 Their arrows are sharpened; all their bows are ready to shoot.

Their horses’ hoofs are as hard as flint.

Their chariot wheels are as quick as the wind.

29 They roar like a lioness.

They growl like a young lion.

They growl as they snatch their prey

and carry it off to where no one can rescue it.

30 On that day they will roar over their prey

as the sea roars.

If they look at the land,

they will see only darkness and distress.

Even the light will be darkened by thick clouds.

5:26–30   My enemies don’t lack strength or skill. I can hear the hoofs of their horses. Have mercy as they gallop toward me.

Isaiah Is Sent with a Message for the LORD’s People

6

1 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and lofty throne. The bottom of his robe filled the temple. 2 Angels[3] were standing above him. Each had six wings: With two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They called to each other and said,

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies!

The whole earth is filled with his glory.”

4 Their voices shook the foundations of the doorposts, and the temple filled with smoke.

5 So I said, “Oh, no!

I’m doomed.

Every word that passes through my lips is sinful.

I live among people with sinful lips.

I have seen the king, the LORD of Armies!”

6:1–5   You sit on a lofty throne as angels shout your holiness. You are king, and your glory fills the earth! I can’t help but feel doomed for my sinful words.

6 Then one of the angels flew to me. In his hand was a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “This has touched your lips. Your guilt has been taken away, and your sin has been forgiven.”

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom will I send? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me!”

6:6–8   Touch my lips and forgive me. Send me to speak for you.

9 And he said, “Go and tell these people,

‘No matter how closely you listen, you’ll never understand.

No matter how closely you look, you’ll never see.’

10 Make these people close-minded.

Plug their ears.

Shut their eyes.

Otherwise, they may see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their minds,

and return and be healed.”

11 I asked, “How long, O Lord?”

And he replied,

“Until the cities lie in ruins with no one living in them,

the houses have no people,

and the land is completely desolate.

12 The LORD will send his people far away,

and a large area in the middle of the land will be abandoned.

13 Even if one out of ten people is left in it,

the land will be burned again.

When a sacred oak or an oak is cut down, a stump is left.

The holy seed will be the land’s stump.”

6:9–13   You discipline those who look but refuse to see, those who hear but don’t listen, those who think but never understand.

The Virgin Will Have a Child

7

1 When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Aram’s King Rezin and Israel’s King Pekah, son of Remaliah, went to Jerusalem to attack it, but they couldn’t defeat it. 2 When word reached David’s family that the Arameans had made an alliance with Ephraim, the hearts of the king and his people were shaken as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear Jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the ditch of the Upper Pool on the road to the Laundryman’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, stay calm, and don’t be afraid. Don’t lose heart because of the fierce anger of Rezin from Aram and Remaliah’s son. These two are smoldering logs.’ 5 Aram, Ephraim, and Remaliah’s son have planned evil against you, saying, 6 ‘Let’s march against Judah, tear it apart, divide it among ourselves, and set up Tabeel’s son as its king.’ 7 This is what the Almighty LORD says:

It won’t take place; it won’t happen.

8 The capital of Aram is Damascus,

and the leader of Damascus is Rezin.

Ephraim will be shattered within 65 years

so that it will no longer be a nation.

9 The capital of Ephraim is Samaria,

and the leader of Samaria is Remaliah’s son.

If you don’t remain faithful,

you won’t remain standing.

7:1–9   Ahaz shook with fear at the enemies aligned against him. But you promised him your protection.

10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the LORD your God for a sign. It can be anything you want.”

12 But Ahaz answered, “I won’t ask; I wouldn’t think of testing the LORD.”

13 “Listen now, descendants of David,” Isaiah said. “Isn’t it enough that you try the patience of mortals? Must you also try the patience of my God? 14 So the Lord himself will give you this sign: A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel [God Is With Us]. 15 He will eat cheese and honey until he knows how to reject evil and choose good. 16 Indeed, before the boy knows how to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings who terrify you will be deserted.

7:10–16   Ahaz didn’t want a sign of your power. So you offered your own sign. A virgin would become pregnant. She would name her son God Is With Us.

17 “The LORD will bring on you, your people, and your ancestor’s family a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah. ⌞He will bring⌟ the king of Assyria. 18 On that day the LORD will whistle for the flies that are at the distant branches of the Nile River in Egypt and for the bees that are in Assyria. 19 All of them will come and settle in the deep valleys, in the cracks in the cliffs, on all the thornbushes, and at all the water holes.

20 “On that day the Lord will hire the king of Assyria from beyond the Euphrates River to be a razor to shave the hair on your head, the hair on your legs, and even your beard. 21 On that day a person will keep alive a young cow and two sheep. 22 That person will eat cheese, because they will produce so much milk. Everyone who is left in the land will eat cheese and honey. 23 On that day, in every place where there were 1,000 vines (worth 1,000 pieces of silver), there will be briars and thorns. 24 People will come there with bows and arrows ⌞to hunt⌟ because the whole land will be filled with briars and thorns. 25 And you will no longer be able to go to all the hills which used to be cultivated because they will be filled with briars and thorns. It will be a place for turning oxen loose and letting sheep run.”

7:17–25   You humble people who reject you. You let their land grow wild.

Isaiah’s Child Is a Sign of the LORD’s Protection of Judah

8

1 The LORD said to me, “Take a large writing tablet, and write on it with a pen: ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz’ [The Looting Will Come Quickly; the Prey Will Be Easy]. 2 I will have these dependable witnesses testify: the priest Uriah and Zechariah (son of Jeberechiah).”

3 I slept with the prophet. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. The LORD told me, “Name him Maher Shalal Hash Baz. 4 Before the boy knows how to say ‘Daddy’ or ‘Mommy,’ the wealth of Damascus and the loot from Samaria will be carried away to the king of Assyria.”

Assyria Will Invade, But It Will Not Conquer Judah

5 The LORD spoke to me again. He said,

6 “These people have rejected the gently flowing water of Shiloah

and find joy in Rezin and Remaliah’s son.”

7 That is why the Lord is going to bring against them

the raging and powerful floodwaters of the Euphrates River—

the king of Assyria with all his power.

It will overflow all its channels and go over all its banks.

8 It will sweep through Judah.

It will overflow and pass through; it will be neck-high.

Its outspread wings will extend over your whole country, O Immanuel.

9 Be broken, you people. Be terrified.

Listen, all you distant parts of the earth.

Prepare for battle, but be terrified.

Prepare for battle, but be terrified.

10 Make plans for battle, but they will never succeed.

Give orders, but they won’t be carried out,

because God is with us!

8:1–10   Your judgment comes quickly. Your discipline arrives like a flood and sweeps across the plains. It flows neck-deep.

Some in Jerusalem Will Stumble Because They Do Not Trust the LORD

11 This is what the LORD said with his powerful hand on me.

He warned me not to follow the ways of these people:

12 “Don’t say that everything these people call a conspiracy

is a conspiracy.

Don’t fear what they fear.

Don’t let it terrify you.”

13 Remember that the LORD of Armies is holy.

He is the one you should fear

and the one you should be terrified of.

14 He will be a place of safety for you.

But he will be a rock that makes people trip

and a stumbling block for both kingdoms of Israel.

He will be a trap and a snare for those who live in Jerusalem.

15 Many will stumble.

They will fall and be broken.

They will be trapped and caught.

16 Tie up the written instructions.

Seal the teachings among my disciples.

17 I will wait for the LORD,

who hides his face from the descendants of Jacob.

I will hope in him.

8:11–17   I won’t fear what others fear. I refuse to follow their ways. I live for you with utter respect. Because you’re my place of safety, I wait patiently for you.

18 I am here with the children that the LORD has given me.

We are signs and symbols in Israel

from the LORD of Armies, who lives on Mount Zion.

19 People will say to you, “Ask for help from the mediums

and the fortunetellers, who whisper and mutter.”

Shouldn’t people ask their God for help instead?

Why should they ask the dead to help the living?

20 They should go to the teachings and to the written instructions.

If people don’t speak these words,

it is because it doesn’t dawn on them.

21 They will pass through the land when they are hard-pressed and hungry.

When they are hungry, they will be furious.

Then they will look up, cursing their king and God.

22 They will look at the earth and see only distress and gloom.

They will go in anguish and be forced into darkness.

8:18–22   I won’t ask dead people for answers. I’ll go to your teachings. I’ll study your written instructions.

9  [4]

1 But there will be no more gloom

for the land that is in distress.

God humbled the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali in earlier times.

But in the future he will bring glory to the road by the sea,

to the land across the Jordan River,

to Galilee, where foreigners live.

A Child Will Be Born as the Prince of Peace

2 The people who walk in darkness will see a bright light.

The light will shine on those who live in the land of death’s shadow.

3 You will expand the nation and increase its happiness.

It will be happy in your presence

like those who celebrate the harvest

or rejoice when dividing loot.

4 You will break the yoke[5] that burdens them,

the bar that is across their shoulders,

and the stick used by their oppressor,

as ⌞you did in the battle against⌟ Midian.

5 Every warrior’s boot marching to the sound of battle

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel in the fire.

9:1–5   Give me glory instead of gloom. Shine on me when I dwell in death’s shadow. Let me enjoy happiness in your presence. Break my heavy yokes.

6 A child will be born for us.

A son will be given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

He will be named:

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

7 His government and peace will have unlimited growth.

He will establish David’s throne and kingdom.

He will uphold it with justice and righteousness now and forever.

The LORD of Armies is determined to do this!

9:6–7   You’ll send a son named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Let his reign and peace spread without limit. May he uphold your righteousness forever!

The LORD’s Message against His People

8 The LORD sent a message against Jacob.

The message is against Israel.

9 All the people of Ephraim

and the people who live in Samaria will know it.

With arrogant and conceited hearts they will say,

10 “Bricks have fallen,

but we will rebuild with hand-cut stones.

Fig trees have been cut down,

but we will replace them with cedars.”

11 The LORD will set Rezin’s oppressors against Israel

and will stir up its enemies—

12 the Arameans from the east and the Philistines from the west.

They will devour Israel with open mouths.

Even after all this, his anger will not disappear,

and he is still ready to use his power.

13 But the people have not returned to the one who struck them,

nor have they sought the LORD of Armies.

14 So in one day the LORD will cut off from Israel

both head and tail,

both palm branches and cattails.

15 Respected and honored leaders are the head.

Prophets who teach lies are the tail.

16 Those who guide these people lead them astray.

Those who are guided by them will be destroyed.

17 That is why the Lord isn’t happy with their young men,

nor will he show compassion for their orphans and widows.

Every one of them is a godless evildoer,

and every mouth speaks foolishness.

Even after all this, his anger will not disappear,

and he is still ready to use his power.

9:8–17   You strike your people, but they don’t return to you. You threaten to cut off leaders, prophets, and every godless evildoer.

18 Surely wickedness burns like fire.

It burns up briars and thorns.

It sets the underbrush in the forest on fire,

and it whirls upward in clouds of smoke.

19 The land is scorched by the fury of the LORD of Armies,

and the people are like fuel for the fire.

No one shows concern for others:

20 On the right, one gobbles up food and is still hungry.

On the left, another eats and is never full.

Each person eats the flesh from his own arm.

21 Manasseh is against Ephraim.

Ephraim is against Manasseh.

Together they attack Judah.

Even after all this, his anger will not disappear,

and he is still ready to use his power.

9:18–21   Wickedness burns like fire. It scorches people who think only of themselves.

10

1 How horrible it will be for those who make unjust laws

and who make oppressive regulations.

2 They deprive the poor of justice.

They take away the rights of the needy among my people.

They prey on widows and rob orphans.

3 What will you do on the day

you are called to account ⌞for these things⌟,

when the disaster comes from far away?

Where will you run for help?

Where will you leave your wealth?

4 Nothing’s left but to crouch among prisoners

and to fall with those who are killed.

Even after all this, his anger will not disappear,

and he is still ready to use his power.

10:1–4   You call to account people who abuse the poor and prey on widows. There’s nowhere to hide from your anger.

The LORD’s Message against Assyria

5 “How horrible it will be for Assyria!

It is the rod of my anger.

My fury is the staff in the Assyrians’ hands.

6 I send them against a godless nation.

In my fury I order them against the people

to take their belongings, loot them,

and trample on them like mud in the streets.

7 But that’s not what they intend to do.

Their minds don’t work that way.

Their purpose is to destroy and put an end to many nations.

8 They ask, ‘Aren’t all our commanders kings?

9 Isn’t Calno like Carchemish?

Isn’t Hamath like Arpad?

Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?’

10 My power has reached kingdoms which have idols.

They had more carved statues than Jerusalem or Samaria.

11 I will do to Jerusalem and its idols

what I’ve done to Samaria and its idols.”

10:5–11   You let Assyria punish your people. You sent its armies to destroy Jerusalem’s idols. Yet you rage against Assyria’s pride and endless aggression.

12 When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he will punish the king of Assyria for all his boasting and all his arrogance. 13 The king will say,

“I did this with my own two powerful hands.

I did this with my wisdom, because I am so clever.

I’ve eliminated the boundaries of nations.

I’ve looted treasuries.

I’ve brought down people like a mighty man.

14 I’ve found the riches of nations as one finds a nest.

I’ve gathered the whole world as one gathers abandoned eggs.

Not one of them flapped a wing, opened its mouth, or peeped.”

10:12–14   You punish the boastful and arrogant. You put an end to power and wisdom and cleverness.

15 Can an ax attack the person who cuts with it?

Can a saw make itself greater than the person who saws with it?

A rod cannot move the person who lifts it.

A wooden stick cannot pick up a person.

16 That is why the Almighty LORD of Armies

will send a degenerative disease against brave men.

A flame will be turned into a raging fire under his power.

17 Israel’s light will become a flame.

Its Holy One will become a fire.

He will burn up and devour the weeds and thornbushes in one day.

18 The majestic forest and the orchard

will destroy both body and soul.

They will be like a sick person wasting away.

19 The trees that remain in the forest will be so few that

a child could count them.

20 At that time the remaining few Israelites,

the survivors of Jacob’s descendants

will no longer depend on the one who struck them.

They will only depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

21 A few, the remaining few of Jacob, will return to the mighty God.

22 Although your people Israel may be

as ⌞numerous as⌟ the grains of sand on the seashore,

only a few will return.

Destruction will be complete and fair.

10:15–22   You swing the ax and pick up the wooden stick. No one can take credit for your judgment. Your holy fire makes your people turn back to you.

23 The Almighty LORD of Armies will carry out this destruction

throughout the world as he has determined.

10:23–34   You unleash your fury against oppressors. You bring down the arrogant. Lift the burden from the necks of your people!

24 The Almighty LORD of Armies says:

My people who live in Zion,

don’t be afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with a rod

or when they raise their staff against you

as the Egyptians did.

25 Very soon I will unleash my fury,

and my anger will destroy them.

26 Then the LORD of Armies will raise his whip against them.

As he struck down Midian at the Rock of Oreb

and raised his staff over the water,

so he will lift it as he did in Egypt.

27 At that time their burden will be removed from your shoulders.

Their yoke[6] will be removed from your neck.

The yoke will be torn away because you have grown fat.

28 They come to Aiath.

They pass through Migron.

They store their equipment at Michmash.

29 They go through the mountain pass and lodge at Geba for the night.

The people in Ramah tremble; the people in Saul’s Gibeah flee.

30 Cry aloud, you people in Gallim!

Pay attention, you people in Laishah and miserable Anathoth!

31 The people in Madmenah flee; those who live in Gebim take shelter.

32 This day they stopped at Nob.

They shake their fist at the mountain of my people Zion,

at the mountain of Jerusalem.

33 Now look! The Almighty LORD of Armies

will trim the branches with terrifying power.

The highest trees will be cut down.

The tallest ones will be brought down.

34 He will cut down the underbrush of the forest with an ax.

Lebanon will fall in front of the Mighty One.

The LORD’s Kingdom Will Be Ruled by a Shoot from Jesse’s Stump

11

1 Then a shoot will come out from the stump of Jesse,

and a branch from its roots will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of advice and power,

the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

3 He will gladly bear the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what his eyes see

or decide by what his ears hear.

4 He will judge the poor justly.

He will make fair decisions for the humble people on earth.

He will strike the earth with a rod from his mouth.

He will kill the wicked with the breath from his lips.

5 Justice will be the belt around his waist.

Faithfulness will be the belt around his hips.

11:1–5   On your ruler will rest your Spirit of wisdom and understanding, advice and power, knowledge and awe of you. He will rule with justice and faithfulness.

6 Wolves will live with lambs.

Leopards will lie down with goats.

Calves, young lions, and year-old lambs will be together,

and little children will lead them.

7 Cows and bears will eat together.

Their young will lie down together.

Lions will eat straw like oxen.

8 Infants will play near cobras’ holes.

Toddlers will put their hands into vipers’ nests.

9 They will not hurt or destroy anyone anywhere on my holy mountain.

The world will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD

like water covering the sea.

10 At that time the root of Jesse will stand as a banner

for the people ⌞to gather around⌟.

The nations will come to him.

His resting place will be glorious.

11:6–10   May your ruler gather the nations. Let the whole world know you well. Let us live in your peaceful grip.

11 At that time the Lord will use his power again

to recover what remains of his people

in Assyria, Upper and Lower Egypt,

Sudan, Elam, Babylonia, Hamath,

and the islands of the sea.

12 He will raise a banner for the nations ⌞to gather around⌟.

He will gather the outcasts of Israel

and bring together the scattered people of Judah

from the four corners of the earth.

13 Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish,

and Judah’s opponents will come to an end.

Ephraim won’t be jealous of Judah,

and Judah won’t oppose Ephraim.

14 They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia in the west.

Together they will loot the people of the east.

They will conquer Edom and Moab.

The people of Ammon will be subject to them.

15 The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian Sea.

He will wave his hand over the Euphrates River with his scorching wind

and divide it into seven streams

so that people can walk over it in their sandals.

16 There will be a highway

for the remaining few of his people left in Assyria

like there was for Israel when it came out of Egypt.

11:11–16   Gather your people from the places we’ve been scattered. Put an end to our petty jealousies. Give us peace from our enemies.

A Hymn of Praise from the LORD’s People in His Kingdom

12

1 At that time you will say,

“I will praise you, O LORD.

Although you had been angry with me,

you turned your anger away from me, and you comforted me.

2 Look! God is my Savior.

I am confident and unafraid,

because the LORD is my strength and my song.

He is my Savior.”

12:1–2   You were angry with me, but now I know your comfort. Because you’re my Savior, I’m confident and unafraid.

3 With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation.

4 At that time you will say,

“Praise the LORD.

Call on his name.

Make his deeds known among the nations.

Make them remember that his name is highly honored.

5 Make music to praise the LORD.

He has done wonderful things.

Let this be known throughout the earth.

6 Shout loudly, and sing with joy, people of Zion!

The Holy One of Israel is great. He is among you.”

12:3–6   I drink deep of your joy and tell everyone your awesome deeds. I shout your greatness. You’re here with me now!

Babylon Will Be Punished

13

1 This is the divine revelation which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Babylon.

2 Raise a banner on the bare mountaintop.

Call loudly to them.

Signal them with your hand to enter the nobles’ gates.

3 I’ve commanded my holy ones.

I’ve called my mighty men to carry out my anger.

They find joy in my triumphs.

4 Listen to the noise on the mountains.

It is like the sound of a large army.

It is the sound of kingdoms and nations gathering together.

The LORD of Armies is assembling his army for battle.

5 His army is coming from a distant land,

from the ends of heaven.

The LORD is coming with the weapons of his fury

to destroy the whole world.

6 Cry loudly, for the day of the LORD is near.

It will come like destruction from the Almighty.

13:1–6   You’re assembling an army of nations. You’re coming to destroy the world. You’re planning a day of devastation. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

7 That is why every hand will hang limp,

and everyone’s courage will fail.

8 They’ll be terrified.

Pain and anguish will seize them.

They’ll writhe like a woman giving birth to a child.

They’ll look at one another in astonishment.

Their faces will be burning red.

13:7–8   Courage fails in the face of your fury. Pain seizes the earth. Astonishment covers every human face.

9 The day of the LORD is going to come.

It will be a cruel day with fury and fierce anger.

He will make the earth desolate.

He will destroy its sinners.

10 The stars in the sky and their constellations

won’t show their light anymore.

The sun will be dark when it rises.

The moon won’t shine.

11 I will punish the world for its evil

and the wicked for their wrongdoing.

I will put an end to arrogant people

and humble the pride of tyrants.

12 I will make people harder to find than pure gold

and human beings more rare than gold from Ophir.

13 I will make heaven tremble,

and the earth will be shaken from its place

when the LORD of Armies is angry.

At that time he will be very angry.

14 They’ll be like hunted gazelle

and like sheep with no one to gather them.

Everyone will return to his own people

and flee to his own land.

15 Whoever is found will be stabbed to death.

Whoever is captured will be executed.

16 Their little children will be smashed to death right before their eyes.

Their houses will be looted and their wives raped.

13:9–16   You’ll punish the world for its evil and put an end to its arrogance. Heaven will tremble and the earth will shake. You’re angry. Your day is coming.

17 I’m going to stir up the Medes against them.

They don’t care for silver and aren’t happy with gold.

18 But their bows will smash the youth.

They’ll have no compassion for babies,

nor will they look with pity on children.

19 Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms,

the proud beauty of the Chaldeans,

will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God destroyed them.

20 It will never be inhabited again,

and no one will live in it for generations.

Arabs won’t pitch their tents there.

Shepherds won’t let their flocks rest there.

21 Desert animals will lie down there.

Their homes will be full of owls.

Ostriches will live there,

and wild goats will skip about.

22 Hyenas will howl in Babylon’s strongholds,

and jackals will howl in its luxurious palaces.

Its time has almost come.

Its days will not be extended.

13:17–22   You threaten to stir up the Medes against Babylon. The time for judgment has almost come. Your offer of mercy won’t be extended.

Israel Will Be Rescued from Babylon

14

1 The LORD will have compassion for Jacob and again choose Israel.

He will resettle them in their own country.

Foreigners will join them

and unite with the descendants of Jacob.

2 People will take them

and bring them to their own place.

The nation of Israel will possess nations

as male and female slaves in the LORD’s land.

They will take their captors captive

and rule their oppressors.

14:1–2   Give us the compassion you promise. Bring us home and give us a place to live.

3 When that day comes, the LORD will give you relief

from your pain and suffering,

from the hard slavery you were forced to do.

4 Then you will mock the king of Babylon with this saying,

“How the tyrant has come to an end!

How his attacks have come to an end!”

5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,

the scepter of rulers.

6 They struck the people with fury,

with blows that didn’t stop.

They ruled nations in anger,

persecuting them without restraint.

7 The whole earth rests and is peaceful.

It breaks out into shouts of joy.

8 Even the cypresses rejoice over you.

The cedars of Lebanon say,

“Since you have fallen,

no lumberjack has come to attack us.”

14:3–8   Relieve our pain and suffering. Break the strength of the wicked. Bring down tyrants so we can rest and enjoy peace.

9 Sheol below wakes up to meet you when you come.

It wakes up the ghosts of the dead,

all who were leaders on earth.

It raises all who were kings of the nations from their thrones.

10 All of them will greet you,

“You also have become weak like us!

You have become like one of us!”

11 Your pride has been brought down to Sheol

along with the music of your harps.

Maggots are spread out ⌞like a bed⌟ under you,

and worms cover you.

14:9–11   The land of the dead awakens. Ghosts greet the fallen king. You’ve buried his pride. He lies down in a bed of maggots and covers himself with a blanket of worms.

12 How you have fallen from heaven, you morning star, son of the dawn!

How you have been cut down to the ground, you conqueror of nations!

13 You thought,

“I’ll go up to heaven and set up my throne above God’s stars.

I’ll sit on the mountain far away in the north

where the gods assemble.

14 I’ll go above the top of the clouds.

I’ll be like the Most High.”

15 But you’ve been brought down to Sheol,

to the deepest part of the pit.

16 Those who see you stare at you; they look at you closely and say,

“Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who shook the kingdoms,

17 who made the world like a desert and tore down its cities,

who didn’t let his prisoners go home?”

18 All the kings of the nations, all of them,

have been buried with honor, each in his own tomb.

19 But you are thrown out of your tomb like a rejected branch.

You are covered with those who were killed in battle.

You go down to the stones of the pit like a trampled corpse.

20 You won’t be joined by the kings in the tomb,

because you have destroyed your land and killed your people.

The descendants of the wicked will never be mentioned again.

21 Prepare a place to slaughter their sons

because of their ancestors’ guilt.

They won’t be able to rise, possess the earth,

and rebuild cities all over it.

22 “I’ll rise up against them,” declares the LORD of Armies.

“I’ll cut off the name of the survivors from Babylon,

its offspring and descendants,” declares the LORD.

23 “It will become the possession of herons.

It will become pools of water.

I’ll sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Armies.

14:12–23   The son of the dawn thought he could build a throne above your stars. He dreamed of being like you. But you brought him down to the land of the dead.

Assyria Will Be Punished

24 The LORD of Armies has taken an oath:

“It will happen exactly as I’ve intended.

It will turn out exactly as I’ve planned.

25 I’ll crush Assyria on my land.

I’ll trample it underfoot on my mountains.

Then its yoke[7] will be removed from my people,

and its burden will be removed from their shoulders.”

26 This is the plan determined for the whole earth.

This is how he will use his power against all the nations.

27 The LORD of Armies has planned it. Who can stop it?

He is ready to use his power. Who can turn it back?

14:24–27   You promise to crush Assyria. You’ll trample the cruel nation and remove your people’s yoke. That’s how you use your power. Who can stop you?

The Philistines Will Be Punished

28 This was the divine revelation in the year King Ahaz died.

29 All you Philistines, don’t rejoice

that the rod of the one who struck you is broken,

because a viper will come from that snake’s root,

and his descendant will be a flying, fiery serpent.

30 The poorest of the poor will eat,

and the needy will lie down in safety.

But I will put your root to death with famine

and kill off your survivors.

31 Cry loudly in the gate!

Cry out in the city!

Be frightened, all you Philistines!

Smoke comes from the north,

and there are no stragglers in its ranks.

32 How should we answer the messengers from the nations?

⌞Tell them that⌟ the LORD has laid Zion’s foundation,

and his humble people will find refuge in it.

14:28–32   You rob Philistia of its reason to rejoice. You bring down its archenemy, but its own destruction awaits. You feed the poor and give safety to the needy.

Moab Will Be Punished

15

1 This is the divine revelation about Moab.

In a single night Ar in Moab is laid waste and destroyed!

In a single night Kir in Moab is laid waste and destroyed!

2 The people of Dibon go to the temple,

to the worship sites, to cry.

Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba.

Every head is shaved bald, and every beard is cut off.[8]

3 In their streets they wear sackcloth.

On their roofs and in their city squares everyone wails and cries.

4 Heshbon and Elealeh also cry out.

Their voices are heard as far away as Jahaz.

Moab’s armed men cry out.

Their courage is gone.

5 My heart cries out for Moab.

Its people flee as far as Zoar at Eglath Shelishiyah.

They go up the mountain road to Luhith.

They cry loudly over the destruction on the way to Horonaim.

6 The Nimrim Brook has run dry!

The grass dries up,

the vegetation withers,

and nothing green is left.

7 That is why they carry the wealth that they have earned and stored up

over Willow Ravine.

8 Cries for help echo throughout the land of Moab.

Their wailing echoes as far as Eglaim.

Their wailing echoes as far as Beer Elim.

9 The water in Dimon is red with blood,

yet I will bring even more on Dimon.

A lion will attack the fugitives from Moab

and the survivors from Adamah.[9]

15:1–9   Moab is destroyed in a single night. Bald heads grieve. Cries for help echo through the land. But more blood will spill.

16

1 Send lambs to the ruler of the land.[10]

Send lambs from Sela through the desert to my people at Mount Zion.

2 Moab’s daughters are like fluttering birds,

like scattered nestlings,

at the shallow crossings of the Arnon River.

3 Give us advice.

Make a decision.

At high noon make your shadow as dark as night.

Hide the fugitives.

Don’t betray the refugees.

4 Let the fugitives from Moab stay with you a while.

Be their refuge from the destroyer.

Ruthless people will come to an end.

The destruction will end.

The one who tramples others will be gone.

5 Then the LORD will set up a trusted king.

He will rule faithfully.

He is from the tent of David.

He judges and searches for justice.

He is quick to do what is right.

16:1–5   The ruthless will come to an end. Because of you, the one who tramples others will be gone. Even Moab can find refuge with your trusted king. He is quick to do right.

6 We’ve heard of the arrogance of Moab’s people.

They are very arrogant.

We’ve heard of their boasting, arrogance, and conceit,

but their boasts aren’t true.

7 That is why Moab will wail.

Everyone will wail for Moab.

Mourn and grieve over the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.[11]

8 The fields of Heshbon and the vineyards of Sibmah wither.

Rulers of the nations have cut off their grapes.

The grapevines ⌞once⌟ reached as far as Jazer

and strayed out into the desert.

Their shoots had spread out over the sea.

9 I will cry for the grapevines of Sibmah

as Jazer cries for them.

I will drench you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh.

The shouts of joy for your ripened fruits

and your harvest will be silenced.

10 Joy and delight have vanished from the orchards.

No songs are sung.

No shouts are raised.

No one stomps on grapes in the winepresses,

because I have put an end to the shouts of joy.

11 That is why my heart mourns for Moab like a harp.

My soul mourns for Kir Hareseth.

12 When the people of Moab appear at the worship site,

they will only wear themselves out.

They will come into the holy place to pray,

but they won’t be able to.

13 This is the message that the LORD spoke about Moab in the past. 14 But now the LORD says, “Moab’s honor will be despised within three years. I will count them like workers count the years left of their contracts.[12] In spite of their great number, the survivors will be very few and powerless.”

16:6–14   Moab is boastful, arrogant, conceited. But the nation will soon wail. You’ll end its shouts of joy. I fail when I try to worship false gods.

Damascus and Israel Will Be Punished

17

1 This is the divine revelation about Damascus.

“Damascus will no longer be a city.

It will become a pile of rubble.

2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted.

These cities will be used for sheep, which will lie down in them.

There will be no one to disturb those sheep.

3 Fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim,

and the kingdom will disappear from Damascus.

The remaining few from Aram will share Israel’s honor,”

declares the LORD of Armies.

4 “When that day comes, the honor of Jacob’s people will fade away,

and they will become skin and bones.

5 That time will be like harvesting bundles of grain by the armful.

It will be like gathering grain in the Rephaim Valley.

6 Only a few people will survive.

They will be like an olive tree that has been beaten.

Only two or three olives are left

at the top of the highest branch,

four or five olives on the rest of the branches,”

declares the LORD God of Israel.

7 When that day comes, they will look to their maker,

and their eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.

8 They won’t look to the altars made by their hands

or to the Asherah poles or incense altars

which their fingers molded.

9 When that day comes, the fortified cities

which other people abandoned because of the Israelites

will be like abandoned woods and undergrowth.

So it will become a wasteland.

17:1–9   Damascus will become a pile of rubble. Israel will shrink to skin and bones. I’ll look to you when disaster strikes. Let my troubles turn me back to you.

10 You have forgotten the God of your salvation.

You haven’t remembered the rock, your stronghold.

Instead, you have planted the best plants

and have set out the imported grapevines.

11 On the day you plant, you will make it grow.[13]

On the morning you set out the seedling, you will make it sprout.

But the harvest will become a [rotting] pile[14]

on a day of grief and incurable pain.

12 How horrible it will be for many people!

They will roar like the roaring sea.

The noise that the people make

will be like the noise from rushing water.

13 The people will make noise like raging water.

But the LORD will yell at them, and they will run far away.

They will be chased away

like husks on the mountains being blown by the wind,

like whirling dust being blown by a storm.

14 In the evening there will be sudden terror.

Before morning they will be gone.

This will be the fate of those who looted us,

the destiny of those who robbed us.

17:10–14   I won’t forget you, God of my salvation. I can’t even feed myself without your help. Defend me against the plunderers.

Sudan Will Be Punished

18

1 How horrible it will be for the land of whirring wings

which lies beyond the rivers of Sudan.

2 It sends messengers by sea

in boats made of reeds

⌞skimming⌟ over the surface of the water.

Go, swift messengers, to a tall and smooth-skinned people,

a people ⌞who are⌟ feared far and near,

a strong and aggressive nation,

whose land is divided by rivers.

3 Look when someone raises a flag on the mountains.

Listen when someone blows a ram’s horn,

all you inhabitants of the world who live on the earth.

4 This is what the LORD says to me:

I will keep quiet and watch from my dwelling place.

My presence will be like scorching heat in the sunshine,

like heavy dew in the heat of the harvest.

5 Before the harvest, when blossoms are gone

and grapes are ripening from blossoms,

he will cut off the shoots with pruning shears

and chop off the spreading branches.

6 They will be left for the birds of prey on the mountains

and the wild animals.

The birds of prey will feed on them in the summer,

and all the wild animals on earth

will feed on them in the winter.

7 At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD of Armies

from a tall and smooth-skinned people,

a people ⌞who are⌟ feared far and near,

a strong and aggressive nation,

whose land is divided by rivers.

They will be brought to Mount Zion,

the place where the name of the LORD of Armies is.

18:1–7   You speak doom to the land of insects beyond the rivers. Though its people inspire fear, they will bow to you and bring you gifts.

Egypt Will Be Punished

19

1 This is the divine revelation about Egypt.

The LORD is riding on a fast-moving cloud and is coming to Egypt.

Egypt’s idols will tremble in his presence.

Egypt’s courage will fail.

2 “I will turn one Egyptian against another.

They will fight—

brother against brother,

neighbor against neighbor,

city against city,

kingdom against kingdom.

3 The Egyptians will lose courage.

I will unravel their plans.

They will turn to idols, ghosts,

mediums, and fortunetellers.

4 I will hand over the Egyptians to a harsh master.

A strong king will rule them,”

declares the Almighty LORD of Armies.

5 The water in the Nile River will be dried up,[15]

and the river will be dry and empty.

6 The canals will stink.

Egypt’s streams will be emptied and dried up.

The reeds and cattails will wither.

7 The rushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile,

and all the fields planted beside the Nile

will dry up, be blown away, and disappear.

8 Fishermen will cry.

All who cast their lines into the Nile will mourn.

Those who spread their nets on the water will sigh.

9 Linenworkers and weavers will be ashamed.

10 Egypt’s weavers will be crushed.

Those who work for money will be distressed.

19:1–10   You’re coming to crush Egypt’s idols. You’ll turn brother against brother and unravel the Egyptians’ plans. You’ll dry up the land and its wealth.

11 The leaders of Zoan are nothing but fools.

The wisest of Pharaoh’s counselors gives stupid advice.

How can you tell Pharaoh,

“I’m a descendant of wise men,

a descendant of ancient kings”?

12 Where are your wise men now?

Let them tell you.

Let them explain what the LORD of Armies

is planning against Egypt.

13 The leaders of Zoan are acting foolishly.

The leaders of Memphis are led astray.

The leaders who are the cornerstones of its tribes mislead the Egyptians.

14 The LORD mixes up their minds.

So they lead the Egyptians astray

like a drunk who staggers in his vomit.

15 No one—leaders or followers, important or unimportant—

can do anything for Egypt.

19:11–15   No one knows your plans. The wisest human beings give stupid advice. You mix up our minds.

16 At that time Egyptians will act like women. They will tremble and be terrified because the LORD of Armies will shake his fist at them. 17 The land of Judah will terrify the Egyptians. Whenever they are reminded of Judah, they will be terrified of it because of what the LORD of Armies is planning against it.

18 When that day comes, five cities in Egypt will have people that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Armies. One of the cities will be called Heliopolis.[16]

19 When that day comes, an altar for the LORD will be in the middle of Egypt, and a stone marker for the LORD will be near its border. 20 These objects will be a sign and a witness that the LORD of Armies is in Egypt. When the people cry to the LORD because of those who oppress them, he will send a savior and defender to rescue them. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians. The Egyptians will know the LORD when that day comes. They will worship with sacrifices and food offerings. They will make vows to the LORD and carry them out. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague. When he strikes them, he will also heal them. Then they will come back to the LORD. And he will respond to their prayers and heal them.

23 When that day comes, a highway will run from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will come to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. 24 When that day comes, Israel will be one-third ⌞of God’s people⌟, along with Egypt and Assyria. They will be a blessing on the earth. 25 The LORD of Armies will bless them, saying, “My people Egypt, the work of my hands Assyria, and my possession Israel are blessed.”

19:16–25   You shake your fist and make Egypt tremble. But the nation will bow to you. You’ll rescue the Egyptians and inspire them to worship. They’ll be counted as part of your people.

Those Who Were Allied with Egypt Will Be Ashamed

20

1 In the year when King Sargon of Assyria sent his commander-in-chief to fight against Ashdod, he captured it. 2 At that time the LORD told Isaiah, son of Amoz, “Take off the sackcloth that you are wearing, and take off your sandals!” Isaiah did this and walked around barefoot and naked.

3 Then the LORD said, “My servant Isaiah has gone barefoot and naked for three years as a sign and as an omen to Egypt and Sudan. 4 The king of Assyria will lead away both the young and the old—captives from Egypt and exiles from Sudan. They will be barefoot and naked. Their buttocks will be exposed in order to disgrace Egypt. 5 Then the people will be shattered and ashamed because Sudan was their hope and Egypt was their beauty. 6 When that day comes, those who live on this coastland will say, ‘Look at what has happened to our hope. We ran ⌞to Egypt⌟ for help to be rescued from the king of Assyria. How can we escape?’”

20:1–6   You’re the hope of your people. I look to you alone for help.

Babylon Has Fallen

21

1 This is the divine revelation about the desert by the sea.

Like a storm sweeping through the Negev,

an invader will come from the desert,

from a terrifying land.

2 I was shown a harsh vision.

The traitor betrays.

The destroyer destroys.

Go to war, Elam!

Surround them, Media!

I will put an end to all the groaning.

3 That is why my body is full of trembling.

Pain grips me like the pain of childbirth.

I’m disturbed by what I hear.

I’m terrified by what I see.

4 I’m confused.

I’m shaking with terror.

The twilight hours I longed for make me tremble.

5 Set the table.

Spread the rugs ⌞by the table⌟.

Eat. Drink.

Get up, you leaders!

Prepare your shields for battle!

6 This is what the Lord says to me:

Post a watchman.

Have him report whatever he sees.

7 He will see chariots, pairs of horsemen,

riders on donkeys, and riders on camels.

Let him watch carefully, very carefully.

8 The watchman[17] called,

“Sir, I stand on the watchtower every day.

Every night, I stand guard at my post.

9 Look! Here come chariots and horsemen in pairs.”

Then he said,

“Babylon has fallen! It has fallen!

All the idols they worship lie shattered on the ground.”

10 You, my people, have been threshed and winnowed.[18]

I make known to you what I heard from the LORD of Armies,

the God of Israel.

21:1–10   You bring devastation to the proud and well-armed. Your people rejoice when the oppressor falls. Its idols lie shattered on the ground.

Someone Calling from Seir

11 This is the divine revelation about Dumah.[19]

Someone is calling to me from Seir,

“Watchman, how much of the night is left?

Watchman, how much of the night is left?”

12 The watchman answers,

“Morning is coming, and night will come again.

If you need to ask, come back and ask.”

Arabia Will Be Punished

13 This is the divine revelation about Arabia.

You caravan of travelers from the people of Dedan

will spend the night in the forest of Arabia.

14 Bring water for the thirsty,

you inhabitants of the land of Tema.

Bring food to the fugitives.

15 They flee from swords,

from swords ready to kill,

from bows ready to shoot,

and from the thick of battle.

16 This is what the Lord says to me: All of Kedar’s honor will be gone in another year. I will count it like workers count the years left on their contracts.[20] 17 The remaining number of archers, Kedar’s mighty archers, will be few. The LORD God of Israel has spoken.

21:11–17   You warn that your judgment is coming. Your punishment won’t relent.

Judah Will Be Punished

22

1 This is the divine revelation about the valley of Vision.

What’s the matter with you?

Why do all of you go up on the roofs?

2 You are a city filled with shouting,

a town filled with noise and excitement.

Your people weren’t killed with swords.

Your dead didn’t die in battle.

3 All your leaders fled together

and were captured without their bows and arrows.

All those who were found were taken prisoner

before any of them could get far away.

4 That is why I say,

“Turn away from me

so that I can cry bitterly.

Don’t try to comfort me

because of the destruction brought on my people.”

22:1–4   What’s wrong with your people? Common people party on rooftops. Leaders flee to save their own skins. I weep at your people’s destruction.

5 The Almighty LORD of Armies has chosen a special day.

It will be a day of confusion and trampling

in the valley of Vision,

⌞a day of⌟ tearing down walls and crying for help

in the mountains.

6 Elam takes its quiver of arrows,

manned chariots, and horsemen.

Kir uncovers its shields.

7 Then your fertile valleys will be filled with chariots,

and horsemen will stand ready in front of the gate.

8 On that day the LORD will remove the defenses of Judah.

You will look for weapons in the House of the Forest.[21]

9 You will see how many places in David’s wall are broken.

You will store water in the Lower Pool.

10 You will count the houses in Jerusalem.

You will tear down those houses in order to fortify the walls.

11 You will build a reservoir between the two walls

to hold the water of the Old Pool.

You didn’t look to Jerusalem’s maker.

You didn’t see the one who formed it long ago.

12 On that day the Almighty LORD of Armies

will call for crying and for mourning,

for shaving your heads and for wearing sackcloth.

13 Instead, you will rejoice, celebrate,

slaughter cattle, and butcher sheep.

You will eat meat, drink wine, and say,

“Let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’re going to die.”

14 The LORD of Armies revealed this to me: “Certainly, this wrong will not be forgiven even when you die,” says the Almighty LORD of Armies.

22:5–14   Your people are confused and trampled. Their land is overrun because you tore down its defenses. Why? Because your people didn’t look to you for help. I mourn over the days I don’t depend on you.

Shebna’s Position Will Be Given to Eliakim

15 This is what the Almighty LORD of Armies says:

Go to Shebna, the man in charge of the palace, and say ⌞to him⌟,

16 “What are you doing here?

What right do you have to dig a tomb for yourself?

What right do you have to cut it out in a prominent place?

What right do you have to carve out

a resting place for yourself in the rock?

17 Look, mighty man!

The LORD will throw you out.

He will grab you.

18 He will wrap you up tightly like a turban.

He will throw you far away into another land.

There you will die.

There your splendid chariots will remain.

There you will become a disgrace to your master’s household.

19 “I will remove you from your office

and do away with your position.

20 When that day comes, I will call my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah.

21 I will dress him in your linen robe

and fasten it with your belt.

I will give him your authority,

and he will be like a father to those who live in Jerusalem

and to the nation of Judah.

22 I will place the key of the house of David around his neck.

What he opens no one will shut.

What he shuts no one will open.

23 I will fasten him firmly in place like a peg,

and he will be a source of honor for his father’s household.

24 They will hang on him the whole weight of his father’s household,

descendants and offspring and all the little utensils,

from bowls to jars of every kind.”

25 The LORD of Armies declares,

“On that day the peg which I firmly fastened in place will be removed.

It will be cut off and will fall,

and everything hanging on it will be destroyed.”

The LORD has spoken.

22:15–25   You despise people who seek fame. You throw out the man who carves himself an impressive tomb. Don’t cut me down or give my position to another. I’ll live humbly with you.

Tyre Will Be Punished

23

1 This is the divine revelation about Tyre.

Cry loudly, you ships of Tarshish!

Your port at Tyre is destroyed.

Word has come to the ships from Cyprus.

2 Be silent, you inhabitants of the coastland, you merchants from Sidon.

Your messengers have crossed the sea.

3 The grain of Shihor is on the Mediterranean.

The harvest of the Nile River is brought to Tyre.

Tyre became the marketplace for the nations.

4 Be ashamed, Sidon, because the stronghold by the sea has spoken,

“I’ve never been in labor or given birth.

I’ve raised no sons.

I’ve brought up no daughters.”

5 When the news reaches Egypt,

the Egyptians will shudder over the news about Tyre.

6 Travel to Tarshish!

Cry loudly, you inhabitants of the seacoast!

7 Is this your bustling city founded in the distant past?

Is this the city that sent its people to settle in distant lands?

8 Who planned such a thing against Tyre, the city that produced kings?

Its merchants are princes.

Its traders are among the honored people of the world.

9 The LORD of Armies planned this

in order to dishonor all arrogant people

and to humiliate all the honored people of the world.

10 Travel through your country like the Nile, people of Tarshish.

You no longer have a harbor.

11 The LORD has stretched his hand over the sea to shake kingdoms.

He has commanded that Canaan’s fortifications be destroyed.

12 He says, “You will no longer be joyful,

my dear abused people Sidon.”

Get up, and travel to Cyprus.

Even there you will find no rest.

23:1–12   You destroy the port of Tyre and dishonor its traders. You speak doom to the proud and humiliate the important.

13 Look at the land of the Babylonians.

These people will be gone.

Assyria gave this land to the desert animals.

Assyria set up battle towers,

stripped palaces bare,

and turned these places into ruins.

14 Cry loudly, you ships of Tarshish, because your fortress will be destroyed. 15 When that day comes, Tyre will be forgotten for 70 years, the lifetime of one king. At the end of the 70 years, Tyre will be like the prostitute in this song:

16 “Take your lyre.

Go around in the city, you forgotten prostitute.

Make sweet music.

Sing many songs so that you’ll be remembered.”

17 At the end of 70 years the LORD will come to help Tyre. Then she will go back to earning money as a prostitute. She will become a prostitute for all the world’s kingdoms. 18 Her profits and her earnings will be turned over to the LORD for his holy purpose. It won’t be stored or hoarded. Her merchandise will belong to those who live in the presence of the LORD so that they will have plenty of food and expensive clothing.

23:13–18   I’ll study the places you’ve destroyed. I’ll master the lessons they refused to learn. I’ll always live for your purposes.

The LORD’s Great Triumph

24

1 The LORD is going to turn the earth into a desolate wasteland.

He will mar the face of the earth and scatter the people living on it.

2 The same will happen to people and priests,

male slaves and masters,

female slaves and masters,

buyers and sellers,

lenders and borrowers,

debtors and creditors.

3 The earth will be completely laid waste and stripped

because the LORD has spoken.

4 The earth dries up and withers.

The world wastes away and withers.

The great leaders of the earth waste away.

5 The earth is polluted by those who live on it

because they’ve disobeyed the LORD’s teachings,

violated his laws,

and rejected the everlasting promise.[22]

6 That is why a curse devours the earth,

and its people are punished for their guilt.

That is why those who live on the earth are burned up,

and only a few people are left.

24:1–6   We pollute the world with our disobedience. We violate your laws and reject your everlasting promise. So you’ll strip the earth and scatter its people.

7 New wine dries up, and grapevines waste away.

All happy people groan.

8 Joyful tambourine music stops.

Noisy celebrations cease.

Joyful harp music stops.

9 People no longer drink wine when they sing.

Liquor tastes bad to its drinkers.

10 The ruined city lies desolate.

The entrance to every house is barred shut.

11 People in the streets call for wine.

All joy passes away,

and the earth’s happiness is banished.

12 The city is left in ruins.

Its gate is battered to pieces.

13 That is the way it will be on earth among the nations.

They will be like an olive tree which has been shaken

or like what’s left after the grape harvest.

24:7–13   You put the earth under a curse. You punish its people for their guilt. Happy people groan. Joy passes away.

14 They raise their voices.

They shout for joy.

From the sea they sing joyfully about the LORD’s majesty.

15 Honor the LORD in the east.

Honor the name of the LORD God of Israel along the coastlands.

16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise

that honor the Righteous One.

But I kept saying,

“I’m wasting away! I’m wasting away!

How horrible it is for me!

Traitors continue to betray,

and their treachery grows worse and worse.”

24:14–16   You deserve all the glory I can give you. But the world wastes away. Treachery grows worse and worse.

17 Disasters, pits, and traps

are in store for those who live on earth.

18 Whoever flees from news of a disaster will fall into a pit.

Whoever climbs out of that pit will be caught in a trap.

The floodgates in the sky will be opened,

and the foundations of the earth will shake.

19 The earth will be completely broken.

The earth will shake back and forth violently.

The earth will stagger.

20 The earth will stumble like a drunk

and sway like a shack in the wind.

Its disobedience weighs heavy on it.

It will fall and not get up again.

21 On that day the LORD will punish heaven’s armies in heaven

and earth’s kings on earth.

22 They’ll be gathered like prisoners in a jail

and locked in prison.

After a long time they’ll be punished.

23 The moon will be embarrassed.

The sun will be ashamed,

because the LORD of Armies will rule

on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.

He will be glorious

in the presence of his respected leaders.

24:17–23   No one can flee your judgment. You completely shatter the earth. It falls under the weight of its disobedience.

The LORD Protects the Weak

25

1 O LORD, you are my God.

I will highly honor you; I will praise your name.

You have done miraculous things.

You have been completely reliable

in carrying out your plans from long ago.

2 You have turned cities into ruins,

fortified cities into piles of rubble,

and foreigners’ palaces into cities that will never be rebuilt.

3 That is why strong people will honor you,

and cities ruled by the world’s tyrants will fear you.

4 You have been a refuge for the poor,

a refuge for the needy in their distress,

a shelter from the rain, and shade from the heat.

(A tyrant’s breath is like a rainstorm against a wall,

5 like heat in a dry land.)

You calm the uproar of foreigners.

The song of tyrants is silenced

like heat that is ⌞reduced⌟ by the shadow of a cloud.

25:1–5   You deserve honor and praise, O Lord my God. Everyone knows to respect you. You’re a shelter from the rain, a shade from the heat.

Death Will Be Swallowed Up

6 On this mountain the LORD of Armies will prepare for all people

a feast with the best foods,

a banquet with aged wines,

with the best foods and the finest wines.

7 On this mountain he will remove

the veil of grief covering all people

and the mask covering all nations.

8 He will swallow up death forever.

The Almighty LORD will wipe away tears from every face,

and he will remove the disgrace of his people from the whole earth.

The LORD has spoken.

25:6–8   You prepare a feast of the best foods and finest wines. You’ll remove the grief of every people. You’ll swallow up death forever and wipe tears from every face.

9 On that day ⌞his people⌟ will say,

“This is our God; we have waited for him, and now he will save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him.

Let us rejoice and be glad because he will save us.”

10 The LORD’s power will be on this mountain.

Moab will be trampled beneath him

like straw that is trampled in a pile of manure.

11 The Moabites will stretch out their hands in the manure

like swimmers who stretch out their hands to swim.

⌞The LORD⌟ will humble those arrogant people

despite the movements of their hands.[23]

12 He will bring down Moab’s high fortified walls,

level them, and throw them into the dust on the ground.

25:9–12   I waited for you, and I can see you coming to save me. I’ll rejoice because you rescue me. You trample your enemies like straw packed down in a pile of manure.

The LORD’s People Praise Him for Salvation

26

1 On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city.

Its walls and fortifications provide safety.

26:1–6   You put me in a strong city and surround me with high walls. You protect me with perfect peace because my mind can’t be swayed from trusting you. You alone are my everlasting rock.

2 Open the gates, and let the righteous nation come in,

the nation that remains faithful.

3 With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed,

because they trust you.

4 Trust the LORD always,

because the LORD, the LORD alone, is an everlasting rock.

5 He has brought down those who live high in the towering city.

He levels it.

He levels it to the ground and throws it into the dust.

6 Feet trample it,

the feet of the oppressed,

the footsteps of the poor.

7 The path of the righteous is level.

O Upright One, you make the road of the righteous smooth.

8 Certainly, we wait with hope for you, O LORD,

⌞as we follow⌟ the path of your guiding principles.

We want to remember you and your name.

9 With my soul I long for you at night.

Yes, with my spirit I eagerly look for you.

When your guiding principles are on earth,

those who live in the world learn to do what is right.

26:7–9   You make my path flat and smooth. I stay on track with your guiding principles. They teach me to do right.

10 Although the wicked are shown pity,

they do not learn to do what is right.

They do what is wrong in the upright land

and do not see the majesty of the LORD.

11 O LORD, your power is visible, but they do not see it.

They will see how devoted your people are,

and they will be put to shame.

Your burning anger will destroy your enemies.

26:10–11   You pity the wicked, but they refuse to obey. They ignore your obvious power.

12 O LORD, you will establish peace for us,

since you have done everything for us.

13 O LORD, our God, you are not the only master to rule us,

but we acknowledge only you.

14 The wicked are dead.

They are no longer alive.

The spirits of the dead won’t rise.

You have punished them, destroyed them,

and wiped out all memory of them.

15 You have expanded the nation, O LORD.

You have expanded the nation.

You are honored.

You have extended all the land’s boundaries.

26:12–15   You do everything for me. You’re the only one I acknowledge as master. You put an end to evildoers and expand your nation.

16 O LORD, the people have come to you in trouble.

They were humbled by oppression, by your discipline upon them.[24]

17 O LORD, when we are with you,

we are like pregnant women ready to give birth.

They writhe and cry out in their labor pains.

18 We were pregnant; we writhed with labor pains

only to give birth to the wind.

We weren’t able to bring salvation to the land,

and no new people were born on earth.

19 Your dead will live.

Their corpses will rise.

Those who lie dead in the dust will wake up and shout for joy,

because your dew is a refreshing dew,

and the earth will revive the spirits of the dead.

20 My people, go to your rooms,

and shut the doors behind you.

Hide for a little while until his fury has ended.

21 The LORD is going to come out from his dwelling place

to punish those who live on earth for their sins.

The earth will uncover the blood shed on it

and will no longer cover up its dead bodies.

26:16–21   I come to you when I’m oppressed. I seek you when I feel your discipline. I was pregnant and writhed in labor, but I gave birth to wind. I can’t give bring forth salvation.

The LORD’s People Will Worship on His Holy Mountain

27

1 On that day the LORD will use his fierce and powerful sword

to punish Leviathan,[25] that slippery snake,

Leviathan, that twisting snake.

He will kill that monster which lives in the sea.

2 On that day sing about a delightful vineyard.

3 I, the LORD, watch over it.

I water it continually.

I watch over it day and night

so that no one will harm it.

4 I am no longer angry.

If only thorns and briars would confront me!

I would fight them in battle and set all of them on fire.

5 Or else let them come to me for protection.

Let them make peace with me.

Yes, let them make peace with me.

6 In times to come Jacob will take root.

Israel will blossom, bud,

and fill the whole world with fruit.

27:1–6   Water your vineyard. Protect it day and night. Your vineyard will blossom and bud. It will fill the whole world with fruit.

7 Will the LORD hurt Israel as he hurt others who hurt them?

Will he kill them as he killed others?

8 He punished Israel by sending it away.

He removed it with a fierce blast from the east winds.[26]

9 In this way the wrongdoings of the descendants of Jacob are covered up.

This is the way they will turn from their sins—

when they turn all the altar stones into powdered chalk

and no poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah

or incense altars are left standing.

10 The fortified city is isolated.

The homestead is left deserted, abandoned like the desert.

Calves will graze there.

They will lie down.

They will feed on the branches.

11 When the branches are dried up,

they will be broken off.

Women will come and build a fire with them.

These people don’t understand ⌞these things⌟.

That is why their maker won’t have compassion on them,

and their Creator won’t have pity on them.

12 On that day the LORD will begin his threshing[27]

from the flowing stream of the Euphrates River

to the brook of Egypt.

People of Israel, you will be gathered one by one.

13 On that day a ram’s horn will be blown loudly.

Those who are dying in Assyria

and those who are banished to Egypt

will come and worship the LORD

on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

27:7–13   You sent your people away. You ground their sin to dust. No one lived in the land. But you’ll gather them one by one. The banished will come and worship you on your holy mountain.

Ephraim Will Fall

28

1 How horrible it will be for the arrogant drunks of Ephraim.

Their glorious beauty is ⌞like⌟ a withered flower.

They are at the entrance to a fertile valley

where they lie drunk from wine.

2 The Lord has one who is strong and powerful.

He is like a hailstorm, a destructive wind.

He is like a thunderstorm, an overwhelming flood.

He will throw them to the ground forcefully.

3 The arrogant drunks of Ephraim will be trampled underfoot.

4 Their glorious beauty is ⌞like⌟ a withered flower.

They are at the entrance to a fertile valley.

They will be like figs that ripened early.

As soon as someone sees them,

they will be taken and eaten.

28:1–4   You’re a hailstorm, a destructive wind, a thunderstorm, an overwhelming flood. You throw the arrogant to the ground.

5 When that day comes, the LORD of Armies will be

like a glorious crown for his few remaining people.

6 He will give a spirit of justice to those who judge.

He will give strength to those who defend the city gates in battle.

7 Priests and prophets stagger from wine and wobble from too much liquor.

They stagger from too much liquor

and become confused from too much wine.

They wobble because of their liquor.

They stagger when they see visions.

They swerve as they judge.

8 All the tables are covered with vomit and excrement.

There isn’t a clean place left.

9 To whom will they make the message understood?

To whom will they explain this message?

To children just weaned from milk?

To those just taken from their ⌞mother’s⌟ breasts?

10 They speak utter nonsense.[28]

28:5–10   Even your spiritual leaders stagger. They’re confused from too much wine. They smear their tables with vomit and worse. How can they explain your message?

11 The LORD will speak to these people.

He will mock them by speaking in a foreign language.

12 He will say to them,

“This is a place for comfort.

This is a place of rest for those who are tired.

This is a place for them to rest.”

But they weren’t willing to listen.

13 The LORD speaks utter nonsense to them.

That is why they will fall backwards.

That is why they will be hurt, trapped, and captured.

28:11–13   You offered comfort and rest to the tired. But they weren’t willing to listen. That’s why they’ll be hurt, trapped, and captured.

A Message to Jerusalem

14 So hear the word of the LORD, you foolish talkers

who rule the people in Jerusalem.

15 You say, “We made a treaty with death

and an agreement with the grave.

When the overwhelming disaster passes by,

it won’t matter to us,

because we have taken refuge in our lies,

and falsehood is our hiding place.”

28:14–15   I won’t make a treaty with death. Lies can’t save me from disaster.

16 This is what the Almighty LORD says:

I am going to lay a rock in Zion,

a rock that has been tested,

a precious cornerstone,

a solid foundation.

Whoever believes ⌞in him⌟ will not worry.

28:16   I watch for your tested rock, your precious cornerstone, your solid foundation. I’ll believe in him and not worry.

17 I will make justice a measuring line

and righteousness a plumb line.

Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies,

and floodwaters will wash away your hiding place.

18 Your treaty with death will be wiped away.

Your agreement with the grave will not stand.

When the overwhelming disaster passes by,

you will be trampled by it.

19 Each time it passes by it will take you.

It will pass by morning after morning,

during the day and during the night.

Understanding this message brings only terror.

20 The bed is too short to stretch out on.

The blanket is too narrow to serve as a cover.

21 The LORD will rise as he did on Mount Perazim.

He will wake up as he did in Gibeon Valley.

He will do his work, his unexpected work,

and perform his deeds, his mysterious deeds.

28:17–21   Your hail sweeps away lies. You wipe away treaties with death. Save me from overwhelming disaster.

22 Now stop laughing, or your chains will be tightened,

because I have heard that the Almighty LORD of Armies

has finally determined to destroy the whole land.

23 Open your ears, and listen to me!

Pay attention, and hear me!

24 Does a farmer go on plowing every day so he can plant?

Does he continue to break up the soil and make furrows in the ground?

25 When he has smoothed its surface,

doesn’t he scatter black cumin seed and plant cumin?

Doesn’t he plant wild wheat in rows?

Doesn’t he put barley in its own area

and winter wheat at its borders?

26 God will guide him in judgment,

and his God will teach him.

27 Black cumin isn’t threshed[29] with a sledge,

and wagon wheels aren’t rolled over cumin.

Black cumin is beaten with a rod

and cumin with a stick.

28 Grain is ground into flour, but the grinding eventually stops.

It will be threshed.

The wheels of his cart will roll over it,

but his horses won’t crush it.

29 All of this has come from the LORD of Armies.

His counsel is wonderful, and his wisdom is great.

28:22–29   I won’t mock your threats. I’ll open my ears and listen! Your counsel is wonderful and your wisdom great.

The LORD’s Word Will Be Hidden from Some but Revealed to Others

29

1 How horrible it will be for you Ariel, Ariel,[30]

the city where David camped.

Let year after year go by.

Let your annual festivals go on.

2 I will torment Ariel,

and the city will be filled with people grieving and mourning.

The city will become like Ariel.

3 I will set up war camps all around you.

I will blockade you with towers.

I will put up mounds of dirt around you.

4 When you have fallen, you will speak as you lie on the ground.

Your words will be muffled by the dust.

Your voice will come out of the ground like that of a ghost.

Your words will be whispered from the dust.

5 Your many enemies will be like fine dust.

Your many foes will be like husks blown by the wind.

All of this will happen suddenly, unexpectedly.

29:1–5   You torment your holy city, Jerusalem. The city fills with grief. Its cries are muffled by the dust. Your judgment is sudden and unexpected.

6 The LORD of Armies will punish you

with thunder, earthquakes, and loud noises,

with windstorms, rainstorms, and fire storms.

7 The armies from all the nations will go to war against Ariel.

They will go to war against it, blockade it, and torment it.

All of this will be like a dream, like a vision in the night.

8 They will be like hungry people who dream that they’re eating

and wake up to find they’re hungry.

They will be like thirsty people who dream that they’re drinking

and wake up to find they’re lightheaded and parched with thirst.

This is what will happen to the armies from all the nations

that fight against Mount Zion.

29:6–8   Your judgment comes in thunder, earthquakes, and loud noises. It appears in windstorms, rainstorms, fire, and war.

9 If you confuse yourselves, you will be confused.

If you blind yourselves, you will be blinded.

You are drunk, but not from wine.

You stagger, but not from liquor.

10 The LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep.

He will shut your eyes. (Your eyes are the prophets.)

He will cover your heads. (Your heads are the seers.[31])

11 To you all these visions will be like words in a book that is closed and sealed. You give this book to someone who can read, saying, “Please read this.”

He answers, “I can’t read it. It’s sealed.”

12 Then you give the book to someone who can’t read, saying, “Please read this.”

He answers, “I can’t read.”

29:9–12   I won’t choose confusion or blindness. I won’t fall asleep when you speak to me. I’ll open your book and read.

13 The Lord says,

“These people worship me with their mouths

and honor me with their lips.

But their hearts are far from me,

and their worship of me is ⌞based on⌟ rules made by humans.

14 That is why I am going to do something completely amazing

for these people once again.

The wisdom of their wise people will disappear.

The intelligence of their intelligent people will be hidden.”

29:13–14   My worship is true. I don’t honor you with my lips yet let my heart wander. I won’t worship you according to human rules—habits handed down by people who claim to be smart.

15 How horrible it will be for those

who try to hide their plans from the LORD.

Their deeds are done in the dark,

and they say, “No one can see us”

and “No one can recognize us.”

16 You turn things upside down!

Is the potter no better than his clay?

Can something that has been made

say about its maker, “He didn’t make me”?

Can a piece of pottery

say about the potter, “He doesn’t understand”?

29:15–16   You see my plans. No depth of darkness can hide my deeds. I can’t pretend you didn’t make me. I can’t claim you don’t understand.

17 In a very short time Lebanon will be turned into a fertile field

and the fertile field will be considered a forest.

18 When that day comes, the deaf will hear the words written in the book.

The blind will see out of their gloom and darkness.

19 Humble people again will find joy in the LORD.

The poorest of people will find joy in the Holy One of Israel.

20 Tyrants will be gone.

Mockers will be finished.

All who look for ways to do wrong will come to an end:

21 those who make people sin with words,

those who lay traps for judges,

those who, without any reason, deny justice

to people who are in the right.

29:17–21   Open my ears to the words in your book. Show me the way out of my gloom and darkness. I find joy in you. You put an end to people who won’t quit doing wrong.

22 This is what the LORD, who saved Abraham, says about the descendants of Jacob:

Jacob will no longer be ashamed.

Jacob’s face will no longer turn pale.

23 When they see all their children,

the children I made with my hands,

they will acknowledge my name as holy.

They will treat the Holy One of Jacob as holy.

They will stand in terror of the God of Israel.

24 Then those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding,

and those who complain will accept instruction.

29:22–24   I see what you’ve done. You’re holy and worthy of my utter respect. Give me understanding!

Judah Should Trust the LORD, Not Egypt

30

1 The LORD declares,

“How horrible it will be for those rebellious children.

They carry out plans, but not mine.

They make alliances against my will.

They pile sin on top of sin.

2 They go to Egypt without asking me.

They look for shelter under Pharaoh’s protection

and look for refuge in Egypt’s shadow.

3 But Pharaoh’s protection will be their shame,

and the refuge in Egypt’s shadow will be their disgrace.

4 Although Pharaoh’s officials are in Zoan

and his messengers have reached Hanes,

5 the people of Judah will be put to shame

because that nation can’t help them.

That nation can’t give aid or help to them.

It can only offer shame and disgrace.”

30:1–5   No one can save me but you. Partnering with your enemies piles sin upon sin. It brings shame and disgrace.

6 This is the divine revelation about the animals in the Negev.

“My people travel through lands

where they experience distress and hardship.

Lions and lionesses live there.

Vipers and poisonous snakes live there.

They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys

and their treasures on the humps of camels

to a nation that can’t help them.

7 Egypt’s help is completely useless.

That is why I call it, ‘Rahab[32] who sits still.’

8 Now, write this on a tablet for them, and inscribe it in a book

so that it will be there in the future as a permanent witness.

9 These people are rebellious and deceitful children,

children who refuse to listen to the LORD’s teachings.

10 They say to the seers,[33] ‘Don’t see ⌞the future⌟.’

They say to those who have visions,

‘Don’t have visions that tell us what is right.

Tell us what we want to hear. See illusions.

11 Get out of our way! Stop blocking our path!

Get the Holy One of Israel out of our sight.’”

30:6–11   I won’t refuse your teachings. I won’t dismiss visions that tell me what’s right. Talk straight with me even if your words are hard for me to hear.

12 This is what the Holy One of Israel says:

You have rejected this warning,

trusted oppression and deceit,

and leaned on them.

13 That is why your sin will be

like a high wall with a bulging crack, ready to fall.

All of a sudden it will fall.

14 It will break like pottery.

It will be smashed, and nothing will be left of it.

No piece will be big enough to carry live coals from a fireplace

or to dip water from a reservoir.

30:12–14   My sin is like a high wall with a bulging crack. It will break like pottery.

15 This is what the Almighty LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

You can be saved by returning to me.

You can have rest.

You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me.

But you don’t want that.

16 You’ve said, “No, we’ll flee on horses.”

So you flee.

You’ve added, “We’ll ride on fast horses.”

So those who chase you will also be fast.

17 One thousand people will flee when one person threatens them,

and you will flee when five threaten you.

Then you will be left alone

like a flagpole on top of a mountain,

like a signpost on a hill.

18 The LORD is waiting to be kind to you.

He rises to have compassion on you.

The LORD is a God of justice.

Blessed are all those who wait for him.

30:15–18   Save me when I return to you. Give me rest. Make me strong because I quietly trust in you. You wait for me with kindness. You stand up to show me compassion and justice.

The LORD Will Heal His People’s Wounds

19 You will live in Zion, in Jerusalem. You won’t cry anymore. The LORD will certainly have pity on you when you cry for help. As soon as he hears you, he will answer you. 20 The Lord may give you troubles and hardships. But your teacher will no longer be hidden from you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. 21 You will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way. Follow it, whether it turns to the right or to the left.” 22 Then you will dishonor your silver-plated idols and your gold-covered statues. You will throw them away like clothing ruined by stains. You will say to them, “Get out!”

23 The Lord will give you rain for the seed that you plant in the ground, and the food that the ground provides will be rich and nourishing. When that day comes, your cattle will graze in large pastures. 24 The oxen and the donkeys which work the soil will eat a mixture of food that has been winnowed[34] with forks and shovels. 25 There will be brooks and streams on every lofty mountain and every high hill. When the day of the great slaughter comes, towers will fall. 26 Then the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun. The light of the sun will be seven times as strong, like the light of seven days. When that day comes, the LORD will bandage his people’s injuries and heal the wounds he inflicted.

30:19–26   Take away my tears. Hear me when I tell you my hardships. I long to see you with my eyes and hear you whisper direction in my ears.

27 The name of the LORD is going to come from far away.

His anger is burning.

His burden is heavy.

His lips are filled with fury.

His tongue is like a devouring flame.

28 His breath is like an overflowing stream.

It rises neck high,

sifting the nations with a sieve of destruction,

placing a bit in the mouths of the people

to lead them astray.

29 You will sing a song

like the song you sing on a festival night.

Your hearts will be happy like someone going out with a flute

on the way to the LORD’s mountain, to the rock of Israel.

30 The LORD will make his majestic voice heard.

He will come down with all his might,

with furious anger,

with fire storms, windstorms, rainstorms, and hailstones.

31 At the sound of the LORD, the people of Assyria will be shattered.

He will strike them with his rod.

32 To the sound of tambourines and lyres, the LORD will pound on them.

He will fight them in battle, swinging his fists.

33 Topheth was prepared long ago.

It was made ready for the king.

It was made deep and wide and piled high with plenty of burning logs.

The LORD’s breath will be like a flood of burning sulfur,

setting it on fire.

30:27–33   Your anger burns. Your fists pound your enemies. Your breath blows like burning sulfur. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

The LORD, Not the Egyptians, Will Protect His People from Assyria

31

1 How horrible it will be for those

who go to Egypt for help,

who rely on horses,

who depend on many chariots,

who depend on very strong war horses.

They don’t look to the Holy One of Israel.

They don’t seek the LORD.

2 He is wise and can bring about disaster.

He doesn’t take back his words.

He rises against wicked people

and against those who help troublemakers.

3 The Egyptians are humans, not gods.

Their horses are flesh and blood, not spirit.

When the LORD uses his powerful hand,

the one who gives help will stumble,

and the one who receives help will fall.

Both will die together.

31:1–3   I seek you. I need your strength. I won’t partner with your enemies, because their help is merely human. Your spirit is my real power.

4 This is what the LORD said to me:

A lion, even a young lion, growls over its prey

when a crowd of shepherds is called to fight it.

It isn’t frightened by their voices

or disturbed by the noise they make.

So the LORD of Armies will come to fight for

Mount Zion and its hill.

5 The LORD of Armies will defend Jerusalem like a hovering bird.

He will defend it and rescue it.

He will pass over it and protect it.

6 You people of Israel, return to the one

whom you have so violently rebelled against.

7 When that day comes, all of you will reject

the silver and gold idols

that your sinful hands have made.

8 Then Assyrians will be killed with swords not made by human hands.

Swords not made by human hands will destroy them.

They will flee from battle,

and their young men will be made to do forced labor.

9 In terror they will run to their stronghold,[35]

and their officers will be frightened at ⌞the sight of⌟ the battle flag.

The LORD declares this. His fire is in Zion and his furnace is in Jerusalem.

31:4–9   You fight for me and defend me. You rescue and protect me. I’ve violently rebelled against you, but now I return to you. I reject all my idols.

The LORD Will Pour Out His Spirit and Bring Peace

32

1 A king will rule with fairness,

and officials will rule with justice.

2 Then each ruler will be like a shelter from the wind

and a hiding place from the rain.

They will be like streams on parched ground

and the shade of a large rock in a weary land.

3 Then the vision of those who can see won’t be blurred,

and the ears of those who can hear will pay attention.

4 Then those who are reckless will begin to understand,

and those who stutter will speak quickly and clearly.

5 Godless fools will no longer be called nobles,

nor will scoundrels be considered gentlemen.

6 Godless fools speak foolishness,

and their minds plan evil

in order to do ungodly things.

They speak falsely about the LORD.

They let people go hungry

and withhold water from thirsty people.

7 The tricks of scoundrels are evil.

They devise wicked plans in order to ruin poor people with lies,

even when needy people plead for justice.

8 But honorable people act honorably

and stand firm for what is honorable.

32:1–8   Send a king to rule with fairness. Give me a ruler with clear vision who shuts up liars. I’ll trade my recklessness for understanding.

9 Get up, and listen to me, you pampered women.

Hear what I say, you overconfident daughters.

10 In a little less than a year

you overconfident women will tremble,

because the grape harvest will fail

and no fruit will be brought in ⌞from the fields⌟.

11 Shudder, you pampered women.

Tremble, you overconfident women.

Take off your clothes, walk around naked,

and wear sackcloth around your waists.

12 Beat your breasts as you mourn for the fields,

for the vines bearing grapes.

13 Mourn for my people’s land where thorns and briars will grow.

Mourn for all the happy homes in a joyful city.

14 Palaces will be deserted.

Noisy cities will be abandoned.

Fortresses and watchtowers will become permanent caves.

They will be a delight for wild donkeys and pastures for flocks

15 until the Spirit is poured on us from on high.

Then the wilderness will be turned into a fertile field,

and the fertile field will be considered a forest.

16 Then justice will live in the wilderness,

and righteousness will be at home in the fertile field.

17 Then an act of righteousness will bring about peace,

calm, and safety forever.

18 My people will live in a peaceful place,

in safe homes and quiet places of rest.

19 The forest will be flattened because of hail,

and the city will be completely leveled.

20 Blessed are those who plant beside every stream

and those who let oxen and donkeys roam freely.

32:9–20   Call out my overconfidence. Send me into mourning when I forget you. Then pour your Spirit from on high. Bring about peace, calm, and safety forever.

The LORD Will Rescue Jerusalem from Assyria

33

1 How horrible it will be for you, you destroyer,

although you haven’t been destroyed.

How horrible it will be for you, you traitor,

although you haven’t been betrayed.

When you’ve finished destroying, you will be destroyed.

When you’ve finished being a traitor, you will be betrayed.

2 O LORD, have pity on us.

We wait with hope for you.

Be our strength in the morning.

Yes, be our savior in times of trouble.

3 People flee from the noise of ⌞your⌟ army.

Nations scatter when you attack.

4 You nations, your loot is gathered as grasshoppers harvest a crop.

Like swarming locusts, people rush for your loot.

33:1–4   Destroy the destroyer. Betray the traitor. Be my savior in times of trouble.

5 The LORD is honored because he lives on high.

He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.

6 He will be the foundation of your future.

The riches of salvation are wisdom and knowledge.

The fear of the LORD is ⌞your⌟ treasure.

33:5–6   You’re the foundation of my future. Your salvation is my wisdom and knowledge. Awe of you is my treasure.

7 Heroes cry in the streets.

Messengers of peace cry bitterly.

8 Highways are deserted.

Travelers stop traveling.

Agreements are broken.

Witnesses[36] are rejected.

People are no longer respected.

9 The country grieves and wastes away.

Lebanon is ashamed and is decaying.

Sharon has become like a wilderness.

Bashan and Carmel are shaken.

10 The LORD says, “Now I will arise.

Now I will get up.

Now I will be lifted up.”

11 You will be pregnant with hay.

You will give birth to straw.

Your breath will be a fire which will burn you up.

12 People will be cremated.

They will be set on fire like dry thornbushes.

13 Hear what I have done, you people who are far away!

Acknowledge my might, you people who are near!

14 The sinners in Zion are terrified.

Trembling seizes the ungodly.

Can any of us live through a fire that destroys?

Can any of us live through a fire that burns forever?

15 The person who does what is right and speaks the truth will live.

He rejects getting rich by extortion and refuses to take bribes.

He refuses to listen to those who are plotting murders.

He doesn’t look for evil things to do.

16 This person will live on high.

His stronghold will be a fortress made of rock.

He will have plenty of food

and a dependable supply of water.

33:7–16   I’m wasting away. Rise up. Get up and help me. Hide me in a fortress of rock with plenty of food and dependable water.

17 Your eyes will see how handsome the king is.

You will see a land that stretches into the distance.

18 Your mind will be thinking of the terrors ⌞in the past⌟.

Where are the scribes?

Where are the tax collectors?

Where are those who counted the towers?

19 You will no longer see those savage people,

those people with an unrecognizable language,

with a foreign language that you can’t understand.

20 Look at Zion, the city of our festivals.

Your eyes will see Jerusalem as a peaceful place.

It is a tent that can’t be moved.

Its tent pegs will never be pulled out,

and none of its ropes will be broken.

21 The LORD will be our mighty defender

in a place surrounded by wide rivers and streams.

Ships with oars won’t travel on them.

Stately ships won’t sail on them.

22 The LORD is our judge.

The LORD is our lawgiver.

The LORD is our king.

The LORD is our savior.

23 Your ropes hang loose,

your mast isn’t secure,

and your sail isn’t spread out.

A large amount of loot will be distributed.

Lame people will carry off your loot.

24 No one who lives ⌞in Zion⌟ will say, “I’m sick.”

The sins of its inhabitants will be forgiven.

33:17–24   Rid my life of savages. Build me a home in a peaceful place. Be my judge and my lawgiver, my king and my savior!

The Fall of Edom Is a Glimpse of the LORD’s Judgment

34

1 Come close, you nations, and listen.

Pay attention, you people.

The earth, everyone in it,

the world, and everything on it will listen.

2 The LORD is angry with all the nations.

He is furious with all their armies.

He has claimed them for destruction.

He has handed them over to be slaughtered.

3 Their dead bodies will be thrown out.

A stench will rise from their corpses.

Mountains will be red with their blood.

4 All the stars in the sky will rot.

The heavens will be rolled up like a scroll.

The stars will fall

like leaves from a grapevine,

like green figs from a fig tree.

5 When my sword is covered ⌞with blood⌟ in the heavens,

it will fall on Edom

and on the people I’ve claimed for destruction.

6 The LORD’s sword is covered with blood.

It is covered with fat,

with the blood of lambs and goats,

with the fat of rams’ kidneys.

The LORD will receive a sacrifice in Bozrah,

a huge slaughter in the land of Edom.

7 Wild oxen will be killed with them,

young bulls along with rams.

Their land will be drenched with blood.

Their dust will be covered with fat.

8 The LORD will have a day of vengeance,

a year of revenge in defense of Zion.

34:1–8   You’re furious with all the nations. You’ve destined them for destruction. On your day of vengeance you’ll roll up the heavens like a scroll.

9 Edom’s streams will be turned to tar.

Its soil will be turned to burning sulfur.

Its land will become blazing tar.

10 They will not be extinguished day or night,

and smoke will always go up from them.

Edom will lie in ruins for generations.

No one will ever travel through it.

11 Pelicans and herons will take possession of the land.

Owls and crows will live there.

He will stretch the measuring line of chaos

and the plumb line of destruction over it.

12 There are no nobles to rule a kingdom.

All of its princes have disappeared.

13 Its palaces are covered with thorns.

Its fortresses have nettles and thistles.

It will become a home for jackals

and a place for ostriches.

14 Hyenas will meet with jackals.

Male goats will call to their mates.

Screech owls will rest there

and find a resting place for themselves.

15 Owls will make their nests there, lay eggs, and hatch them.

They will gather their young

in the shadow of ⌞their wings⌟.

Vultures also will gather there,

each one with its mate.

16 Search the LORD’s book, and read it.

Not one of these animals will be missing.

Not one will lack a mate,

because the LORD has commanded it,

and his Spirit will gather them together.

17 He is the one who throws dice for them,

and his hand divides up ⌞the land⌟ for them with a measuring line.

They will possess it permanently

and live there for generations.

34:9–17   You strike out at Edom. It will lie in ruins. Unclean animals and thistles will take over the land. You pledge permanent destruction.

The LORD’s People Will Have Joy

35

1 The desert and the dry land will be glad,

and the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

2 Like a lily the land will blossom.

It will rejoice and sing with joy.

It will have the glory of Lebanon, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

Everyone will see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

35:1–2   Make the desert bloom. Let the wilderness rejoice. May everyone see your glorious majesty.

3 Strengthen limp hands.

Steady weak knees.

4 Tell those who are terrified,

“Be brave; don’t be afraid.

Your God will come with vengeance, with divine revenge.

He will come and rescue you.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,

and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged.

6 Then those who are lame will leap like deer,

and those who cannot speak will shout for joy.

Water will gush out into the desert,

and streams will gush out into the wilderness.

7 Then the hot sand will become a pool,

and dry ground will have springs.

Grass will become cattails and rushes

in the home of jackals.

35:3–7   Steady the weak and embolden the terrified. Open blind eyes and unplug deaf ears. Make the lame leap like deer and cause water to gush in the desert.

8 A highway will be there, a roadway.

It will be called the Holy Road.

Sinners won’t travel on it.

It will be for those who walk on it.

Godless fools won’t wander ⌞onto it⌟.

9 Lions won’t be there.

Wild animals won’t go on it.

They won’t be found there.

But the people reclaimed ⌞by the LORD⌟ will walk ⌞on it⌟.

10 The people ransomed by the LORD will return.

They will come to Zion singing with joy.

Everlasting happiness will be on their heads ⌞as a crown⌟.

They will be glad and joyful.

They will have no sorrow or grief.

35:8–10   I’m on your Holy Road. You’ve reclaimed and ransomed me. Bring me home to you, singing with joy and wearing everlasting happiness on my head.

The LORD Rescues Judah from the Assyrians—2 Kings 18:13–19:19

36

1 In Hezekiah’s fourteenth year as king, King Sennacherib of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 2 Then the king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. He stood at the channel for the Upper Pool on the road to Laundryman’s Field.

3 Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace and was the son of Hilkiah, Shebna the scribe, and Joah, who was the royal historian and the son of Asaph, went out to the field commander. 4 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What makes you so confident? 5 You give useless advice about getting ready for war. Whom, then, do you trust for support in your rebellion against me? 6 Look! When you trust Egypt, you’re trusting a broken stick for a staff. If you lean on it, it stabs your hand and goes through it. This is what Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) is like for everyone who trusts him. 7 Suppose you tell me, “We’re trusting the LORD our God.” He’s the god whose places of worship and altars Hezekiah got rid of. Hezekiah told Judah and Jerusalem, “Worship at this altar.” ’

8 “Now, make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria. I’ll give you 2,000 horses if you can put riders on them. 9 How can you defeat my master’s lowest-ranking officers when you trust Egypt for chariots and horses?

10 “Have I come to destroy this country without the LORD on my side? The LORD said to me, ‘Attack this country, and destroy it.’”

11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the field commander, “Speak to us in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in the Judean language as long as there are people on the wall listening.”

12 But the field commander asked, “Did my master send me to tell these things only to you and your master? Didn’t he send me to the men sitting on the wall who will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine with you?”

36:1–12   Sennacherib aimed to break Hezekiah’s confidence in you. He mocked the king’s trust in you. Sennacherib even claimed you had sent him to destroy Judah.

13 Then the field commander stood and shouted loudly in the Judean language, “Listen to the great king, the king of Assyria. 14 This is what the king says: Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you. He can’t rescue you. 15 Don’t let Hezekiah get you to trust the LORD by saying, ‘The LORD will certainly rescue us, and this city will not be put under the control of the king of Assyria.’ 16 Don’t listen to Hezekiah, because this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me! Come out, and give yourselves up to me! Everyone will eat from his own grapevine and fig tree and drink from his own cistern. 17 Then I will come and take you away to a country like your own. It’s a country with grain and new wine, a country with bread and vineyards. 18 Don’t let Hezekiah mislead you by saying to you, ‘The LORD will rescue us.’ Did any of the gods of the nations rescue their countries from the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Did they rescue Samaria from my control? 20 Did the gods of these countries rescue them from my control? Could the LORD then rescue Jerusalem from my control?”

21 They were silent and didn’t say anything to him because the king commanded them not to answer him.

22  Then Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace and was son of Hilkiah, Shebna the scribe, and Joah, who was the royal historian and the son of Asaph, went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn in grief. They told him the message from the field commander.

36:13–22   I won’t listen when people say you won’t rescue me. I won’t roll over for any enemy. Other gods can’t save me. But you can. And you will.

37

1 When King Hezekiah heard the message, he tore his clothes in grief, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the LORD’s temple. 2 Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and the leaders of the priests, clothed in sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz.

3 They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day filled with misery, punishment, and disgrace. We are like a woman who is about to give birth but doesn’t have the strength to do it. 4 The LORD your God may have heard the words of the field commander. His master, the king of Assyria, sent him to defy the living God. The LORD your God may punish him because of the message that the LORD your God heard. Pray for the few people who are left.”

5 So King Hezekiah’s men went to Isaiah. 6 Isaiah answered them, “Say this to your master, ‘This is what the LORD says: Don’t be afraid of the message that you heard when the Assyrian king’s assistants slandered me. 7 I’m going to put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own country. I’ll have him assassinated in his own country.’”

37:1–7   I’m genuinely scared. My heart is pierced with grief. My will to fight is gone. But you promise to save me.

8 The field commander returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah. He had heard that the king left Lachish. 9 Now, Sennacherib heard that King Tirhakah of Sudan was coming to fight him.

When he heard this, he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Tell King Hezekiah of Judah, ‘Don’t let the god whom you trust deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be put under the control of the king of Assyria. 11 You heard what the kings of Assyria did to all countries, how they totally destroyed them. Will you be rescued? 12 Did the gods of the nations which my ancestors destroyed rescue Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

37:8–13   My enemies keep repeating their threats. They say you won’t rescue me.

14 Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers, read it, and went to the LORD’s temple. He spread it out in front of the LORD 15 and prayed to the LORD, 16 “LORD of Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned over the angels.[37] You alone are God of the kingdoms of the world. You made heaven and earth. 17 Turn your ear toward me, LORD, and listen. Open your eyes, LORD, and see. Listen to the entire message that Sennacherib sent to defy the living God. 18 It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have leveled every country.[38] 19 They have thrown the gods from these countries into fires because these gods aren’t real gods. They’re only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them. 20 Now, LORD our God, rescue us from Assyria’s control so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you alone are the LORD.”

37:14–20   I’ll spread my needs before you. You’re enthroned over the angels. You rule all the kingdoms of the world. Turn your ear and listen. Open your eyes and see. Let everyone on earth know you are Lord!

Isaiah’s Prophecy against King Sennacherib of Assyria—2 Kings 19:20–37

21 Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent a message to Hezekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: You prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria. 22 This is the message that the LORD speaks to him,

‘My dear people in Zion despise you and laugh at you.

My people in Jerusalem shake their heads behind your back.

23 Whom are you defying and slandering?

Against whom are you shouting?

Who are you looking at so arrogantly?

It is the Holy One of Israel!

24 Through your servants you defy the Lord and say,

“With my many chariots I’ll ride up the high mountains,

up the slopes of Lebanon.

I’ll cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypresses.

I’ll come to its most distant heights

and its most fertile forests.

25 I’ll dig wells and drink water.

I’ll dry up all the streams of Egypt

with the trampling of my feet.”

26 “‘Haven’t you heard? I did this long ago.

I planned it in the distant past.

Now I make it happen so that you will turn fortified cities

into piles of rubble.

27 Those who live in these cities are weak, discouraged, and ashamed.

They will be like plants in the field,

like fresh, green grass on the roofs,

dried up by the east wind.

28 I know when you ⌞get up⌟ and sit down,

when you go out and come in,

and how you rage against me.

29 Since you rage against me and your boasting has reached my ears,

I will put my hook in your nose

and my bridle in your mouth.

I will make you go back the way you came.

37:21–29   You don’t let people defy you forever. You stop them when they shout at you. You know those who rage against you. You put a hook in their nose and send them home.

30 “‘And this will be a sign for you, Hezekiah: You will eat what grows by itself this year, and the next year you will eat what comes up by itself. But in the third year you will plant and harvest, plant vineyards, and eat what is produced. 31 Those few people from the nation of Judah who escape will again take root and produce crops. 32 Those few people will go out from Jerusalem, and those who escape will go out from Mount Zion. The LORD of Armies is determined to do this.’

33 “This is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria:

He will never come into this city,

shoot an arrow here,

hold a shield in front of it,

or put up dirt ramps to attack it.

34 He will go back the way he came,

and he won’t come into this city,”

declares the LORD of Armies.

35 “I will shield this city to rescue it for my sake

and for the sake of my servant David.”

36 The LORD’s angel went out and killed 185,000 ⌞soldiers⌟ in the Assyrian camp. When the Judeans got up early in the morning, they saw all the corpses.

37 Then King Sennacherib of Assyria left. He went home to Nineveh and stayed there. 38 While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, assassinated him and escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king.

37:30–38   Provide for my needs until I can plant fields. Shield me for your sake. Send my enemies back the way they came.

Hezekiah’s Illness—2 Kings 20:1–11; 2 Chronicles 32:24

38

1 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Give final instructions to your household, because you’re about to die. You won’t get well.”

2 Hezekiah turned to the wall and prayed to the LORD. 3 “Please, LORD, remember how I’ve lived faithfully and sincerely in your presence. I’ve done what you consider right.” And he cried bitterly.

4 Then the LORD spoke his word to Isaiah, 5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: I’ve heard your prayer. I’ve seen your tears. I’m going to give you 15 more years to live. 6 I’ll rescue you and defend this city from the control of the king of Assyria.’”

21  Then Isaiah said, “Take a fig cake, and place it over the boil so that the king will get well.”[39]

22 Hezekiah asked, “What is the sign that I’ll go to the LORD’s temple?”

7 ⌞Isaiah said,⌟ “This is your sign from the LORD that he will do what he promises. 8 The sun made a shadow that went down the stairway of Ahaz’s upper palace. I’m going to make the shadow go back ten steps.” So the sun on the stairway went back up the ten steps it had gone down.

38:1–8   I’ve lived for you faithfully and sincerely. I do what you consider right. See my tears. Hear my prayers. Give me a sign your answer is on its way.

9 King Hezekiah of Judah wrote this after he was sick and became well again:

10 I thought that in the prime of my life

I would go down to the gates of Sheol

and be robbed of the rest of my life.

11 I thought that I wouldn’t see the LORD in this world.

Even with all the people in the world,

I thought I would never see another person.

Authentic Prayer

Isaiah 38:1–20

Healing

Go and say to Hezekiah, “This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: I’ve heard your prayer. I’ve seen your tears. I’m going to give you 15 more years to live.” Isaiah 38:5

Your God heals. Isaiah 38 flashes back to a day before Sennacherib’s fierce threats in Isaiah 36–37. When Hezekiah becomes sick with an unnamed illness, the prophet Isaiah tells the king to put his house in order. He won’t recover.

Hezekiah hears these unwelcome words and turns away, likely blocking his loved ones from sight. He defends his pattern of life to the Lord. He cries as bitterly as anyone who receives a deadly prognosis. God hears the king’s words, witnesses his tears, and prolongs his life. To the miracle of healing God adds a miraculous sign of the sun’s retreating shadow.

After his recovery, Hezekiah goes on to detail his past pain and distress. He’s almost speechless that God has healed him. He reaches a simple conclusion. “You give me health,” he prays, “and keep me alive” (Isaiah 38:16).

One day there will be no more death or mourning. Sickness will have passed away (Revelation 21:4). Until then, invite God to uphold your health and preserve your life. Until the Lord says no to your prayer for healing, continue asking him for yes.

Pray the Scriptures Healing: Psalm 103:1–6, Luke 4:14–19, Acts 5:12–16, James 5:13–16

12 My life was over.

You rolled it up like a shepherd’s tent.

You rolled up my life like a weaver.

You cut me off from the loom.

You ended my life in one day.

13 I cried out until morning

as if a lion had crushed all my bones.

You ended my life in one day.

14 I chirped like swallows and cranes.

I cooed like doves.

My eyes were tired from looking up to heaven.

I’ve suffered miserably, O Lord!

Please help me!

38:9–14   My life feels done, rolled up like a tent. I’ve cried out to you all night. My eyes are tired from looking for you.

15 What can I say now that he has spoken to me?

He has done this.

I will be careful the rest of my life because of my bitter experience.[40]

16 Lord, people live in spite of such things,

and I have the will to live in spite of them.

You give me health and keep me alive.

17 Now my bitter experience turns into peace.

You have saved me and kept me from the rotting pit.

You have thrown all my sins behind you.

18 Sheol doesn’t thank you!

Death doesn’t praise you!

Those who go down to the pit cannot expect you to be faithful.

19 Those who are living praise you as I do today.

Fathers make your faithfulness known to their children.

20 The LORD is going to rescue me,

so let us play stringed instruments.

We live our lives in the LORD’s temple.

38:15–20   You give me health and keep me alive. I’ll obey you carefully for the rest of my days. I’ll live every moment in your presence.

Hezekiah Shows the Babylonians His Treasures—2 Kings 20:12–19; 2 Chronicles 32:31–33

39

1 At that time Baladan’s son, King Merodach Baladan of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah. He had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and had recovered. 2 Hezekiah was so happy with them that he showed the messengers his warehouse: the silver, gold, balsam, fine olive oil, his entire armory, and everything in his treasury. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and every corner of his kingdom.

3 Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did these men say? And where did they come from?”

Hezekiah answered, “They came to me from the distant country of Babylon.”

4 Isaiah asked, “What did they see in your palace?”

Hezekiah answered, “They saw everything in my palace, and I showed them everything in my treasury.”

5 Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of Armies! 6 The LORD says, ‘The days are going to come when everything in your palace, everything your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be taken away to Babylon. Nothing will be left. 7 Some of your own descendants will be taken away. They will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”

8 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The LORD’s word that you have spoken is good.” He added, “Just let there be peace and security as long as I live.”

39:1–8   Point out my pride before it destroys my life. I’ll boast only about you and your greatness.

Comfort My People

40

1 “Comfort my people! Comfort them!” says your God.

2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and announce to it

that its time of hard labor is over

and its wrongs have been paid for.

It has received from the LORD double for all its sins.”

3 A voice cries out in the desert:

“Clear a way for the LORD.

Make a straight highway in the wilderness for our God.

4 Every valley will be raised.

Every mountain and hill will be lowered.

Steep places will be made level.

Rough places will be made smooth.

5 Then the LORD’s glory will be revealed

and all people will see it together.

The LORD has spoken.”

40:1–5   Your comfort is coming! You raise up valleys and knock down mountains. You make rough places smooth. You have a plan to show your glory to everyone.

6 A voice called, “Call out!”

I asked, “What should I call out?”

“Call out: All people are like grass,

and all their beauty is like a flower in the field.

7 Grass dries up,

and flowers wither when the LORD’s breath blows on them.

Yes, people are like grass.

8 Grass dries up,

and flowers wither,

but the word of our God will last forever.”

40:6–8   People dry up like grass. But your word lasts forever.

9 Go up a high mountain, Zion.

Tell the good news!

Call out with a loud voice, Jerusalem.

Tell the good news!

Raise your voice without fear.

Tell the cities of Judah:

“Here is your God!”

10 The Almighty LORD is coming with power

to rule with authority.

His reward is with him,

and the people he has won arrive ahead of him.

11 Like a shepherd he takes care of his flock.

He gathers the lambs in his arms.

He carries them in his arms.

He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.

40:9–11   You’re coming to rule with potent authority. Like a shepherd you care for your flock. You gather me in your arms.

God Gives Strength to Those Who Depend on Him

12 Who has measured the water of the sea[41] with the palm of his hand

or measured the sky with the length of his hand?

Who has held the dust of the earth in a bushel basket

or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills on a balance?

13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD

or instructed him as his adviser?

14 Whom did he consult?

Who gave him understanding?

Who taught him the right way?

Who taught him knowledge?

Who informed him about the way to understanding?

15 The nations are like a drop in a bucket

and are considered to be like dust on a scale.

The weight of the islands is like fine dust.

16 All the trees in Lebanon are not enough to burn an offering.

Its wild animals are not enough for a single burnt offering.

17 All the nations amount to nothing in his presence.

He considers them less than nothing and worthless.

18 To whom, then, can you compare God?

To what statue can you compare him?

40:12–18   No one can measure the sea or sky. You need no adviser, for you alone have understanding. The weight of the world amounts to dust. Nothing compares to you.

19 Craftsmen make idols.

Goldsmiths cover them with gold.

Silversmiths make silver chains for them.

20 The poorest people choose wood that will not rot

and search out skillful craftsmen

to set up idols that will not fall over.

21 Don’t you know?

Haven’t you heard?

Haven’t you been told from the beginning?

Don’t you understand the foundations of the earth?

22 God is enthroned above the earth,

and those who live on it are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the sky like a canopy

and spreads it out like a tent to live in.

23 He makes rulers unimportant

and makes earthly judges worth nothing.

24 They have hardly been planted.

They have hardly been sown.

They have hardly taken root in the ground.

Then he blows on them and they wither,

and a windstorm sweeps them away like straw.

25 “To whom, then, can you compare me?

Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

40:19–25   Idols are creations of human hands. But you’re enthroned above the earth. You render rulers unimportant. No one compares to you.

26 Look at the sky and see.

Who created these things?

Who brings out the stars one by one?

He calls them all by name.

Because of the greatness of his might and the strength of his power,

not one of them is missing.

27 Jacob, why do you complain?

Israel, why do you say,

“My way is hidden from the LORD,

and my rights are ignored by my God”?

40:26–27   You bring out the stars one by one. You see my way and guard my rights.

28 Don’t you know?

Haven’t you heard?

The eternal God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth,

doesn’t grow tired or become weary.

His understanding is beyond reach.

29 He gives strength to those who grow tired

and increases the strength of those who are weak.

30 Even young people grow tired and become weary,

and young men will stumble and fall.

31 Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the LORD

will be renewed.

They will soar on wings like eagles.

They will run and won’t become weary.

They will walk and won’t grow tired.

40:28–31   You’re the eternal God. You never grow weary. When I wait with hope, you renew my strength. I soar like an eagle. I run without growing weary. I walk and don’t tire.

The Nations Chose Idols, but the LORD Chose Israel

41

1 “Be silent and listen to me, you coastlands.

Let the people gain new strength.

Let them come near and speak.

Let us come together for judgment.

2 “Who has raised up from the east

someone to whom the LORD gives victory with every step he takes?

Nations are handed over to him.

He defeats kings.

With his sword he turns them into dust.

With his bow he turns them into straw blown by the wind.

3 He chases them, marching by safely

on a path his feet have never traveled before.

4 Who has accomplished this?

Who has determined the course of history from the beginning?

I, the LORD, was there first, and I will be there to the end.

I am the one!”

41:1–4   You set the course of history from the beginning. You were there at the first, and you’ll be there to the end. You’re the one!

5 The coastlands have seen him and are afraid.

The ends of the earth tremble.

They have come near and gathered together.

6 People help their neighbors

and say to their relatives, “Be brave!”

7 Craftsmen encourage goldsmiths.

Metalsmiths encourage blacksmiths who work at their anvils.

They say that their soldering is good.

And they fasten things with nails so they won’t move.

41:5–7   The peoples of earth tremble when they see you. They work hard piecing together their idols. They try hard to be brave.

8 “But you are my servant Israel,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the descendant of Abraham, my dear friend.

9 I have taken you from the ends of the earth

and called you from its most distant places.

I said to you, ‘You are my servant.

I’ve chosen you; I haven’t rejected you.’

10 Don’t be afraid, because I am with you.

Don’t be intimidated; I am your God.

I will strengthen you.

I will help you.

I will support you with my victorious right hand.

41:8–10   I won’t be afraid, because you’re with me. I won’t be intimidated, because you’re my God. You strengthen me. You help me. You support me with your victorious right hand.

11 “Everyone who is angry with you

will be ashamed and disgraced.

Those who oppose you

will be reduced to nothing and disappear.

12 You will search for your enemies,

but you will not find them.

Those who are at war with you

will be reduced to nothing and no longer exist.

13 I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand

and say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid; I will help you.’

14 Don’t be afraid, Jacob, you worm.

You people of Israel, I will help you,”

declares the LORD, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel.

15 “I am going to make you into a new threshing[42] sledge

with sharp, double-edged teeth.

You will thresh the mountains and crush them to dust.

You will turn the hills into straw.

16 You will winnow[43] them.

The wind will carry them away.

The windstorm will scatter them.

But you will find joy in the LORD

and praise the Holy One of Israel.

41:11–16   You disgrace those who are angry with me. My enemies vanish. You hold my hand and tell me to not be afraid. I find my deepest joy in you.

17 “The poor and needy are looking for water, but there is none.

Their tongues are parched with thirst.

I, the LORD, will answer them.

I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.

18 I will make rivers flow on bare hilltops.

I will make springs flow through valleys.

I will turn deserts into lakes.

I will turn dry land into springs.

19 I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and wild olive trees in the desert.

I will place cedar, fir, and cypress trees together in the wilderness.

20 People will see and know.

Together they will consider and understand

that the LORD’s power has done this,

that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

41:17–20   You answer my thirsty cry. You make rivers flow on bare hilltops. You turn dry land into springs. Everyone sees your deeds and understands your power.

21 “Present your case,” says the LORD.

“Bring forward your best arguments,” says Jacob’s king.

22 “Bring ⌞your idols⌟ so they can tell us what’s going to happen.

Explain past events that your idols told you about

so that we may consider them

and know what their outcome will be.

Tell us about future events.

23 Tell us what’s going to happen

so that we may know that you are gods.

Yes, do something, good or evil,

to intimidate us and make us afraid.

24 You are nothing!

You can’t do anything!

Whoever chooses you is disgusting.

41:21–24   No idol can tell the future. Not a single one can accomplish anything good or bad. They are all nothing!

25 “I have raised up someone from the north, and he has come.

He will call on my name from the east.

He will attack rulers as if they were mud,

as if he were treading on clay like a potter.

26 Who revealed this from the beginning so that we could know it?

Who revealed this from the past so that we could say that he was right?

No one revealed it.

No one announced it.

No one heard your words.

27 I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look, here they are.’

I gave Jerusalem a messenger with the good news.

28 When I look, there is no one.

There is no one to advise them.

When I ask them a question,

will they give an answer?

29 All of them are nothing.[44]

They can’t do anything.

Their statues are nothing but air.”

41:25–29   No idol foresees your works. You’re the first to spread your good news. False gods are nothing but air.

The LORD’s Servant Will Bring Righteousness to the World

42

1 Here is my servant, whom I support.

Here is my chosen one, with whom I am pleased.

I have put my Spirit on him.

He will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry out or raise ⌞his voice⌟.

He will not make his voice heard in the streets.

3 He will not break off a damaged cattail.

He will not even put out a smoking wick.

He will faithfully bring about justice.

4 He will not be discouraged or crushed

until he has set up justice on the earth.

The coastlands will wait for his teachings.

42:1–4   You’re pleased with your chosen servant. You put your Spirit on him to bring the world justice. He works with quiet kindness. He won’t give up until he’s done.

5 The LORD God created the heavens and stretched them out.

He shaped the earth and all that comes from it.

He gave life to the people who are on it

and breath to those who walk on it.

This is what the LORD God says:

6 I, the LORD, have called you to do what is right.

I will take hold of your hand.

I will protect you.

I will appoint you as my promise[45] to the people,

as my light to the nations.

7 You will give sight to the blind,

bring prisoners out of prisons,

and bring those who live in darkness

out of dungeons.

8 I am the LORD; that is my name.

I will not give my glory to anyone else

or the praise I deserve to idols.

9 What I said in the past has come true.

I will reveal new things before they happen.

42:5–9   You make your servant a light to the nations. He gives sight and frees prisoners. You never share your glory with anyone else.

A Song about the LORD, the Warrior

10 Sing a new song to the LORD.

Sing his praise from the ends of the earth,

you people who sail on the seas

and all the creatures that live in them,

you coastlands and all who live on them.

11 Let those who live in the desert and its cities raise their voices.

Let those who live in the settlements of Kedar praise him.

Let those who live in Sela sing for joy.

Let them shout from the tops of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the LORD

and announce his praise on the coastlands.

13 The LORD marches out like a warrior.

He prepares himself for battle like a soldier.

He shouts, gives the battle cry, and overpowers his enemies.

42:10–13   I’ll sing you a new song. I’ll sing your praise from the ends of the earth. I’ll shout from the tops of mountains.

14 I have been silent for a long time.

I kept quiet and held myself back.

But like a woman in childbirth I will cry out.

I will gasp and pant.

15 I will lay waste to mountains and hills.

I will dry up all their vegetation.

I will turn rivers into islands.

I will dry up ponds.

16 I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads.

I will lead them on unfamiliar paths.

I will turn darkness into light in front of them.

I will make rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do for them,

and I will never abandon them.

17 Then those who trust idols

and those who say to statues,

“You are our gods”

will be turned away and put to shame.

The LORD Will Bring Israel Home

42:14–17   You’ve been silent for a long time, but now you come with fury. People who trust in idols will be put to shame.

18 Listen, you deaf people.

Look, you blind people, so that you can see.

19 Who is blind except my servant

or deaf like the messenger I send?

Who is blind like the one who has my trust

or blind like the servant of the LORD?

20 You have seen much, but you do not observe anything.

Your ears are open, but you hear nothing.

21 The LORD is pleased because he does what is right.

He praises the greatness of his teachings and makes them glorious.

22 But these people are robbed and looted.

They are all trapped in pits and hidden in prisons.

They have become prey with no one to rescue them.

They have become loot with no one to say, “Give it back.”

23 Who among you will listen to this?

Is there anyone who will pay attention and listen in the future?

24 Who gave Jacob away as loot

and handed Israel over to robbers?

Wasn’t it the LORD, against whom we have sinned?

They didn’t want to live his way.

They didn’t obey his teachings.

25 So he poured out his burning anger and the horrors of war on them.

It engulfed them in flames, but they did not understand.

It burned them, but they did not take it to heart.

42:17–25   Teach me to truly see. Help me process what I hear. You hand me over to robbers when I don’t want to live your way. I’ll choose to learn from your discipline.

43

1 The LORD created Jacob and formed Israel. Now, this is what the LORD says:

Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you go through the sea, I am with you.

When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away.

When you walk through fire, you will not be burned,

and the flames will not harm you.

43:1–2   I live fearlessly, because you’ve reclaimed me. You’ve called me by name, and I’m yours. You’re with me in the sea. Rivers can’t sweep me away. Fire won’t burn me.

3 I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you.

Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you.

4 Since you are precious to me, you are honored and I love you.

I will exchange others for you.

Nations will be the price I pay for your life.

43:3–4   You paid a ransom to save me. I’m precious to you, honored and loved. You sacrifice others to pay for my life.

5 Do not be afraid, because I am with you.

I will bring your descendants from the east

and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, “Give them up,”

and to the south, “Do not keep them.”

Bring my sons from far away

and my daughters from the ends of the earth.

7 Bring everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made.

8 Bring the people who are blind but still have eyes,

the people who are deaf but still have ears.

9 All nations have gathered together, and people have assembled.

Who among them could have revealed this?

Who among them could have foretold this to us?

They should bring their witnesses to prove that they were right.

Let the people hear them. Then they will say that it is true.

43:5–9   I live unafraid, because you’re with me. You bring me home from faraway places. You created me for your glory and gave me your name.

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD.

“I have chosen you as my servant

so that you can know and believe in me

and understand that I am the one ⌞who did this⌟.

No god was formed before me,

and there will be none after me.

11 I alone am the LORD,

and there is no savior except me.

12 I have revealed it to you, I have saved you,

and I have announced it to you.

There was no foreign ⌞god⌟ among you.

You are my witnesses that I am God,” declares the LORD.

13 “From the ⌞first⌟ day I was the one ⌞who did this⌟.

No one can rescue people from my power.

When I do something, who can undo it?”

14 This is what the LORD, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says:

For your sake I will send ⌞an army⌟ to Babylon.

I will bring back all the Babylonian refugees

in the ships that they take pride in.

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One,

the Creator of Israel, your King.

43:10–15   You send your servant so I can know and believe in you. You alone are the Lord. There’s no savior except you.

Despite the People of Israel’s Past Sin, the LORD Will Forgive Them

16 The LORD makes a path through the sea

and a road through the strong currents.

17 He leads chariots and horses, an army and reinforcements.

(They lie down together and do not get up ⌞again⌟.

They are extinguished and snuffed out like a wick.)

This is what the LORD says:

18 Forget what happened in the past,

and do not dwell on events from long ago.

19 I am going to do something new.

It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it?

I will clear a way in the desert.

I will make rivers on dry land.

20 Wild animals, jackals, and ostriches will honor me.

I will provide water in the desert.

I will make rivers on the dry land for my chosen people to drink.

21 I have formed these people for myself.

They will praise me.

43:16–21   I won’t dwell on the past. You’re already doing something new. You clear a way in the desert. You form a people to praise you.

22 Jacob, you have not prayed to me.

Israel, you have grown tired of me.

23 You did not bring me sheep for your burnt offerings

or honor me with your sacrifices.

I did not burden you by requiring grain offerings

or trouble you by requiring incense offerings.

24 You did not buy me any sugar cane with ⌞your⌟ money

or satisfy me with the best part of your sacrifices.

Rather, you burdened me with your sins

and troubled me with your wrongdoings.

25 I alone am the one who is going to wipe away your rebellious actions

for my own sake.

I will not remember your sins ⌞anymore⌟.

26 Remind me ⌞of what happened⌟.

Let us argue our case together.

State your case so that you can prove you are right.

27 Your first ancestor sinned,

and your priests rebelled against me.

28 That is why I will corrupt the leaders of the holy place.

I will claim Jacob for destruction.

I will set up Israel for ridicule.

43:22–28   You notice when I tire of you. You spot my half-hearted sacrifices, and you’re the first to see when my sins pile up. But you wipe away my rebellious actions. You forget about my sins.

44

1 But now listen, my servant Jacob,

Israel, whom I have chosen.

2 The LORD made you, formed you in the womb, and will help you.

This is what the LORD says:

Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,

Jeshurun,[46] whom I have chosen.

3 I will pour water on thirsty ground and rain on dry land.

I will pour my Spirit on your offspring

and my blessing on your descendants.

4 They will spring up with the grass

as poplars spring up by streams.

5 One person will say, “I belong to the LORD.”

Another will call on the name of Jacob.

Another will write on his hand, “The LORD’s,”

and he will adopt the name of Israel.

44:1–5   You formed me in the womb. That proves you’re committed to me. You pour your Spirit on my thirst and bless my children. I proudly bear your name.

The Nations Form Idols, But the LORD Formed Israel

6 The LORD is Israel’s king and defender.

He is the LORD of Armies.

This is what the LORD says:

I am the first and the last,

and there is no God except me.

7 If there is anyone like me, let him say so.

Let him tell me what happened

when I established my people long ago.

Then let him predict what will happen to them.

8 Don’t be terrified or afraid.

Didn’t I make this known to you long ago?

You are my witnesses.

Is there any God except me?

There is no ⌞other⌟ rock; I know of none.

44:6–8   You’re the first and last, the one and only rock. There’s no God but you.

9 All who make idols are nothing. Their precious treasures are worthless. Their own witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame. 10 Nothing comes from making gods or casting metal idols. 11 Everyone associated with the gods will be put to shame. The craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all get together and take their stand. They will be frightened and ashamed together.

12 Blacksmiths shape iron into tools. They work them over the coals and shape them with hammers, working them with their strong arms. They get hungry, and their strength fails. If they don’t drink water, they will faint.

13 Carpenters measure blocks of wood with ⌞chalk⌟ lines. They mark them with pens. They carve them with chisels and mark them with compasses. They carve them into forms of people, beautiful people, so the idols can live in shrines.

44:9–13   My precious idols are worthless, fake gods of my own invention. Making them wears me out.

14 They cut down cedars for themselves. Then they choose fir trees or oaks. They let them grow strong among the trees in the forest. Then they plant cedars, and the rain makes them grow. 15 These trees become ⌞fuel⌟ for people to burn. So they take some of them and warm themselves with them. They start fires and bake bread. They also make gods from these trees and worship them. They make them into carved statues and bow in front of them. 16 Half of the wood they burn in the fire. Over this half they roast meat that they can eat until they are full. They also warm themselves and say, “Ah! We are warm. We can see the fire!” 17 But the rest of the wood they make into gods, carved statues. They bow to them and worship them. They pray to them, saying, “Rescue us, because you are our gods.”

18 They don’t know or understand anything. Their eyes are plastered shut, so they can’t see. And their minds are closed, so they can’t understand. 19 No one stops to think. No one has enough knowledge or understanding to say, “I burned half of the wood in the fire. I also baked bread over its coals. I roasted meat and ate it. Now I am making the rest of the wood into a disgusting thing and bowing to a block of wood.” 20 They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They can’t rescue themselves or ask themselves, “Isn’t what I hold in my right hand a false god?”

44:14–20   I bow to gods I carved with my own hands, expecting their help. I never bother to think that my false gods are worthless. My misguided mind leads me astray.

21 Remember these things, Jacob:

You are my servant, Israel.

I formed you; you are my servant.

Israel, I will not forget you.

22 I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud

and your sins like the morning mist.

Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you.

23 Sing with joy, you heavens, because the LORD has done this.

Rejoice, you deep places of the earth.

Break into shouts of joy, you mountains,

you forests and every tree in them.

The LORD has reclaimed Jacob.

He will display his glory in Israel.

44:21–23   You formed me and made me your servant, so you’ll never forget me. I’ll come back to you because you reclaimed me. Make my rebellious acts vanish!

Through Cyrus the LORD Will Set Israel Free

24 The LORD reclaimed you.

He formed you in the womb.

This is what the LORD says:

I, the LORD, made everything.

I stretched out the heavens by myself.

I spread out the earth all alone.

25 I cause the signs of false prophets to fail

and make fools of fortunetellers.

I make wise men retreat

and turn their knowledge into foolishness.

26 He confirms the word of his servant

and fulfills the plan of his messengers.

He says about Jerusalem, “It will be inhabited.”

He says about the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt.”

He says about their ruins, “I will restore them.”

27 He says to the deep water, “Dry up.”

So I will dry up your rivers.

28 He says about Cyrus, “He is my shepherd.

He will do everything I want him to do.”

He says about Jerusalem, “It will be rebuilt.”

He says about the temple, “Your foundation will be laid.”

44:24–28   You stretched out the heavens by yourself. You bend kings to do your will. They do whatever you tell them to.

45

1 This is what the LORD says about Cyrus, his[47] anointed one:

I have held him by his right hand

so he could conquer the nations ahead of him,

strip kings of their power,

and open doors ahead of him

so that the gates would not be shut.

2 I will go ahead of you, Cyrus, and smooth out the rough places.

I will break down the bronze doors and cut through the iron bars.

3 I will give you treasures from dark places and hidden stockpiles.

Then you will know that I, the LORD God of Israel,

have called you by name.

4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,

Israel, my chosen one,

I have called you by name.

I have given you a title of honor, although you don’t know me.

5 I am the LORD, and there is no other.

There is no other God besides me.

I will strengthen you, although you don’t know me,

6 so that from the east to the west people will know

that there is no God except me.

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

45:1–6   You take Cyrus by the hand and use him to strip kings of their power. You do this to prove you are God.

7 I make light and create darkness.

I make blessings and create disasters.

I, the LORD, do all these things.

8 Rain down from above, you heavens,

and pour down righteousness, you skies.

Let the earth open.

Let salvation and righteousness sprout.

Let them spring up.

I, the LORD, have created them.

45:7–8   Send me your light and your blessings. Let the skies pour down righteousness, and let salvation sprout.

9 How horrible it will be for the one who quarrels with his maker.

He is pottery among other earthenware pots.

Does the clay ask the one who shapes it, “What are you making?”

Does your work say to you, “There are no handles”?

10 How horrible it will be for the one

who says to his father, “Why did you conceive me?”

or to his mother, “Why did you go through labor pains for me?”

11 The LORD is the Holy One and the maker of Israel.

This is what the LORD says:

Ask me about what is going to happen to my children!

Are you going to give me orders concerning my handiwork?

12 I made the earth and created humans on it.

I stretched out the heavens with my own hands.

I commanded all the stars ⌞to shine⌟.

45:9–12   Because you made me, I won’t talk back to you. You gave me birth, and I won’t question why. You made the earth, and you arrange my life.

13 I prepared Cyrus for my righteous purpose.

I will make all his roads straight.

He will build my city and let my exiles go free

without any payment or any reward, says the LORD of Armies.

14 This is what the LORD says:

The products from Egypt, the merchandise from Sudan,

and the important Sabaeans will come to you.

They will belong to you.

They will follow you.

They will come to you in chains.

They will bow to you and pray to you,

“Certainly God is with you alone, and there is no other God.”

15 Certainly, you are a God who has hidden himself.

You are the God of Israel, the Savior!

16 Those who make idols will be ashamed and disgraced.

They will go away completely disgraced.

17 Israel has been saved by the LORD forever.

You will never again be ashamed or disgraced.

45:13–17   You raised up Cyrus to fulfill your purpose. You do amazing things before anyone knows what you’re up to.

18 The LORD created the heavens.

God formed the earth and made it.

He set it up.

He did not create it to be empty

but formed it to be inhabited.

This is what the LORD says:

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

19 I haven’t spoken privately or in some dark corner of the world.

I didn’t say to Jacob’s descendants,

“Search for me in vain!”

I, the LORD, speak what is fair and say what is right.

20 Come here, you refugees from the nations.

Ignorant people carry wooden idols

and pray to gods that cannot save ⌞anyone⌟.

45:18–20   You made the world to be filled with people. You don’t hide your purpose from us. You want us to find you.

21 Speak and present your case. Yes, let them consult one another.

Who revealed this in the distant past and predicted it long ago?

Wasn’t it I, the LORD?

There is no other God except me.

There is no other righteous God and Savior besides me.

22 Turn to me and be saved, all who live at the ends of the earth,

because I am God, and there is no other.

23 I have bound myself with an oath.

A word has gone out from my righteous mouth

that will not be recalled,

“Every knee will bow to me

and every tongue will swear ⌞allegiance⌟.”

24 It will be said of me,

“Certainly, righteousness and strength are found in the LORD alone.”

All who are angry with him will come to him and be ashamed.

25 All the descendants of Israel will be declared righteous,

and they will praise the LORD.

45:21–25   I’ll look to you and let you save me. I’ll bow to you and pledge you my allegiance. I find righteousness in you alone.

Babylon’s Idols Will Go into Captivity

46

1 The god Bel bows down; the god Nebo stoops low.

Their statues are seated on animals and cattle.

The gods that you carry are burdens, a load for weary people.

2 These gods stoop low and bow down together.

They aren’t able to escape with heavy loads.

They go away into captivity.

3 Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,

the few people left of the nation of Israel.

I’ve carried you since your birth.

I’ve taken care of you from the time you were born.

4 Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you.

Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you.

I made you and will continue to care for you.

I’ll support you and save you.

46:1–4   You made me and carried me since birth. Even when I’m old, you’ll care for me. Even when I’m gray, you’ll continue to support me.

5 To whom will you compare me and make me equal?

To whom will you compare me so that we can be alike?

6 People pour gold out of their bags and weigh silver on scales.

They hire a goldsmith. He makes it into a god.

They bow down and worship it.

7 They lift it on their shoulders and carry it.

They set the idol in its place, and it stands there.

It doesn’t move from its place.

If they cry to it for help, it can’t answer.

It can’t rescue them from their distress.

8 Remember this, and take courage.

Recall your rebellious acts.

9 Remember the first events,

because I am God, and there is no other.

I am God, and there’s no one like me.

10 From the beginning I revealed the end.

From long ago I told you things that had not yet happened, saying,

“My plan will stand, and I’ll do everything I intended to do.”

11 I will call a bird of prey from the east.

I will call someone for my plan from a faraway land.

I have spoken, and I will bring it about.

I have planned it, and I will do it.

12 Listen to me, you stubborn people who are far from being righteous.

13 I’ll bring my righteousness near; it isn’t far away.

My salvation will not be delayed.

I’ll provide salvation for Zion

and bring my glory to Israel.

46:5–13   Idols are made by human beings, formed from sacks of gold. But you’re the God who reveals your plans from the start. You bring salvation to stubborn people.

Babylon’s Fall

47

1 Go, sit in the dirt,

virgin princess of Babylon!

Sit on the ground, not on a throne,

princess of the Babylonians!

You will no longer be called soft and delicate.

2 Take millstones and grind flour.

Remove your veil.

Take off your skirt.

Uncover your legs, and cross the river.

3 People will see you naked.

People will see your shame.

I will take revenge.

I won’t spare anyone.

4 Our defender is the Holy One of Israel.

His name is the LORD of Armies.

5 Go into the dark, and sit in silence,

princess of the Babylonians!

You will no longer be called the queen of kingdoms.

6 I was angry with my people.

I dishonored those who belong to me.

I put them under your control.

You showed them no mercy.

You placed a heavy burden on old people.

7 You said, “I will always be a queen.”

You didn’t carefully consider these things

or keep in mind how they would end.

47:1–7   You expose a sinful empire’s shame. You take revenge and spare no one.

8 Now then, listen to this, you lover of pleasure.

You live securely and say to yourself,

“I’m the only one, and there’s no one else.

I won’t live as a widow.

I won’t suffer the loss of children.”

9 In one day both of these will happen to you instantly:

the loss of your children and your husband.

All this will happen to you in spite of

your evil magic and your many spells.

10 You feel safe in your wickedness

and say, “No one can see me.”

Your wisdom and knowledge have led you astray,

so you say to yourself,

“I’m the only one, and there’s no one else.”

11 But evil will happen to you.

You won’t know how to keep it away.

Disaster will strike you.

You won’t be able to stop it.

Destruction will overtake you suddenly.

You won’t expect it.

47:8–11   Sound an alarm when I live for pleasure. Alert me when I feel safe in my sin. I don’t know how to keep evil away. I can’t keep disaster from striking me.

12 Keep practicing your spells and your evil magic.

You have practiced them ever since you were young.

You may succeed.

You may cause terror.

13 You are worn out by your many plans.

Let your astrologers and your stargazers,

who foretell the future month by month,

come to you, rise up, and save you.

14 They are like straw.

Fire burns them.

They can’t rescue themselves from the flames.

There are no glowing coals to keep them warm

and no fire for them to sit by.

15 This is how it will be for those who have worked with you,

for those who have been with you ever since you were young.

They will go their own ways,

and there will be no one to save you.

47:12–15   I won’t use dark arts to gain success. You burn up evil like straw. No one’s left to save me.

The LORD Will Refine His People Before He Rescues Them from Babylon

48

1 Listen to this, descendants of Jacob!

You are given the name of Israel.

You are descended from Judah.[48]

You take oaths by the name of the LORD.

You acknowledge the God of Israel,

but you are not honest or sincere.

2 You call yourselves ⌞citizens⌟ of the holy city.

You depend on the God of Israel.

His name is the LORD of Armies.

3 From the beginning I revealed to you what would happen.

These words came out of my mouth,

and I made them known.

Suddenly, I acted, and they happened.

4 I know that you are stubborn.

Like iron, you are hardheaded.

Like bronze, nothing gets through your thick skull.

48:1–4   You see through my insincerity and know I’m hardheaded. Nothing penetrates my thick skull.

5 That is why I revealed to you what would happen long ago.

I told you about them before they happened.

⌞I did this⌟ so you couldn’t say,

“My gods have done these things.

My carved idols and my metal idols

have commanded them to happen.”

6 You’ve heard these words.

Now look at all this.

Won’t you admit it?

From now on I will reveal to you new things,

hidden things that you do not know.

7 They are created now, not in the past.

You haven’t heard about them before today,

so you can’t say that you already knew about them.

8 You have never heard about them.

You have never known about them.

Your ears have never been open to hear them before.

I know that you’ve acted very treacherously

and that you have been called a rebel since you were born.

9 For my name’s sake I’ll be patient.

For my glory’s sake I’ll hold my anger back from you,

rather than destroy you.

10 I have refined you,

but not like silver.

I have tested you in the furnace of suffering.

11 I am doing this for myself, only for myself.

Why should my name be dishonored?

I will not give my glory to anyone else.

48:5–11   Be patient with me for your name’s honor, even though you know my treacherous acts. For the sake of your glory, don’t destroy me. Don’t let my sufferings go to waste.

12 Listen to me, Jacob,

Israel, whom I have called.

I am the one.

I am the first and the last.

13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth.

My right hand stretched out the heavens.

When I call for them, they both stand.

14 Gather together, all of you, and listen.

What idol has revealed such things?

The LORD loves Cyrus.

He will carry out the LORD’s plan against Babylon.

He will use his strength against the Babylonians.

15 I alone have spoken.

I have called him.

I will bring him here, and he will succeed.

16 Come here. Listen to this:

From the beginning I have spoken nothing in private.

From the time it took place, I was there.

Now the Almighty LORD has sent me and his Spirit.

48:12–16   You laid the earth’s foundation, and your hand stretched out the heavens. Your plans always come to pass.

17 This is what the LORD, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says:

I am the LORD your God.

I teach you what is best for you.

I lead you where you should go.

48:17   You’re the Lord. Teach me what’s best for me. Lead me down the right path.

18 If only you had listened to my commands!

Your peace would be like a river ⌞that never runs dry⌟.

Your righteousness would be like waves on the sea.

19 Your descendants would be like sand.

Your children would be like its grains.

Their names would not be cut off or wiped out in my presence.

20 Leave Babylon; flee from the Babylonians!

Shout for joy as you tell it and announce it.

Shout it out to the ends of the earth.

Say that the LORD has reclaimed his servant Jacob.

21 They weren’t thirsty when he led them through the deserts.

He made water flow from a rock for them.

He split a rock, and water gushed out.

22 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD.

48:18–22   When I listen to your commands, my peace flows like a river that never runs dry. When I obey you, my righteousness swells like ocean waves. But I find no rest when I’m wicked.

The LORD’s Servant Will Bring Salvation to the Nations

49

1 Listen to me, you islands.

Pay attention, you people far away.

Before I was born, the LORD chose me.

While I was in my mother’s womb, he recorded my name.

2 He made my tongue like a sharp sword

and hid me in the palm of his hand.

He made me like a sharpened arrow

and hid me in his quiver.

3 He said to me,

“You are my servant Israel.

I will display my glory through you.”

4 But I said,

“I have worked hard for nothing.

I have used my strength, but I didn’t accomplish anything.

Yet, certainly my case is in the LORD’s hands,

and my reward is with my God.”

5 The LORD formed me in the womb to be his servant

in order to bring Jacob back to him

and gather Israel to him.

(The LORD honors me,

and my God has become my strength.)

6 Now, the Lord says,

“You are not just my servant

who restores the tribes of Jacob

and brings back those in Israel whom I have preserved.

I have also made you a light for the nations

so that you would save people all over the world.”

49:1–6   Your servant puts your glory on display and brings your people home. His light shines to the nations, and he saves people all over the world.

7 The LORD is the defender of Israel, its Holy One.

This is what the LORD says to the despised one, to the one scorned by the nation, to the slave of rulers:

Kings will see ⌞you⌟ and stand.

Princes will see ⌞you⌟ and bow.

The LORD is faithful.

The Holy One of Israel has chosen you.

8 This is what the LORD says:

In the time of favor I will answer you.

In the day of salvation I will help you.

I will protect you.

I will appoint you as my promise[49] to the people.

You will restore the land.

You will make them inherit the desolate inheritance.

49:7–8   Kings will see your servant and stand up. Princes will see him and bow down. He’s your promise to everyone.

9 You will say to the prisoners, “Come out,”

and to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.”

They will graze along every path,

and they will find pastures on every bare hill.

10 They will never be hungry or thirsty,

nor will the sun or the burning, hot wind strike them.

The one who has compassion on them will lead them

and guide them to springs.

11 I will turn all my mountains into roads,

and my highways will be restored.

12 They will come from far away.

They will come from the north and from the west,

and they will come from the land of Sinim.

13 Sing with joy, you heavens!

Rejoice, you earth!

Break into shouts of joy, you mountains!

The LORD has comforted his people

and will have compassion on his humble people.

49:9–13   Don’t let me go hungry or thirsty. Don’t let burning winds blow me down. Lead me with compassion and guide me to refreshing springs. I’ll break into shouts of joy!

The LORD Has Not Forgotten Israel

14 But Zion said, “The LORD has abandoned me.

My Lord has forgotten me.”

15 Can a woman forget her nursing child?

Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb?

Although mothers may forget,

I will not forget you.

16 I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.

Your walls are always in my presence.

17 Your children will hurry back.

Those who destroyed you and laid waste to you will leave you.

18 Look up, look around, and watch!

All of your children are gathering together and returning to you.

“I solemnly swear as I live,” declares the LORD,

“you will wear all of them like jewels

and display them on yourself as a bride would.”

49:14–18   Even if my mother forgets me, you’ll remember me. You’ll never abandon me. You’ve engraved me on the palms of your hands.

19 Though you are destroyed and demolished and your land is in ruins,

you will be too crowded for ⌞your⌟ people now.

Those who devoured you will be long gone.

20 The children taken from you will say to you,

“This place is too crowded for me.

Make room for me to live here.”

21 Then you will ask yourself,

“Who has fathered these ⌞children⌟ for me?

I was childless and unable to have children.

I was exiled and rejected.

Who raised these ⌞children for me⌟?

I was left alone.

Where have they come from?”

22 This is what the Almighty LORD says:

I will lift my hand ⌞to signal⌟ the nations.

I will raise my flag for the people.

They will bring your sons in their arms

and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

23 Then kings will be your foster fathers,

and their queens will nurse you.

They will bow in front of you

with their faces touching the ground.

They will lick the dust at your feet.

Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Those who wait with hope for me will not be put to shame.

24 Can loot be taken away from mighty men

or prisoners be freed from conquerors?

25 This is what the LORD says:

Prisoners will be freed from mighty men.

Loot will be taken away from tyrants.

I will fight your enemies,

and I will save your children.

26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh,

and they will become drunk on their own blood

as though it were new wine.

Then all humanity will know that I am the LORD, who saves you,

the Mighty One of Jacob, who reclaims you.

49:19–26   Chase away enemies who devour me. Make room for my many children. Let everyone know you’re the Lord.

The LORD’s People Were Sold because of Their Sin

50

1 This is what the LORD says:

Where are your mother’s divorce papers?

Did I give her any to get rid of her?

To which of my creditors did I sell you?

You were sold because of your sins.

I got rid of your mother because of your rebellion.

2 Why was no one here when I came?

Why was no one here to answer when I called?

Am I too weak to reclaim you?

Don’t I have the power to rescue you?

I dry up the sea with my command,

and I turn rivers into deserts.

Their fish stink because there is no water,

and people die of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens in darkness

and cover them with sackcloth.

50:1–3   My sins sell me out. They make me wonder why you don’t answer and cause me to question your power.

The LORD’s Servant Trusts in the LORD’s Help

4 The Almighty LORD will teach me what to say,

so I will know how to encourage weary people.

Morning after morning he will wake me

to listen like a student.

5 The Almighty LORD will open my ears.

I will not rebel, nor will I turn away ⌞from him⌟.

6 I will offer my back to those who whip me

and my cheeks to those who pluck hairs out of my beard.

I will not turn my face away from those who humiliate me

and spit on me.

7 The Almighty LORD helps me.

That is why I will not be ashamed.

I have set my face like a flint.

I know that I will not be put to shame.

8 The one who pronounces me innocent is near.

Who will bring a case against me?

Let us confront each other!

Who accuses me?

Let him confront me!

9 The Almighty LORD helps me.

Who will find me guilty?

They will all wear out like a garment.

Moths will eat them.

50:4–9   Your servant speaks your encouraging words. He hangs on your teaching like a student learns from a master. He offers his back to whips. You help him set his face like flint.

10 Who among you fears the LORD

and obeys his servant?

Let those who walk in darkness and have no light

trust the name of the LORD

and depend upon their God.

11 But all of you light fires

and arm yourselves with flaming torches.

So walk in your own light

and among the torches you have lit.

This is what you will receive from me:

You will be tormented.

50:10–11   I fear you and promise to obey your servant. I trust you to light up my darkness. I count on you alone.

The LORD Will Save His People

51

1 Listen to me, you people who pursue what is right and seek the LORD.

Look to the rock from which you were cut

and to the quarry from which you were dug.

2 Look to Abraham, your ancestor,

and to Sarah, from whom you are descended.

When I called Abraham, he was childless.

I blessed him and gave him many descendants.

3 So the LORD will comfort Zion.

He will comfort all those who live among its ruins.

He will make its desert like Eden.

He will make its wilderness like the garden of the LORD.

Joy and gladness will be found in it,

thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

51:1–3   You gave children to Abraham and Sarah, so I’ll rely on you to comfort me. You’ll make the deserts of my life like Eden. You’ll fill my wilderness with thanksgiving.

4 Pay attention to me, my people.

Open your ears to hear me, my nation.

My teachings will go out from me.

My justice will become a light for the people.

5 My righteousness is near.

My salvation is on the way.

I will bring justice to people.

The coastlands put their hope in me,

and they wait eagerly for me.

6 Look at the sky.

Look at the earth below.

The sky will vanish like smoke.

The earth will wear out like clothing,

and those who live there will die like flies.

But my salvation will last forever,

and my righteousness will never fail.

51:4–6   I eagerly wait for your salvation. I see it coming now! Your righteousness never fails me.

7 Listen to me, you people who know righteousness,

you people who have my teachings in your hearts.

Don’t be afraid of being insulted by people.

Don’t be discouraged by their ridicule.

8 Moths will eat them like clothing.

Worms will devour them like wool.

But my righteousness will last forever,

and my salvation will last throughout every generation.

51:7–8   I won’t be discouraged by ridicule, because I have your teachings in my heart. Your salvation will last forever.

9 Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O LORD!

Wake up as you did in days long past, as in generations long ago.

Didn’t you cut Rahab[50] into pieces and stab the serpent?

10 Didn’t you dry up the sea, the water of the great ocean?

You made a road in the depths of the sea

so that the people reclaimed ⌞by the LORD⌟

might pass through it.

11 The people ransomed by the LORD will return.

They will come to Zion singing with joy.

Everlasting happiness will be on their heads ⌞as a crown⌟.

They will be glad and joyful.

They will have no sorrow or grief.

51:9–11   Wake up and show off your power! Pay my ransom and bring me back to you. Do away with every last bit of my sorrow and grief.

12 I alone am the one who comforts you.

Why, then, are you afraid of mortals, who must die,

of humans, who are like grass?

13 Why have you forgotten the LORD, your Creator?

He stretched out the heavens

and laid the foundations of the earth.

Why should you live in constant fear of the fury

of those who oppress you,

of those who are ready to destroy you?

Where is the fury of those who oppress you?

14 Chained prisoners will be set free.

They will not die in prison.

They will not go without food.

15 I am the LORD your God who stirs up the sea

and makes its waves roar.

My name is the LORD of Armies.

16 I put my words in your mouth

and sheltered you in the palm of my hand.

I stretched out the heavens,

laid the foundations of the earth,

and said to Zion, “You are my people.”

51:12–16   Why do I forget your power? Why do I fear my tormenters’ fury? You set me free and feed me. You shelter me in the palm of your hand.

Wake Up, Jerusalem

17 Wake up! Wake up!

Stand up, Jerusalem!

You drank from the cup in the LORD’s hand.

That cup was filled with his anger.

You drank from the bowl, the cup that makes people stagger,

and you drained it!

18 From all the children she gave birth to,

there was no one to guide her.

From all the children she raised,

there was no one to take her by the hand.

19 Twice as many disasters have happened to you.

Who will feel sorry for you?

Violence, destruction, famine, and war have happened to you.

Who will comfort you?

20 Your children have fainted.

They lie sleeping at every street corner.

They are like an antelope caught in a net.

They experience the anger of the LORD,

the fury of your God.

21 Listen to this, you humble people

who are drunk but not from wine.

22 The LORD your God defends his people.

This is what your master says:

I’m taking from your hand the cup that makes people stagger,

the bowl, the cup of my fury.

You will never drink from it again.

23 I will put it in the hands of those who made you suffer.

They said to you, “Lie down so that we can walk over you.”

So you made your back like the ground

and like a street for them to cross.

51:17–23   My life has been full of disasters, and a sip from your cup of anger makes me stagger. But I’ll never drink of your fury again.

Wake Up, Zion

52

1 Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, Zion!

Put on your beautiful clothes, holy city of Jerusalem.

Godless and evil people will no longer come to you.

2 Shake the dust from yourselves.

Get up, captive Jerusalem.

Free yourself from the chains around your neck, captive people of Zion.

3 This is what the LORD says: You were sold, but no price was paid. You will be bought back, but without money.

4 This is what the Almighty LORD says: In the beginning my people went to Egypt to live there as foreigners. Later the Assyrians oppressed them for no reason. 5 So what do I find here? asks the LORD. My people are taken away for no reason. Their rulers are screaming, declares the LORD. And my name is cursed all day long. 6 Now my people will know my name. When that day comes, ⌞they will know⌟ that I am the one who says, “Here I am!”

52:1–6   I was sold into slavery for nothing, but you buy me back at infinite cost. I’ll know your name when you rescue me.

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger

who announces the good news, “All is well.”

He brings the good news,

announces salvation,

and tells Zion that its God rules as king.

8 Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices

and shout together joyfully.

When the LORD brings Zion back,

they will see it with their own eyes.

9 Break out into shouts of joy, ruins of Jerusalem.

The LORD will comfort his people.

He will reclaim Jerusalem.

10 The LORD will show his holy power to all the nations.

All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

11 Run away! Run away!

Get away from there!

Do not touch anything unclean.[51]

Get away from it!

Make yourselves pure,

you Levites who carry the utensils for the LORD’s temple.

12 You will not go away in a hurry,

nor will you go away quickly.

The LORD will go ahead of you.

The God of Israel will guard you from behind.

52:7–12   Your messenger brings good news. All is well! Salvation is coming! You rule as king! I can’t wait for you to show the world your holy power.

The Suffering Servant

13 My servant will be successful.

He will be respected, praised, and highly honored.

14 Many will be shocked by him.[52]

His appearance will be so disfigured

that he won’t look like any other man.

His looks will be so disfigured

that he will hardly look like a human.

15 He will cleanse many nations ⌞with his blood⌟.

Kings will shut their mouths because of him.

They will see things that they had never been told.

They will understand things that they had never heard.

52:13–15   Your servant’s disfigurements hardly look human. But his blood will wash the world. His success will bring him respect, praise, and honor.

53

1 Who has believed our message?

To whom has the LORD’s power been revealed?

2 He grew up in his presence like a young tree,

like a root out of dry ground.

He had no form or majesty that would make us look at him.

He had nothing in his appearance that would make us desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by people.

He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering.

He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces,

and we didn’t consider him to be worth anything.

53:1–3   There’s nothing appealing about how your servant looks. He’s far too familiar with suffering. He’s an ordinary guy others consider worthless.

4 He certainly has taken upon himself our suffering

and carried our sorrows,

but we thought that God had wounded him,

beat him, and punished him.

5 He was wounded for our rebellious acts.

He was crushed for our sins.

He was punished so that we could have peace,

and we received healing from his wounds.

6 We have all strayed like sheep.

Each one of us has turned to go his own way,

and the LORD has laid all our sins on him.

7 He was abused and punished,

but he didn’t open his mouth.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

He was like a sheep that is silent

when its wool is cut off.

He didn’t open his mouth.

53:4–7   Your servant was crushed for my sins, punished so I could have peace. His wounds bring me healing, because you put all my sins on him.

8 He was arrested, taken away, and judged.

Who would have thought that he would be removed

from the world?

He was killed because of my people’s rebellion.

9 He was placed in a tomb with the wicked.

He was put there with the rich when he died,

although he had done nothing violent

and had never spoken a lie.

53:8–9   Your servant was arrested, taken away, and judged. He was killed even though he’d done nothing wrong. He died for my rebellion.

10 Yet, it was the LORD’s will to crush him with suffering.

When the LORD has made his life a sacrifice for our wrongdoings,

he will see his descendants for many days.

The will of the LORD will succeed through him.

11 He will see and be satisfied

because of his suffering.

My righteous servant will acquit many people

because of what he has learned ⌞through suffering⌟.

He will carry their sins as a burden.

12 So I will give him a share among the mighty,

and he will divide the prize with the strong,

because he poured out his life in death

and he was counted with sinners.

He carried the sins of many.

He intercedes for those who are rebellious.

53:10–12   You sent your servant as a sacrifice for my wrongdoing. He carried my sins. His suffering acquits me.

The LORD’s Compassion for the Women without Children

54

1 Sing with joy, you childless women who never gave birth to children.

Break into shouts of joy, you women who never had birth pains.

“There will be more children of women who have been deserted

than there are children of married women,” says the LORD.

2 Expand the space of your tent.

Stretch out the curtains of your tent, and don’t hold back.

Lengthen your tent ropes, and drive in the tent pegs.

3 You will spread out to the right and left.

Your descendants will take over other nations,

and they will resettle deserted cities.

4 Don’t be afraid, because you won’t be put to shame.

Don’t be discouraged, because you won’t be disgraced.

You’ll forget the shame you’ve had since you were young.

You won’t remember the disgrace of your husband’s death anymore.

5 Your husband is your maker.

His name is the LORD of Armies.

Your defender is the Holy One of Israel.

He is called the God of the whole earth.

6 “The LORD has called you as if you were

a wife who was abandoned and in grief,

a wife who married young and was rejected,” says your God.

54:1–6   You put children in my barren womb. You tell me to expand the walls of my tent. Because of your care, I’ll spread left and right.

7 “I abandoned you for one brief moment,

but I will bring you back with unlimited compassion.

8 I hid my face from you for a moment in a burst of anger,

but I will have compassion on you with everlasting kindness,”

says the LORD your defender.

9 “To me this is like Noah’s floodwaters, when I swore an oath

that Noah’s floodwaters would never cover the earth again.

So now I swear an oath not to be angry with you or punish you.

10 The mountains may move, and the hills may shake,

but my kindness will never depart from you.

My promise[53] of peace will never change,”

says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

54:7–10   You abandoned me for a moment, but your limitless compassion brings me back. Once you hid your face in a burst of anger, but now you show me everlasting kindness. You’ll never go back on your promise of peace.

11 “You suffering, comfortless, storm-ravaged city!

I will rebuild your city with precious stones.

I will reset your foundations with sapphires.

12 I will rebuild your towers with rubies,

your gates with sparkling stones,

and all your walls with precious stones.”

13 All your children will be taught by the LORD,

and your children will have unlimited peace.

14 You will be established in righteousness.

You will be far from oppression,

so you will not be afraid.

You will be far from destruction,

so it won’t come near you.

15 “If anyone attacks you, it will not be my doing.

Whoever attacks you will be defeated by you.

16 I’ve created blacksmiths to fan the coals into flames

and to produce useful weapons.

I’ve also created destroyers to bring destruction.

17 No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed.

You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you.

This is the inheritance of the LORD’s servants.

Their victory comes from me,” declares the LORD.

54:11–17   You’ll rebuild me with precious stones, and you’ll give my children boundless peace. Destruction won’t come near me, and there’s not a weapon that can kill me.

The LORD’s Word Will Accomplish Its Task

55

1 “Listen! Whoever is thirsty, come to the water!

Whoever has no money can come, buy, and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk. You don’t have to pay; it’s free!

2 Why do you spend money on what cannot nourish you

and your wages on what does not satisfy you?

Listen carefully to me:

Eat what is good, and enjoy the best foods.

55:1–2   You quench my thirst yet charge me nothing. I’ve learned it’s foolish to spend myself on things that don’t satisfy. I’ll enjoy your best. I’ll listen to you so I can live!

3 Open your ears, and come to me!

Listen so that you may live!

I will make an everlasting promise[54] to you—

the blessings I promised to David.

4 I made him a witness to people,

a leader and a commander for people.

5 You will summon a nation that you don’t know,

and a nation that doesn’t know you will run to you

because of the LORD your God,

because of the Holy One of Israel.

He has honored you.”

55:3–5   Your servant brings an everlasting promise. He summons the nations to himself.

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found.

Call on him while he is near.

7 Let wicked people abandon their ways.

Let evil people abandon their thoughts.

Let them return to the LORD,

and he will show compassion to them.

Let them return to our God,

because he will freely forgive them.

55:6–7   I’ll seek you while you’re near. I’ll quit evil and come back to you. I’ll count on your compassion and forgiveness.

8 “My thoughts are not your thoughts,

and my ways are not your ways,” declares the LORD.

9 “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways,

and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

10 “Rain and snow come down from the sky.

They do not go back again until they water the earth.

They make it sprout and grow

so that it produces seed for farmers

and food for people to eat.

11 My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow.

It will not come back to me without results.

It will accomplish whatever I want

and achieve whatever I send it to do.”

12 You will go out with joy and be led out in peace.

The mountains and the hills

will break into songs of joy in your presence,

and all the trees will clap their hands.

13 Cypress trees will grow where thornbushes grew.

Myrtle trees will grow where briars grew.

This will be a reminder of the LORD’s name

and an everlasting sign that will never be destroyed.

55:8–13   Your thoughts are infinitely higher than my thoughts. Your word infallibly accomplishes what you want it to. It never fails to produce results.

Salvation for All People

56

1 This is what the LORD says:

Preserve justice, and do what is right.

My salvation is about to come.

My righteousness is about to be revealed.

2 Blessed is the one who does these things

and the person who holds on to them.

Blessed is the one who keeps the day of worship from becoming unholy

and his hands from doing anything wrong.

3 Foreigners who have joined the LORD should not say, “The LORD will separate us from his people.” Castrated men should not say, “We’re only dead trees!” 4 This is what the LORD says: ⌞I will remember⌟ the castrated men who keep my days of worship, choose what pleases me, and faithfully observe the conditions of my promise.[55] 5 Inside my house and within my walls, I will give them something better than sons and daughters. I will give them a monument and a name. I will give them a permanent name that will not be forgotten. 6 And ⌞I will remember⌟ the foreigners who have joined the LORD to worship him, to love the LORD’s name, and to be his servants. All of them will keep the day of worship from becoming unholy and will faithfully observe the conditions of my promise. 7 Then I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them happy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, because my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

8 The Almighty LORD, who gathers the scattered people of Israel, declares, “I will gather still others besides those I have already gathered.”

56:1–8   I experience your blessing when I hold tight to your commands. You call me to make worship holy.

The Sins of Israel Bring the LORD’s Anger

9 All you animals in the field,

all you animals in the forest,

come and eat.

10 ⌞Israel’s⌟ watchmen are blind.

None of them know anything.

All of them are like dogs that are unable to bark.

They lie around dreaming; they love to sleep.

11 These dogs have huge appetites.

They are never full.

They are the shepherds,

but they don’t understand.

All of them have turned to go their own ways.

Each one seeks his own gain.

12 ⌞Each one cries,⌟

“Let me get some wine,

and we’ll fill ourselves with liquor.

And tomorrow will be like today, only better.”

56:9–12   Your spiritual leaders are blind. They know nothing. They do nothing. Make me passionate about doing your work.

57

1 Righteous people die,

and no one cares.

Loyal people are taken away,

and no one understands.

Righteous people are spared when evil comes.

2 When peace comes,

everyone who has lived honestly will rest on his own bed.

Israel’s Idolatry

3 But you—come here,

you children of witches,

you descendants of adulterers and prostitutes!

4 Whom are you making fun of?

Whom are you making a face at?

Whom are you sticking out your tongue at?

Aren’t you rebellious children,

descendants of liars?

5 You burn with lust under oak trees

and under every large tree.

You slaughter children in the valleys

and under the cracks in the rocks.

6 Your idols are among the smooth stones in the ravine.

They are your destiny.

You have given them wine offerings

and sacrificed grain offerings to them.

Do you think I am pleased with all this?

7 You’ve made your bed on a high and lofty mountain.

You’ve gone to offer sacrifices there.

8 You’ve set up your idols beside doors and doorposts.

You’ve uncovered yourself to the idols.

You’ve distanced yourself from me.

You’ve made your bed with them.

You’ve made a deal with those you have pleasure with in bed.

You’ve seen them naked.

9 You’ve journeyed to the king with perfumed oils

and put on plenty of perfume.

You’ve sent your ambassadors far away

and sent them down to Sheol.

10 You’ve tired yourself out with many journeys.

You didn’t think that it was hopeless.

You’ve found renewed strength,

so you didn’t faint.

11 Whom did you dread and fear so much that you lied to me?

You haven’t remembered me or cared about me.

I’ve been silent for a long time.

Is that why you don’t fear me?

12 I’ll tell you about your righteous ways and what you have done,

but they won’t help you.

13 When you cry for help,

let your collection of idols save you.

A wind will carry them all away.

A breath will take them away.

But whoever trusts me will possess the land

and inherit my holy mountain.

14 It will be said:

“Build a road! Build a road!

Prepare the way!

Remove every obstacle in the way of my people!”

57:1–14   My idolatry is out of control. I burn like a prostitute for other gods. I’ve undressed for them and jumped in bed with them. Take me on a journey back to you.

15 The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy.

This is what he says:

I live in a high and holy place.

But I am with those who are crushed and humble.

I will renew the spirit of those who are humble

and the courage of those who are crushed.

16 I will not accuse you forever.

I will not be angry with you forever.

Otherwise, the spirits, the lives of those I’ve made,

would grow faint in my presence.

17 I was angry because of their sinful greed,

so I punished them, hid ⌞from them⌟, and remained angry.

But they continued to be sinful.

18 I’ve seen their ⌞sinful⌟ ways, but I’ll heal them.

I’ll guide them and give them rest.

I’ll comfort them and their mourners.

19 I’ll create praise on their lips:

“Perfect peace to those both far and near.”

“I’ll heal them,” says the LORD.

20 But the wicked are like the churning sea.

It isn’t quiet,

and its water throws up mud and slime.

21 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.

57:15–21   You’re the High and Lofty One who lives forever. Renew my courage when I’m crushed. Heal me when sin overtakes me. Put praise on my lips. I find no rest when I’m wicked.

Worship the LORD as He Wants to Be Worshiped

58

1 Cry aloud! Don’t hold back!

Raise your voice like a ram’s horn.

Tell my people about their rebellion

and the descendants of Jacob about their sins.

2 They look for me every day and want to know my ways.

They act as if they were a nation that has done what is right

and as if they haven’t disregarded God’s judgment ⌞on them⌟.

They ask me for just decrees.

They want God to be near them.

58:1–2   I claim I want to know you. I say I want to live close to you. But you can tell I don’t mean what I say.

3 Why have we fasted if you are not aware of it?

Why have we inflicted pain on ourselves if you don’t pay attention?

Don’t you see that on the days you fast,

you do what you want to do?

You mistreat all your workers.

4 Don’t you see that when you fast,

you quarrel and fight and beat your workers?

The way you fast today keeps you from being heard in heaven.

5 Is this the kind of fasting I have chosen?

Should people humble themselves for ⌞only⌟ a day?

Is fasting just bowing your head like a cattail

and making your bed from sackcloth and ashes?

Is this what you call fasting?

Is this an acceptable day to the LORD?

6 This is the kind of fasting I have chosen:

Loosen the chains of wickedness,

untie the straps of the yoke,[56]

let the oppressed go free,

and break every yoke.

7 Share your food with the hungry,

take the poor and homeless into your house,

and cover them with clothes when you see ⌞them⌟ naked.

Don’t refuse to help your relatives.

58:3–7   Real fasting means loosing chains, setting free the oppressed, and sharing food with the hungry. I’ll take the poor and homeless into my house. I’ll clothe the naked and help my relatives.

8 Then your light will break through like the dawn,

and you will heal quickly.

Your righteousness will go ahead of you,

and the glory of the LORD will guard you from behind.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer.

You will cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am!”

Get rid of that yoke.

Don’t point your finger and say wicked things.

10 If you give some of your own food to ⌞feed⌟ those who are hungry

and to satisfy ⌞the needs of⌟ those who are humble,

then your light will rise in the dark,

and your darkness will become as bright as the noonday sun.

11 The LORD will continually guide you

and satisfy you even in sun-baked places.

He will strengthen your bones.

You will become like a watered garden

and like a spring whose water does not stop flowing.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and restore the foundations of past generations.

You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls

and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.

58:8–12   Make your light break on me like the dawn. Guard and guide me with your glory.

13 If you stop trampling on the day of worship

and doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the day of worship a delight

and the LORD’s holy day honorable,

if you honor it by not going your own way,

by not going out when you want, and by not talking idly,

14 then you will find joy in the LORD.

I will make you ride on the heights of the earth.

I will feed you with the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob.

The LORD has spoken.

58:13–14   I’ll worship you on the day you claim as your own. I’ll discover joy when I give you my every moment.

The LORD Will Turn His People from Wrongdoing

59

1 The LORD is not too weak to save

or his ear too deaf to hear.

2 But your wrongs have separated you from your God,

and your sins have made him hide his face

so that he doesn’t hear you.

3 Your hands are stained with blood,

and your fingers are stained with sin.

You speak lies,

and you mutter wicked things.

4 No one calls for justice,

and no one pleads his case truthfully.

People trust pointless arguments and speak lies.

They conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

5 They hatch viper eggs

and weave spiderwebs.

Those who eat their eggs will die.

When an egg is crushed, a poisonous snake is hatched.

6 Their webs can’t be used for clothes,

nor can they cover themselves with their works.

Their works are evil.

Their hands have committed acts of violence.

7 Their feet run to do evil.

They hurry to shed innocent blood.

Their plans are evil.

Ruin and destruction are on their highways.

8 They don’t know the way of peace.

There’s no justice on their highways.

They’ve made their paths crooked.

Whoever walks on them will never know peace.

59:1–8   You’re never too weak to save or too deaf to hear. It’s my sins that make you feel far away. Show me the wrongs I’ve done. When I’m eager to do evil, lure me back to you.

9 That is why justice is far from us,

and righteousness doesn’t reach us.

We hope for light, but we walk in darkness.

We hope for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

10 We grope like blind men along a wall.

We grope like people without eyes.

We stumble at noon as if it were twilight.

We are like dead people among healthy people.

11 We all growl like bears.

We coo like doves.

We hope for justice, but there is none.

We hope for salvation, but it’s far from us.

59:9–11   I hope for brightness but walk in doom. I’m like a blind man groping a wall. I can’t find justice. I don’t see your salvation.

12 You are aware of our many rebellious acts.

Our sins testify against us.

Our rebellious acts are with us.

We know our wrongdoings.

13 We have rebelled and denied the LORD.

We have turned away from our God.

We have spoken about oppression and revolt.

We have conceived and uttered lies in our hearts.

59:12–13   You know my many rebellions all too well. I’m aware of everything I’ve done wrong, all the ways I’ve run from you.

14 Justice is turned back,

and righteousness stands far away.

Truth has fallen in the street,

and honesty can’t come in.

15 Truth is missing.

Those who turn away from evil make themselves victims.

The LORD sees it, and he’s angry

because there’s no justice.

16 He sees that there’s no one to help.

He’s astounded that there’s no one to intercede.

So with his own power he wins a victory.

His righteousness supports him.

17 He puts on righteousness like a coat of armor

and a helmet of salvation on his head.

He wears clothes of vengeance.

He wraps himself with fury as a coat.

18 He will pay them back according to their deeds.

He will pay back his opponents with wrath and punish his enemies.

He will pay back the people who live on the coastlands.

19 The people of the west will fear the name of the LORD.

Those in the east will fear his glory.

He will come like a rushing stream.

The wind of the LORD pushes him.

20 “Then a Savior will come to Zion,

to those in Jacob who turn from rebellion,” declares the LORD.

21 “This is my promise[57] to them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I put in your mouth will not leave you. They will be with your children and your grandchildren permanently,” says the LORD.

59:14–21   Truth’s gone missing. So you step in. You wear righteousness like armor, and salvation like a helmet. When you pay back evil, you wrap yourself in a coat of fury.

The LORD Will Be Jerusalem’s Glory

60

1 Arise! Shine! Your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD has dawned.

2 Darkness now covers the earth,

and thick darkness covers the nations.

But the LORD dawns,

and his glory appears over you.

3 Nations will come to your light,

and kings will come to the brightness of your dawn.

60:1–3   Darkness covers my life, but your glory dawns. Please light up my life and draw others to you.

4 “Look up, look around, and watch.

All of your people assemble and come to you.

Your sons come from far away.

Your daughters are carried in their arms.

5 Then you will see this and rejoice,

and your heart will be thrilled with joy,

because the riches of the sea will be brought to you.

The wealth of the nations will come to you.

6 “Many camels will cover your ⌞land⌟,

young camels from Midian and Ephah.

Everyone from Sheba will come.

They will bring gold and incense.

They will sing the praises of the LORD.

7 All of the flocks from Kedar will gather and come to you.

The rams of Nebaioth will serve you.

They will be sacrificed as acceptable ⌞offerings⌟ on my altar.

So I will honor my beautiful temple.

60:4–7   Make the world assemble before you. Let them bring your sons and daughters home. They’ll offer you tribute and honor you with exquisite worship.

8 “Who are these people that fly by like clouds,

like doves to their nests?

9 Certainly, the coastlands wait with hope for me.

The ships from Tarshish are the first to bring your children

from far away.

Their silver and their gold comes with them

to honor the name of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,

because he has honored you.

10 “Foreigners will rebuild your walls,

and their kings will serve you.

In my anger I struck you,

but in my favor I have compassion on you.

11 Your gates will always be open.

They will never be closed day or night

so that people may bring you the wealth of nations,

with their kings led as prisoners.

12 Nations and kingdoms that do not serve you will be destroyed.

The nations will certainly be ruined.

13 “Lebanon’s glory will come to you:

Cedar, fir, and cypress trees will come to beautify my holy place,

and I will honor the place where my feet rest.

14 The descendants of those who oppress you will bow in front of you.

All who despise you will bow at your feet.

They will call you the city of the LORD,

Zion, the city of the Holy One of Israel.

60:8–14   People from around the earth come to honor you. Kings serve you. Oppressors bow to you.

15 “You have been abandoned and hated; no one has passed through you.

But now I will make you a source of everlasting pride,

a joy for all generations.

16 You will drink milk from other nations

and nurse at royal breasts.

Then you will know that I am the LORD, your Savior,

the Mighty One of Jacob, your Defender.

17 I will bring gold instead of bronze.

I will bring silver instead of iron,

bronze instead of wood, and iron instead of stone.

I will appoint peace as your governor and righteousness as your ruler.

18 No longer will you hear about violence in your land

or desolation and destruction within your borders.

You will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

19 The sun will no longer be your light during the day,

nor will the brightness of the moon give you light,

But the LORD will be your everlasting light.

Your God will be your glory.

20 Your sun will no longer go down,

nor will your moon disappear.

The LORD will be your everlasting light,

and your days of sadness will be over.

21 Then all your people will be righteous,

and they will possess the land permanently.

They will be the seedling I have planted,

the honored work of my hands.

22 The smallest of them will become a family.

The weakest of them will become a mighty nation.

At the right time I, the LORD, will make it happen quickly.”

60:15–22   Show everyone you’re my Savior and Defender. Push violence far away. Keep destruction at a distance. Be my everlasting light.

The LORD Will Anoint His Servant with His Spirit

61

1 The Spirit of the Almighty LORD is with me

because the LORD has anointed me

to deliver good news to humble people.

He has sent me

to heal those who are brokenhearted,

to announce that captives will be set free

and prisoners will be released.

2 ⌞He has sent me⌟

to announce the year of the LORD’s good will

and the day of our God’s vengeance,

to comfort all those who grieve.

3 ⌞He has sent me⌟

to provide for all those who grieve in Zion,

to give them crowns instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of ⌞tears of⌟ grief,

and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness.

They will be called Oaks of Righteousness,

the Plantings of the LORD,

so that he might display his glory.

61:1–3   Your Spirit is upon your servant to deliver good news. He heals the brokenhearted and sets the prisoners free. He gives joy instead of grief and praise instead of weakness.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins.

They will restore the places destroyed long ago.

They will renew the ruined cities, the places destroyed generations ago.

5 Foreigners will come forward and become shepherds for your flocks,

and children of foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 You will be called the priests of the LORD.

You will be called the servants of our God.

You will consume the wealth of the nations.

You will boast in their splendor.

7 You will receive a double measure of wealth instead of your shame.

You will sing about your wealth instead of being disgraced.

That is why you will have a double measure of wealth in your land.

You will have everlasting joy.

61:4–7   Rebuild my ruins. Restore the places that were crushed long ago. Make me your priest and servant. Meet my needs and remove my shame.

8 I, the LORD, love justice.

I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

I will faithfully reward my people’s work.

I will make an everlasting promise[58] to them.

9 Then their offspring will be known among the nations

and their descendants among the people.

Everyone who sees them will recognize

that they are the descendants whom the LORD has blessed.

61:8–9   You love justice. You hate robbery. You faithfully reward your people’s work. Make me an everlasting promise!

10 I will find joy in the LORD.

I will delight in my God.

He has dressed me in the clothes of salvation.

He has wrapped me in the robe of righteousness

like a bridegroom with a priest’s turban,

like a bride with her jewels.

11 Like the ground that brings forth its crops

and like a garden that makes the seed in it grow,

so the Almighty LORD will make righteousness and praise

spring up in front of all nations.

61:10–11   You’ve dressed me in clothes of salvation. You’ve bedazzled me like a bride adorned with jewels. I delight in you!

Authentic Prayer

Isaiah 62:6–7

Intercession

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night. Whoever calls on the LORD, do not give yourselves any rest. Isaiah 62:6

Pray for others. The prophet Isaiah had at least as many concerns as anyone else. Likely born to a family related to Judean royalty, he had a wife and two sons to worry about (Isaiah 7:3, 8:3). His literary skills show off time he invested in methodical scholarship. He preached for forty years as a friend and antagonizer of kings. Tradition says he was sawn in half under the reign of evil Manasseh.

Isaiah cultivated a view larger than his own complicated life. He envisions the holy city of Jerusalem with its goodness shining bright and its salvation secure. He sees its inhabitants like a beautiful crown clutched by the Lord, as a bride treasured by her groom. Isaiah won’t stop pressing God until all of this comes to pass.

Your own issues can easily consume your time and energy for prayer. But God invites you to pray beyond yourself. He calls you to stand watch for the sake of others near and far, interceding in prayer until they become everything he intends them to be. Don’t be silent. Pray until the Lord’s vision becomes real.

Pray the Scriptures Intercession: Daniel 6:1–10, Ephesians 1:15–23, 1 Timothy 2:1–8

Jerusalem’s Salvation Is Coming

62

1 For Zion’s sake I will not remain silent.

For Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,

until its righteousness shines like the dawn

and its salvation burns brightly like a torch.

2 The nations will see your righteousness.

All kings will see your glory.

You will be given a new name

that the LORD will announce.

3 Then you will be a beautiful crown in the hand of the LORD,

a royal crown in the hand of your God.

4 You will no longer be called Deserted,

and your land will no longer be called Destroyed.

But you will be named My Delight,

and your land will be named Married.

The LORD is delighted with you,

and your land will be married.

5 As a young man marries a woman,

so your sons will marry you.

As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,

so your God will rejoice over you.

62:1–5   Don’t let people call me “Deserted” or “Destroyed.” Make my name “Delight” and “Married.” Let the world see your glory in me. Show off your salvation!

6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem.

They will never be silent day or night.

Whoever calls on the LORD, do not give yourselves any rest,

7 and do not give him any rest until he establishes Jerusalem

and makes it an object of praise throughout the earth.

8 The LORD has sworn with his right hand and with his mighty arm,

“I will never again let your enemies eat your grain,

nor will foreigners drink the new wine which you made.”

9 Those who harvest grain

will eat it and praise the LORD.

Those who gather grapes

will drink wine in my holy courtyards.

10 Go through! Go through the gates!

Prepare a way for the people!

Build up! Build up the highway!

Clear away the stones!

Raise a flag for the people!

11 The LORD has announced to the ends of the earth:

“Tell my people Zion,

‘Your Savior is coming.

His reward is with him,

and the people he has won arrive ahead of him.’”

12 They will be called Holy People, Those Reclaimed by the LORD,

and you will be called Sought After, a City Not Deserted.

62:6–12   I won’t be silent. I won’t take a break from calling on you. I’ll keep asking you to keep your promise. Send your Savior. Make me one of your holy people.

The LORD Alone Wins His Victory

63

1 Who is this coming from Bozrah in Edom

with his clothes stained bright red?

Who is this dressed in splendor,

going forward with great strength?

“It is I, the LORD. I am coming to announce my victory.

I am powerful enough to save ⌞you⌟.”

2 Why are your clothes red

and your garments like those who trample grapes in a winepress?

3 “I have trampled alone in the winepress.

No one was with me.

In my anger I trampled on people.

In my wrath I stomped on them.

Their blood splattered my clothes

so all my clothing has been stained.

4 I planned the day of vengeance.

The year for my reclaiming ⌞you⌟ has come.

5 I looked, but there was no help.

I was astounded that there was no ⌞outside⌟ support.

So with my own power I won a victory.

My anger supported me.

6 In my anger I trampled on people.

In my wrath I made them drunk

and poured their blood on the ground.”

63:1–6   Your clothes are stained bright red from trampling in the winepress. You take vengeance on sin and reclaim your people. Victory belongs to you alone.

The LORD’s People Pray for His Help

7 I will acknowledge the LORD’s acts of mercy,

and ⌞sing⌟ the praises of the LORD,

because of everything that the LORD has done for us.

He has done many good things for the nation of Israel

because of his compassion and his unlimited mercy.

8 He said, “They are my people,

children who will not lie to me.”

So he became their Savior.

9 In all their troubles he was troubled,

and he was the Messenger who saved them.

In his love and compassion he reclaimed them.

He always held them and carried them in the past.

63:7–9   Countless are your acts of compassion and mercy. In love you reclaim your people. You hold them and carry them along.

10 But they rebelled and offended his Holy Spirit.

So he turned against them as their enemy; he fought against them.

11 Then his people remembered Moses and the distant past.

Where is the one who brought them out of the sea

with the shepherds of his flock?

Where is the one who put his Holy Spirit in them?

12 Where is the one who sent his powerful arm

to support the right hand of Moses?

Where is the one who divided the water in front of them

to make an everlasting name for himself?

13 Where is the one who led them through the deep water?

Like horses in the wilderness,

they didn’t stumble.

14 Like animals going down into a valley,

they were given rest by the LORD’s Spirit.

In this way you guided your people

to make an honored name for yourself.

63:10–14   Your people struggle against your grip yet can’t understand why you feel so far away. They wonder why you don’t support them like you did in the days of Moses.

15 Look down and see from heaven, from your holy and beautiful dwelling.

Where is your determination and might?

Where is the longing of your heart and your compassion?

Don’t hold back.

16 You are our Father.

Even though Abraham doesn’t know us

and Israel doesn’t pay attention to us,

O LORD, you are our Father.

Your name is our Defender From Everlasting.

17 O LORD, why do you let us wander from your ways

and become so stubborn that we are unable to fear you?

Return for the sake of your servants.

They are the tribes that belong to you.

18 Your holy people possessed the land for a little while.

Our enemies have trampled on your holy place.

19 We have become like those whom you never ruled,

like those who are not called by your name.

63:15–19   Don’t hide your compassion. Don’t let me wander so far away I can’t find you again. Don’t let me become so stubborn I forget to fear you.

64  [59]

1 If only you would split open the heavens and come down!

The mountains would quake at your presence.

2 Be like the fire that kindles brushwood and makes water boil.

Come down to make your name known to your enemies.

The nations will tremble in your presence.

3 When you did awe-inspiring things that we didn’t expect,

you came down and the mountains quaked in your presence.

4 No one has ever heard,

no one has paid attention,

and no one has seen any god except you.

You help those who wait for you.

64:1–4   Split the heavens and come down! Make the nations tremble in your presence! Do unexpected, awe-inspiring deeds. You’re the only god this world has ever seen.

5 You greeted the one who gladly does right and remembers your ways.

You showed your anger, because we’ve sinned.

We’ve continued to sin for a long time.

Can we still be saved?

6 We’ve all become unclean,[60]

and all our righteous acts are like permanently stained rags.

All of us shrivel like leaves,

and our sins carry us away like the wind.

7 No one calls on your name

or tries to hold on to you.

You have hidden your face from us.

You have let us be ruined by our sins.

64:5–7   I’ve sinned so long I wonder if I can be saved. I’ve lost my grip on you. My wrongdoing carries me away like the wind.

8 But now, LORD, you are our Father.

We are the clay, and you are our potter.

We are the work of your hands.

9 Don’t be too angry, LORD.

Don’t remember our sin forever.

Now look, we are all your people.

10 Your holy cities have become a desert.

Zion has become a desert.

Jerusalem is a wasteland.

11 Our holy and beautiful temple, where our ancestors praised you,

has been burned to the ground.

All that we valued has been ruined.

12 Despite these things, LORD, will you hold back?

Will you be silent and make us suffer more than we can bear?

64:8–12   You’re the potter and I’m the clay, the work of your hands. Don’t pound me or mold me so much that I break.

The LORD Answers His People’s Prayer

65

1 I was ready to answer those who didn’t ask.

I was found by those who weren’t looking for me.

I said, “Here I am! Here I am!”

to a nation that didn’t worship me.

2 I stretched out my hands all day long to stubborn people.

They chose to go the wrong direction.

They followed their own plans.

3 These people constantly and openly provoked me.

They offered sacrifices in gardens

and burnt incense on brick altars.

4 They sat among the graves and spent their nights in caves.

They ate pork and in their pots made broth from unclean foods.

5 They said, “Stay away! Don’t touch me!

I’m holier than you are.”

They have become like smoke in my nose,

like a smoldering fire all day long.

65:1–5   You reached to me all day long, but I pushed you away. I ran in the wrong direction. I chased my own plans and sacrificed to other gods.

6 “Look! It is written in front of me.

I will not be silent, but I will repay.

I will repay you in full.

7 I will repay you for your sins

and for the sins of your ancestors,” says the LORD.

They burnt incense on the mountains and slandered me on the hills,

so I will be the first to pay them back in full.

8 This is what the LORD says:

When someone finds juice for new wine in a cluster of grapes,

another person will say,

“Don’t destroy it, because there’s a blessing in it.”

In the same way, I will do this for my servants:

I will not destroy everything.

9 I will bring ⌞with me⌟ Jacob’s descendant,

one who will inherit my mountains from Judah.

My chosen ones will inherit them.

My servants will live there.

10 The Sharon Plain will be a pasture for flocks.

The Achor Valley will be a resting place for cattle

and for my people who search for me.

11 You have abandoned the LORD

and forgotten my holy mountain.

You have prepared a table for the god of good fortune

and offered cups full of spiced wine to the goddess of destiny.

12 Now I will destine you for death.

All of you will bow to be slaughtered.

I called, but you didn’t answer.

I spoke, but you didn’t listen.

You did what I consider evil.

You chose what I don’t like.

65:6–12   You say you’ll repay me in full for my sins. You won’t forget the sins of my family. But don’t destroy me. Even though I’ve wandered away, call me back.

13 This is what the LORD God says:

My servants will eat, but you will be hungry.

My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty.

My servants will be glad, but you will be ashamed.

14 My servants will sing because of the gladness in their hearts.

But you will cry because of your sadness

and wail because of your depression.

15 Your name will be used as a curse by my chosen ones.

The Almighty LORD will kill you

and call his servants by another name.

16 Whoever asks for a blessing in the land

will be blessed by the God of Truth.

Whoever swears an oath in the land

will swear by the God of Truth.

Past troubles are forgotten.

They are hidden from my eyes.

65:13–16   When I don’t serve you, I go hungry. I go thirsty and feel endless shame. Give me a glad heart and cure my depression.

17 I will create a new heaven and a new earth.

Past things will not be remembered.

They will not come to mind.

18 Be glad, and rejoice forever in what I’m going to create,

because I’m going to create Jerusalem to be a delight

and its people to be a joy.

19 I will rejoice about Jerusalem and be glad about my people.

Screaming and crying will no longer be heard in the city.

65:17–19   Create a new heaven and a new earth. Forget my past problems and look at me with love. Quiet my screams.

20 There will no longer be an infant who lives for only a few days

or an old man who doesn’t live a long life.

Whoever lives to be a hundred years old will be thought of as young.

Whoever dies before he is a hundred years old will be cursed as a sinner.

65:20–25   Lead me to a good land and give me long life. Answer me even before I pray. Protect me from hurt and destruction.

21 They will build houses and live there.

They will plant vineyards and eat fruit from them.

22 They will not build homes and have others live there.

They will not plant and have others eat from it.

My people will live as long as trees,

and my chosen ones will enjoy what they’ve done.

23 They will never again work for nothing.

They will never again give birth to children who die young,

because they will be offspring blessed by the LORD.

The LORD will bless their descendants as well.

24 Before they call, I will answer.

While they’re still speaking, I will hear.

25 Wolves and lambs will feed together,

lions will eat straw like oxen,

and dust will be food for snakes.

“They will not hurt or destroy anyone anywhere on my holy mountain,”

says the LORD.

The People of the LORD’s New Creation

66

1 This is what the LORD says:

Heaven is my throne.

The earth is my footstool.

Where can you build a house or resting place for me?

2 I have made all these things.

“That is why all these things have come into being,”

declares the LORD.

I will pay attention to those

who are humble and sorry ⌞for their sins⌟

and who tremble at my word.

66:1–2   Heaven is your throne and earth is your footstool. You created everything I can see. I’ll humble myself and show sorrow for my sin. I’ll tremble at your word.

3 Whoever kills a bull is like someone who kills a person.

Whoever sacrifices a lamb is like someone who breaks a dog’s neck.

Whoever offers a grain sacrifice

is like someone who ⌞offers⌟ pig’s blood.

Whoever burns incense is like someone who worships an idol.

People have certainly chosen their own ways,

and their souls delight in detestable things.

4 So I will choose harsh treatment for them

and bring on them what they fear.

I called, but no one answered.

I spoke, but they didn’t listen.

They did what I consider evil.

They chose what I don’t like.

5 Listen to the word of the LORD, all who tremble at his word.

Your relatives, who hate you and exclude you for my name’s sake, say,

“Let the LORD show his glory; then we will see your joy.”

But they will be put to shame.

6 Listen to the uproar from the city.

Listen to the sound from the temple.

It is the sound of the LORD

paying back his enemies as they deserve.

7 Before a woman goes into labor, she gives birth.

Before she has labor pains, she delivers a child.

8 Who has heard of such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Can a country be born in one day?

Can a nation be born in a moment?

When Zion went into labor,

she also gave birth to her children.

9 “Do I bring a mother to the moment of birth

and not let her deliver?” asks the LORD.

“Do I cause a mother to deliver

and then make her unable to have children?” asks your God.

10 All who love Jerusalem, be happy and rejoice with her.

All who mourn for her, be glad with her.

11 You will nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breasts.

You will nurse to your heart’s delight at her full breasts.

12 This is what the LORD says:

I will offer you peace like a river

and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream.

You will nurse and be carried in Jerusalem’s arms

and cuddled on her knees.

13 As a mother comforts her child,

so will I comfort you.

You will be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 When you see it, your heart will rejoice

and you will flourish like new grass.

The power of the LORD will be made known to his servants,

but he will condemn his enemies.

15 The LORD will come with fire

and with his chariots like a thunderstorm.

He will pay them back with his burning anger

and punish them with flames of fire.

16 The LORD will judge with fire,

and he will judge all people with his sword.

Many people will be struck dead by the LORD.

66:5–16   You pay back your enemies as you see fit. You come with fire and punish with the sword.

17 People make themselves holy

and prepare themselves for their garden rituals.

They go into the garden

and devour pork, disgusting things, and mice.

“They will come to an end at the same time,”

declares the LORD.

18 Because of their actions and their thoughts,[61]

I am coming to gather the nations of every language.

They will come and see my glory.

19 I will set up a sign among them

and send some of their survivors to the nations:

to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Meshech, Rosh, Tubal, Javan,

and to the distant coastlands

who have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.

They will tell about my glory among the nations.

20 They will bring all your relatives

from every nation like a grain offering to the LORD.

“They will come on horses, in chariots, in wagons,

on mules and camels to my holy mountain, Jerusalem,”

declares the LORD.

They will come like the people of Israel who bring

their grain offerings in clean dishes to the LORD’s temple.

21 “I will make some of them priests and Levites,” declares the LORD.

22 “The new heaven and earth that I am about to make

will continue in my presence,” declares the LORD.

“So your descendants and your name

will also continue in my presence.

23 From one month to the next and from one week to the next

all people will come to worship me,” declares the LORD.

24 Then they will go out

and look at the corpses of those who have rebelled against me.

The worms that eat them will not die.

The fire that burns them will not go out.

All humanity will be disgusted by them.

66:17–24   Gather people of every language. Let them come and see your glory. Let the whole world worship you now and forever!

JEREMIAH

INTRODUCTION

Jeremiah shows grief for human sin. As the prophet Jeremiah looks around at his fellow Israelites, he sheds endless tears. Their sin is limitless. Oppression and deceit abound. When the Lord has no choice but to discipline them, Jeremiah wails, “I wish that my head were filled with water and my eyes were a fountain of tears so that I could cry day and night for my dear people” (Jeremiah 9:1).

Jeremiah began prophesying after the Lord announced that he chose Jeremiah to speak for him even before he was formed in his mother’s womb. When Jeremiah protests that he’s too young for the job and doesn’t know what to say, the Lord reaches out and fills his mouth with messages not just for Judah but for all nations (Jeremiah 1:4–10).

This prophet speaks during a catastrophic era of Judah’s history. A Babylonian attack carries thousands of political and religious leaders into captivity (2 Kings 24:14–16). A decade later, Jerusalem falls and thousands more become prisoners (2 Kings 25:1–26).

In the face of constant danger and death threats, Jeremiah brings a promise of a better future. He reveals the Lord’s plan to establish a new agreement with his people. Even though they had rejected his promises and consistently failed to obey, he will pardon them and inscribe his laws on their hearts, moving them to follow him (Jeremiah 31:31–34).

Praying the book of Jeremiah lets you enter into grief for human sin and the suffering it causes. It invites you to express your own struggles and your hope for God’s help.

JEREMIAH

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The Prophet Jeremiah

1

1 ⌞These are⌟ the words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah. He was one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah when King Josiah, son of Amon, was in his thirteenth year as king of Judah. 3 The LORD also spoke when Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah and during the 11 years that Zedekiah, ⌞another⌟ son of Josiah, was king of Judah. The LORD continued to speak to Jeremiah until the people of Jerusalem were taken away into captivity in the fifth month of the year.

The LORD Gives Jeremiah a Message for His People

4 The LORD spoke his word to me,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb,

I knew you.

Before you were born,

I set you apart for my holy purpose.

I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

6 I, Jeremiah, said, “Almighty LORD, I do not know how to speak. I am only a boy!”

1:1–6   You set me apart for holy purposes. But how can I get past myself? You expect far more of me than I do.

7 But the LORD said to me, “Don’t say that you are only a boy. You will go wherever I send you. You will say whatever I command you to say. 8 Don’t be afraid of people. I am with you, and I will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

9 Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. The LORD said to me,

“Now I have put my words in your mouth.

10 Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms.

You will uproot and tear down.

You will destroy and overthrow.

You will build and plant.”

1:7–10   Give me every skill I need to do your work. Make me fearless. Reassure me of your power.

11 Again the LORD spoke his word to me and asked, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”

I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

12 Then the LORD said to me, “Right. I am watching to make sure that my words come true.”[1]

13 Again the LORD spoke his word to me and asked, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a boiling pot, and its top is tilted away from the north.”

14 Then the LORD said to me,

“Disaster will be poured out from the north

on all those who live in the land.

15 I am going to call every family and kingdom from the north,”

declares the LORD.

“They will come, and they will set up their thrones

at the entrance of Jerusalem’s gates.

They will attack all the walls around the city

and all the cities of Judah.

16 I will pass sentence on my people because of all their wickedness.

They abandoned me,

burned incense to other gods,

and worshiped what their hands have made.

1:11–16   You watch to make sure your words come true. You pass sentence on your people. They abandon you and worship homemade gods.

17 Brace yourself, Jeremiah!

Stand up, and say to them whatever I tell you to say.

Don’t be terrified in their presence,

or I will make you ⌞even more⌟ terrified in their presence.

18 Today I have made you like a fortified city,

an iron pillar, and a bronze wall.

You will be able to stand up to the whole land.

You will be able to stand up to Judah’s kings,

its officials, its priests, and ⌞all⌟ the common people.

19 They will fight you, but they will not defeat you.

I am with you, and I will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

1:17–19   I’ll brace myself and stand up. I’ll say whatever you tell me to say. I’ll push my terror aside.

The People Continue to Reject the LORD’s Love for Them

2

1 The LORD spoke his word to me,

2 “Go and announce to Jerusalem,

‘This is what the LORD says:

I remember the unfailing loyalty of your youth,

the love you had for me as a bride.

I remember how you followed me into the desert,

into a land that couldn’t be farmed.

3 Israel was set apart for the LORD.

It was the best part of the harvest.

All who devoured it became guilty,

and disaster struck them,’” declares the LORD.

4 Listen to the word of the LORD, descendants of Jacob,

all the families in the nation of Israel.

5 This is what the LORD says:

What did your ancestors find wrong with me

that they went so far away from me?

They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

6 They didn’t ask, “Where is the LORD,

who brought us from Egypt?

He led us through the desert,

through a wasteland and its pits,

a land of drought and the shadow of death.

No one lives there or travels there.”

2:1–6   Your people once had unfailing love. Like the best of the harvest they were devoted to you. But they somehow found fault with you. They wandered away.

7 I brought them into a fertile land

to eat its fruit and its produce.

They came and made my land unclean.[2]

They made my property disgusting.

8 The priests didn’t ask, “Where is the LORD?”

Those who deal with my teachings didn’t know me.

The rulers rebelled against me.

The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal

and followed statues that couldn’t help them.

2:7–8   You brought your people to a fertile land, but they polluted your property. They don’t bother to look for you. The teachers and rulers and prophets don’t know you.

9 “That is why I am bringing charges against you,” declares the LORD,

“and I am bringing charges against your grandchildren.

10 Go over to the coasts of Cyprus, and see.

Send ⌞someone⌟ to Kedar, and observe closely.

See if there has ever been anything like this.

11 Has any nation ever exchanged gods?

(Their gods aren’t really gods.)

Yet, my people have exchanged their Glory

for something that doesn’t help them.

12 Be horrified over this, heaven.

Be terribly afraid,” declares the LORD.

13 “My people have done two things wrong.

They have abandoned me,

the fountain of life-giving water.

They have also dug their own cisterns,

broken cisterns that can’t hold water.

2:9–13   Has anyone ever been dumb enough to trade the invincible God for a helpless idol? Your people abandoned their life-giving fountain. They dug cisterns that can’t hold water.

14 “Are the people of Israel slaves?

Were they born into slavery?

Why, then, have they become someone’s property?

15 Young lions have roared very loudly at them.

Young lions have turned the land into a wasteland.

The cities have been burned down, and everyone has left.

16 People from Noph and Tahpanhes have cracked your skulls, Israel.

17 You have brought this on yourself

by abandoning the LORD your God

when he led you on his way.

18 You won’t gain anything by going to Egypt

to drink water from the Nile River.

You won’t gain anything by going to Assyria

to drink water from the Euphrates River.

2:14–18   I wasn’t born a slave. So how did I become someone’s property? I brought this on by leaving you.

19 Your own wickedness will correct you,

and your unfaithful ways will punish you.

You should know and see how evil and bitter it is for you

if you abandon the LORD your God and do not fear me,”

declares the Almighty LORD of Armies.

20 “Long ago you broke off your yoke,[3] tore off your chains,

and said that you wouldn’t be a slave.

You lay down and acted like a prostitute

on every high hill and under every large tree.

21 I planted you like a choice grapevine from the very best seed.

Now you have turned against me and have become a wild vine.

22 Even if you wash with detergent and use a lot of soap,

I would still see the stains from your wickedness,”

declares the Almighty LORD.

2:19–22   My own wickedness will correct me. You’ll show me the bitterness of losing you. I broke your yoke but became a slave to other gods.

23 “How can you say that you haven’t dishonored yourselves

and haven’t followed other gods—the Baals?

Look how you’ve behaved in the valley.

Acknowledge what you’ve done.

You are like a young camel that swiftly runs here and there.

24 You are like a wild donkey that is used to the desert,

sniffing the wind while in heat.

All who look for you won’t get tired.

They will find you during your monthly period.

25 Don’t run until your feet are bare and your throats are dry.

But you say that it’s useless.

You love foreign gods and follow them.

2:23–25   I know I’ve been unfaithful to you. My own behavior convicts me. I’m like a wild donkey in heat. I love false gods and follow them.

26 “As a thief feels ashamed when he’s caught,

so the nation of Israel will feel ashamed.

Their kings, princes, priests,

and prophets will also feel ashamed.

27 You call wood your father.

You call stone your mother.

You’ve turned your backs, not your faces, to me.

But when you’re in trouble, you ask me to come and rescue you.

28 Where are the gods that you made for yourselves?

Let them come and rescue you when you’re in trouble.

You have as many gods as you have cities, Judah!

29 “Why do you complain about me?

All of you have rebelled against me,” declares the LORD.

30 “I have punished your children without results.

They didn’t respond to correction.

You killed my prophets like a raging lion.

2:26–30   The only shame I feel is that I got caught. I turn my back on you, then expect you to rescue me from trouble. When you correct me, I don’t respond.

31 “Consider the word of the LORD, people of this generation.

Haven’t I been a desert, a land of thick darkness, for Israel?

Why do my people say that they are free to wander around

and no longer come to me?

32 A young woman can’t forget her jewelry or a bride her veils.

Yet, my people have forgotten me for countless days.

33 You carefully planned ways to look for love.

You taught your ways to wicked women.

34 You have the blood from poor and innocent people

on your clothes.

You didn’t kill them for breaking into your home.

35 In spite of all this you say, ‘I’m innocent.

God will turn his anger from me,

because I haven’t sinned.’

36 You change your mind so easily.

You will be put to shame by Egypt

as you were put to shame by Assyria.

37 You will also leave this place with your hands over your head,

because the LORD has rejected those you trust.

You will not be helped by them.”

2:31–37   You’ve shrouded yourself like a dark desert. I’ve forgotten you for too many years. I chase other lovers, then expect you to excuse my sin.

3

1 A saying:

If a man divorces his wife

and she leaves him and marries another man,

her first husband shouldn’t go back to her again.

The land would become thoroughly polluted.

“You have acted like a prostitute who has many lovers.

And now you want to come back to me!” declares the LORD.

2 “Look at the bare hills, and see.

You have had sex with men in every place.

You sat by the roadside waiting for them like a nomad in the desert.

You have polluted the land with your prostitution and wickedness.

3 So the rain has been withheld, and there have been no spring showers.

Yet, you have the shameless look of a prostitute,

and you refuse to blush.

4 But now you are calling to me.

You say, ‘Father! You have been my companion

ever since I was young.

5 He won’t hold a grudge forever.

He won’t always be angry.’

You have said and done all the evil things that you could.”

3:1–5   I’ve had many lovers. How dare I come back to you? I refuse to blush for my behavior. How can I think you won’t hold a grudge?

The LORD Offers to Forgive the Ten Tribes of Israel Despite Their Idolatry

6 When Josiah was king, the LORD asked me, “Did you see what unfaithful Israel did? She went up every high mountain and under every large tree, and she acted like a prostitute there. 7 I thought that after she had done all this that she would come back to me. But she didn’t come back, and her treacherous sister Judah saw her. 8 Judah saw that I sent unfaithful Israel away because of her adultery and that I gave Israel her divorce papers. But treacherous Judah, her sister, wasn’t afraid. She also acted like a prostitute. 9 Because she wasn’t concerned about acting like a prostitute, she polluted the land and committed adultery with standing stones and wood pillars. 10 Even after all this, Israel’s treacherous sister Judah didn’t wholeheartedly come back to me. She was deceitful,” declares the LORD.

3:6–10   You saw your people’s sin. You thought they would come back to you. You assumed they’d think through the consequences of their actions. But they kept acting like prostitutes.

11 Then the LORD said to me, “Unfaithful Israel was less guilty than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these things to the north:

“‘Come back, unfaithful Israel.

It is the LORD speaking.

I will no longer frown on you

because I’m merciful,’ declares the LORD.

‘I will no longer be angry with you.

13 Admit that you’ve done wrong!

You have rebelled against the LORD your God.

You have given yourself to strangers under every large tree.

You have not obeyed me,’ declares the LORD.

3:11–13   You sent Jeremiah to call Israel back to you—to declare your merciful end to your anger. You simply wanted them to admit their wrongdoing.

14 “Come back, you rebellious people,” declares the LORD. “I’m your husband. I will take you, one from every city and two from every family, and bring you to Zion. 15 I will give you shepherds after my own heart. They will be shepherds who feed you with knowledge and insight. 16 In those days you will be fertile, and your population will increase in the land,” declares the LORD. “People will no longer talk about the ark of the LORD’s promise. It will no longer come to mind. They won’t remember it, miss it, or make another one. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD. All nations will gather in Jerusalem because the name of the LORD will be found there. They will no longer follow their own stubborn, evil ways. 18 In those days the nation of Judah will live with the nation of Israel. They will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave their ancestors as their own property.

3:14–18   You long to give your people shepherds who have your heart, teachers to pass along true knowledge and insight.

19 “I wanted to treat you like children

and give you a pleasant land,

the most beautiful property among the nations.

I thought that you would call me Father and wouldn’t turn away from me.

20 But like a wife who betrays her husband,

so you, nation of Israel, betrayed me,” declares the LORD.

21 The sound of crying is heard on the hills.

It is the crying and the pleading of the people of Israel.

They have become crooked

and have forgotten the LORD their God.

22 “Come back, you rebellious people,

and I will forgive you for being unfaithful.”

Here we are!

We have come to you because you are the LORD our God.

23 Truly, the noise from the hills, from the mountains,

is the noise of false worship.

Truly, the LORD our God will rescue us.

24 Ever since we were young,

the shameful worship ⌞of Baal⌟

has taken everything our ancestors worked for,

their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.

25 We must lie down in our shame

and be covered by our disgrace.

Ever since we were young, we and our ancestors have sinned

against the LORD our God.

We haven’t obeyed the LORD our God.

3:19–25   You tried to give your children your very best, the most beautiful land in the world. But your people betrayed you. Their noisy false worship rose from every mountain.

4

1 The LORD declares,

“If you come back, Israel,

if you come back to me,

if you take your disgusting idols out of my sight

and you don’t wander away from me,

2 if you take the oath, “As the LORD lives . . .”

in an honest, fair, and right way,

then the nations will be blessed,

and they will be honored by me.”

The LORD Will Bring Destruction on Judah from the North

3 This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:

Plow your unplowed fields,

and don’t plant among thorns.

4 Be circumcised by the LORD,

and get rid of the foreskins of your hearts,

people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem.

If you don’t, my fury will flare up like a fire.

It will burn, and no one will be able to put it out,

because of the evil you do.

4:1–4   You command Israel to throw away their revolting idols. You order Judah to cut off the wicked parts of their hearts. If they don’t change, your fury will flare like an unstoppable fire.

5 Report this message in Judah.

Make it heard in Jerusalem.

Say, “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land.”

Shout loudly and say, “Gather together!

Let’s go into the fortified cities.”

6 Raise the flag to signal people to go to Zion.

Take cover!

Don’t just stand there!

I’m bringing disaster and widespread destruction from the north.

7 A lion has come out of its lair.

A destroyer of nations has set out.

He has left his place to destroy your land.

Your cities will be ruined, and no one will live in them.

8 So put on sackcloth, mourn, and cry

because the LORD’s burning anger hasn’t turned away from us.

9 “When that day comes,” declares the LORD,

“the king and the leaders will lose their courage.

The priests will be stunned.

The prophets will be amazed and astonished.”

10 I said, “Almighty LORD,

you certainly have deceived these people and Jerusalem.

You said that everything would go well for them,

but a sword is held at their throats.”

4:5–10   Disaster looms. You’ve let loose a nation destroyer. Leaders will misplace their courage. Priests will be stunned, and prophets will be astonished.

11 At that time it will be said to these people and to Jerusalem:

“A hot wind from the heights will blow in the desert

on the tracks of my people.

It will not be a wind that winnows[4] or cleanses.

12 It will be a stronger wind than that.

It will come from me.

Now, I will pass sentence on them.”

13 The enemy comes up like clouds.

His chariots are like a raging wind.

His horses are faster than eagles.

How horrible it will be for us! We will be destroyed!

14 Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart

so that you may be rescued.

Don’t continue making evil plans.

15 A message is heard from Dan,

and a report of disaster comes from the mountains of Ephraim.

16 Warn the nations about these things.

Bring them to the attention of Jerusalem.

“Hostile troops are coming from a distant country.

They are shouting battle cries against the cities of Judah.

17 They surround them like men guarding a field,

because Judah has rebelled against me,”

declares the LORD.

18 “You brought this on yourself.

This is your punishment.

It is bitter.

It breaks your heart.”

4:11–18   When you pass sentence on your people, the enemy will blow like a hot wind. How horrible it will be! You warn your nation and tell them to wash the evil from their hearts.

19 My anguish, my anguish!

I writhe in pain.

My heart is beating wildly!

My heart is pounding!

I can’t keep quiet

because I hear a ram’s horn sounding the alarm for war.

20 One disaster follows another.

The whole land is ruined.

My tents are suddenly destroyed.

Their curtains are torn in an instant.

21 How long must I see the battle flag and hear the sound of rams’ horns?

4:19–21   I writhe in pain when I hear your intent. One disaster follows another. Everything is ruined.

22 “My people are fools. They don’t know me.

They are stupid people. They don’t understand.

They are experts in doing wrong,

and they don’t know how to do good.”

4:22   Your people couldn’t be more stupid, yet they’re experts in doing wrong. They don’t know you, and they’ve never learned to do good.

23 I see the earth. It’s formless and empty.

I see the sky. Its lights are gone.

24 I see the mountains. They are shaking,

and the hills are swaying.

25 I see that there are no people,

and every bird has flown away.

26 I see that the fertile land has become a desert,

and all its cities are torn down

because of the LORD and his burning anger.

27 This is what the LORD says:

The whole earth will be ruined,

although I will not destroy it completely.

28 The earth will mourn, and the sky will grow black.

I have spoken, and I have planned it.

I won’t change my plans, and I won’t turn back.

29 All the people in the city will flee

at the sound of riders and archers.

They will go off into the thickets

and climb among the rocks.

The entire city will be abandoned, and no one will live in it.

30 You are going to be destroyed!

What are you going to do?

Why do you dress in red and put on gold jewelry?

Why do you wear eye shadow?

You are making yourself beautiful for nothing.

Your lovers reject you; they want to kill you.

31 I hear a woman in labor.

I hear the woman cry with anguish as she gives birth to her first child.

My people Zion are gasping for breath.

They are stretching out their hands, saying,

“How horrible it is for us!

We’re defenseless in the presence of murderers!”

4:23–31   You make the earth formless and void. People flee. You’ve turned on the earth and won’t change your plans.

Judah’s Complete Rejection of the LORD

5

1 Walk around the streets of Jerusalem.

Look around, and think about these things.

Search the city squares.

See if you can find anyone

who does what is right and seeks the truth.

Then I will forgive Jerusalem.

2 People say, “As the LORD lives . . .”

Yet, they lie when they take this oath.

3 LORD, your eyes look for the truth.

You strike these people, but they don’t feel it.

You crush them, but they refuse to be corrected.

They are more stubborn than rocks.

They refuse to turn back.

4 I thought, “These are poor, foolish people.

They don’t know the way of the LORD

and the justice that God demands.

5 Let me go to important people and speak to them.

They know the way of the LORD

and the justice that God demands.”

But they, too, had broken off their yokes[5]

and torn off their chains.

6 That is why a lion from the forest will attack them.

A wolf from the wilderness will destroy them.

A leopard will lie in ambush outside their cities.

All who leave the cities will be torn to pieces,

because they rebel so often

and they become more and more unfaithful.

5:1–6   Your people lie when they swear oaths. They’re more stubborn than rocks. Even the few who understand the justice you demand have broken off your yoke.

7 “Why should I forgive you?

Your children abandoned me.

They took godless oaths.

They committed adultery, even though I satisfied their needs.

They traveled in crowds to the houses of prostitutes.

8 They are like well-fed stallions that are wild with desire.

They neigh for their neighbors’ wives.

9 I will punish them for these things,” declares the LORD.

“I will punish this nation.

5:7–9   Why should you forgive us? We’re like stallions wild with desire. We won’t escape your punishment.

10 “Go among Jerusalem’s rows of grapevines and destroy them,

but don’t destroy all of them.

Cut off the branches because they don’t belong to the LORD.

11 The nations of Israel and Judah are unfaithful to me,”

declares the LORD.

12 They lie about the LORD and say,

“He doesn’t exist!

Nothing bad will happen to us.

We won’t experience war or famine.

13 The prophets are nothing but windbags.

The LORD hasn’t spoken through them,

so let what they say happen to them.”

5:10–13   People lie and say you don’t exist. They think they can get away with evil. They call your prophets windbags.

14 This is what the LORD God of Armies says:

Because you’ve talked like this,

I’m going to put my words in your mouth like a fire.

These people will be like wood.

My words will burn them up.

15 Nation of Israel, I’m going to bring a nation from far away

to attack you, declares the LORD.

It is a nation that has lasted a long time.

It is an ancient nation.

You don’t know the language of this nation.

You can’t understand what its people say.

16 Their arrow quivers are like open graves.

They are all mighty warriors.

17 They will devour your harvest and your food.

They will devour your sons and your daughters.

They will devour your flocks and your cattle.

They will devour your grapevines and your fig trees.

With their swords they will destroy

the fortified cities you trust.

18 Yet, even in those days, declares the LORD,

I won’t destroy all of you.

5:14–18   Wrath is coming from faraway, an attack that will devour children. Yet you won’t destroy everyone.

19 They will ask, “Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?” Answer them, “You have abandoned me and served foreign gods in your land. So you will serve foreigners in a land that isn’t yours.”

20 “Tell this to the descendants of Jacob, and make this heard in Judah:

21 Hear this, you stupid and senseless people!

You have eyes, but you cannot see.

You have ears, but you cannot hear.

22 Don’t you fear me?” asks the LORD.

“Don’t you tremble in my presence?

I made the sand a boundary for the sea,

a permanent barrier that it cannot cross.

Although the waves toss continuously,

they can’t break through.

Although they roar, they can’t cross it.

23 But these people are stubborn and rebellious.

They have turned aside and wandered away from me.

5:19–23   When I choose a foreign god, you send me as a slave to a foreign land. Give me eyes to see you and ears to hear you.

24 They don’t say to themselves,

‘We should fear the LORD our God.

He sends rain at the right time,

the autumn rain and the spring rain.

He makes sure that we have harvest seasons.’

25 Your wickedness has turned these things away.

Your sins have kept good things away from you.

5:24–25   I’ll remind myself why I respect you. You send rain at the right time and make sure I have food to eat.

26 “Wicked people are found among my people.

They lie in ambush like bird catchers.

They set traps and catch people.

27 Like cages filled with birds, their houses are filled with deceit.

That is why they become powerful and rich.

28 They grow big and fat.

Their evil deeds have no limits.

They have no respect for the rights of others.

They have no respect for the rights of orphans.

But they still prosper.

They don’t defend the rights of the poor.

29 I will punish them for these things,” declares the LORD.

“I will punish this nation.

30 “Something horrible and disgusting is happening in the land:

31 Prophets prophesy lies.

Priests rule under the prophets’ directions,

and my people love this.

But what will you do in the end?”

5:26–31   I’ll put an end to my evil habits. I’ll respect others’ rights and defend orphans and the poor. I’ll shut my ears to deceptive prophets.

The LORD’s Rejection of Judah

6

1 “Take cover, people of Benjamin!

Run away from Jerusalem!

Blow the ram’s horn in Tekoa.

Raise the flag over Beth Hakkerem,

because disaster and widespread destruction

are coming from the north.

2 “My people Zion are like lovely pastures.

3 With their flocks, shepherds will come to them,

pitch their tents all around them,

and each of them will tend his own flock.

4 ⌞The shepherds say,⌟ ‘Prepare yourselves for war against Zion.

Let’s attack at noon!

How horrible it will be for us. The day is passing,

and the shadows of evening are growing longer.

5 Let’s attack at night and destroy its palaces.’”

6 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

Cut down its trees.

Build up dirt mounds to attack Jerusalem.

This city must be punished.

There is nothing but oppression in it.

7 As a well keeps its water fresh,

so Jerusalem keeps its evil fresh.

Violence and destruction can be heard in it.

I see that it is sick and wounded.

6:1–7   Your people are choice prey. Enemies surround your city and ramp up their attack.

8 Pay attention to my warning, Jerusalem,

or I will turn away from you.

I will make your land desolate,

a land where no one will live.

9 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

Thoroughly pick through the faithful few of Israel

like someone picks through a grapevine.

Like someone picking grapes, pass your hand over its branches again.

Stand at the crossroads and look

10 Whom can I speak to?

Whom can I give a warning to?

Who will listen?

Their ears are plugged,

and they aren’t able to pay attention.

When the LORD speaks his word to them,

they show contempt for it and object to it.

6:8–10   I’ll pay attention to your warnings. I’ll unplug my ears when you speak. I won’t object to your word.

11 I am filled with the anger of the LORD.

I am tired of holding it in.

“Pour it out on the children in the street

and on the gangs of young men.

A man and his wife will be taken away

as well as very old people.

12 Their households, their fields, and their wives

will be turned over to others.

I will use my power against those who live in the land,”

declares the LORD.

13 “All of them, from the least important to the most important,

are eager to make money dishonestly.

All of them, from prophets to priests, act deceitfully.

14 They treat my people’s wounds as though they were not serious, saying,

‘Everything is alright! Everything is alright!’

But it’s not alright.

15 Are they ashamed when they do disgusting things?

No, they’re not ashamed.

They don’t even know how to blush.

So they will die with those who die.

They will be brought down when I punish them,” says the LORD.

6:11–15   You wield your power against your people. They think everything is okay. They don’t know how to blush.

16 This is what the LORD says:

Stand at the crossroads and look.

Ask which paths are the old, reliable paths.

Ask which way leads to blessings.

Live that way, and find a resting place for yourselves.

But you said that you wouldn’t live that way.

17 I posted watchmen over you.

Pay attention to the sound of the ram’s horn.

But you said that you wouldn’t pay attention.

18 Listen, you nations,

and learn, you witnesses, what will happen to them.

19 Listen, earth!

I’m going to bring disaster on these people.

It is the result of their own plots,

because they won’t pay attention to my words.

They reject my teachings.

20 Incense that comes from Sheba is no good to me.

Sugar cane that comes from a distant land is no good to me.

I won’t accept your burnt offerings.

I’m not pleased with your sacrifices.

21 This is what the LORD says:

I’m going to lay stumbling blocks in front of these people.

Parents and children will stumble over them.

Neighbors and their friends will die.

6:16–21   I’ll look for your solid paths. I’ll ask which one leads to your blessings. Then I’ll find your resting place. I won’t stumble.

22 This is what the LORD says:

An army is going to come from the north.

A great nation is preparing itself in the distant parts of the earth.

23 Its people take hold of bows and spears.

They are cruel and have no compassion.

They sound like the roaring sea.

They ride on horses.

They march like soldiers ready for battle

against my people Zion.

24 We have heard the news about them.

Our hands hang limp.

We are gripped by anguish and pain

like a woman giving birth to a child.

25 Don’t go into the field or walk on the road.

The enemy has a sword.

Terror is all around.

26 Wear sackcloth, and roll around in ashes, my people.

Mourn as if you have lost your only child, and cry bitterly.

The destroyer will suddenly attack us.

6:22–26   You send an army from the north, invaders merciless and cruel. Your people should mourn and cry bitterly. The destroyer will attack suddenly.

27 “Jeremiah, I have put you in charge of testing and refining my people.

You will know how to test their ways.

28 They are all vicious rebels.

They go around slandering.

They are all like bronze and iron.

They corrupt themselves.

29 The bellows of the blast furnace blow fiercely

to make the fire melt away the lead.

It is useless to go on refining

because the impurities can’t be removed.

30 ⌞People⌟ will call them useless silver

because the LORD has rejected them.”

6:27–30   Test and refine me. Make me pure and useful to you.

Judah Trusts the Wrong Things

7

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Stand at the gate of the LORD’s house, and announce from there this message: ‘Listen to the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who go through these gates to worship the LORD. 3 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Change the way you live and act, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust the words of this saying, “This is the LORD’s temple, the LORD’s temple, the LORD’s temple!” It’s a lie.

5 “‘Suppose you really change the way you live and act and you really treat each other fairly. 6 Suppose you do not oppress foreigners, orphans, and widows, or kill anyone in this place. And suppose you do not follow other gods that lead you to your own destruction. 7 Then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave permanently to your ancestors long ago.

7:1–7   I’ll change the way I act. I’ll quit relying on religious ritual to get right with you. I won’t oppress foreigners, orphans, or widows. I’ll quit following other gods. Then you’ll let me live.

8 “‘You are trusting the words of a saying. It’s a lie that cannot help you. 9 You steal, murder, commit adultery, lie when you take oaths, burn incense as an offering to Baal, and run after other gods that you do not know. 10 Then you stand in my presence in the house that is called by my name. You think that you’re safe to do all these disgusting things. 11 The house that is called by my name has become a gathering place for thieves. I have seen what you are doing,’” declares the LORD.

12 “‘But go to my place that was at Shiloh, where I first made a dwelling place for my name. See what I did to Shiloh because of the evil done by my people Israel. 13 You have done the same things the people did at Shiloh,’” declares the LORD. “‘Although I spoke to you again and again, you did not listen. When I called you, you did not answer. 14 So what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that is called by my name. This is the place I gave to you and to your ancestors, the place where you feel so safe. 15 I will force you out of my sight as I forced out all your relatives, all of Ephraim’s descendants.’

7:8–15   I can’t hide in your house and go on sinning. I can’t count on religious tradition to protect me. That won’t keep me safe.

16 “Jeremiah, don’t pray for these people. Don’t cry or pray for them. Don’t plead with me, because I will not listen to you. 17 Don’t you see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 Children gather wood, fathers light fires, and women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven. They pour out wine offerings to other gods in order to make me furious. 19 They aren’t really provoking me,” declares the LORD. “But they are ⌞harming⌟ themselves to their own shame.

20 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: My anger and fury will be poured out on this place, on humans and animals, and on trees and crops. My anger and fury will burn and not be put out.

7:16–20   Am I past being prayed for? Can I plead for my own life? You watch me offer myself to other gods. You see me hurt myself and heap shame on my own head.

21 “This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the meat. 22 When I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, I did not tell them anything about burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23 But I did tell them this, ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Live the way I told you to live so that things will go well for you.’ 24 But they didn’t obey me or pay attention to me. They followed their own plans and their stubborn, evil ways. They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time that your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again. 26 But you didn’t obey me or pay attention to me. You became impossible to deal with, and you were worse than your ancestors.

7:21–26   You don’t want any more sacrifices. You just want me to obey. Yet I keep following my stubborn, evil ways. When I think I’m moving forward, I slide backward.

27 “Jeremiah, you will say all these things to them, but they will not obey you. You will call to them, but they will not respond to you. 28 You will say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the LORD their God. They did not accept discipline. Truth has disappeared and vanished from their lips.’

29 “Cut off your hair and throw it away. Sing a song of mourning on the bare hills, because in his anger the LORD has rejected and abandoned the people of this generation. 30 The people of Judah have done what I consider evil,” declares the LORD. “They set up their detestable idols in the house that is called by my name. They have made it unclean.[6] 31 They have built worship sites at Topheth in the valley of Ben Hinnom in order to burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices. I did not ask for this. It never entered my mind.

32 “That is why the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when that place will no longer be known as Topheth or the valley of Ben Hinnom. Instead, it will be known as Slaughter Valley. They will bury ⌞people⌟ at Topheth because no other place will be left. 33 The dead bodies of these people will become food for birds and animals, and no one will be there to frighten them away. 34 In the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, I will banish the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms, because the land will be a wasteland.”

7:27–34   I’ve made up my mind to obey you. I’ll accept your discipline. I’ll think and speak truth. I’ll give you no more reasons to mourn. Make me happy again!

8

1 The LORD declares, “At that time the bones of the kings and the leaders of Judah, the bones of the priests and the prophets, and the bones of the others who lived in Jerusalem will be taken out of their graves. 2 They will be spread out and exposed to the sun, the moon, and all the stars in the sky. These are the things that they had loved, served, gone after, sought, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered or buried, but they will become manure on the ground.

3 “Then the few who remain from these wicked people will want to die rather than live where I will scatter them,” declares the LORD of Armies.

8:1–3   You show no mercy to kings and leaders, priests and prophets. You expose their bones. You tell the truth about their false worship.

The LORD’s Judgment on Judah’s False Religion

4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says:

When someone falls, he gets back up.

When someone turns away from me, he returns.

5 The people of Jerusalem turned away from me without ever returning.

They still cling to deceit.

They refuse to return.

6 I have paid attention and listened,

but they weren’t honest.

They don’t turn away from their wickedness and ask,

“What have we done?”

They go their own ways like horses charging into battle.

7 Even storks know when it’s time to return.

Mourning doves, swallows, and cranes know

when it’s time to migrate.

But my people don’t know

that I, the LORD, am urging them to return.

8:4–7   Your people flee from you and don’t come back. They keep charging down their own path. They ignore your pleas to run home.

8 “‘How can you say that you are wise

and that you have the LORD’s teachings?

The scribes have used their pens to turn these teachings into lies.

9 Wise people are put to shame, confused, and trapped.

They have rejected the word of the LORD.

They don’t really have any wisdom.

10 That is why I will give their wives to other men

and their fields to new owners.

All of them, from the least important to the most important,

are eager to make money dishonestly.

All of them, from prophets to priests, act deceitfully.

11 They treat my dear people’s wounds

as though they were not serious, saying,

“Everything is alright! Everything is alright!”

But it’s not alright.

8:8–11   Teachers twist your truth into lies. They claim your people won’t die from their wounds. They say everything will be okay.

12 Are they ashamed that they do disgusting things?

No, they’re not ashamed.

They don’t even know how to blush.

So they will die with those who die.

They will be brought down when I punish them,’” says the LORD.

13 “‘I would have gathered their harvest,’” declares the LORD,

“‘but there are no grapes on the vine.

There are no figs on the tree,

and the leaves have dried up.

What I have given them will be taken away.’”

14 Why are we just sitting here? Let’s get up!

Let’s go into the fortified cities and die there.

The LORD our God has condemned us to die.

He has given us poison to drink

because we have sinned against the LORD.

15 We hoped for peace, but nothing good has happened.

We hoped for a time of healing, but there’s only terror.

16 The snorting of horses can be heard from Dan.

The neighing of stallions makes the whole land tremble.

They are coming to devour the land and everything in it,

the city and its people.

17 “I am going to send snakes among you,

vipers that can’t be charmed.

They will bite you,” declares the LORD.

8:12–17   No one blushes over their ghastly acts. So you’ll bring them down. They should get ready to die.

Jeremiah’s Grief over His People’s Punishment

18 Sorrow has overwhelmed me.

I am sick at heart!

19 The cry from my dear people comes from a distant land:

“Isn’t the LORD in Zion?

Isn’t Zion’s king still there?”

They make me furious with their idols, with their foreign gods.

20 The harvest is past,

the summer has ended,

and we haven’t been saved.

21 I am crushed because my dear people have been crushed.

I mourn; terror grips me.

22 Isn’t there medicine in Gilead?

Aren’t there doctors there?

Then why hasn’t the health of my dear people been restored?

8:18–22   I’m sick at heart! Aren’t you still king? Summer has ended. The harvest is past. And yet you haven’t saved us.

9  [7]

1 “I wish that my head were ⌞filled with⌟ water

and my eyes were a fountain of tears

so that I could cry day and night

for my dear people who have been killed.

2 I wish I had a place to stay in the desert.

I would abandon my people and go away from them.

They are all adulterers,

a mob of traitors.

3 They use their tongues like bows that shoot arrows.

Lies and dishonesty rule the land.[8]

They go from one evil thing to another,

and they don’t know me,” declares the LORD.

9:1–3   I feel like crying night and day over sin. I wish I could get away from sinners altogether. Lies and dishonesty rule the land.

4 “Beware of your neighbors.

Don’t trust your relatives.

Every relative cheats.

Every neighbor goes around slandering.

5 Everyone cheats his neighbor.

No one speaks the truth.

My people train their tongues to speak lies.

They wear themselves out doing wrong.

6 Oppression follows oppression.[9]

Deceit follows deceit.

They refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the LORD.

7 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

I will now refine them with fire and test them.

What else can I do for my dear people?

8 Their tongues are like deadly arrows.

They speak deceitfully.

People speak politely to their neighbors,

but they think of ways to set traps for them.

9 I will punish them for these things, declares the LORD.

I will punish this nation.

I still won’t be satisfied.

9:4–9   I’ve got no one I can count on. Everyone lies and cheats. They refuse to recognize you. You’ll punish them for sure.

10 I will cry and weep for the mountains.

I will sing a funeral song for the pastures in the wilderness.

They are destroyed so that no one can travel through them.

No one can hear the sound of cattle.

Birds and cattle have fled.

They are gone.

11 I will turn Jerusalem into a pile of rubble, a home for jackals.

I will destroy the cities of Judah so that no one can live there.

12 No one is wise enough to understand this.

To whom has the LORD revealed this

so that they can explain it?

The land dies; it has been ruined like the desert

so that no one can travel through it.

13 The LORD answered,

“They’ve abandoned my teachings that I placed in front of them.

They didn’t obey me, and they didn’t follow them.

14 They followed their own stubborn ways and other gods—the Baals,

as their ancestors taught them.”

15 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says:

I am going to feed these people bitterness

and give them poison to drink.

16 I will scatter them among nations

that they and their ancestors haven’t heard of.

I will send armies after them until I’ve wiped them out.

9:10–16   I sing a funeral song for the annihilation all around me. No one understands why you’ve ruined the land. They don’t grasp you’re about to scatter them.

17 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

Consider this:

Call for the women who cry at funerals.

Send for those who are the most skilled.

18 They should come quickly and cry for us.

Our eyes will run with tears.

Our eyelids will flow with water.

19 The sound of crying is heard from Zion.

“We’re ruined! We’re very ashamed.

We must leave our land because our homes have been torn down.”

20 Listen to the word of the LORD, you women,

and open your ears to hear his words.

Teach your daughters how to cry.

Teach your neighbors funeral songs.

21 Death has come through our windows and entered our palaces.

Death has cut down the children in the streets

and the young men in the marketplaces.

22 This is what the LORD says:

Dead bodies will fall like manure on the field.

They will be like grain that has been cut but not gathered.

9:17–22   Skilled mourners cry for your people. Their eyes run with tears and teach the rest of us how to weep. Death has crept through our windows. It cuts down our children in the street.

The Lord Is the Only True God

23 This is what the LORD says:

Don’t let wise people brag about their wisdom.

Don’t let strong people brag about their strength.

Don’t let rich people brag about their riches.

24 If they want to brag, they should brag that they understand and know me.

They should brag that I, the LORD, act out of love, righteousness,

and justice on the earth.

This kind of bragging pleases me, declares the LORD.

25 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD,

“when I will punish all who are circumcised.

26 I will punish Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, and Moab.

I will punish all who shave the hair on their foreheads

or live in the desert.

Even though these nations are circumcised,

all Israel has uncircumcised hearts.”

9:23–26   I won’t boast about my wisdom or my strength or my riches. I’ll only brag that I know you—the one who acts with love, righteousness, and justice.

10

1 Listen to the message that the LORD has spoken to you, nation of Israel. 2 This is what the LORD says:

Don’t learn the practices of the nations.

Don’t be frightened by the signs in the sky

because the nations are frightened by them.

3 The religion of the people is worthless.

Woodcutters cut down trees from the forest.

The hands of craftsmen prepare them with axes.

4 Craftsmen decorate them with silver and gold

and fasten them ⌞together⌟ with hammers and nails

so that they won’t fall over.

5 These trees are like scarecrows in cucumber gardens.

They aren’t able to speak.

They have to be carried, because they can’t walk.

Don’t be afraid of them.

They can’t harm you.

They can’t do you any good either.

10:1–5   I won’t fall into my neighbors’ sins. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber garden. They can’t help or harm me.

6 No one is like you, O LORD.

You are great.

Your name is powerful.

7 Everyone fears you, O King of the Nations.

This is what you deserve.

No one is like you among all the wise people in the nations

or in all their kingdoms.

8 They are complete idiots.

They learn nonsense from wooden idols.

9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz.

Craftsmen and goldsmiths shape these metals.

The clothing for the idols is blue and purple,

all made by skilled workers.

10 But the LORD is the only God.

He is the living God and eternal king.

The earth trembles when he is angry.

The nations can’t endure his fury.

10:6–10   People are complete idiots compared to you. You’re the only God, the living and eternal king.

11 Tell them this: These gods will disappear from the earth

and from under heaven because they didn’t make heaven and earth.

12 The LORD made the earth by his power.

He set up the world by his skill.

He stretched out the world by his understanding.

13 He speaks, and the water in the sky produces a storm.

He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning flash with the rain.

He brings wind out of his storehouses.

14 Everyone is stupid and ignorant.

Metalsmiths are put to shame by their idols.

Their statues are false ⌞gods⌟.

They can’t breathe.

15 They are worthless jokes.

When they are punished, they disappear.

16 Jacob’s God isn’t like them.

He made everything,

and Israel is the tribe that belongs to him.

His name is the LORD of Armies.

10:11–16   Unlike you, idols didn’t create heaven and earth with power, skill, and understanding. False gods are worthless jokes. You’ll make them disappear.

17 Pick up your bags. You are being blockaded.

18 This is what the LORD says:

I am going to throw out those who live in the land at this time

and cause trouble for them so that they will feel it.

19 Oh, I’m wounded!

My wound is serious.

Then I thought that this is my punishment, and I will bear it.

20 My tent is destroyed, and all my ropes are broken.

My children have left me and have disappeared.

There’s no one to set up my tent again

or put up my tent curtains.

21 The shepherds are foolish.

They don’t look to the LORD for help.

That is why they won’t succeed,

and all their flocks will be scattered.

22 The report has arrived.

A tremendous uproar is coming from the land of the north.

Its army will destroy Judah’s cities

and make them homes for jackals.

10:17–22   You toss your people from the land. You cause them trouble they can’t miss. Tents fall down. Flocks scatter. An army masses at the border.

23 O LORD, I know that the way humans act is not under their control.

Humans do not direct their steps as they walk.

24 Correct me, O LORD, but please be fair.

Don’t correct me when you’re angry.

Otherwise, you’ll reduce me to nothing.

10:23–24   Free me from the sin that controls me. Correct me with a measure of kindness, or you’ll reduce me to nothing.

25 Pour out your fury on the nations who don’t know you

and on people who don’t worship you.

They have devoured the descendants of Jacob.

They have devoured them completely.

They have destroyed their homes.

Judah Has Disobeyed the Terms of the LORD’s Promise

11

1 This is the message that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Listen to the terms of this promise,[10] and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. 3 Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is anyone who doesn’t listen to the terms of this promise. 4 I made this promise to your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, which was an iron smelter. I said, “Obey me, and do everything that I have told you to do. Then you will be my people, and I will be your God. 5 I will keep the oath I made to your ancestors and give them a land flowing with milk and honey, the land you still have today.” ’”

I answered, “Yes, LORD.”

6 The LORD said to me, “Announce all these things in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: Listen to the terms of this promise, and keep them. 7 I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, and the warning still applies to you today. I solemnly warned them to obey me. 8 But they didn’t obey me or pay attention to me. They followed their own stubborn, evil ways. So I punished them, because they did not keep all the terms of the promise, the terms that I commanded them to keep.”

11:1–8   You freed your people and led them to a land flowing with milk and honey. You commanded them to trust and obey you. You punished your people for breaking the terms of your promise.

9 The LORD said to me, “Conspiracy exists among the people of Judah and among those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They’ve gone back to the evil ways of their ancestors and refused to obey my words. They are following other gods and worshiping them. The nations of Israel and Judah have rejected the promise that I made to their ancestors. 11 This is what the LORD says: I’m going to bring a disaster on them that they can’t escape. Although they will cry out to me, I won’t listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem will cry to the gods to whom they’ve been sacrificing. But these gods will never rescue them when they’re in trouble. 13 Judah, you have as many gods as you have cities. You have set up many altars ⌞in Jerusalem⌟ to sacrifice to Baal. You have as many altars as there are streets in Jerusalem. 14 Jeremiah, don’t pray for these people. Don’t cry or pray for them. I won’t listen when they call to me for help in times of trouble.

11:9–14   Your people have returned to evil, so you plan disaster they can’t escape. You won’t listen to their cries. Their false gods can’t answer their pleas.

15 “What right do these people I love have to be in my house

when they do so many devious things?

Can the meat from their sacrifices turn disaster away from them?

They rejoice when they do evil.”

16 The LORD called you a large olive tree

that has beautiful fruit to look at.

He will set fire to you with a mighty storm,

and your branches will be broken.

17 The LORD of Armies planted you.

He has pronounced disaster on you.

This is because of the evil things

that Israel and Judah have done.

They have made him furious by burning incense

as an offering to Baal.

11:15–17   What right do I have to be in your house when I do so many devious things? Yet you continue to love me. So save me from disaster! I’ll quit worshiping other gods.

Jeremiah’s Life Is Threatened

18 The LORD revealed their plot to me so that I would understand. He showed me what they were doing. 19 I was like a trusting lamb brought to the slaughter. I didn’t know that they were plotting against me. They were saying, “Let’s destroy the tree with its fruit. Let’s cut Jeremiah off from this world of the living so that we won’t be reminded of him anymore.”

20 O LORD of Armies, you judge fairly

and test motives and thoughts.

I want to see you take revenge on them,

because I’ve brought my case to you.

21 This is what the LORD says: The people of Anathoth want to kill you. They say, “Don’t prophesy in the name of the LORD, or we’ll kill you.”

22 This is what the LORD of Armies says: I’m going to punish them. The young men will die because of war. Their sons and daughters will die because of famine. 23 I will bring a disaster on the people of Anathoth. It will be a year of punishment. There will be no survivors.

11:18–23   Jeremiah was a trusting lamb led to slaughter. His enemies aimed to silence your word. But you spared your prophet’s life. Save me when obeying you puts me at risk.

Jeremiah’s Question

12

1 O LORD, even if I would argue my case with you,

you would always be right.

Yet, I want to talk to you about your justice.

Why do wicked people succeed?

Why do treacherous people have peace and quiet?

2 You plant them, and they take root.

They grow, and they produce fruit.

They speak well of you with their lips,

but their hearts are far from you.

3 You know me, O LORD.

You see me and test my devotion to you.

Drag them away like sheep to be slaughtered.

Prepare them for the day of slaughter.

4 How long will the land mourn?

How long will the plants in every field remain dried up?

The animals and the birds are dying,

because people are wicked.

They think that God[11] doesn’t know what they are doing.

12:1–4   I can’t beat you in an argument. But why do you let evil people succeed? Why let them survive? How long will they think you don’t notice their sin?

The LORD’s Reply

5 “If you have raced against others on foot, and they have tired you out,

how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble in open country,

how can you live in the jungle along the Jordan River?

6 Even your relatives and members of your father’s household betray you.

They have also formed a mob to find you.

Don’t trust them when they say good things about you.

7 “I have abandoned my nation.

I have left my own people.

I have handed the people I love over to their enemies.

8 My people have turned on me like a lion in the forest.

They roar at me, so I hate them.

9 My people are like a colorful bird of prey.

Other birds of prey surround it.

Go, gather all the animals in the field,

and bring them to devour it.

10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard.

They’ve trampled my property.

They’ve turned my pleasant property into a wasteland.

11 They’ve left it a wasteland.

Devastated, it mourns in my presence.

The whole land is destroyed,

but no one takes this to heart.

12 Looters swarm all over the bare hills in the desert.

The LORD’s sword destroys them

from one end of the land to the other.

No one will be safe.

13 My people planted wheat, but they harvested thorns.

They worked until they became sick, but they gained nothing by it.

They were disappointed by their harvests

because of the burning anger of the LORD.

14 “This is what I, the LORD, say about all my evil neighbors who take the inheritance that I gave my people Israel: I am going to uproot those neighbors from their lands. I will also uproot the people of Judah from among them. 15 After I’ve uprooted them, I will have compassion on them again. I will return them to their inheritance and to their lands. 16 Suppose they learn carefully the ways of my people. Suppose they take an oath in my name, ‘As the LORD lives . . .’ as they taught my people to take an oath in ⌞the name of⌟ Baal. Then they will build homes among my people. 17 But suppose they don’t listen. Then I will uproot that nation and destroy it,” declares the LORD.

12:5–17   I should quit with the questions, right? I’ll face even bigger enemies and issues, will I not? Yet in the end you’ll give people what they deserve.

Jeremiah’s Linen Belt

13

1 This is what the LORD said to me: “Buy a linen belt. Put it around your waist. Don’t let it get wet.” 2 So I bought the belt, as the LORD had told me, and put it around my waist.

3 The LORD spoke his word to me again. He said, 4 “Take the belt that you bought, the one you’re wearing. Go to the Euphrates River, and bury it there in a crack in the rocks.” 5 So I went and buried it by the Euphrates, as the LORD had told me.

6 After many days the LORD said to me, “Go to the Euphrates, and get the belt from where I told you to bury it.” 7 So I went back to the Euphrates and dug it up. I got the belt from where I had buried it. Now the belt was ruined. It was good for nothing.

8 Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 9 “This is what the LORD says: This is how I will destroy Judah’s arrogance and Jerusalem’s extreme arrogance. 10 These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They go their own stubborn ways and follow other gods in order to serve them and worship them. They are like this good-for-nothing belt. 11 As a belt clings to a person’s waist, so I have made the entire nation of Israel and the entire nation of Judah cling to me,” declares the LORD. “I did this so that they would be my people and bring fame, praise, and honor to me. However, they wouldn’t listen.

13:1–11   I buried myself away from you. I rotted in the dirt. I’ve acted like a good-for-nothing belt. I don’t cling to you.

12 “Give this message to them, ‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Every bottle will be filled with wine.’ Then they will say to you, ‘We know that every bottle will be filled with wine.’ 13 Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: I’m going to make everyone who lives in this land drunk. The kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all those who live in Jerusalem will become drunk. 14 Then I will smash them like bottles against each other. I will smash parents and children together, declares the LORD. I will have no pity, mercy, or compassion when I destroy them.’”

13:12–14   We turn your blessings and plenty into excess and wickedness—and you respond with judgment.

15 Listen, and pay attention!

Don’t be arrogant. The LORD has spoken.

16 Honor the LORD your God before it gets dark,

before your feet stumble on the mountains in the twilight.

You will look for light,

but the LORD will turn it into the shadow of death

and change it into deep darkness.

17 If you won’t listen,

I will cry secretly over your arrogance.

I will cry bitterly, and my eyes will flow with tears

because the LORD’s flock will be taken captive.

13:15–17   I’ll pay attention and put aside my pride. Don’t let me stumble at twilight or wander in the shadow of death.

18 Say to the king and his mother,

“Come down from your thrones,

because your crowns have fallen off your heads.”

19 The cities in the Negev will be locked up,

and there will be no one to reopen them.

All the people of Judah will be taken away into captivity.

20 Look up, and see those who are coming from the north.

Where is the flock that was given to you—your beautiful sheep?

21 What will you say

when God makes the people you thought were your friends

your new masters?

Won’t pain grip you like a woman in labor?

22 If you ask yourself,

“Why do these things happen to me?”

it’s because you have so many sins.

Your clothes have been torn off

and your limbs are bare.

23 Can Ethiopians change the color of their skin

or leopards change their spots?

Can you do good

when you’re taught to do wrong?

13:18–23   I ask myself how my old friends became my new masters. Why me? It’s because of my many sins. I’ve practiced doing wrong for far too long.

24 “I will scatter you like straw that is blown away by a desert wind.

25 This is your fate, the destiny I have planned for you,”

declares the LORD.

“You have forgotten me and trusted false gods.

26 I will also tear off your clothes,

and your shame will be seen.

27 I have seen you commit adultery and squeal with delight.

I have seen you act like a shameless prostitute

on the hills and in the fields.

How horrible it will be for you, Jerusalem!

Will you ever be clean?”[12]

13:24–27   I admit I’ve forgotten you. You’ll strip me naked and show off my shame.

The LORD Sends a Drought

14

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah about the drought.

2 Judah mourns; its gates fall apart.

The people of Judah sit in mourning on the ground.

Their cry goes up from Jerusalem.

3 Important people send their assistants out for water.

They go to the cisterns, but they don’t find any water.

They come back with their containers empty.

They cover their heads, because they are ashamed and disgraced.

4 The ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land.

The farmers are disappointed. They cover their heads.

5 Even deer in the fields give birth and abandon their young

because there’s no grass.

6 Wild donkeys stand on the bare hills.

They sniff the air like jackals.

Their eyesight fails because they have no green plants.

7 Do something, LORD, for the sake of your name,

even though our sins testify against us.

We have been unfaithful and have sinned against you.

8 You are Israel’s hope,

the one who saves it in times of trouble.

Why should you be like a stranger in the land,

like a traveler who stays only one night?

9 Why should you be like someone taken by surprise,

like a strong man who cannot help?

You, O LORD, are among us.

We are called by your name.

Don’t leave us!

14:1–9   My cisterns stand empty. Cracks cover the ground in every direction. Do something to help me! My sins are obvious, but save me for the sake of your name!

10 This is what the LORD says about these people: They love to wander. They don’t keep their feet where they belong. So the LORD isn’t happy with them. He will remember their crimes and punish their sins.

11 The LORD said to me, “Don’t pray for the good of these people. 12 Even if they go without food, I won’t listen to their cries for help. Even if they sacrifice burnt offerings and grain offerings, I won’t be pleased with them. But I will destroy these people with wars, famines, and plagues.”

13 Then I said, “Almighty LORD, prophets are saying to them, ‘You won’t see wars or famines, because I, the LORD, will give you lasting peace in this place.’”

14:10–13   I’ve wandered so far from you. I’m unworthy of a single prayer. But show me mercy.

14 Then the LORD told me, “These are the lies that the prophets are telling in my name: They claim that I sent them, commanded them, and spoke to them. They dreamed up the visions they tell you. Their predictions are worthless. They are the products of their own imagination.

15 “I didn’t send these prophets. Yet, they prophesy in my name that there will be no wars or famines in this land. So this is what I, the LORD, say about them: Wars and famines will bring an end to these prophets. 16 The people they prophesy to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem. They will be victims of famines and wars. No one will bury them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters. I will pour on them the destruction that they deserve.

14:14–16   I fell for the lies of false prophets. They sold me on imaginative lies. Now I know they didn’t speak for you.

17 “Say this to them:

‘My eyes flow with tears day and night without stopping

because my dear people will suffer massive destruction.

It will be a very serious blow.’”

18 If I go to the field, I see those killed because of war.

If I go to the city, I see those sick because of famine.

Prophets and priests wander through a land they haven’t heard of.

19 Have you completely rejected Judah?

Do you despise Zion?

Why have you struck us so hard that we cannot heal?

We hope for peace, but no good comes from it.

We hope for a time of healing, but there’s only terror.

20 O LORD, we realize our wickedness

and the wrongs done by our ancestors.

We have sinned against you.

21 For the sake of your name, don’t despise us.

Don’t dishonor your glorious throne.

Remember your promise[13] to us; don’t break it.

22 The worthless gods of the nations can’t make it rain.

By themselves, the skies can’t give showers.

But you can, O LORD our God.

We have hope in you because you do all these things.

14:17–22   I weep at massive destruction. I witness your people killed in war. I see the hungry and sick. I hope for healing but only get terror. I realize I’ve sinned against you.

15

1 Then the LORD said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel were standing in front of me, I would not feel sorry for these people. Send them away from me, and let them go. 2 When they ask you where they should go, say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says:

Those who are destined to die will die.

Those who are destined to die in wars will die in wars.

Those who are destined to die in famines will die in famines.

Those who are destined to die in captivity will die in captivity.’

3 “I will devise four ways to punish them,” declares the LORD. “I will send swords to kill, dogs to drag away, and birds and animals to devour and destroy. 4 I will make these people a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms on the earth. This will happen because of what Judah’s King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, did in Jerusalem.

15:1–4   You say my destiny is death by war or famine or captivity. My wrongdoing gives good reason to punish me. My sin makes me a horror to everyone I meet.

5 No one will take pity on you, Jerusalem.

No one will mourn for you.

No one will bother to ask how you are doing.

6 You have left me,” declares the LORD.

“You have turned your back on me.

So I will use my power against you and destroy you.

I’m tired of showing compassion to you.

7 “I will separate them with a winnowing[14] shovel at the city gates.

I will make them childless.

I will destroy my people because they will not change their ways.

8 Their widows will be more numerous

than the grains of sand on the seashore.

At noontime I will send a destroyer against the mothers of young men.

I will suddenly bring anguish and terror to them.

9 A mother who gives birth to seven sons will grow faint

and breathe her last.

She will die, ashamed and humiliated,

while it is still daylight.

I will put survivors from these people to death

in the presence of their enemies,” declares the LORD.

15:5–9   No one pities me or mourns for me. No one bothers to ask how I’m doing. Now you’re tired of showing me compassion. You’re wielding your power to destroy me.

Jeremiah Complains Bitterly

10 I’m so miserable! Why did my mother give birth to me?

I am a man who argues and quarrels with the whole earth.

I have never lent or borrowed anything.

Yet, everyone curses me.

11 The LORD said,

“I will certainly rescue you for a good reason.

I will certainly make your enemies plead with you

in times of disaster and in times of distress.

12 (No one can break iron, iron from the north, or bronze.)

13 I will give away your wealth and treasures as loot

as the price for all the sins that you have committed

throughout your territory.

14 I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you haven’t heard of,

because my anger has started a fire.

It will burn you.”

15:10–14   Why was I even born? I’m under your curse. You give away my wealth and send me walking to a land I haven’t heard of. My enemy has made me his slave.

15 O LORD, you understand.

Remember me, take care of me,

and take revenge on those who persecute me.

Be patient, and don’t take me away.

You should know that I’ve been insulted because of you.

16 Your words were found, and I devoured them.

Your words are my joy and my heart’s delight,

because I am called by your name, O LORD God of Armies.

17 I didn’t keep company with those who laugh and have fun.

I sat alone because your hand was on me.

You filled me with outrage.

18 Why is my pain unending

and my wound incurable, refusing to heal?

Will you disappoint me like a stream

that dries up in summertime?

15:15–18   Don’t forget me! Care for me! I devour your words and wear your name proudly. Yet I sit alone, because your hand is on me. Why is my wound incurable?

19 This is what the LORD says:

If you will return, I will take you back.

If you will speak what is worthwhile and not what is worthless,

you will stand in my presence.

The people will return to you, but you will not return to them.

20 I will make you like a solid bronze wall in front of these people.

They will fight you, but they will not defeat you.

I am with you, and I will save you and rescue you,

declares the LORD.

21 I will rescue you from the power of wicked people

and free you from the power of tyrants.

15:19–21   When I return to you, I get a warm welcome. You let me stand in your presence. Make me a solid wall. Rescue me from evil people!

The LORD Tells Jeremiah Not to Marry

16

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Don’t marry! Don’t have any sons or daughters in this place! 3 This is what the LORD says about the sons and daughters born in this place and about the mothers and fathers who have children in this land: 4 They will die horrible deaths. No one will mourn for them or bury them. They will be like manure on the ground. Wars and famines will bring them to an end. Their bodies will be food for birds and animals.

5 “This is what the LORD says: Don’t go into a house where people are grieving. Don’t go to mourn or to grieve for them. I’m taking my peace, love, and compassion away from these people,” declares the LORD. 6 “Old and young alike will die in this land. No one will mourn for them or bury them. No one will cut his own body or shave his own head for them. 7 No one will offer food to comfort those who mourn the dead. No one will give a consoling drink to those who have lost their fathers or mothers.

8 “Don’t even go into a home where there is a banquet. Don’t sit with them to eat and drink. 9 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to put a stop to the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms in this place. This will happen in your lifetime, while you watch.

16:1–9   I’m afraid to get married or have children in this terrible place. I fear they’ll die horrible deaths. I don’t dare mourn or show happiness. Your coming judgment makes me numb.

10 “When you tell the people all these things, they will ask you, ‘Why does the LORD threaten us with all these disasters? What have we done wrong? How have we sinned against the LORD our God?’ 11 Then say to them, ‘It’s because your ancestors abandoned me, declares the LORD. They followed other gods, served them, worshiped them, and abandoned me. They didn’t obey my teachings. 12 You have done worse than your ancestors. All of you are following your own stubborn, evil ways that keep you from obeying me. 13 So I will throw you out of this land into a land that you and your ancestors haven’t heard of. There you will serve other gods day and night because I will no longer have pity on you.’

16:10–13   No one understands why you threaten us with disasters. They have no idea we’re so far from you. They don’t notice our own stubborn disobedience.

14 “That is why the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when people will no longer begin an oath with, ‘The LORD brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. As the LORD lives. . . .’ 15 But they will say, ‘The LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of the north and all the lands where he had scattered them. As the LORD lives. . . .’ They will say this because I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors.

16 “I’m going to send for many fishermen,” declares the LORD, “and they will catch the people of Israel. After that, I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt for them on every mountain and hill and even in the cracks in the rocks. 17 I see everything that they do. They can’t hide anything from me. Their wickedness can’t be hidden; I can see it. 18 First, I will have them pay twice as much for their wickedness and their sin, because they have polluted my land. They have filled my property with the lifeless statues of their detestable and disgusting idols.”

19 The LORD is my strength and my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

Nations come to you from the most distant parts of the world

and say, “Our ancestors have inherited lies,

worthless and unprofitable gods.”

20 “People can’t make gods for themselves.

They aren’t really gods.

21 That is what I will teach them.

This time I will make my power and my strength known to them.

Then they will know that my name is the LORD.”

16:14–21   Hunt us down. Bring us home. Get your punishment over with. Expose our sin and show off your strength. I look forward to a day of restoration.

17

1 ⌞The LORD says,⌟ “Judah’s sin is written with an iron pen.

It is engraved with a diamond point

on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.

2 Even their children remember their altars

and their poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah

beside large trees on high hills

3 and on mountains in the open country.[15]

I will turn your wealth and all your treasures into loot.

I will do this because of your worship sites and your sin

throughout all your territory.

4 You will lose the inheritance that I gave you.

I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you haven’t heard of.

I will do this because you have stirred up the fire of my anger.

It will burn forever.

17:1–4   My sin is etched in my flesh and soul. My wrongdoing is obvious from every angle.

5 “This is what the LORD says:

Cursed is the person who trusts humans,

who makes flesh and blood his strength

and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6 He will be like a bush in the wilderness.

He will not see when something good comes.

He will live in the dry places in the desert,

in a salty land where no one can live.

7 Blessed is the person who trusts the LORD.

The LORD will be his confidence.

8 He will be like a tree that is planted by water.

It will send its roots down to a stream.

It will not be afraid in the heat of summer.

Its leaves will turn green.

It will not be anxious during droughts.

It will not stop producing fruit.

17:5–8   I can count on trouble when I trust humans rather than you. But I live in your blessing when I look to you. I’m like a tree planted by water. I won’t stop bearing fruit.

9 “The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable.

No one can understand how deceitful it is.

10 I, the LORD, search minds and test hearts.

I will reward each person for what he has done.

I will reward him for the results of his actions.

11 A person who gets rich dishonestly is like a partridge

that hatches eggs it did not lay.

During his lifetime, he will lose his wealth.

In the end, he will be a godless fool.”

12 Our holy place is a glorious throne,

highly honored from the beginning.

13 O LORD, the Hope of Israel, all who abandon you will be put to shame.

Those who turn away from you will be written in dust,

because they abandon the LORD,

the fountain of life-giving water.

14 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed.

Rescue me, and I will be rescued.

You are the one I praise.

17:9–14   My mind is incurably deceitful. You search me inside and out. Heal my broken places. You’re the one I praise.

15 People keep asking me,

“Where is the word of the LORD?

Let it come.”

16 I have not run away from being your shepherd,

and I have not longed for the day of destruction.

You know what came out of my mouth.

17 Do not terrorize me.

You are my refuge on the day of disaster.

18 Put my persecutors to shame,

but do not let me be put to shame.

Terrify them,

but do not let me be terrified.

Bring the day of disaster on them,

and destroy them completely.

17:15–18   People who wish for your word have no idea what they’re asking. They dare you to bring judgment now.

The Blessing That Comes from Observing the Day of Worship as a Holy Day

19 This is what the LORD said to me: Stand at People’s Gate, where the kings of Judah go in and out. Then stand at every gate in Jerusalem. 20 Tell everyone: “Listen to the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, all the people of Judah, and all those who live in Jerusalem, and go through these gates. 21 This is what the LORD says: Watch out! If you value your lives, do not carry anything on the day of worship or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Do not bring anything out of your homes on the day of worship. Do not do any work, but observe the day of worship as a holy day, as I told your ancestors. 23 Your ancestors did not obey me or pay attention to me. They were impossible to deal with and would not listen or accept discipline.

24 “Now,” declares the LORD, “you must listen to me and not bring anything through the gates of this city on the day of worship. You must observe the day of worship as a holy day by not doing any work on it. 25 If you do this, then the kings and princes who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this city. They and their princes will ride in chariots and on horses along with the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. This city will always have people living in it.

26 “People will come from the cities of Judah, from all around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin, from the foothills, from the mountains, and from the Negev. They will bring burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense. They will also bring thank offerings to the LORD’s temple. 27 But you must listen to me and observe the day of worship as a holy day by not carrying anything through the gates of Jerusalem on the day of worship. If you don’t do this, I will set its gates on fire. The fire will burn down the palaces in Jerusalem, and you won’t be able to put it out.”

17:19–27   I’ll serve you on the day you claim as your own. I value my life and respect your ways.

The People of Israel Are Like Clay for a Potter

18

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Go to the potter’s house. There I will give you my message.”

3 I went to the potter’s house, and he was working there at his wheel. 4 Whenever a clay pot he was working on was ruined, he would rework it into a new clay pot the way he wanted to make it.

5 The LORD spoke his word to me. The LORD asked, 6 “Nation of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter does with clay? Nation of Israel, you are like the clay in the potter’s hands.

18:1–6   You’re the potter. I’m clay. You choose how to shape and reshape me. I’ll turn out exactly how you intend.

7 “At one time I may threaten to tear up, break down, and destroy a nation or a kingdom. 8 But suppose the nation that I threatened turns away from doing wrong. Then I will change my plans about the disaster I planned to do to it.

9 “At another time I may promise to build and plant a nation or a kingdom. 10 But suppose that nation does what I consider evil and doesn’t obey me. Then I will change my plans about the good that I promised to do to it.

11 “Now say to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the LORD says: I’m going to prepare a disaster and make plans against you. Turn from your evil ways, change your lives, and do good.’

12 “But they will answer, ‘It’s useless! We’ll live the way we want to. We’ll go our own stubborn, evil ways.’

18:7–12   You show mercy to the nation that stops doing wrong. You judge the nation that starts doing evil. I’ll change my life and do good. I won’t keep going in my own stubborn ways.

13 “This is what the LORD says:

Ask among the nations if anyone has ever heard anything like this.

The people of Israel have done a very horrible thing.

14 The rocky slopes of Lebanon are never without snow.

The cool mountain streams never dry up.

15 But my people have forgotten me.

They burn incense as an offering to worthless idols,

and they stumble along the way, on the ancient path.

They go on side roads and not on major highways.

16 Their land will become desolate

and something to be hissed at forever.

Everyone who will pass by it will be stunned and shake his head.

17 Like the east wind I will scatter them in front of the enemy.

On the day of their disaster,

I will show them my back, not my face.”

18:13–17   I’ve worshiped worthless idols. I’ve wandered far from your path. You’ve made my world desolate.

18 Then they said, “Let’s plot against Jeremiah, because the teachings of the priests, the advice of wise people, and the word of the prophets won’t disappear. Accuse him! Pay no attention to anything he says.”

19 Pay attention to me, O LORD,

and listen to what my accusers say.

20 Good should not be paid back with evil.

They dig a pit to take my life.

Remember how I stood in your presence and pleaded for them

in order to turn your anger away from them.

21 Now, hand their children over to famine.

Pour out their ⌞blood⌟ by using your sword.

Then their wives will become childless widows.

Their husbands will be put to death.

Their young men will be struck down in battle.

22 Make them cry out from their homes

when you suddenly send troops against them,

because they dug a pit to catch me and hid snares for my feet.

23 But you, O LORD, know that they plan to kill me.

Don’t forgive their crimes.

Don’t wipe their sins out of your sight.

Make them stumble in your presence.

Deal with them when you get angry.

18:18–23   Don’t ignore people who plan me harm. I prayed for them, and this is how I’m repaid. Deal with them as only you can!

Israel Will Be Smashed Like a Clay Jar

19

1 This is what the LORD says: Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the leaders of the people and some of the leaders of the priests. 2 Go to the valley of Ben Hinnom at the entrance to Potsherd Gate. Announce there the things I plan to do. 3 Say, “Listen to the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to bring such a disaster on this place that the ears of everyone who hears about it will ring.

4 “The people, their ancestors, and the kings of Judah have abandoned me. They have made this place unrecognizable by burning incense as an offering to other gods that they hadn’t heard of. They have filled this place with the blood of innocent people. 5 They have built worship sites to burn their children as sacrifices to Baal. I didn’t ask them or command them to do this. It never entered my mind.

19:1–5   Billows of incense have made your land a hazy fog. It’s filled with innocent blood. Sacrificing children isn’t one of your commands.

6 “That is why the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben Hinnom. Instead, it will be called Slaughter Valley. 7 I will smash the plans of Judah and Jerusalem in this place. I will cut them down with swords in front of their enemies and with the hands of those who want to kill them. I will give their bodies as food to birds and to animals. 8 I will devastate this city. It will become something to hiss at. Everyone who goes by it will be stunned and hiss with contempt at all the disasters that happen to it. 9 I will make the people eat the flesh of their sons and daughters. They will eat each other’s flesh during blockades and hardships that their enemies impose on them when they want to kill them.”

19:6–9   You’ll cut down your people in Slaughter Valley. You’ll serve their bodies as food to birds and animals. Everyone who sees it will be stunned.

10 ⌞The LORD says,⌟ “Then smash the jar in front of the men who went with you. 11 Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: I will smash these people and this city as this potter’s jar was smashed beyond repair. They will bury ⌞the dead⌟ in Topheth until there’s no other place to bury them. 12 That’s what I will do to this place and to those who live in it, declares the LORD. I will make this city like Topheth. 13 The houses in Jerusalem, the houses of the kings of Judah, and all the rooftops of the houses will be unclean[16] like this city Topheth. This is because people burned incense to the entire army of heaven and poured out wine offerings to other gods.’”

14 Then Jeremiah left Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy. He stood in the courtyard of the LORD’s temple and said to all the people, 15 “This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to bring on this city and on all its towns the disasters that I threatened. They’ve become impossible to deal with, and they refuse to obey me.”

19:10–15   You’ll smash your people beyond repair. You’ll stack bodies in Slaughter Valley. This is because your people bowed to other gods.

Pashhur Imprisons Jeremiah

20

1 Now the priest, Immer’s son Pashhur, the chief officer of the LORD’s temple, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. 2 Pashhur struck the prophet Jeremiah and put him in prison at Upper Benjamin Gate that was in the LORD’s temple.

3 The next day when Pashhur took Jeremiah out of prison, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD doesn’t call you Pashhur, but he calls you Terror Everywhere. 4 This is what the LORD says: I’m going to make you terrify yourself and all your friends. Their enemies’ swords will kill them, and you will see it with your own eyes. I will hand all of Judah over to the king of Babylon. He will take the people away as captives to Babylon or kill them with swords. 5 I will hand all the riches of this city over to their enemies. This will include all its produce, all its valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. Their enemies will loot them, take them away, and bring them to Babylon. 6 And you, Pashhur, and all those who live in your house will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon, and you will die there. You will be buried there together with all your friends to whom you prophesied these lies.”

20:1–6   No one wants to hear the facts. Your spiritual leaders try to imprison truth. But you promise terror beyond imagination. They’ll see your people taken captive and killed.

Jeremiah Prays to the LORD

7 O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived.

You overpowered me and won.

I’ve been made fun of all day long.

Everyone mocks me.

8 Each time I speak, I have to cry out and shout,

“Violence and destruction!”

The word of the LORD has made me the object of insults

and contempt all day long.

9 I think to myself, “I can forget the LORD

and no longer speak his name.”

But ⌞his word⌟ is inside me like a burning fire shut up in my bones.

I wear myself out holding it in, but I can’t do it any longer.

10 I have heard many ⌞people⌟ whispering,

“Terror is everywhere!

Report him! Let’s report him!”

All my closest friends are waiting to see me stumble.

They say, “Maybe he will be tricked.

Then we can overpower him and take revenge on him.”

20:7–10   I’m not sure about you anymore. Speaking up for you makes me a target for insults. I wish I could forget you completely, but your word burns like fire in my bones.

11 But the LORD is on my side like a terrifying warrior.

That is why those who persecute me will stumble. They can’t win.

They will be very ashamed that they can’t succeed.

Their eternal shame will not be forgotten.

12 But the LORD of Armies examines the righteous.

He sees their motives and thoughts.

I want to see you take revenge on them,

because I’ve brought my case to you.

13 Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD!

He has rescued the lives of needy people

from the power of wicked people.

20:11–13   You must still be on my side. You make my persecutors stumble. You see everyone’s motives and thoughts. You rescue the needy.

14 Cursed is the day that I was born,

the day that my mother gave birth to me.

May it not be blessed.

15 Cursed is the man who made my father very happy with the news

that he had just become the father of a baby boy.

16 May that man be like the cities

that the LORD destroyed without pity.

May he hear a cry of alarm in the morning

and a battle cry at noon.

17 If only he had killed me while I was in the womb.

Then my mother would have been my grave,

and she would have always been pregnant.

18 Why did I come out of the womb?

All I’ve seen is trouble and grief.

I will finish my days in shame.

20:14–18   I cursed the day I was born! It would have been better for me to have died in the womb. All I see is trouble and grief.

Jerusalem Will Be Captured by the Babylonians

21

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur, son of Malchiah, and the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah. They said, 2 “Consult the LORD for us, because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Maybe the LORD will perform miracles for us so that Nebuchadnezzar will retreat.”

3 Jeremiah responded to them, “This is what you should say to Zedekiah, 4 ‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I’m going to take your weapons away from you. You are using these weapons to fight the king of Babylon as well as the Babylonians who are now blockading you outside the wall. I will bring the Babylonians inside this city. 5 I will fight you in anger, fury, and rage with my powerful hand and my mighty arm. 6 I will defeat those who live in this city, both people and animals. They will die from a terrible plague. 7 Afterwards, declares the LORD, I will hand over Judah’s King Zedekiah, his officials, the people, and everyone else in this city who survives the plague, war, and famine. They will be handed over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. Nebuchadnezzar will kill them with swords. He won’t spare them, show them compassion, or care for them.’

21:1–7   You couldn’t have been clearer. You would hand your holy city to the Babylonians. You would make the king a captive.

8 “Say to these people, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am going to give you the choice of life or death. 9 Those who live in this city will die in the war, famine, or plague. Those of you who go out and surrender to the Babylonians will live. You will escape with your lives. 10 I’ve decided to harm this city, not to do good to it, declares the LORD. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.’

11 “Say to the nation of the king of Judah, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD, 12 descendants of David. This is what the LORD says:

Judge fairly every morning.

Rescue those who have been robbed from those who oppress them.

Otherwise, my fury will break out and burn like fire.

No one will be able to put it out

because of the evil things you have done.

13 “‘I’m against you, Jerusalem.

You are the city that is in the valley

and on the rock in the plain,’”

declares the LORD.

“‘But you ask, “Who can attack us?

Who can enter our places of refuge?”

14 “‘I will punish you because of the evil things you have done,’”

declares the LORD.

“‘I will start a fire in your forests,

and it will burn up everything around you.’”

21:8–14   You let the king choose life or death. You didn’t give your holy city a way out of your anger. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

Warnings to the Wicked Kings

22

1 This is what the LORD says: Go to the palace of the king of Judah, and speak this message there: 2 “Listen to the word of the LORD, you officials, you people who come into these gates, and you, king of Judah, the one sitting on David’s throne.

3 “This is what the LORD says: Judge fairly, and do what is right. Rescue those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Don’t mistreat foreigners, orphans, or widows, and don’t oppress them. Don’t kill innocent people in this place. 4 If you do what I say, then the kings who sit on David’s throne will ride through the gates of this palace in chariots and on horses along with their officials and their people. 5 But if you don’t do what I say, I will take an oath on myself,” declares the LORD, “that this palace will become a pile of rubble.

22:1–5   I’ll live justly and do right. I’ll rescue the robbed. I won’t torment foreigners, orphans, or widows. I’ll spare innocent lives.

6 “This is what the LORD says about the palace of the king of Judah:

This palace is like Gilead to me,

like the top of Lebanon.

I will certainly turn it into a desert,

into cities that no one lives in.

7 I will send people to destroy you.

They will have their own weapons.

They will cut down your finest cedar trees

and throw them on a fire.

8 “People from many nations will pass by this city and ask each other, ‘Why has the LORD done this to this important city?’ 9 The answer will be: ‘They rejected the promise[17] of the LORD their God. They worshiped other gods and served them.’”

10 Don’t cry for the dead.

Don’t shake your heads at them.

Cry bitterly for those who are taken away,

because they won’t come back to see their homeland.

22:6–10   You grind palaces to dust. Why? Because people reject your promise. They serve other gods.

11 This is what the LORD says about King Josiah’s son Shallum, who succeeded his father as king of Judah and left this place: He will never come back here again. 12 He will die in the place where he was taken captive, and he will never see this land again.

13 “How horrible it will be for the person who builds his house dishonestly

and his upper rooms through injustice.

He makes his neighbors work for nothing

and doesn’t pay them for their work.

14 He says, ‘I will build a large house for myself with big upper rooms.’

He cuts out windows in it,

panels the rooms with cedar,

and paints them red.

15 Do you think you’re a better king than others

because you use more cedar?

Your father ate and drank and did what is fair and right.

Everything went well for him.

16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy.

Everything went well for him.

Isn’t this what it means to know me?” asks the LORD.

17 “But your eyes and your mind are set on nothing but dishonest profits.

You kill innocent people and violently oppress your people.”

22:11–17   Doing what’s fair and right. Defending the poor and needy. Isn’t that what it means to know you?

18 This is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim, son of Judah’s King Josiah:

People won’t mourn for him and say,

“How horrible it is for my brother and sister!”

They won’t mourn for him and say,

“How horrible it is for my master and his splendor!”

19 He will receive a donkey’s burial.

He will be dragged off and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.

20 “Go to Lebanon and cry! Raise your voice in Bashan!

Cry out from Abarim, because all your lovers are defeated.”

21 I spoke to you when you were prosperous,

but you said that you wouldn’t listen.

This is how you’ve been ever since you were young.

You don’t listen to me.

22 The wind will blow away all your shepherds,

and your lovers will go into captivity.

Then you will be ashamed and disgraced by all your wickedness.

23 You live in Lebanon and have your nest in the cedars.

But you will groan when pain strikes you,

pain like a woman giving birth to a child.

22:18–23   No one will mourn an evil king’s death. He’ll be dragged outside the city for a donkey’s burial. But when I prosper I’ll listen to you. I’ll heed you from now until I grow old.

24 “As I live,” declares the LORD, “even though you, Jehoiakin,[18] son of Judah’s King Jehoiakim, are the signet ring on my right hand, I will pull you off my hand. 25 I will hand you over to those who want to kill you, those you fear—King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Babylonians. 26 I will throw you and your mother into another land. You weren’t born there, but you will die there. 27 You will want to return to this land, but you won’t be allowed to come home.”

28 This Jehoiakin is like a rejected and broken pot that no one wants.

Is that why he and his descendants will be thrown out

and cast into another land they’ve never heard of?

29 O land, land, land!

Listen to the word of the LORD.

30 This is what the LORD says:

Write this about Jehoiakin: He will be childless.

He won’t prosper in his lifetime.

None of his descendants will succeed him as king.

They won’t sit on David’s throne and rule Judah again.

22:24–30   You get rid of the king like you pull off a ring. You toss him to a faraway land. But don’t reject me. Don’t break me even once more. Don’t let me die far from you.

The Righteous Branch

23

1 “How horrible it will be for the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep in my care,” declares the LORD. 2 “This is what I, the LORD God of Israel, said to the shepherds who take care of my people: You have scattered my sheep and chased them away. You have not taken care of them, so now I will take care of you by punishing you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD.

23:1–2   Your shepherds scatter your sheep. How horrible it will be for the shepherds! They didn’t take care of your people, so now you’ll take care of them.

3 “Then I will gather the remaining part of my flock from all the countries where I chased them. I will bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fertile and increase in number. 4 I will put shepherds over them. Those shepherds will take care of them. My sheep will no longer be afraid or terrified, and not one of them will be missing,” declares the LORD.

5 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD,

“when I will grow a righteous branch for David.

He will be a king who will rule wisely.

He will do what is fair and right in the land.

6 In his lifetime, Judah will be saved,

and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name that he will be given:

The LORD is our righteousness.

7 “That is why the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when people’s oaths will no longer be, ‘The LORD brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. As the LORD lives. . . .’ 8 Instead, their oaths will be, ‘The LORD brought the descendants of the nation of Israel out of the land of the north and all the lands where he[19] had scattered them. As the LORD lives. . . .’ At that time they will live in their own land.

23:3–8   One day you’ll gather what’s left of your people and give them good shepherds. Not a lamb will go missing. You’ll give them a king, a branch of David, one who rules wisely.

Warnings to the False Prophets

9 “⌞Say this⌟ about the prophets:

I am deeply disturbed.

All my bones tremble.

I am like a drunk,

like a person who has had too much wine,

because of the LORD and his holy words.

10 The land is filled with adulterers.

The land mourns because of the curse.

Pastures in the wilderness have dried up.

The people are evil,

and they use their strength to do the wrong things.

11 The prophets and priests are godless.

Even in my temple I’ve found them doing evil,” declares the LORD.

12 “That is why their own way will become

like slippery paths in the dark.

They will be chased away, and they will fall down in the dark.

I will bring disaster on them.

It is time for them to be punished,” declares the LORD.

23:9–12   The land overflows with adulterers, and you’ve discovered leaders committing evil in your temple. That’s why you’ll send them slipping in the dark. Keep my feet grounded.

13 “⌞Say this⌟ about the prophets of Samaria:

I saw something disgusting.

The prophets of Samaria prophesied by Baal

and led my people Israel astray.

14 “⌞Say this⌟ about the prophets of Jerusalem:

I see something horrible.

The prophets of Jerusalem commit adultery and live a lie.

They support those who do evil

so that no one turns back from his wickedness.

They are all like Sodom to me,

and those who live in Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

15 This is what the LORD of Armies says about the prophets:

I will give them wormwood to eat and poison to drink.

The prophets of Jerusalem have spread godlessness

throughout the land.

23:13–15   The prophets live a lie and lend support to evildoers. They don’t turn anyone back from sin. Teach me to tell the truth to myself and others.

16 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

Don’t listen to what the prophets are saying to you.

They fill you with false hope.

They speak about visions that they dreamed up.

These visions are not from the LORD.

17 They keep saying to those who despise me,

“The LORD says, ‘Everything will go well for you.’”

They tell all who live by their own stubborn ways,

“Nothing bad will happen to you.”

18 Who is in the LORD’s inner circle

and sees and hears his word?

Who pays attention and listens to his word?

19 The storm of the LORD will come with his anger.

Like a windstorm, it will swirl down on the heads of the wicked.

20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back

until he has done everything he intends to do.

In the last days you will understand this clearly.

21 I didn’t send these prophets,

yet they ran ⌞with their message⌟.

I didn’t speak to them,

yet they prophesied.

22 If they had been in my inner circle,

they would have announced my words to my people.

They would have turned back from their evil ways

and the evil they have done.

23:16–22   The prophets speak false hope. They describe visions straight out of their dreams. Let me into your inner circle. I’ll pay attention to your word and repeat it to everyone.

23 “I am a God who is near.

I am also a God who is far away,” declares the LORD.

24 “No one can hide so that I can’t see him,” declares the LORD.

“I fill heaven and earth!” declares the LORD.

23:23–24   You’re near and far away. You see everyone and everything. You fill heaven and earth.

25 “I’ve heard the prophets who speak lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will these prophets continue to lie and deceive? 27 They tell each other the dreams they had, because they want to make my people forget my name, as their ancestors forgot my name because of Baal. 28 The prophet who has a dream should tell his dream. However, the person who has my word should honestly speak my word. What does grain have to do with straw?” asks the LORD. 29 “Isn’t my word like fire or like a hammer that shatters a rock?” asks the LORD. 30 “I’m against the prophets who steal my words from each other,” declares the LORD. 31 “I’m against the prophets who speak their own thoughts and say that they speak for me. 32 I’m against those who prophesy dreams they made up,” declares the LORD. “They tell the dreams they made up and lead my people astray with their lies and their wild talk. I didn’t send them or command them to go. They don’t help these people at all,” declares the LORD.

23:25–32   The prophets speak lies in your name. And you hear them! You oppose prophets who speak their own thoughts. You fight those who tell made-up dreams.

33 “When these people, the prophets, or the priests ask you, ‘What revelation has the LORD burdened you with now?’ say to them, ‘You are the burden! I will abandon you, declares the LORD.’ 34 Suppose the prophets, the priests, or these people say, ‘This is the LORD’s revelation!’ I will punish them and their families. 35 They should ask their neighbors and their relatives, ‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ and ‘What did the LORD say?’ 36 They should never again say, ‘This is the LORD’s revelation,’ because each person’s word becomes the revelation. They will twist the words of the living God, the LORD of Armies, our God.

23:33–35   The prophets themselves are a burden. You’ll punish them for claiming to speak for you.

37 “Jeremiah, say this to the prophets, ‘What was the LORD’s answer to you?’ and ‘What did the LORD say?’ 38 Suppose they say, ‘This is the LORD’s revelation!’ Then say, ‘This is what the LORD says: Because you have said, “This is the LORD’s revelation!” even though I commanded you not to repeat this saying, 39 I will certainly forget you. I will throw you out of my presence and out of the city that I gave you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring eternal disgrace and shame on you. It will never be forgotten.’”

23:36–40   Every person’s word becomes a revelation. They twist your words, Living God. Help me hear your truth and speak it.

The Two Fig Baskets

24

1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took Jehoiakin[20] (son of King Jehoiakim of Judah), the princes of Judah, the skilled workers, and the builders from Jerusalem into captivity and brought them to Babylon. After this, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs set in front of the LORD’s temple. 2 One basket had very good figs, like figs that ripen first. The other basket had very bad figs. These figs were so bad that they couldn’t be eaten.

3 Then the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

I answered, “Figs. Figs that are very good. I also see figs that are very bad, so bad that they can’t be eaten.”

4 The LORD spoke his word to me, 5 “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: The captives of Judah, whom I sent away from here to Babylon, are like these good figs. I will look kindly on them. 6 I will watch over them for their own good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them the desire to know that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, because they will wholeheartedly come back to me.

24:1–7   You sent captives to Babylon. You watch over some for their own good. You’ll build them up and make them want to know you. They’ll come wholeheartedly back to you.

8 “But this is what the LORD says about the bad figs that are so bad that they can’t be eaten. The LORD says, ‘Like these bad figs, I will abandon King Zedekiah of Judah, his princes, the remaining few in Jerusalem who stayed behind in this land, and those who are living in Egypt. 9 I will make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth. They will be a disgrace and an example. They will become something ridiculed and cursed wherever I scatter them. 10 I will send wars, famines, and plagues until they disappear from the land that I gave to them and their ancestors.’”

24:8–10   You sent captives to Babylon. Some are like figs gone bad. You’ll make them a horrifying sight. Then you’ll make them vanish.

Judgment on Judah and the Nations

25

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah about all the people of Judah when Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was in his fourth year as king. (This was the first year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon.) 2 The prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and to everyone who lived in Jerusalem. He said, 3 “For 23 years, from the time that Josiah, son of Amon, was in his thirteenth year as king of Judah until today, the LORD continued to speak his word to me. So I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.

4 “Even though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you, you haven’t listened or paid attention to them. 5 The prophets said, ‘Turn from your evil ways and the evil you have done, and live in the land that the LORD permanently gave to you and your ancestors. 6 Don’t follow other gods to serve and worship them. Don’t make me furious about the idols your hands have shaped. Then I won’t harm you. 7 But you haven’t listened to me, declares the LORD. You have made me furious about the idols your hands have shaped and ⌞have brought⌟ harm upon yourselves.’

25:1–7   I don’t listen when you speak again and again. I don’t pay attention when you send prophets to teach me. My idols make you furious. I bring harm upon myself.

8 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: You did not listen to my words, 9 so I’m going to send for all the families from the north. I will also send for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, declares the LORD. I will bring the families from the north to attack this land, its people, and all these surrounding nations. I’m going to destroy them and turn them into something terrible, something ridiculed, and something permanently ruined. 10 I will take from them the sounds of joy and happiness, the sounds of brides and grooms, the sound of mills, and the light of lamps. 11 This whole land will be ruined and become a wasteland. These nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.

25:8–11   You make me captive to a foreign king. You let him attack and lead me away. He steals my joy and happiness, my job and home.

12 “When the 70 years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation for their crimes, declares the LORD. I will turn Babylon into a permanent wasteland. 13 I will bring on that land all the disasters I threatened to do to it, everything that Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations, everything written in this book. 14 Many nations and great kings will make slaves of the people of Babylon, and I will pay them back for what they have done.”

25:12–14   You punish those who punish me. Sooner or later you bring disaster on anyone who sins.

15 This is what the LORD God of Israel said to me: Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my fury, and make all the nations to whom I’m sending you drink from it. 16 When they drink from it, they will stagger and go insane because of the wars that I’m going to send them.

17 So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand. I made all the nations to whom the LORD sent me drink from it: 18 Jerusalem and the cities of Judah as well as its kings and officials. When they drank from it, they became wastelands and ruins, something ridiculed and cursed, until today.

19 ⌞I also made these people drink from it:⌟ Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, officials, all his people, 20 and all the foreign people living among them; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of Philistia, those from the cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron, and the people left in Ashdod; 21 Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon; 22 all the kings of Tyre and Sidon, and the kings on the seacoast; 23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who shave the hair on their foreheads; 24 all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the foreign people living in the desert; 25 all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media; 26 all the kings of the north, near and far, one after another—all the kingdoms of the earth. Last of all, the king of Sheshach will drink from the cup.

27 ⌞The LORD said,⌟ “Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk, vomit, fall down, and don’t get up because of the wars that I’m going to send you.’ 28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink from it, say to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: You must drink from it! 29 I am going to bring disaster on the city that is named after me. Do you think you’ll go unpunished? You will not go unpunished! I’m declaring war on all those who live on earth, declares the LORD of Armies.’

25:15–29   When I drink the wine of your fury, I stagger and go insane. I drink, get drunk, vomit, and fall. I can’t get up. You won’t let me refuse your cup.

30 “That is why you will prophesy all these things to them and say,

‘The LORD roars from above.

He thunders from his holy dwelling place.

He roars against his land.

He shouts like those who stomp grapes.

He shouts against all those who live on earth.

31 The sound is echoing to the ends of the earth

because the LORD has brought charges against the nations.

He will judge all humans.

He will kill the wicked, declares the LORD.’

32 “This is what the LORD of Armies says:

Disaster is spreading from nation to nation.

A great storm is brewing from the distant corners of the earth.”

25:30–32   You roar from above. You thunder from your holy home. You shout charges against all humans. You promise to kill the wicked.

33 On that day those killed by the LORD will stretch from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, taken away, or buried. They will become like manure on the ground.

34 Mourn, you shepherds, and cry.

Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.

The time has come for you to be slaughtered.

The time has come for you to be scattered,

and you will break like fine pottery.

35 There will be no place for the shepherds to flee,

no escape for the leaders of the flock.

36 The shepherds are crying

and the leaders of the flock are mourning

because the LORD is stripping their pasture.

37 The peaceful pastures are destroyed by the LORD’s burning anger.

38 He has left his lair like a lion.

Their land has been ruined

because of the heat of the oppressor,

because of the fury of his anger.

25:33–38   On your judgment day the dead will stretch from one end of the earth to another. There will be too many to mourn. The time has come for leaders to be slaughtered. There will be no escape.

Jeremiah Is Arrested

26

1 The LORD spoke his word when Judah’s King Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, began to rule. He said, 2 “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s temple, and speak to all the people who come from the cities of Judah to worship in the LORD’s temple. Tell them everything that I command you to tell them. Don’t leave out a single word. 3 Maybe they’ll listen, and they’ll turn from their evil ways. Then I’ll change my plan about the disaster I intend to bring on them because of the evil they have done.”

4 The LORD added, “Also say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: Suppose you don’t listen to me and don’t follow my teachings that I set in front of you. 5 Suppose you don’t listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent to you again and again, even though you didn’t listen. 6 Then I will do to this temple what I did to Shiloh. I will turn this city into something that will be cursed by all the nations on earth.’”

7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these things in the LORD’s temple. 8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished saying everything that the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets, and all the people grabbed him and said, “You must die! 9 Why do you prophesy in the LORD’s name that this temple will be like Shiloh and this city will become a pile of rubble with no one living here?” Then all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the LORD’s temple.

26:1–9   You sent Jeremiah to speak in your temple. He didn’t leave out a single word. But the crowds said he must die. Are you watching this? Are you going to let him be lynched?

10 When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went from the king’s palace to the LORD’s temple. They sat at the entrance of New Gate to the LORD’s ⌞temple⌟. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man is condemned to die because he prophesied against this city as you yourselves have heard.”

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy everything that you have heard me say against this temple and against this city. 13 Now, change your ways and what you are doing, and listen to the LORD your God. Then the LORD will change his plan about the disaster that he intends to bring on you.

14 “My life is in your hands. Do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 But know for certain that if you put me to death, you, this city, and the people living in it will be guilty of killing an innocent person. The LORD has certainly sent me to speak all these things to you.”

26:10–14   Jeremiah defended your message. He begged the people to change their ways. And he was willing to die for your words.

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man should not be condemned to die. He has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

17 Then some of the leaders in the land got up and said to the entire crowd, 18 “Micah from Moresheth prophesied at the time of Judah’s King Hezekiah and said to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says:

Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a pile of rubble,

and the temple mountain will become a worship site

covered with trees.’

19 Did Judah’s King Hezekiah and all the people of Judah put Micah to death? No! Hezekiah feared the LORD and sought the LORD’s favor. So the LORD changed his plan about the disaster he intended to bring on them. But we are about to bring a bigger disaster on ourselves.”

20 There was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD. His name was Uriah, son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath Jearim. He prophesied against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim and all his personal troops and officials heard what Uriah said, the king wanted to put him to death. But Uriah heard about it and fled in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim sent soldiers to Egypt: Elnathan (son of Achbor) and other soldiers along with him. 23 They brought Uriah from Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim. The king executed Uriah and threw his body into the burial ground for the common people. 24 Ahikam, son of Shaphan, supported Jeremiah. So Jeremiah was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

26:15–24   I willingly accept your message. I fear you and heed your harsh words. You don’t need to send disasters to scare sense into me.

The Yoke of Babylon Will Be on Judah

27

1 When Zedekiah, son of King Josiah of Judah, began to rule, the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah.

2 This is what the LORD said to me: Make ⌞leather⌟ straps and a wooden yoke,[21] and strap the yoke on your neck. 3 Then send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon, with messengers who have come to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem. 4 Give them an order for their masters: “This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Say this to your masters, 5 ‘I used my great strength and my powerful arm to make the earth along with the people and the animals on it. I give it to anyone I please. 6 Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him. 7 All nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until Babylon is defeated. Then many nations and great kings will make him their slave.

8 “‘Suppose nations or kingdoms won’t serve or surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will punish those nations by wars, famines, and plagues, until I have put an end to them by Nebuchadnezzar’s power, declares the LORD. 9 Don’t listen to prophets, mediums, interpreters of dreams, fortunetellers, or sorcerers who tell you that you’ll never serve the king of Babylon. 10 They are prophesying lies to you. They will cause you to be taken far from your lands. I’ll scatter you, and you will die. 11 But suppose a nation surrenders to the king of Babylon and serves him. I will let it stay in its own land. People will farm the land and live on it,’” declares the LORD.

12 I spoke the same message to King Zedekiah of Judah, “Surrender to the king of Babylon, serve him and his people, and you will stay alive. 13 Why should you and your people die in wars, famines, and plagues? The LORD has threatened the nations that don’t serve the king of Babylon. 14 Don’t listen to the prophets who tell you that you’ll never serve the king of Babylon. They are prophesying lies to you. 15 I didn’t send them, declares the LORD. They prophesy lies in my name. So I will scatter you, and you and the prophets will die.”

16 I also spoke this message to the priests and all the people. “This is what the LORD said to me: Don’t listen to the prophets who tell you that the utensils of the LORD’s temple will be brought back from Babylon soon. They are prophesying lies to you. 17 Don’t listen to them. Instead, serve the king of Babylon, and live. Why should this city be turned into rubble? 18 If they are prophets and the LORD is speaking to them, they should beg the LORD of Armies not to allow the utensils that are left in the LORD’s temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem to be taken away to Babylon.

27:1–18   You used your great strength to make the earth and all people. You give power to anyone you please. You send sinners into slavery, but you let the obedient survive.

19–20 “Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakin,[22] son of King Jehoiakim of Judah, into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. But he didn’t take the pillars, the bronze pool, the stands, and the rest of the utensils that are left in this city. 21 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says about the utensils that are left in the LORD’s temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem: 22 They will be taken to Babylon and stay there until I come for them, declares the LORD. I will take them from there and bring them back to this place.”

27:19–22   You sent your people as prisoners to a faraway land. They stayed there until you came to get them. You always keep your word.

Hananiah’s False Prophecy

28

1 In that same year, early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the fifth month of his fourth year as king, the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon, spoke to me in the LORD’s temple. He said to me in front of the priests and all the people, 2 “This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will break the yoke[23] of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back all the utensils of the LORD’s temple that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took from this place and carried off to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiakin, son of King Jehoiakim of Judah, and all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon, declares the LORD. So I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

5 The prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all the people standing in the LORD’s temple. 6 He said, “Amen! May the LORD do this! May the LORD make your prophecy come true and bring back the utensils of the LORD’s temple and all the captives from Babylon to this place. 7 But now listen to this message that I am speaking to you and to all the people: 8 Long ago, the prophets who preceded you and me prophesied wars, disasters, and plagues against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 But the prophet who prophesied peace was recognized as a prophet that the LORD sent only if the message of the prophet came true.”

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it. 11 Hananiah said in front of all the people, “This is what the LORD says: In the same way, I will break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.” Then the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.

12 After the prophet Hananiah broke the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 13 “Tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the LORD says: You have broken the wooden yoke, but I[24] will replace it with an iron yoke. 14 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations so that they will serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will serve him! I will even make wild animals serve him.’”

15 Then Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, “Now listen, Hananiah, the LORD hasn’t sent you. You have made these people believe a lie. 16 This is what the LORD says: I’m going to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have encouraged rebellion against the LORD.”

17 So the prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that year.

28:1–17   A prophet is from you only if his message comes true. Prove your words to me. I won’t clamor for peace when your truth is hard.

Jeremiah Writes to the Captives in Babylon

29

1 The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter from Jerusalem to the rest of the leaders among the captives. He also sent it to the priests, the prophets, and all the people that Nebuchadnezzar took away as captives from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiakin[25] and his mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and metal workers left Jerusalem.) 3 He sent the letter with Shaphan’s son Elasah and Hilkiah’s son Gemariah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah had sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. The letter said:

4 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all those who were taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses, and live in them. Plant gardens, and eat what they produce. 6 Get married, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons, and let your daughters get married so that they can have sons and daughters. Grow in number there; don’t decrease. 7 Work for the good of the city where I’ve taken you as captives, and pray to the LORD for that city. When it prospers, you will also prosper.

8 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Don’t let the prophets or the mediums who are among you trick you. Don’t even listen to your own dreams. 9 These people are prophesying lies to you in my name. I didn’t send them, declares the LORD.

29:1–9   I’ll be at peace where you put me. I’ll stake my future on you and settle down. I’ll have children and work for the good of my community.

10 This is what the LORD says: When Babylon’s 70 years are over, I will come to you. I will keep my promise to you and bring you back to this place. 11 I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. 12 Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, 14 I will let you find me, declares the LORD. I will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I’ve scattered you, declares the LORD. I will bring you back from the place where you are being held captive.

29:10–14   I’ve heard the plans you have for me—plans for peace and not disaster, for a future filled with hope. When I pray you’ll hear me. When I wholeheartedly seek you, I’ll find you. You’ll bring me back from captivity.

15 You’ve said that the LORD has given you prophets in Babylon. 16 But this is what the LORD says about the king who sits on David’s throne and about all the people who live in this city, the people who are your relatives and who weren’t taken away as captives: 17 The LORD of Armies says: I’m going to send them wars, famines, and plagues. These people are like rotten figs to me, figs that are so bad that they can’t be eaten. 18 I will chase them with wars, famines, and plagues. I will make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms on the earth. They will become something cursed, ridiculed, and hissed at, and they will be a disgrace among all the nations where I scatter them. 19 They didn’t listen to me, declares the LORD. I sent them my servants the prophets again and again, but they refused to listen, declares the LORD.

20 So listen to the word of the LORD, all you captives who were sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.

21 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says about Kolaiah’s son Ahab and about Maaseiah’s son Zedekiah, who prophesy lies to you in my name: I’m going to hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will kill them as you watch. 22 Because of them, all the captives from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: May the LORD curse you as he cursed Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned to death. 23 They have done shameful things in Israel. They committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and spoke lies in my name. I didn’t command them to do this. I know what they have done. I’m a witness, declares the LORD.

29:15–23   When people run from your will, you chase them down with wars, famines, and plagues. They stubbornly refuse your word. They need to listen.

24 ⌞The LORD says,⌟ “Say to Shemaiah from Nehelam, 25 ‘This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. These letters said: 26 The LORD made you priest instead of Jehoiada so that there would be officials for the LORD’s temple. You should put any lunatic who acts like a prophet in prison and in shackles. 27 Now, why haven’t you arrested Jeremiah from Anathoth? After all, he acts like a prophet among you. 28 That’s why Jeremiah sent this message to us in Babylon: You will be captives a long time. Build houses, and live in them. Plant gardens, and eat what they produce.’”

29 The priest Zephaniah read this letter to the prophet Jeremiah.

30 Then the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 31 “Send this message to all the captives: ‘This is what the LORD says about Shemaiah from Nehelam: Shemaiah prophesied to you, but I didn’t send him. He has made you believe a lie. 32 The LORD says: I will punish Shemaiah from Nehelam. I will also punish his descendants. No one from his family will be left alive. He will not see the blessings that I’m going to send my people, declares the LORD, because he has encouraged rebellion against the LORD.’”

29:24–32   Everyone thinks your prophets are lunatics fit to be imprisoned and shackled. Defend your speakers of truth.

Israel’s Glorious Future

30

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Write in a book everything that I tell you. 3 The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity. I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it.”

30:1–3   You declare your intent to rescue your people from captivity. You’ll bring them back to the land you promised to Abraham. You know your plans from beginning to end!

4 This is the message that the LORD spoke about Israel and Judah: 5 “This is what the LORD says:

“We hear cries of fear, cries of panic, not cries of peace.

6 Ask now, and see: Can a man give birth to a child?

Why, then, do I see every strong man holding his stomach in pain

like a woman giving birth to a child?

Why has every face turned pale?

7 How terrible that day will be!

There will be no other day like it.

It will be a time of calamity for the descendants of Jacob,

but they will be rescued from it.

8 “On that day,” declares the LORD of Armies, “I will break the yokes[26] off your necks and tear off your ropes. Foreigners will no longer make you serve them. 9 You will serve the LORD your God and David your king. I will establish him for you.

10 “Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,” declares the LORD.

Don’t be terrified, Israel.

I’m going to rescue you from a faraway place.

I’m going to rescue your descendants from where they are captives.

The descendants of Jacob will again have peace and security,

and no one will frighten them.

11 I am with you, and I will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

“I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you,

but I will not completely destroy you.

I will correct you with justice.

I won’t let you go entirely unpunished.

30:8–11   You break yokes and tear off ropes. You free slaves so they can serve you. I have no reason for terror. You’ll be with me and rescue me.

12 “This is what the LORD says:

Your wound is incurable.

Your injury is beyond healing.

13 No one argues that you should be healed.

No medicine will heal you.

14 All your lovers have forgotten you,

and they don’t want you anymore.

I’ve punished you as an enemy would.

I’ve corrected you as a cruel person would.

You are very wicked, and you have many sins.

15 Why do you cry about your wound, your injury that can’t be cured?

I’ve done this to you.

You are very wicked, and you have many sins.

16 That is why everyone who devours you will be devoured,

and all your enemies will be taken away as captives.

Those who looted you will be looted.

Those who stole from you in war will have things stolen from them.

17 I’ll restore your health and heal your wounds,” declares the LORD.

“People call you an outcast:

Zion, no one cares for you.

30:12–17   My wound is incurable, my injury beyond healing. You’ve done this to me for my sins. But you’ll heal me. I’ll be an outcast no more.

18 “This is what the LORD says:

I’m going to bring the captives back to Jacob’s tents

and show compassion on their homes.

Cities will be built on the ruins,

and fortified palaces will be built in their rightful place.

19 The people who live there will sing songs of praise,

and the sound of laughter will be heard from there.

I’ll make them numerous, and their number won’t decrease.

I’ll bring them honor, and they won’t be considered unimportant.

20 Their children will be like they were long ago.

Their community will be established in my presence,

and I will punish everyone who oppresses them.

21 Their leader will be someone from their own people.

Their ruler will come from among them.

I’ll bring him near, and he will come close to me.

Who would dare to come near me?” asks the LORD.

22 You will be my people, and I will be your God.

23 The storm of the LORD will come with his anger.

Like a driving wind, it will swirl down on the heads of the wicked.

24 The LORD’s burning anger will not turn back

until he has done everything he intends to do.

In the last days you will understand this clearly.

30:18–24   You’ll bring me back from captivity. I’ll sing and laugh once again. Rebuild my family. Put me in a community that lives in your presence. Give us a leader who lives close to you.

Both Israel and Judah Will Be Rescued

31

1 “At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

2 This is what the LORD says:

The people who survived the wars have found favor in the desert.

Israel went to find its rest.

3 The LORD appeared to me in a faraway place and said,

“I love you with an everlasting love.

So I will continue to show you my kindness.

4 Once again I will build you up,

and you will be rebuilt, my dear people Israel.

Once again you will take your tambourines,

and you will go dancing with happy people.

5 Once again you will plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria.

Those who plant them will enjoy the fruit.

6 There will be a day when watchmen on the mountains of Ephraim

will call out this message:

‘Arise! Let’s go to Zion, to the LORD our God.’”

31:1–6   Be the God of my family, and we’ll be your people. Your love for me lasts forever, so I can count on you to keep showing me kindness. I’ll do a happy dance.

7 This is what the LORD says:

Sing a happy song about Jacob.

Sing joyfully for the leader of the nations.

Shout, sing praise, and say,

“O LORD, rescue your people, the remaining few from Israel.”

8 “I will bring them from the land of the north.

I will gather them from the farthest parts of the earth.

Blind people and lame people will return

together with pregnant women and those in labor.

A large crowd will return here.

9 They will cry as they return.

They will pray as I bring them back.

I will lead them beside streams

on a level path where they will not stumble.

I will be a Father to Israel,

and Ephraim will be my firstborn.

31:7–9   You’ll bring all of us back from distant places. We’ll cry and pray as we return to you. Lead us beside life-giving streams. Put us on paths that won’t trip us up.

10 “You nations, listen to the word of the LORD.

Tell it to the distant islands.

Say, ‘The one who scattered the people of Israel will gather them

and watch over them as a shepherd watches over his flock.’

11 The LORD will free the descendants of Jacob

and reclaim them from those who are stronger than they are.

12 They will come and shout for joy on top of Mount Zion.

They will stream to it to enjoy the LORD’s blessings:

fresh grain, new wine, and olive oil, lambs and calves.

Their lives will be like well-watered gardens,

and they will never suffer again.

13 Then young women will rejoice and dance

along with young men and old men.

I will turn their mourning into joy.

I will comfort them.

I will give them joy in place of their sorrow.

14 I will satisfy the priests with rich food.

My people will be filled with my blessings,” declares the LORD.

31:10–14   Gather us. Guard us like a watchful shepherd. Make us well-watered gardens and replace our sorrows with joy.

15 This is what the LORD says:

A sound is heard in Ramah,

the sound of crying in bitter grief.

Rachel is crying for her children.

She refuses to be comforted,

because they are dead.

16 This is what the LORD says:

Stop your crying, and wipe away your tears.

You will be rewarded for your work, declares the LORD.

You will return from the land of the enemy.

17 Your future is filled with hope, declares the LORD.

Your children will return to their own territory.

18 “I have certainly heard Ephraim mourn and say,

‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined.

I was like a young, untrained calf.

Turn me, and I will be turned,

because you are the LORD my God.

19 After I was turned around, I changed the way I thought and acted.

After I was taught a lesson, I hung my head in shame.

I was so ashamed and humiliated,

because of all the stupid things I have done

ever since I was young.’

31:15–19   You quiet me when you hear my crying. You see my tears and wipe them away. O Lord my God, you turned me around. I changed the way I thought and acted. I’m embarrassed at all the stupid things I’ve done.

20 Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child?

Even though I have often spoken against him, I still think fondly of him.

That is why my heart longs for him,

and I will certainly have compassion on him,” declares the LORD.

21 Set up landmarks!

Put up road signs!

Remember the highway, the road on which you traveled.

Come back, my dear people Israel, come back to your cities.

22 How long will you wander around, you unfaithful people?

The LORD will create something new on earth:

A woman will protect a man.

23 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: When I have brought them back from captivity, they will once again use this saying in Judah and in its cities:

“The LORD bless you, home of righteousness, holy mountain.

24 Judah and all its cities will live there together.

Farmers and shepherds will also live there.

25 I will give those who are weary all they need.

I will refresh everyone who is filled with sorrow.”

26 At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant.

31:21–26   You show the way home, so I won’t wander any more. You bless me anew and give me pleasant sleep.

27 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will plant the nations of Israel and Judah with people and animals. 28 Once I watched over them to uproot them, to tear them down, and to wreck, ruin, and hurt them. Now I will watch over them to build them up and to plant them,” declares the LORD. 29 “When those days come, people will no longer say, ‘Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge.’ 30 But each person will die for his own sin. Whoever eats sour grapes will have his own teeth set on edge.

31:27–30   You’re the Lord of fairness and justice. Children won’t die for their parents’ sins. Each of us is accountable to you.

The New Promise

31 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new promise[27] to Israel and Judah. 32 It will not be like the promise that I made to their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They rejected that promise, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the promise that I will make to Israel after those days,” declares the LORD: “I will put my teachings inside them, and I will write those teachings on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying, ‘Know the LORD.’ All of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” declares the LORD, “because I will forgive their wickedness and I will no longer hold their sins against them.”

31:31–34   Keep your promise to put your teachings inside me. Etch them on my heart and be my God. No one needs to remind me to follow you. I’m already walking with you.

35 The LORD provides the sun to be a light during the day.

He orders the moon and stars to be lights during the night.

He stirs up the sea so that its waves roar.

His name is the LORD of Armies.

This is what the LORD says:

36 Only if these laws stop working, declares the LORD,

will Israel’s descendants stop being a nation in my presence.

37 This is what the LORD says:

Only if the heavens could be measured

or the foundations of the earth could be searched,

would I ever reject all of Israel’s descendants

because of everything that they have done, declares the LORD.

38 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to Corner Gate. 39 A measuring line will stretch from there straight to the Hill of Gareb, and then it will turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley, filled with its dead bodies and ashes, and the whole area to the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of Horse Gate in the east, will be holy to the LORD. It will never be uprooted or torn down again.”

31:35–40   You cause the sun to shine and the moon to glow. You’ll let me live in your presence as long as stars light the sky.

Jeremiah Buys a Field

32

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah during Zedekiah’s tenth year as king of Judah. (This was Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year as king.) 2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was blockading Jerusalem.

The prophet Jeremiah was locked up in the courtyard of the prison. This prison was in the palace of the king of Judah. 3 When King Zedekiah of Judah locked up Jeremiah, Zedekiah asked him, “Why are you prophesying? You are saying, ‘This is what the LORD says: I’m going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 4 King Zedekiah of Judah will not escape from the Babylonians. He will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon. He will talk to Nebuchadnezzar in person and look him in the eye. 5 Nebuchadnezzar will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and Zedekiah will stay there until I deal with him, declares the LORD. When you fight the Babylonians, you won’t win.’”

6 Jeremiah said, “The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 7 ‘Jeremiah, your cousin Hanamel, son of Shallum, is going to come to you and say, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth, because as the closest relative it is your responsibility to buy it.” ’

8 “Then, as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the prison. He said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. It is your responsibility to purchase it, because the rights of the closest relative belong to you. Buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that the LORD had spoken to me.

9 “So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and gave him the money. The field cost seven ounces of silver. 10 I signed the deed, sealed it, had people witness the signing of the deed, and paid out the silver. 11 Then I took the sealed copy of the deed, containing the terms and conditions, as well as an unsealed copy. 12 I gave the copies of the deeds to Baruch, son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I did this in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and the witnesses who had signed the deed and in the presence of all the Jews who were sitting in the courtyard of the prison. 13 Then I gave Baruch these orders: 14 ‘This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Take both of these documents, both the sealed and the unsealed copies of the deed. Put them in a clay jar so that they will last a long time. 15 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: My people will again buy houses, fields, and vineyards in this land.’

32:1–15   Your discipline doesn’t last forever. After you send me away, you bring me back to true life. I cling to every one of your promises.

16 “After I had given the copies to Baruch, son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD. I prayed, 17 ‘Almighty LORD, you made heaven and earth by your great strength and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show mercy to thousands of generations. However, you punish children for the wickedness of their parents. You, God, are great and mighty. Your name is the LORD of Armies. 19 You make wise plans and do mighty things. You see everything the descendants of Adam do. You reward them for the way they live and for what they do. 20 You performed miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt. To this day you are still doing them in Israel. You made a name for yourself that continues to this day. 21 You brought your people from Egypt with miraculous signs and amazing things, with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and with great terror. 22 You gave them the land that you swore with an oath to give their ancestors, the land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They entered and took possession of it. However, they refused to obey you or to follow your teachings. They didn’t do anything you commanded them to do, so you brought all this disaster on them.

32:16–18   You’re the Almighty Lord. By your great strength you made heaven and earth. Nothing is too hard for you!

32:19–23   Show mercy to thousands of generations. Make more of your wise plans and keep doing amazing things!

24 “‘See how the dirt ramps have been built up around the city to capture it! Because of wars, famines, and plagues, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you have threatened to do has happened, as you can see. 25 Yet you, Almighty LORD, told me to buy a field with money and get witnesses to confirm it, although the city was handed over to the Babylonians.’”

26 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 27 “I am the LORD God of all humanity. Nothing is too hard for me. 28 This is what the LORD says: I’m going to hand this city over to the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will capture it.

29 “The Babylonians who are attacking this city will break in, set this city on fire, and burn it down. They will burn down the houses of people who made me furious by going up to the roofs to burn incense to Baal and to pour out wine offerings to other gods. 30 Ever since they were young, the people of Israel and Judah have done what I consider evil. The people of Israel have made me furious by what they’ve done,” declares the LORD. 31 “The people in this city have made me so angry and furious from the day they built it to this day. So now I must remove this city from my presence.

32 “The people of Israel and Judah have made me furious because they are evil. The people, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, and the Judeans and those who live in Jerusalem 33 have turned their backs, not their faces to me. I taught them again and again, but they refused to listen and learn. 34 They set up their detestable idols in the temple that is called by my name, and they dishonored it. 35 In the valley of Ben Hinnom they built worship sites for Baal to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I didn’t ask them to do this. It never entered my mind. I didn’t make Judah sin.

36 “You have said this about the city, ‘Because of wars, famines, and plagues it will be handed over to the king of Babylon.’ Now this is what the LORD God of Israel says: 37 I am going to gather the people from all the lands where I scattered them in my anger, fury, and terrifying wrath. I will bring them back to this place and make them live here securely. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them the same attitude and the same purpose so that they will fear me as long as they live. This will be for their own good and for the good of their children. 40 I will make an eternal promise[28] to them that I will never stop blessing them. I will make them fear me so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will enjoy blessing them. With all my heart and soul I will faithfully plant them in this land.

42 “This is what the LORD says: As I brought all these disasters on these people, so I will bring on them all these blessings that I have promised them. 43 You have said that this land is a wasteland, without people or animals living in it. You have also said that it has been handed over to the Babylonians. But people will once again buy fields in this land. 44 They will buy fields for money, sign deeds, seal them, and have people witness the signing of the deeds. This will happen in the territory of Benjamin, in the region of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities on the mountains, in the hill country, and in the Negev because I will bring them back from their captivity,” declares the LORD.

32:24–44   I see your threats coming to pass. Sin hurls people from your presence, but your promises bring them back. Keep your everlasting promise to work for my good. Enjoy blessing me!

The LORD Will Restore and Heal Judah

33

1 While Jeremiah was still being held in the courtyard of the prison, the LORD spoke his word to him a second time. The LORD said, 2 “I made ⌞the earth⌟, formed it, and set it in place. My name is the LORD. This is what the LORD says: 3 Call to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things that you do not know. 4 The houses in this city and the palaces of the kings of Judah have been torn down to be used against the dirt ramps and weapons of the Babylonians. This is what the LORD God of Israel says about this: 5 The people of Israel fought the Babylonians. Now their houses are filled with the bodies of their own people I killed in my anger and my fury. I will hide my face from this city because of its wickedness.

33:1–5   You made the earth and set it in place. You answer when I call to you. You show me great and mysterious things I don’t know.

6 “But I will heal this city and restore it to health. I will heal its people, and I will give them peace and security. 7 I will restore Judah and Israel and rebuild them as they were before. 8 I will cleanse them from all the sins that they have committed against me. I will forgive them for all the sins that they have committed against me and for rebelling against me. 9 Then Jerusalem will be my source of joy, praise, and honor. All the nations on earth will hear about all the blessings that I will give to Jerusalem. They will be afraid and tremble because of all the prosperity that I will provide for it.

33:6–9   Heal and secure me. Rebuild me better than I’ve ever been. Cleanse and forgive me so I can be your source of joy, praise, and honor.

10 “This is what the LORD says: You have said that this place is ruined and that no people or animals live in it. It’s true! The cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are deserted. No people or animals live there. But once again you will hear 11 the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms. You will hear those who bring thank offerings to the LORD’s temple say,

‘Give thanks to the LORD of Armies because the LORD is good,

because his mercy endures forever.’

I will restore the fortunes of the land to what they were before,” says the LORD.

12 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: In this deserted place, where no people or animals live, and in all its cities, there will once again be pastures where shepherds can rest their flocks. 13 In the cities on the mountains, in the foothills, in the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the area around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shepherds will once again count their sheep,” says the LORD.

33:10–13   Put joy and happiness back in my life. Then I’ll give thanks to you for your goodness. Your mercy lasts forever.

14 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will keep the promise that I made to Israel and Judah. 15 In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous branch to spring up for David. He will do what is fair and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live securely. Jerusalem will be called The LORD Our Righteousness.

17 “This what the LORD says: David will never fail to have a descendant sitting on the throne of Israel. 18 The Levitical priests will never fail to have a descendant in my presence to sacrifice burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to prepare daily sacrifices.”

33:14–18   Let your righteous ruler spring up from King David’s line. Let him do what’s fair and right. Let him reign forever!

19 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 20 “This is what the LORD says: Suppose you could break my arrangement[29] with day and night so that they wouldn’t come at their proper time. 21 Then my arrangement with my servant David could be broken, and he would not have a descendant to rule on his throne. The arrangement with my servants the Levitical priests could also be broken. 22 I will multiply the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who serve me like the stars of heaven that cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore that cannot be measured.”

23 Then the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 24 “Haven’t you noticed what these people have said? They have said that the LORD has rejected the two families he has chosen. They despise my people, and they no longer consider them a nation.

25 “This is what the LORD says: Suppose I hadn’t made an arrangement with day and night or made laws for heaven and earth. 26 Then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and of my servant David. I would not let any of David’s descendants rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, I will restore their fortunes and love them.”

33:19–26   Your promise to David can’t be broken, any more than day and night won’t show up on time. Don’t reject the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Restore their fortunes. Love them.

King Zedekiah and the People Break Their Promise

34

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his entire army, and all the kingdoms and people that he ruled were attacking Jerusalem and all its cities. He said, 2 “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Go to King Zedekiah of Judah, and tell him, ‘The LORD says: I’m going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. 3 You will not escape from him. You will certainly be captured and handed over to him. You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he will talk to you face to face. Then you will go to Babylon.

4 “‘Listen to the word of the LORD, King Zedekiah of Judah. This is what the LORD says about you: You will not die in war. 5 You will die peacefully. People will burn ⌞funeral⌟ fires for you as they did for your ancestors, the kings who lived before you. They will say, “Oh, master,” as they mourn for you. I have spoken my word, declares the LORD.’”

6 The prophet Jeremiah told all these things to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem. 7 He did this when the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities of Judah that were left.

8 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah after King Zedekiah and all the people in Jerusalem promised to free their slaves. 9 Everyone was supposed to free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female. No one was supposed to keep another Jew as a slave. 10 All the officials and all the people agreed and promised to free their male and female slaves and not to keep them as slaves anymore. So they set them free. 11 But afterwards, they changed their minds and took back the men and women they had freed and made them their slaves again.

34:1–11   You swore you would hand your holy city to Nebuchadnezzar. You promised Zedekiah he’d die in peace. You keep your word, but I fail to keep mine. Teach me to say what I mean and mean what I say.

12 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 13 “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I put a condition on the promise[30] I made to your ancestors when I brought them from Egypt, where they were slaves. I said, 14 ‘Every seven years each of you must free any Hebrews who sold themselves to you. When they have served you for six years, you must set them free.’ But your ancestors refused to obey me or listen to me. 15 Recently, you changed and did what I consider right. You agreed to free your neighbors, and you made a promise in my presence, in the temple that is called by my name. 16 Now you have changed again and dishonored me. You brought back the male and female slaves that you had set free to live their own lives. You have forced them to be your male and female slaves again.

17 “This is what the LORD says: You didn’t obey me. You haven’t freed your relatives and neighbors. Now I am going to free you,” declares the LORD. “I will free you to die in wars, plagues, and famines. I will make all the kingdoms of the world horrified at the thought of you. 18 I will hand over the people who have rejected my promise. They have not kept the terms of the promise which they made in my presence when they cut a calf in two and passed between its pieces. 19 I will hand over the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the palace officials, the priests, and all the common people who passed between the pieces of the calf. 20 I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them, and their corpses will be food for birds and wild animals. 21 I will hand King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials over to their enemies who want to kill them and to the army of the king of Babylon, the army that has withdrawn from you. 22 I am going to give a command,” declares the LORD. “I will bring that army back to this city to attack it, capture it, and burn it down. I will destroy the cities of Judah so that no one will live there.”

34:12–22   Your people scoffed at the promise you made to their ancestors. They went back on their own pledge. You reject all who snub your promise.

The Obedient Example of the Family of Rechab

35

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah during the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah. He said, 2 “Go to the family of Rechab and talk to them. Take them into one of the side rooms in the LORD’s temple, and offer them a drink of wine.”

3 I took Jaazaniah, who was the son of Jeremiah and the grandson of Habazziniah, and I took Jaazaniah’s brothers and all his sons—the whole family of Rechab. 4 I brought them into the LORD’s temple, into the side room of the sons of Hanan. (He was Igdaliah’s son, the man of God.) It was next to the room of the officials and above the side room of Maaseiah, Shallum’s son, the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set cups and pitchers filled with wine in front of the family of Rechab. I said to them, “Drink some wine.”

6 They answered, “We don’t drink wine, because our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab’s son, gave us this order: ‘You and your descendants must never drink wine. 7 Never build any houses or plant any fields or vineyards. You must never have any of these things. You must always live in tents so that you may live for a long time in the land where you are staying.’ 8 We, along with our wives, sons, and daughters, have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab’s son, in everything he ordered us to do. We have never drunk wine, 9 built houses to live in, or owned vineyards, pastures, or grainfields. 10 We live in tents, and we have obeyed everything our ancestor Jonadab ordered us to do. 11 But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded this land, we said, ‘Let’s go to Jerusalem ⌞to escape⌟ the Babylonian and Aramean armies.’ That’s why we are living in Jerusalem.”

12 Then the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 13 “This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Tell the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem, ‘Won’t you ever learn your lesson and obey my words? declares the LORD. 14 Jonadab, Rechab’s son, ordered his descendants not to drink wine. This order has been carried out. His descendants have not drunk any wine to this day, because they have obeyed their ancestor’s order. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have refused to listen to me. 15 I have sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again. They said, “Turn from your evil ways, do what is right, and don’t follow other gods in order to serve them. Then you will live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors.” However, you refused to listen to me or obey me. 16 The descendants of Jonadab, Rechab’s son, have carried out the orders of their ancestor, but you refuse to listen to me.

17 “‘This is what the LORD God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring on Judah and on all those who live in Jerusalem all the disasters that I threatened. I have spoken to them, but they didn’t listen. I called to them, but they didn’t answer.’”

18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of Rechab, “This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You obeyed the order of your ancestor Jonadab, followed all his instructions, and did exactly what he told you to do. 19 So this is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: A descendant of Jonadab, Rechab’s son, will always serve me.”

35:1–19   Jonadab’s family carried out the will of a long-dead ancestor, but your people refused to hear the living God. Speak to me, and I’ll listen. Call to me, and I’ll answer.

Jeremiah’s Prophecies Are Written, Read, and Burned

36

1 In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Take a scroll, and write on it everything that I have dictated to you about Israel, Judah, and all the other nations from the time I spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. 3 Maybe the nation of Judah will hear about all the disasters that I plan to bring on them, and they will turn from their wicked ways. Then I will forgive their wickedness and their sins.”

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch, son of Neriah. Jeremiah dictated everything that the LORD had told him, and Baruch wrote it all down on a scroll. 5 Jeremiah told Baruch, “I’m no longer allowed to go to the LORD’s temple. 6 On a day of fasting, you must read from the scroll the LORD’s message that you wrote as I dictated. You must read it to the people in the LORD’s temple. You must also read it to all the people of Judah when they come from their cities. 7 Maybe their prayers will come into the LORD’s presence, and they will turn from their evil ways. The LORD has threatened these people with his terrifying anger and fury.”

8 Baruch, son of Neriah, did as the prophet Jeremiah commanded him. In the LORD’s temple he read from the scroll everything that the LORD had said. 9 In the ninth month of the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, a time for fasting was called. It was a time for all the people in Jerusalem and for everyone who was coming from any city in Judah to Jerusalem to fast in the LORD’s presence. 10 Then Baruch read the scroll containing the words of Jeremiah. Baruch read it to all the people in the LORD’s temple in the room of the scribe Gemariah, son of Shaphan, in the upper courtyard at the entrance of New Gate of the LORD’s temple.

11 Micaiah, who was the son of Gemariah and the grandson of Shaphan, heard Baruch read from the scroll everything the LORD had said. 12 Then he went down to the scribe’s room in the king’s palace where all the scribes were sitting. The scribe Elishama, Delaiah (son of Shemaiah), Elnathan (son of Achbor), Gemariah (son of Shaphan), Zedekiah (son of Hananiah), and all the other officials were there. 13 Micaiah told them everything he heard Baruch read from the scroll publicly. 14 Then all the officials sent Jehudi, who was the son of Nethaniah, the grandson of Shelemiah, and the great-grandson of Cushi, to Baruch. Jehudi said to Baruch, “Bring the scroll that you read publicly, and come with me.” Baruch, son of Neriah, took the scroll and went with him to see the officers. 15 They said to Baruch, “Please sit down, and read it to us.”

So Baruch read it to them. 16 When they heard everything, they turned to each other in terror. They said to Baruch, “We must tell the king everything.” 17 Then they asked Baruch, “Please tell us how you wrote all this. Did Jeremiah dictate it to you?”

18 Baruch answered, “He dictated everything to me, and I wrote it on the scroll in ink.”

19 The officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah must hide. Don’t let anyone know where you are.”

20 After they put the scroll in the side room of the scribe Elishama, they went to the king in the courtyard and told him everything. 21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He took the scroll from the side room of the scribe Elishama. Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials standing by the king. 22 It was the ninth month, and the king was in his winter house sitting in front of the fire in the fireplace. 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the fire in the fireplace. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up. 24 The king and all his attendants didn’t show any fear or tear their clothes in fear when they heard everything being read. 25 Even when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he refused to listen to them. 26 The king commanded Jerahmeel (the king’s son), Seraiah (son of Azriel), and Shelemiah (son of Abdeel) to arrest the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah. But the LORD had hidden Baruch and Jeremiah.

36:1–26   King Jehoiakim heard your words but cut them up piece by piece. He burned up everything you said. No one could stop him.

27 After the king burned up the scroll that Baruch had written and that Jeremiah had dictated, the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 28 “Take another scroll, and write on it everything that was written on the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah burned. 29 Say about King Jehoiakim of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD says: You burned this scroll, and you asked Jeremiah, “Why did you write that the king of Babylon will certainly come to destroy this land and take away people and animals?” 30 This is what the LORD says about King Jehoiakim of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David’s throne, and his own corpse will be thrown out and exposed to the heat of day and the cold of night. 31 I will punish him, his descendants, and his attendants for their wickedness. They refused to listen. So I will bring on them, on those who live in Jerusalem, and on the people of Judah all the disasters that I have threatened.’”

32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch, son of Neriah. As Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it everything that was on the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah had burned. They added many similar messages.

36:27–32   You bring disaster on people who refuse to listen. Your word can’t be destroyed. Keep speaking to me until I obey.

Jeremiah Advises Zedekiah

37

1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Zedekiah, son of Josiah, to be king of Judah. Zedekiah succeeded Jehoiakin, son of Jehoiakim. 2 But Zedekiah, his administrators, and the common people didn’t listen to what the LORD had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah.

3 King Zedekiah sent Jehucal (son of Shelemiah) and the priest Zephaniah (son of Maaseiah) to the prophet Jeremiah. They asked him, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us.”

4 Jeremiah was still free to come and go among the people. The people of Jerusalem hadn’t put him in prison yet. 5 Pharaoh’s army had come from Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were blockading Jerusalem heard this news, they retreated from Jerusalem.

6 The LORD spoke his word to the prophet Jeremiah. He said, 7 “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to get advice from me: ‘Pharaoh’s army has come out to help you. But it will go back to Egypt, its own land. 8 Then the Babylonians will return. They will attack the city, capture it, and burn it down.

37:1–8   No one wanted your insights until they got desperate. And you didn’t back down on your word. The Babylonians would return and conquer the city.

9 “‘This is what the LORD says: Don’t deceive yourselves by thinking that the Babylonians will leave you. They will not leave you. 10 Even if you would defeat the entire Babylonian army so that they had only a few badly wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn down this city.’”

11 The Babylonian army had retreated from Jerusalem because Pharaoh’s army was coming. 12 So Jeremiah wanted to leave Jerusalem and go to the territory of Benjamin to take possession of his property there among the people. 13 But when he came to Benjamin Gate, the captain of the guard there, whose name was Irijah, son of Shelemiah and grandson of Hananiah, arrested the prophet Jeremiah. He said, “You’re deserting to the Babylonians!”

14 Jeremiah answered, “That’s a lie! I’m not deserting to the Babylonians.” But Irijah wouldn’t listen to him. Irijah arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials. 15 The officials were so angry with Jeremiah that they beat him and put him in prison in the scribe Jonathan’s house, which had been turned into a prison. 16 Jeremiah went into a prison cell, and he stayed there a long time.

37:10–16   No one can contradict your decrees. But people get angry when you prove them wrong. They take out their fury on your messengers.

17 Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah, and the king asked him privately in the palace, “Is there any message from the LORD?”

Jeremiah answered, “Yes! There is a message from the LORD. You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.” 18 Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “What crime have I committed against you, your administrators, or these people? Why have you put me in prison? 19 Where are the prophets who told you that the king of Babylon wouldn’t attack you and this land? 20 But now, Your Majesty, please listen, and accept my plea for mercy. Don’t return me to the scribe Jonathan’s house, or I will die there.”

21 King Zedekiah gave the command to have Jeremiah put in the courtyard of the prison. He gave him a loaf of bread every day from the bakers’ street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.

37:17–21   Did Zedekiah expect you to change your mind? Did he think his sins would go unpunished? You keep your word without fail.

Jeremiah Is Thrown into a Muddy Cistern

38

1 Shephatiah (son of Mattan), Gedaliah (son of Pashhur), Jucal (son of Shelemiah), and Pashhur (son of Malchiah) heard that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people. 2 They heard Jeremiah say, “This is what the LORD says: Those who stay in this city will die in wars, famines, or plagues. But those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.

3 “This is what the LORD says: This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, and it will capture the city.”

4 Then the officials said to the king, “Have this man put to death. He discourages the soldiers who are left in this city and all the people by telling them such things. This man is not trying to help these people; he’s trying to hurt them.”

38:1–4   Nothing could stop Jeremiah from declaring your message. Everyone wanted to kill him for pointing out their life-or-death choice.

5 King Zedekiah answered, “He’s in your hands. I won’t do anything to stop you.”

6 So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son. It was in the courtyard of the prison. They used ropes to lower Jeremiah into the cistern. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

7 But an official in the royal palace, Ebed Melech from Sudan, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern. The king happened to be sitting at Benjamin Gate. 8 Ebed Melech left the royal palace and spoke to the king at Benjamin Gate. 9 “Your Majesty, everything that these men have done to the prophet Jeremiah is wrong. They have thrown him into the cistern, where he’ll starve to death, because there’s no more bread in the city.”

10 Then the king gave Ebed Melech from Sudan this command: “Take 30 men from here, and lift the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.”

11 So Ebed Melech took the men with him and went to the royal palace, to a room under the treasury. He took rags and torn clothes from there and lowered them with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. 12 Ebed Melech from Sudan said to Jeremiah, “Put these rags and torn clothes under your arms to protect you from the ropes.” Jeremiah did. 13 They used the ropes to pull Jeremiah up and lift him out of the cistern. Then Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.

38:5–13   Jeremiah sank in the mud. He must have known he would starve. But you sent help and spared his life.

14 King Zedekiah sent for the prophet Jeremiah and brought him to the third entrance in the LORD’s temple. “I’m going to ask you a question,” the king said to Jeremiah. “Don’t hide anything from me.”

15 Jeremiah answered Zedekiah, “If I answer you, you’ll kill me. If I give you advice, you won’t listen to me.”

16 So King Zedekiah secretly swore an oath to Jeremiah, “The LORD gave us life. As the LORD lives, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who want to kill you.”

17 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, you will live, and this city will not be burned. You and your household will live. 18 But if you don’t surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed over to the Babylonians. They will burn it down, and you will not escape from them.”

19 King Zedekiah answered Jeremiah, “I’m afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Babylonians. The Babylonians may hand me over to them, and they will torture me.”

20 Jeremiah said, “You will not be handed over to them. Obey the LORD by doing what I’m telling you. Then everything will go well for you, and you will live. 21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the LORD has shown me. 22 All the women who are left in the palace of Judah’s king will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon. These women will say:

‘Your trusted friends have misled you and used you.

Your feet are stuck in the mud, and your friends have deserted you.’

23 “All your wives and children will be brought to the Babylonians. You will not escape from them. You will be captured by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.”

38:14–23   If I speak up for you, I face wrath. If I give advice, no one listens. But teach me to keep talking. Train me to speak your truth no matter the consequences.

Jeremiah and Zedekiah Make an Agreement

24 Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Don’t let anyone know about this conversation, or you will die. 25 The officials may find out that I’ve been talking with you. They may come to you and say, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you. Don’t hide anything from us, or we’ll kill you.’ 26 If they come to you, say to them, ‘I asked the king not to send me back to Jonathan’s house to die there.’”

27 All the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him. He told them exactly what the king had told him to say. So they stopped questioning him, because they hadn’t heard his conversation with the king. 28 Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison until the day Jerusalem was captured.

38:24–28   Teach me when to shut my mouth. Evildoers don’t deserve details they can use against me. Make me shrewd enough to survive real life.

Jerusalem Is Captured—2 Kings 25:1–12; 2 Chronicles 36:19–21; Jeremiah 52:4–16

39

1 In the tenth month of Zedekiah’s ninth year as king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with his entire army and blockaded it. 2 On the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year as king, they broke into the city.

39:1–2   In the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year as king, the Babylonians broke into your own city. Your word always comes to pass.

3 Then all the officers of the king of Babylon came in and sat in Middle Gate: Nergal (the quartermaster), Samgar Nebo (the chief officer), Nergal (the quartermaster and the chief fortuneteller), and all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon.

4 When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the two walls, and they took the road to the plain ⌞of Jericho⌟. 5 The Babylonian army pursued them and caught up with Zedekiah in the plain of Jericho. They arrested him and brought him to Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. The king of Babylon passed sentence on him. 6 The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons as Zedekiah watched at Riblah. He also slaughtered all the leaders of Judah. 7 Then he blinded Zedekiah, put him in bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

8 The Babylonians burned down the royal palace and the people’s homes, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Nebuzaradan, Babylon’s captain of the guard, captured the few people left in the city, those who surrendered to him, and the rest of the people. 10 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some poor people who had nothing in the land of Judah. At that time he gave them vineyards and farms.

39:3–10   Zedekiah watched his sons slaughtered. It was the last thing he saw before he was shackled and led to Babylon. The enemy army burned the city and tore down its walls. Your word never fails to come true.

11 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave Nebuzaradan an order concerning Jeremiah. He said, 12 “Take him, and look after him. Don’t harm him in any way, but do for him whatever he asks.” 13 Nebuzaradan (the captain of the guard), Nebushazban (the chief official), Nergal (the quartermaster and the chief fortuneteller), and all the other leaders of the king of Babylon sent for Jeremiah. 14 They took Jeremiah out of the courtyard of the prison and handed him over to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to take him home. So he lived among the people.

15 While Jer emiah was still confined in the courtyard of the prison, the LORD spoke his word to him. The LORD said, 16 “Say to Ebed Melech from Sudan, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to carry out my threat against this city by bringing disaster on it instead of prosperity. At that time these things will happen as you watch. 17 But at that time I will rescue you, declares the LORD. You will not be handed over to those you fear. 18 I will certainly rescue you. You will not die in war. You will escape with your life because you trusted me, declares the LORD.’”

39:11–18   You spared Jeremiah through every disaster. I trust in you too. Let me survive.

Jeremiah Is Freed—2 Kings 25:22–26

40

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, let him go at Ramah. Nebuzaradan found Jeremiah in chains along with the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken to Babylon. 2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, “The LORD your God threatened to bring this disaster on this place. 3 He has carried out his threat. The LORD did as he promised because you Israelites have sinned against him and refused to obey him. That is why this has happened to you. 4 Today I’m removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I’ll look after you. But if you don’t want to come with me to Babylon, don’t come. The whole land is yours. Go wherever you want.

5 “If you wish to remain,[31] then go back to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed to govern the cities of Judah. Live among the people with him, or go anywhere you want.” The captain of the guard gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go. 6 Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 All the army commanders and their men who were in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, to govern the country and some of the country’s poorest men, women, and children who had not been taken away to Babylon. 8 These are the commanders who went with their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Ishmael (son of Nethaniah), Johanan and Jonathan (sons of Kareah), Seraiah (son of Tanhumeth), the sons of Ephai from Netophah, and Jezaniah, who was the son of a man from Maacah. 9 Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men. He said, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Live in this country, serve the king of Babylon, and you will prosper. 10 I’m going to live in Mizpah and represent you when the Babylonians come to us. Gather grapes, summer fruit, and olive oil, and put them in storage jars. Live in the cities you have taken over.”

11 Now, all the Jews who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and in all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a few survivors in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to govern them. 12 So all the Jews returned from all the places where they had been scattered. They came to Judah and to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They gathered a large harvest of grapes and summer fruit.

13 Kareah’s son Johanan and all the army commanders who were still in the country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. 14 They asked him, “Do you know that King Baalis of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son, to kill you?” However, Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, didn’t believe them.

15 Then Johanan, Kareah’s son, secretly asked Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Let me kill Ishmael, Nethaniah’s son. No one will know about it. Why should he kill you? All the Jews who have gathered around you would scatter. What is left of Judah would disappear.”

16 Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, told Johanan, Kareah’s son, “Don’t do that! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

40:1–16   Even the Babylonians recognized your power and your prophet’s truthfulness. Set me free to serve you, and I’ll go wherever you send me.

Gedaliah Is Assassinated by Ishmael—2 Kings 25:25–26

41

1 In the seventh month Ishmael (son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, a descendant of the royal family and of the king’s officers) went with ten men to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate together at Mizpah, 2 Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him got up, drew their swords, and killed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. So they assassinated the man whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land. 3 Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah as well as the Babylonian soldiers that he found there.

4 The day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew about it, 5 80 men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. Their beards were shaved off, their clothes were torn, and cuts were on their bodies. They brought grain offerings and incense to the LORD’s temple. 6 Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, left Mizpah to meet them, crying as he went. When he met them, he said to them, “Come to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam.”

7 When they came into the city, Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, and his men slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern. 8 However, ten men from the group had said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us! We have wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey hidden in the country.” So he left them alone and didn’t kill them along with the others.

9 Now, the cistern where Ishmael threw all the bodies of the men he had killed was the same one that King Asa made as a part of his defense against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, filled it with the bodies.

10 Then Ishmael took captive the rest of the people who were at Mizpah. He captured the king’s daughters and all the other people who had been left at Mizpah. They were the people whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had put under the control of Gedaliah, son of Ahikam. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, took them captive and left for Ammon.

11 When Kareah’s son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, had done, 12 they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael. They caught up with him at the large pool in Gibeon. 13 When all the people who were with Ishmael saw Kareah’s son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him, they were glad. 14 Then all the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and ran to Kareah’s son Johanan. 15 Ishmael and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to Ammon.

16 Then Kareah’s son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him brought back the rest of the people of Mizpah whom he had rescued from Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam. Johanan brought back men, women, children, soldiers, and commanders from Gibeon. 17 When they left Gibeon, they stayed near Bethlehem at Geruth Kimham on their way to Egypt. 18 They were afraid of the Babylonians because Ishmael had killed Gedaliah whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land.

41:1–18   Ishmael killed the governor and slaughtered your worshipers. He took captives and fled the scene. Even good people left in fear. Chaos reigns when people don’t submit to your rule.

Jeremiah Warns the People of Judah Not to Go to Egypt

42

1 Then all the army commanders along with Kareah’s son Johanan and Hoshaiah’s son Jezaniah and all the people, from the least important to the most important, came to the prophet Jeremiah. 2 They said to him, “Please listen to our request, and pray to the LORD your God for all of us who are left here. As you can see, there are only a few of us left. 3 Let the LORD your God tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

4 The prophet Jeremiah answered them, “I have listened to your request. I will pray to the LORD your God as you have requested, and I will tell you everything the LORD says. I won’t keep anything from you.”

5 They said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we don’t do exactly what the LORD your God tells us to do. 6 We will obey the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, whether it’s good or bad. Yes, we will obey the LORD our God so that everything will go well for us.”

42:1–6   The people wanted prayer. They claimed to be eager to obey. Speak to me now. Show me where I should go and what I should do.

7 After ten days the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. 8 So Jeremiah called Kareah’s son Johanan, all the army commanders who were with him, and all the people from the least important to the most important. 9 Jeremiah said to them, “You sent me to plead your case humbly to the LORD. This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 10 Suppose you stay in this land. Then I will build you up and not tear you down. I will plant you and not uproot you. I will change my plans about the disaster I’ve brought on you. 11 Don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Don’t be afraid of him, declares the LORD. I’m with you. I will save you and rescue you from his power. 12 I will have compassion on you. I will make him have compassion on you and return you to your land.

13 “But suppose you say, ‘We won’t stay in this land,’ and you disobey the LORD your God. 14 Then you say, ‘We’ll go to Egypt, where we won’t have to see war, hear the sound of a ram’s horn, or be hungry. We’ll stay there.’

15 “Now, listen to the word of the LORD, you people who are left in Judah. This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Suppose you’re determined to go to Egypt, and you go and live there. 16 Then the wars you fear will catch up with you in Egypt. The famines you dread will follow you to Egypt, and you will die there. 17 So all the people who decide to go and live in Egypt will die in wars, famines, and plagues. No one will survive or escape the disasters I will bring on them.

18 “This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: As my anger and my fury were poured out on those who live in Jerusalem, so my fury will be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become a curse word. You will become something ridiculed, cursed, and disgraced. You won’t see this place again.

42:7–18   Free me from every fear that keeps me from following you. Help me trust your compassion and good plans.

19 “The LORD has told you people who are left in Judah not to go to Egypt. You need to know that I am warning you today. 20 You only deceived yourselves when you sent me to the LORD your God and said, ‘Pray to the LORD our God for us, and tell us everything that the LORD our God says, and we’ll do it.’ 21 I have told you today, but you won’t obey anything the LORD your God sent me to tell you. 22 But now, you need to know that you will die in wars, famines, or plagues in the place where you want to go and live.”

42:19–22   I mean it when I say I want to obey you. I don’t want to deceive myself. I really want to do your will.

Jeremiah Is Forced to Go to Egypt

43

1 So Jeremiah finished telling all the people the message from the LORD their God. He told them everything the LORD their God sent him to tell them. 2 Azariah (son of Hoshaiah), Johanan (son of Kareah), and all the arrogant people said to Jeremiah, “You’re lying! The LORD our God didn’t send you to tell us that we must not go to live in Egypt. 3 But Baruch, son of Neriah, has turned you against us in order to hand us over to the Babylonians. Then they will kill us or take us as captives to Babylon.”

4 So Johanan (son of Kareah), all the army commanders, and all the people didn’t obey the LORD. They didn’t stay in Judah. 5 Johanan (son of Kareah) and all the army commanders took all the people who were left in Judah to Egypt. These were all the people who had come back to Judah from the places where they had been scattered. 6 They took men, women, children, and the king’s daughters. They took every person whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had left with Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, including the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch, son of Neriah. 7 They didn’t listen to the LORD, so they went to Egypt. They went as far as Tahpanhes.

43:1–7   Why don’t I believe your word? Why do I lead others to defy you? Why do I drag them along in my disobedience?

Jeremiah Prophesies That Egypt Will Be Invaded by Nebuchadnezzar

8 Then the LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes. He said, 9 “Take some large stones, and bury them under the brick pavement at the entrance to the Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. Do this while the people of Judah watch you. 10 Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to send for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will set his throne over these stones that I buried, and I will spread his royal canopy above them. 11 He will defeat Egypt. He will bring death to those who are supposed to die. He will capture those who are supposed to be captured. He will kill in battle those who are supposed to be killed in battle. 12 He[32] will set fire to the temples of Egypt’s gods. He will burn down the temples and take their gods captive. Nebuchadnezzar will put on Egypt as his coat as a shepherd puts on his coat. He will leave Egypt peacefully. 13 At Beth Shemesh he will break the monuments in Egypt and burn down the temples of Egypt’s gods.’”

43:8–13   No refuge is safe if you’re not in charge. You raise up kings and throw them down. Your plans always come to pass.

The Jews in Egypt Will Be Punished for Their Idolatry

44

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah about all the Jews living in Egypt at Migdol, Tahpanhes, Noph, and Pathros. 2 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You have seen all the disasters I brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of Judah. Today they are deserted ruins. 3 It is because their people did evil, and they made me angry. They went to burn incense and serve other gods that neither you nor your ancestors heard of. 4 I have sent my servants the prophets to you again and again to tell you not to do these detestable things that I hate. 5 But you wouldn’t listen or pay attention. You wouldn’t turn from your wicked ways and wouldn’t stop burning incense as an offering to other gods. 6 That is why my fury and anger were poured out and continued to burn in the cities of Judah and on the streets of Jerusalem. So they became the desolate ruin that they are today.

44:1–6   Disaster and ruin come if I give myself to other gods. I’m eager to listen to your words. I’ll obey you the first time you ask.

7 Now, this is what the LORD God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Why do you bring this terrible disaster on yourselves? Why do you keep destroying men, women, children, and babies from Judah until none are left? 8 Why do you make me angry by burning incense to other gods in Egypt, where you have come to live. You will destroy yourselves and be cursed and ridiculed by all the nations on earth. 9 Have you forgotten the wicked things done by your ancestors, by the kings of Judah and their wives, and by you and your wives in Judah and on the streets of Jerusalem? 10 You have not humbled yourselves even to this day. You haven’t feared me or lived your lives by my teachings or by my decrees that I gave your ancestors.

44:7–10   Point out the idols in my life! Don’t let other gods rule me! I’ll humble every part of myself. You fill me with awestruck respect.

11 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to bring disaster on you and destroy all of Judah. 12 I will take away from Judah those who are left, those who were determined to go to live in Egypt. They will die in Egypt. All of them, from the least important to the most important, will die in wars or be brought to an end by famines. They will become something cursed, ridiculed, and disgraced. 13 I will punish those living in Egypt as I punished Jerusalem with wars, famines, and plagues. 14 None of the people of Judah who went to live in Egypt will survive or return to Judah, where they long to return and live. Only a few refugees will return there.

44:11–14   I don’t doubt your discipline. I’ve learned too much from life’s hard knocks.

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, all the women who were standing there, and all the people who lived at Pathros in Egypt answered Jeremiah. They said, 16 “We won’t listen to the message that you have spoken to us in the LORD’s name. 17 We will do everything we said we would do. We will burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out wine offerings to her as our ancestors, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and on the streets of Jerusalem. We had plenty to eat then, and we lived comfortably and saw no disaster. 18 But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out wine offerings to her, we have had nothing but wars and famines.”

19 The women added, “When we burned incense to the queen of heaven, poured out wine offerings to her, and made cakes for her with her image on them, do you think our husbands didn’t approve?”

44:15–19   I won’t reject your word. I’ll listen when you call out sin in my life. No other god can bring me true blessings. Everything good comes from you.

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, to everyone who answered him, 21 “Doesn’t the LORD remember that you burned incense in the cities of Judah and on the streets of Jerusalem along with your ancestors, your kings and your officials, and the people in the land? 22 The LORD could no longer bear the wicked and detestable things you did. That is why your land has become something ruined, destroyed, and cursed. No one lives in that land today. 23 You burned incense as offerings to other gods, sinned against the LORD, and wouldn’t obey him. You didn’t live by his teachings, decrees, or written instructions. That is why you have met with this disaster as it is today.”

24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including the women, “Listen to the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who are in Egypt. 25 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You and your wives made promises, and you have kept them. You said, ‘We will certainly do what we vow. We will burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out wine offerings to her.’

“So go ahead. Keep your vows, and do what you vow. 26 But listen to the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who live in Egypt. ‘I swear by my great name,’ says the LORD, ‘that no one from Judah who lives anywhere in Egypt will ever again call on my name and take the oath, “As the Almighty LORD lives.” 27 I am going to watch over them. I am going to watch over them to bring disasters, not blessings. In Egypt the people from Judah will die in wars and famines until everyone is gone. 28 Those who escape the wars will return to Judah from Egypt. Then all the people of Judah who went to live in Egypt will know whose words have come true, mine or theirs. 29 I will give you this sign,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will punish you in this place so that you will know that my threats of disaster will happen to you. 30 This is what the LORD says: I’m going to hand Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, over to his enemies and to those who want to kill him, just as I handed over King Zedekiah of Judah to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to those who wanted to kill him.’”

44:20–30   Surely you must tire of my sins. You know when you’ve been pushed aside and replaced. You measure all the time and love I give to everything but you. Revive my devotion to you.

The LORD’s Promise to the Scribe Baruch

45

1 This is the message that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch, son of Neriah. Baruch wrote these things on a scroll as Jeremiah dictated them during the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah. Jeremiah said, 2 “This is what the LORD God of Israel says to you, Baruch: 3 You said, ‘I’m so miserable! The LORD has added grief to my pain. I’m worn out from groaning. I can’t find any rest.’

4 “Say this to Baruch, ‘This is what the LORD says: I will tear down what I have built. I will uproot what I have planted throughout the earth. 5 Are you looking for great things for yourself? Don’t look for them, because I’m going to bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD. But wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’”

45:1–5   I’m miserable. My endless groaning wears me out. But I’ll quit expecting great things for myself. You’re bringing disaster on all people, but at least you’ll let me escape with my life.

A Prophecy against Egypt

46

1 The LORD spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the nations.

2 This is the message about Egypt, about the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated his army at Carchemish along the Euphrates River during the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah.

3 “Get your large and small shields ready; advance into battle.

4 Harness your horses. Mount up, you horsemen.

Take your positions, and put on your helmets.

Polish your spears.

Put on your armor.

5 “What do I see in them?

They are terrified.

They are retreating.

Their warriors are defeated.

They flee without looking back.

Terror is all around them,” declares the LORD.

6 “The infantry can’t flee.

The warriors can’t escape.

They stumble and fall in the north by the Euphrates River.

7 Who is this, rising like the Nile River,

like streams that flow swiftly?

8 Egypt is like the rising Nile River,

like a river quickly overflowing its banks.

Egypt says, ‘I will rise; I will cover the earth.

I will destroy cities and the people in them.’

9 Go into battle, you horsemen.

Drive wildly, you chariot drivers.

March into battle, you warriors,

you warriors from Sudan and Put who carry shields,

you warriors from Lydia who use bows and arrows.

10 That day belongs to the Almighty LORD of Armies.

It is a day of vengeance when he will take revenge on his enemies.

His sword will devour until it has had enough,

and it will drink their blood until it’s full.

The Almighty LORD of Armies will offer them as sacrifices

in the north by the Euphrates River.

11 Go to Gilead, and get medicine, dear people of Egypt.

You have used many medicines without results; you can’t be cured.

12 The nations have heard of your shame; your cry fills the earth.

One warrior will stumble over another,

and both will fall together.”

46:1–12   You dare Egypt to do battle. But its army retreats in terror. You take revenge on your enemies. Your sword drinks blood until it’s full.

13 The LORD spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who will defeat Egypt.

14 “Tell this in Egypt; announce this in Migdol.

Make it known in Memphis and in Tahpanhes.

Say, ‘Take your positions, and get ready.

Swords will kill those around you.’

15 Why should your soldiers be cut down?

They can’t stand because the LORD will push them down.

16 They have repeatedly stumbled, and now they have fallen.

They say to each other,

‘Get up! Let’s go back to our people,

to the land where we were born,

and escape our enemy’s sword.’

17 There they will cry, ‘Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is a big windbag.

He has missed his chance.’

18 “As I live,” declares the king, whose name is the LORD of Armies,

“someone who is like Mount Tabor among the mountains will come.

Someone who is like Mount Carmel by the sea will come.

19 Pack your bags, inhabitants of Egypt,

because you will be taken away as captives.

Memphis will become a dreary wasteland,

a pile of rubble where no one lives.

46:13–17   Egypt’s soldiers can’t stay on their feet when you push them. They know their Pharaoh is a big windbag.

20 “Egypt is like a beautiful cow,

but a horsefly from the north will attack it.

21 Egypt’s hired soldiers are like fattened calves.

They will turn and run away together.

They won’t stand their ground.

The day of destruction is coming.

At that time they will be punished.

22 Egypt will hiss like a snake as it slithers away.

Its enemies will come with full force.

They will attack it with axes like those who chop wood.

23 They will cut down the forest,” declares the LORD,

“since Egypt can’t be found.

They are more numerous than locusts; they can’t be counted.

24 The people of Egypt will be put to shame.

They will be handed over to the people from the north.”

25 The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says,

“I’m going to punish Amon, who is the god of Thebes.

I will also punish Pharaoh, Egypt, its gods, its kings,

and whoever trusts Pharaoh.

26 I’ll hand them over to those who want to kill them,

to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his officers.

Afterward, they will live in peace as they did long ago,”

declares the LORD.

46:20–26   Egypt is like a beautiful cow brought down by a horsefly. It’s soldiers won’t stand their ground. People from the north will take your revenge on Egypt.

27 “Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob.

Don’t be terrified, Israel.

I’m going to rescue you and your descendants from a faraway land,

from the land where you are captives.

Then Jacob’s descendants will again have undisturbed peace,

and no one will make them afraid.

28 Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,” declares the LORD.

“I am with you.

I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you,

but I will not completely destroy you.

I will correct you with justice.

I won’t let you go entirely unpunished.”

46:27–28   I won’t be afraid. You rescue me from far-off places. You free me from slavery and give me peace.

A Prophecy against Philistia

47

1 The LORD spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh defeated Gaza. 2 This is what the LORD says:

Water is rising in the north.

It will become an overflowing river.

It will overflow the land and everything in it,

the cities and those who live in them.

People will cry out and everyone who lives in the land will cry loudly.

3 They will hear the sound of galloping war horses,

the rattling of enemy chariots,

and the rumbling of their wheels.

Fathers who lack courage abandon their children.

4 The time has come to destroy all the Philistines,

to cut off from Tyre and Sidon any Philistine

who might have escaped to get help.

The LORD will destroy the Philistines

and anyone who is left from the island of Crete.

5 Gaza will shave its head in mourning.

Ashkelon will be destroyed.

How long will you cut yourselves, you people left on the plains?

6 You cry out, “Sword of the LORD,

how long will you keep on fighting?

Go back into your scabbard.

Stay there and rest!”

7 How can the sword of the LORD rest?

The LORD has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast.

He has put it there.

47:1–7   Water rises from the north to overwhelm the Philistines. You cut off every escape. How long will you pour out your anger?

A Prophecy against Moab

48

1 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says about Moab:

How horrible it will be for Nebo; it will be destroyed.

Kiriathaim will be put to shame; it will be captured.

Its stronghold will be put to shame and torn down.

2 People will no longer praise Moab.

The people in Heshbon will plan Moab’s destruction.

“Let’s destroy that nation!”

You will be silenced, city of Madmen.

Death will come after you.

3 People will cry out from Horonaim, “Looting and great destruction!”

4 Moab will be broken.

Its little ones will cry out.

5 People go up the pass of Luhith, crying bitterly as they go.

On the road down to Horonaim they have heard

the distressful cry of destruction.

6 “Run away! Run for your lives!

Run like a wild donkey in the desert.”

7 Since you trust the things you do and your treasures,

you will be captured.

Chemosh will go into captivity with all its priests and officials.

8 The destroyer will come to every city, and no city will escape.

The valley will be destroyed, and the plain will be laid waste

as the LORD has threatened.

9 Put salt on Moab.

It will be destroyed.

Its cities will become deserted ruins.

10 Cursed are those who neglect doing the LORD’s work.

Cursed are those who keep their swords from killing.

48:1–10   Moab will be broken. People will run for their lives, crying as they go. I choose not to put much weight on my accomplishments. I won’t make my life revolve around my treasures.

11 “Moab has lived securely ever since it was young.

Its people are like wine left to settle in a jar.

They aren’t poured from one jar to another.

They haven’t gone into captivity.

That is why its flavor has remained the same,

and its aroma hasn’t changed.

12 That is why the days are coming,” declares the LORD,

“when I will send people to pour Moab out of its jars

and to smash its pitchers.

13 Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh

as the nation of Israel was ashamed when it trusted Bethel.

14 “How can you say, ‘We are soldiers and warriors’?

15 The enemy will attack Moab and destroy its cities.

Its finest young men will be slaughtered,”

declares the king, whose name is the LORD of Armies.

16 “Moab’s destruction is coming near; disaster is coming quickly.

17 Mourn over it, all of its neighbors and everyone who knows its fame.

Say, ‘Look at the strong staff, the beautiful rod, that is broken!’

18 “People of Dibon, come down from your place of honor

and sit on the dry ground.

The destroyers of Moab will attack you.

They will destroy your fortresses.

19 Stand by the road in Aroer, and watch.

Ask those who are fleeing

and those who are escaping what is happening.

20 They will answer, ‘Moab is disgraced; it is defeated.

Shout loudly, and cry.

Tell the news in Arnon that Moab is destroyed.’

21 “Judgment has come to all the cities on the plain: to Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath, 22 Dibon, Nebo, Beth Diblathaim, 23 Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, Beth Meon, 24 Kerioth, Bozrah, and on all the cities of Moab, far and near.

48:11–24   You’ll judge all the cities of Moab. They’ll suffer disgrace and defeat. You’ll pour out Moab like stale wine. You’ll pound its pitcher to dust.

25 “Moab’s horn is cut off, and its arm is broken,”

declares the LORD.

26 “Get the people of Moab drunk; they have spoken against the LORD.

They will wallow in their own vomit, and people will laugh at them.

27 People of Moab, didn’t you laugh at the people of Israel?

Were they caught among thieves?

Whenever you talk about them you shake your heads in contempt.

28 People of Moab, abandon your cities.

Live among the cliffs.

Be like doves that make their nests at the entrance of a cave.

29 “We have heard about the arrogance of Moab’s people.

They are very arrogant.

They are very arrogant, conceited, and boastful.

30 I know how arrogant they are,” declares the LORD,

“but it isn’t right.

They brag and don’t do what they say.

31 That is why I will weep for Moab and cry for all of Moab.

I will moan for the people of Kir Hareseth.

32 I will cry for you as Jazer cries.

I will cry for you, grapevines of Sibmah.

Your branches ⌞once⌟ spread as far as the sea,

and they reached as far as the sea of Jazer.

The destroyer will destroy your ripened fruits and your grapes.

33 Joy and gladness have disappeared from the orchards and fields of Moab.

I will stop the wine flowing from the winepresses.

No one will stomp on grapes with shouts of joy.

There will be shouts, but not shouts of joy.

48:25–33   Moab laughs at your people. It’s full of arrogant, conceited, and boastful people who don’t live up to their proud words. When will you take away their joy?

34 “The cry will be heard from Heshbon to Elealeh and Jahaz. It will be heard from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the streams of Nimrim will dry up. 35 I will stop those in Moab who come to worship sites, those who bring offerings to their gods,” declares the LORD. 36 “That is why I moan for Moab like a flute. I sound like a flute for the people of Kir Hareseth. The wealth they gained has disappeared.

37 “Every head is shaved, and every beard is cut off. There are gashes on every hand and sackcloth on every waist. 38 People in Moab will mourn on every rooftop and in every street. There will be mourning everywhere, because I will break Moab like a jar that no one wants,” declares the LORD. 39 “They will cry, ‘Look how Moab is defeated! Moab turns away in shame!’ Moab has become something ridiculed and something held in contempt by everyone around it.

40 “This is what the LORD says:

The enemy will swoop down like eagles and spread their wings over Moab.

41 The cities will be taken, and the fortified places will be captured.

On that day Moab’s soldiers will be like women in childbirth.

42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation,

because it spoke against the LORD.

43 Disasters, pits, and traps are in store for those who live in Moab,”

declares the LORD.

44 “Whoever flees from a disaster will fall into a pit.

Whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a trap.

I will bring a year of punishment to Moab,” declares the LORD.

45 “Those who flee will stand exhausted in the shadow of Heshbon.

A fire will come out of Heshbon and a flame from Sihon.

It will burn the foreheads of the people of Moab

and the skulls of those noisy people.

46 How horrible it will be for you, Moab.

You people of Chemosh will die.

Your sons will be taken away into exile,

and your daughters will be taken away into captivity.

47 But I will restore Moab in the last days,” declares the LORD.

The judgment against Moab ends here.

48:34–47   You’ll cut off false worship and make Moab mourn. Its enemy will swoop down because the nation spoke against you. When will you restore Moab?

A Prophecy against Ammon

49

1 This is what the LORD says about the people of Ammon:

Doesn’t Israel have any children? Doesn’t it have any heirs?

Why, then, has the god Milcom[33] taken over the inheritance

of Gad’s descendants?

Why do Milcom’s people live in Gad’s cities?

2 That is why the days are coming, declares the LORD,

when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah,

where the people of Ammon live.

It will become a pile of rubble.

Its villages will be burned down.

Then Israel will take possession of its inheritance, says the LORD.

3 Cry loudly, Heshbon, because Ai is destroyed.

Cry, people of Rabbah, put on your sackcloth, and mourn.

Run back and forth between the walls.

Milcom will be taken away into captivity

with its priests and officials.

4 Why do you brag about your valleys,

your fertile valleys, you unfaithful people?

You trust your treasures.

You think, “Who would attack me?”

5 I am going to bring terror on you from all around,

declares the Almighty LORD of Armies.

Everyone will be scattered.

No one will gather the refugees.

6 But afterward, I will return the captives of Ammon, declares the LORD.

49:1–6   You’ll turn the land of Milcom to rubble. Ammon thinks it’s immune to attack. When will you bring its captives back?

A Prophecy against Edom—Obadiah 1–5

7 This is what the LORD of Armies says about Edom:

Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman?

Has wisdom disappeared from your people?

Has their wisdom vanished?

8 Turn and run.

Hide in deep caves, inhabitants of Dedan.

When I punish them,

I will bring disaster on the descendants of Esau.

9 If people come to pick your grapes,

won’t they leave a few grapes behind?

If thieves come during the night,

won’t they steal only until they’ve had enough?

10 Yet, I will strip the descendants of Esau.

I will find their hiding places.

They won’t be able to hide.

Their children and relatives will be destroyed.

None of their neighbors will say,

11 “Abandon your orphans, and I will keep them alive.

Your widows can trust me.”

12 This is what the LORD says: If those who don’t deserve to drink from the cup still drink from it, why should you go unpunished? You won’t go unpunished. You must drink from it. 13 I take an oath on myself, declares the LORD, that Bozrah will become a pile of rubble. It will become something horrifying, ridiculed, ruined, and cursed. All its cities will lie in ruins permanently.

49:7–13   You’ll make Esau’s descendants run for deep caves. You’ll flush them out of hiding. Why did their wisdom vanish?

14 I heard a message from the LORD.

A messenger was sent among the nations to say,

“Assemble, and attack Edom.

Get ready for battle.”

15 “Edom, I will make you the smallest of nations

and despised among humanity.

16 You have frightened other people.

Your arrogance has deceived you.

You live on rocky cliffs

and occupy the highest places in the hills.

Even though you build your nest as high as an eagle,

I will bring you down from there,” declares the LORD.

17 “Then Edom will become something horrible.

Everyone who passes by it will be horrified

and hiss at all its wounds.

18 Edom will be like Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring cities

when they were destroyed.

No one will live there.

No human will stay there,” says the LORD.

19 “I will suddenly chase them from their places

like a lion coming out of the jungle

along the Jordan River into pastureland.

I will appoint over Edom whomever I choose.

Who is like me? Who can challenge me?

Is there any leader who can stand up to me?”

20 Listen to the plans that the LORD is making against Edom

and the things he intends to do to those who live in Teman.

He will surely drag away the little ones of the flock.

He will surely destroy the pasture

because of the people who live in Teman.

21 The earth will quake at the sound of their downfall.

The sound of their crying will be heard at the Red Sea.

22 The enemy will swoop down like eagles

and spread their wings over Bozrah.

On that day Edom’s soldiers will be like women in childbirth.

49:14–22   Edom thinks it’s safe nesting on high rocky cliffs. But nothing is beyond your reach. No one can challenge you. No one can stand up to you.

A Prophecy against Damascus

23 This is a message about Damascus.

“Hamath and Arpad are worried because they heard the bad news.

They melt in fear.

They are troubled like a sea that can’t be calmed.

24 The people of Damascus are weak.

They turn to flee, but panic grips them.

Anguish and pain grip them like a woman in labor.

25 Why isn’t that famous, happy city abandoned?

26 That is why its young men will die in the streets,

and its soldiers will be silenced that day,”

declares the LORD of Armies.

27 “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus

and burn down Benhadad’s palaces.”

49:23–27   Damascus freezes in panic. It melts in fear. You’ll set fire to the city walls.

A Prophecy against Kedar and Hazor

28 This is about the tribe of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated. This is what the LORD says:

Get ready, attack Kedar,

and loot the people from the east.

29 Their tents and their flocks will be taken.

Their tent curtains, utensils, and camels will be carried away.

People will shout to them, “Terror is all around!”

30 Run far away! Find a place to hide,

inhabitants of Hazor, declares the LORD.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has made plans against you

and intends to attack you.

31 Get ready! Attack the nation living peacefully and securely,

declares the LORD.

It is a nation with no gates or bars.

Its people live alone.

32 Their camels will be taken as prizes.

Their large herds will be taken as loot.

I will scatter to the winds

those who shave the hair on their foreheads.

I will bring disaster on them from every side,

declares the LORD.

33 Hazor will be a place where only jackals live.

It will become a permanent wasteland.

No one will live there.

No human will stay there.

49:28–33   Kedar can’t hide from Nebuchadnezzar. No human will live in Hazor. What do you have against them?

A Prophecy against Elam

34 Early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, the LORD spoke his word to the prophet Jeremiah about Elam.

35 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

I’m going to break the bows of Elam’s archers,

the most important weapon of their strength.

36 I’ll bring the four winds

from the four corners of heaven against Elam

and scatter its people in every direction.

There won’t be a nation

where Elam’s refugees won’t go.

37 I’ll defeat the people of Elam in the presence of their enemies,

in the presence of those who want to kill them.

I’ll bring disaster with my burning anger, declares the LORD.

I’ll send armies after them until I put an end to them.

38 I’ll set my throne in Elam and destroy its king and officials,

declares the LORD.

39 But afterward, I’ll return the captives of Elam, declares the LORD.

49:34–39   You’ll break Elam’s best weapon. You’ll scatter its people in every direction. When will you return Elim’s captives?

A Prophecy against Babylon

50

1 This is the message that the LORD spoke about Babylon and the land of the Babylonians through the prophet Jeremiah.

2 “Announce this among the nations, and spread the news.

Raise a flag, and announce it.

Don’t hide anything.

Say, ‘Babylon will be captured.

Bel will be put to shame.

Marduk will be filled with terror.

Babylon’s statues will be put to shame.

Its idols will be filled with terror.’

3 A nation from the north will attack Babylon

and destroy its land so that no one will live in it.

People and animals will run away.

50:1–3   You’ll destroy Babylon like it destroyed others. You’ll fill false gods with terror.

4 “In those days and at that time,” declares the LORD,

“the people of Israel and Judah will cry as they go together

to seek the LORD their God.

5 They will ask which road goes to Zion and turn in that direction.

They will go there to make a permanent agreement with the LORD.

It will not be forgotten.

6 My people have been lost sheep.

Their shepherds have led them astray.

They wander around on the mountains.

They go from mountains to hills.

They have forgotten their resting place.

7 Everyone who finds them eats them.

Their enemies say, ‘We’re not guilty.

They have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture.

They have sinned against the LORD, the hope of their ancestors.’

50:4–7   Your people will ask how to find their way back to you. They’ve wandered like lost sheep, led astray by their shepherds. They’ve sinned against you and left their true pasture.

8 “Run away from Babylon.

Leave the land of the Babylonians.

Be like the male goats that lead the flock.

9 I am going to stir up an alliance of strong nations from the north

and bring it against Babylon.

Those nations will take up positions against Babylon.

Babylon will be captured from the north.

Its enemy’s arrows will be like skilled soldiers

who don’t come back empty-handed.

10 The Babylonians will become the prize.

All who loot them will get everything they want,”

declares the LORD.

11 “You are happy and excited.

You have looted the people who belong to me.

You dance around like calves on the grass

and neigh like stallions.

12 But your mother will be greatly ashamed.

The woman who gave birth to you will be disgraced.

Babylon, you will be the least important nation.

You will become a parched desert.

13 No one will live in Babylon because of the LORD’s anger.

It will be completely abandoned.

Everyone who passes by Babylon will be horrified

and hiss at all its wounds.

14 “Take up your positions around Babylon, all you archers with bows.

Shoot at it; don’t save any arrows,

because the people of Babylon have sinned against the LORD.

15 Shout a war cry against them on every side.

They’ll surrender.

Their towers will fall and their walls will be torn down.

Since this is the LORD’s vengeance, take revenge against them.

Do to them what they did to others.

16 Don’t allow anyone in Babylon to plant or harvest.

Everyone will turn to his own people and flee to his own homeland

because of the enemies’ swords.

50:8–16   You’ll send an alliance against Babylon and make it a parched desert. Because of your anger, no one will live there any more. Everyone will hiss at its wounds.

17 “The people of Israel are like scattered sheep that lions have chased.

The first to devour them was the king of Assyria.

The last to gnaw at their bones was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

18 “This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says:

I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land

as I punished the king of Assyria.

19 I will bring the people of Israel back to their pastures.

They will eat on Mount Carmel and Mount Bashan.

They will eat until they are full

on the mountains of Ephraim and Gilead.

20 In those days and at that time,” declares the LORD,

“people will look for Israel’s crimes, but they will find none.

They will look for Judah’s sins, but none will be found.

I will forgive the faithful few whom I have spared.

50:17–20   When will you bring Israel and Judah home? When will you forgive their sins?

21 Attack the land of Merathaim

and the people who live in Pekod.

Claim them for me by killing them with a sword,”

declares the LORD.

“Do everything I commanded you.

22 The noise of battle and great destruction fills the land.

23 The hammer of the whole earth is broken and shattered.

See how desolate Babylon is of all the nations!

24 I will set traps for you, Babylon.

You will be caught, but you won’t know it.

You will be found and captured

because you have opposed the LORD.

25 The LORD will open his armory

and bring out the weapons of his fury,

because the Almighty LORD of Armies

has a job to do in the land of the Babylonians.

26 Attack them from a distance,

open their storehouses,

pile up their corpses like piles of grain,

claim them for me by destroying them,

and don’t leave anyone behind.

27 Kill all their young bulls.

Let them go to be slaughtered.

How horrible it will be for them when their time has come,

the time for them to be punished.

28 Listen! Fugitives and refugees from Babylon

are coming to Zion to tell about

the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance for his temple.

29 “Call together the archers, the soldiers with bows, against Babylon.

Set up blockades around it. Don’t let anyone escape.

Pay the people of Babylon back for what they have done.

Do to them what they did to others.

They have disobeyed the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

30 That is why their young men will die in the streets,

and all their soldiers will be silenced that day,”

declares the LORD.

31 “I’m against you, you arrogant city,”

declares the Almighty LORD of Armies.

“Your day has come, the time when I will punish you.

32 Those arrogant people will stumble and fall,

and there will be no one to help them get up.

I will light a fire in their cities

that will burn up everything around them.”

33 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

All the people of Israel and Judah are oppressed.

All their enemies have captured them.

They refuse to let them go.

34 Their defender is strong.

His name is the LORD of Armies.

He will certainly take up their cause

in order to bring rest to the land of Israel

and unrest to the people who live in Babylon.

50:21–34   Babylon will be desolate. You’re against that arrogant city. But be my strong defender. Take up my cause and bring me rest.

35 “A sword will kill the Babylonians and everyone who lives in Babylon,”

declares the LORD.

“A sword will kill their officials and their wise men.

36 A sword will kill the false prophets.

They will become fools.

A sword will kill their soldiers and defeat them.

37 A sword will kill their horses, their chariots,

and all the foreigners within their ranks.

They will become women.

A sword will destroy their treasures, and they will be looted.

38 A drought will diminish their water supply, and it will dry up.

Babylon is a land of idols, statues that will go crazy with fear.

39 That is why desert animals will live with hyenas.

Desert owls will also live there.

It will no longer be inhabited or lived in for generations.

40 Babylon will be like Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring cities

when I, God, destroyed them.

No one will live there.

No human will stay there,” declares the LORD.

41 “People are going to come from the north.

A great nation and many kings will rise from the ends of the earth.

42 They will take hold of bows and spears.

They will be cruel and have no compassion.

They will sound like the sea when it roars.

They will ride horses.

They are ready for war, ready to attack you, people of Babylon.

43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about them, and he loses courage.

Anguish will grip him as pain grips a woman in labor.

44 I will suddenly chase them from their places

like a lion coming out of the jungle

along the Jordan River into pastureland.

I will appoint over Babylon whomever I choose.

Who is like me? Who can challenge me?

Is there any leader who can stand up to me?

45 Listen to the plans that the LORD is making against Babylon

and the things he intends to do to the land of the Babylonians.

He will surely drag away the little ones of the flock.

He will surely destroy the pasture because of the Babylonians.

46 The earth will quake at the news that Babylon has been captured.

Its cry will be heard among the nations.”

50:35–46   Your sword will kill the Babylonians. You’ll show that false prophets are fools and drive their idols crazy with fear. No one can challenge you. No leader can stand up to you. Your plans always succeed.

51

1 This is what the LORD says:

I will stir up a destructive wind against Babylon

and against the people who live in Leb Kamai.

2 I will send people to winnow[34] Babylon,

to winnow it and strip its land bare.

They will attack it from every direction on the day of trouble.

3 Have the archers bend their bows.

Have them put on their armor.

Don’t spare Babylon’s young men.

Completely destroy its whole army.

4 Babylon’s soldiers will fall down badly wounded in their streets.

They will lie dead in their own land.

5 Israel and Judah haven’t been abandoned by their God, the LORD of Armies, although their land is guilty of abandoning the Holy One of Israel.

6 Run away from Babylon!

Run for your lives!

You shouldn’t die because of Babylon’s crimes.

This is the time for the vengeance of the LORD.

He will pay the people of Babylon back for what they have done.

7 Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD’s hand.

It made the whole world drunk.

The nations drank its wine.

That is why the nations have gone insane.

8 Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered.

Cry for it.

Bring medicine for its pain.

Maybe it can be healed.

9 We wanted to heal Babylon, but it couldn’t be healed.

Let’s abandon it and go to our own land.

God has judged Babylon.

Its judgment is complete.

51:1–9   Your people left you, but you haven’t left them. Babylon made the world drunk and drove nations insane. It will surely fall and shatter.

10 The LORD has brought about our victory.

Let’s announce in Zion what the LORD our God has done.

11 Sharpen the arrows; fill the quivers.

The LORD will stir up the spirit of the kings of the Medes

because his plan is to destroy Babylon.

The LORD will avenge his temple.

12 Raise your battle flag in front of the walls of Babylon.

Strengthen the guards.

Station watchmen.

Prepare ambushes.

The LORD will carry out his plans

against the people who live in Babylon.

13 Babylon, you live beside many rivers and are rich with treasures,

but your end has come.

The thread of your life has been cut off.

14 The LORD of Armies has taken an oath on himself:

“I will certainly fill you with many enemy armies.

They will swarm like locusts.

People will shout their victory over you.”

51:10–14   You bring about victory. I’ll announce what you’ve done.

15 The LORD made the earth by his power.

He set up the world by his wisdom.

He stretched out heaven by his understanding.

16 When he thunders, the water in the sky roars.

He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.

He sends lightning with the rain.

He brings wind out of his storehouses.

17 Everyone is stupid and ignorant.

Metalsmiths are put to shame by their idols.

Their statues are false ⌞gods⌟.

18 They can’t breathe.

They are worthless jokes.

When they are punished, they will disappear.

19 Jacob’s God isn’t like them.

He made everything,

and Israel is the tribe that belongs to him.

His name is the LORD of Armies.

51:15–19   Stupid people bow to worthless idols. But you aren’t like their metal statues. You made the earth by your power. You stretched out the heavens with your understanding.

20 “You are my war club and my weapon for battle.

I will use you to crush nations.

I will use you to destroy kingdoms.

21 I will use you to crush horses and their riders.

I will use you to crush chariots and their drivers.

22 I will use you to crush men and women.

I will use you to crush the old and the young.

I will use you to crush young men and women.

23 I will use you to crush shepherds and their flocks.

I will use you to crush farmers and their oxen.

I will use you to crush governors and officials.

24 “In your presence I will pay back Babylon

and all the people who live in Babylon

for all the evil things that they did in Zion,”

declares the LORD.

25 “I am against you, Babylon, you destructive mountain.

You have destroyed the whole earth,” declares the LORD.

“I will use my power against you,

roll you off the cliffs,

and make you a scorched mountain.

26 People won’t find any stones in you to use as a cornerstone.

They won’t find any stones in you to use for a foundation.

You will become permanent ruins,” declares the LORD.

27 Raise your battle flag throughout the world.

Blow the ram’s horn among the nations.

Prepare nations to attack Babylon.

Tell the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz to attack it.

Appoint a commander to lead the attack.

Bring up horses like a swarm of locusts.

28 Prepare nations to attack Babylon.

Prepare the king of the Medes, their governors, all their deputies,

and all the countries that they rule.

29 The earth trembles and writhes in pain.

The LORD carries out his plans against Babylon

to make Babylon a wasteland so that no one will live there.

30 The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting.

They stay in their fortified cities.

Their strength has failed. They have become women.

Their buildings are set on fire.

The bars across their gates are broken.

31 Runners run to meet runners.

Messengers follow messengers.

They inform the king of Babylon that his entire city is captured.

32 The river crossings have been taken.

The enemy has burned its marshes,

and its soldiers are terrified.

51:20–32   You made Babylon your war club, but now it will pay for the evil it did to your people. Your enemies feel the force of your power. You summon nations to crush evildoers.

33 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says:

The people of Babylon are like a threshing floor[35]

at the time it is trampled.

Their harvest time will come soon.

34 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has devoured us.

He has thrown us into confusion.

He has turned us into empty jars.

He has swallowed us like a monster.

He has filled his belly with our delicacies.

Then he spit us out.

35 The people who live in Zion say,

“May the violence done to us be done to Babylon.”

Jerusalem says,

“May the people of Babylon be held responsible for our deaths.”

36 This is what the LORD says:

I am going to take up your cause and get revenge for you.

I will dry up Babylon’s sea and make its springs dry.

37 Babylon will become piles of rubble.

It will become a dwelling place for jackals,

something horrible, and an object of contempt,

where no one lives.

38 Its people are like roaring lions and growling lion cubs.

39 When they are excited,

I will prepare a feast for them

and make them drunk so that they will shout and laugh.

They will fall into a deep sleep and never wake up again,

declares the LORD.

40 I will take them to be slaughtered like lambs, rams, and male goats.

41 “Sheshach has been captured.

Babylon, the city that the whole world praised, has been taken captive.

42 What a horrifying sight Babylon will be to the nations!

The sea will rise over Babylon,

and its roaring waves will cover it.

43 Its cities will be ruined.

It will become a desert, a land where no one lives

and where no human travels.

44 I will punish Bel in Babylon.

I will make Bel spit out everything that it has swallowed.

Nations will no longer stream to Babylon,

and its walls will fall.

45 “Leave it, my people!

Run for your lives!

Run from the burning anger of the LORD.

46 Don’t lose courage or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land.

One rumor comes one year; another rumor comes the next year.

Rumors of violence are in the land.

Rumors that one ruler will fight against another are in the land.

47 That is why the days are coming when I will punish Babylon’s idols.

The whole country will be put to shame,

and all its soldiers will lie dead.

48 Then heaven and earth and everything in them will rejoice over Babylon,

because destroyers from the north will attack it,”

declares the LORD.

51:33–48   Babylon’s time has come. Your roaring waves will overwhelm it. You’ll take up your people’s cause and capture the city that caused them pain.

49 Because the people of Babylon have killed many Israelites

and because they have killed many people throughout the earth,

Babylon must fall.

50 You people who escaped from the sword, leave!

Don’t just stand there.

Remember the LORD in a distant land, and think about Jerusalem.

51 We have been put to shame, and we have been disgraced.

Shame covers our faces, because foreigners have gone

into the holy places of the LORD’s temple.

52 “That is why the days are coming,” declares the LORD,

“when I will punish their idols,

and those who are wounded will moan everywhere in the land.

53 The people of Babylon might go up to heaven.

They might fortify their strongholds.

But destroyers will still come from me against them,”

declares the LORD.

54 Cries of agony are heard from Babylon.

Sounds of terrible destruction are heard

from the land of the Babylonians.

55 The LORD will destroy Babylon.

He will silence the loud noise coming from it.

Waves of enemies will come roaring in like raging water.

The noise will be heard everywhere.

56 A destroyer will attack Babylon,

its soldiers will be captured,

and their bows and arrows will be broken.

“I, the LORD, am a God who punishes evil.

I will certainly punish them.

57 I will make their officials and wise men drunk,

along with their governors, officers, and soldiers.

They will fall into a deep sleep and never wake up,”

declares the king, whose name is the LORD of Armies.

58 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

The thick walls of Babylon will be leveled,

and its high gates will be set on fire.

People exhaust themselves for nothing.

The nations wear themselves out only to have a fire.

51:49–58   Babylon must pay for killing people across the earth. You are a God who puts an end to evil. You will most certainly punish.

59 This is the message that the prophet Jeremiah gave to Seraiah, son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, when Seraiah went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s rule. (Seraiah was the quartermaster.)

60 Jeremiah wrote on a scroll all the disasters that would happen to Babylon. He wrote all these things that have been written about Babylon. 61 Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all this. 62 Then say, ‘LORD, you have threatened to destroy this place so that no person or animal will live here, and it will become a permanent ruin.’ 63 When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River. 64 Say, ‘Babylon will sink like this scroll. It will never rise again because of the disasters that I will bring on it.’”

The words of Jeremiah end here.

51:59–64   You spoke to the weeping prophet. He wrote all the things you said. He spoke everything you told him to say.

The Fall of Jerusalem—2 Kings 24:18–25:26; 2 Chronicles 36:11–12; Jeremiah 39:1–10

52

1 Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. 2 Zedekiah did what the LORD considered evil, as Jehoiakim had done. 3 The LORD became angry with Jerusalem and Judah and threw the people out of his sight.

Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4 On the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with his entire army. They set up camp and built dirt ramps around the city walls. 5 The blockade of the city lasted until Zedekiah’s eleventh year as king. 6 On the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city became so severe that the common people had no food.

7 The enemy broke through the city walls, and all Judah’s soldiers fled. They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls beside the king’s garden. While the Babylonians were attacking the city from all sides, they took the road to the plain ⌞of Jericho⌟. 8 The Babylonian army pursued King Zedekiah and caught up with him in the plain of Jericho. His entire army had deserted him. 9 The Babylonians captured the king and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah in Hamath, where the king of Babylon passed sentence on him. 10 The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons as Zedekiah watched. He also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at Riblah. 11 Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze shackles. The king of Babylon took him to Babylon and put him in a prison, where he stayed until he died.

52:1–11   You threw your people out of your sight. Common people went hungry. Soldiers fled. The king watched his sons slaughtered. He lost his sight and was led away in shackles.

12 On the tenth day of the fifth month of Nebuchadnezzar’s nineteenth year as king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, who was the captain of the guard and an officer of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 13 He burned down the LORD’s temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem. Every important building was burned down. 14 The entire Babylonian army that was with the captain of the guard tore down the walls around Jerusalem.

15 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, captured the few people left in the city, those who surrendered to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population. 16 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some of the poorest people in the land to work in the vineyards and on the farms.

52:12–16   The enemy burned the temple and palace. They torched every home and tore down city walls. Your word always comes to pass.

17 The Babylonians broke apart the bronze pillars of the LORD’s temple, the stands, and the bronze pool in the LORD’s temple. They shipped all the bronze to Babylon. 18 They took the pots, shovels, snuffers, bowls, dishes, and all the bronze utensils used in the temple service. 19 The captain of the guard also took pans, incense burners, bowls, pots, lamp stands, dishes, and the bowls used for wine offerings. The captain of the guard took all of the trays and bowls that were made of gold or silver. 20 The bronze from the 2 pillars, the pool, and the 12 bronze bulls under the stands that King Solomon had made for the LORD’s temple couldn’t be weighed. 21 One pillar was 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference. It was three inches thick and hollow. 22 The capital that was on it was 7½ feet high with a filigree and pomegranates around it. They were all made of bronze. The second pillar was the same. It also had pomegranates. 23 There were 96 pomegranates on the sides. The total number of pomegranates on the surrounding filigree was 100.

24 The captain of the guard took the chief priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the 3 doorkeepers. 25 From the city he also took an army commander, 7 men who had access to the king whom he found in the city, the scribe who was in charge of the militia, and 60 common people whom he found in the city. 26 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27 The king of Babylon executed them at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So the people of Judah were captives as they left their land.

28 These are the people Nebuchadnezzar took captive: In his seventh year as king, he took 3,023 Jews. 29 In his eighteenth year, Nebuchadnezzar took 832 people from Jerusalem. 30 In Nebuchadnezzar’s twenty-third year as king, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took away 745 Jews. In all, 4,600 people were taken away.

52:17–30   The Babylonians emptied your temple of its wealth—dishes and shovels, all the gold, silver, and bronze. The enemy killed and took captives. Your word always comes true.

King Jehoiakin Released from Prison—2 Kings 25:27–30

31 On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the imprisonment of King Jehoiakin of Judah, King Evil Merodach of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, freed King Jehoiakin of Judah and released him from prison. 32 He treated him well and gave him a special position higher than the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 Jehoiakin no longer wore prison clothes, and he ate his meals in the king’s presence as long as he lived. 34 The king of Babylon gave him a daily food allowance as long as he lived.

52:31–34   You gave hope in the midst of disaster. Jehoiakin went free and ate at the king’s table. You had a plan to reclaim all your people. Your word never fails.

LAMENTATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Lamentations communicates deep sadness. “Look how deserted Jerusalem is!” this book begins. “Once the city was crowded with people. Once it was important among the nations. Now it is a widow. Once it was a princess among the provinces. Now it does forced labor. Jerusalem cries bitterly at night with tears running down its cheeks” (Lamentations 1:1–2).

With the people of Judah stolen away as captives by Babylonian invaders, their tears flow endlessly. Centuries of disobeying God and ignoring prophetic warnings had resulted in the kingdom falling to a foreign army. Thousands were taken prisoner and marched hundreds of miles to an alien land.

The book’s title means to “cry out,” a fitting label for this somber book. Each chapter of Lamentations contains a funeral song expressing deep sorrow for the destruction of Jerusalem, the nation’s spiritual capital and home to the temple, the place of God’s intense presence on earth. As the people wail with grief, they find moments of hope in the Lord’s compassion. Praying this book invites you to grieve the destructive results of sin, confess your own stubborn resistance to God, and express thanks for his never-ending mercy.

LAMENTATIONS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5

The Prophet Speaks Out: No One Offers Comfort

1  [1]

1 “Look how deserted Jerusalem is!

Once the city was crowded with people.

Once it was important among the nations.

Now it is a widow.

Once it was a princess among the provinces.

Now it does forced labor.

2 Jerusalem cries bitterly at night with tears running down its cheeks.

Out of all those who love the city, no one offers it comfort.

All of Jerusalem’s friends have betrayed it and become its enemies.

3 “Judah has been exiled after ⌞much⌟ suffering and harsh treatment.

Its ⌞people⌟ live among the nations; they find no rest.

Those who chased them caught up with them

in places where there was no way out.

4 “The roads to Zion are deserted.[2]

No one comes to the annual festivals.

No one passes through any of its gates.[3]

Its priests are groaning.

Its young women are made to suffer.

Zion is bitter.

5 Its opponents are now in control.

Its enemies have no worries.

The LORD made Zion suffer for its many rebellious acts.

Its children go ahead of their opponents into captivity.

6 All splendor has abandoned the people of Zion.

Its influential people were like deer that couldn’t find any pasture.

They ran without any strength ahead of the hunters.

1:1–6   I cry bitterly but get no comfort. You sent me away for my sin. I suffer for my many rebellious acts.

7 “Now, during its suffering and oppression,

Jerusalem remembers all the treasures it had from ancient times,

when its people fell into the power of their enemies

with no one to help them.

Their opponents looked on, and they laughed at Jerusalem’s downfall.

8 Jerusalem has sinned so much that it has become a filthy thing.

Everyone who used to honor it now despises it.

They’ve seen it naked.

Jerusalem groans and turns away.

9 Jerusalem’s own filth ⌞covers⌟ its clothes.

It gave no thought to its future.

Its downfall was shocking.

No one offers it comfort.

‘O LORD, look at my suffering,

because my enemies have triumphed.’

10 The enemies laid their hands on all of the city’s treasures.

Jerusalem has seen the nations enter the holy place.

‘O Lord, they are the same people

you have forbidden to enter your congregation.’

11 All the people are groaning as they beg for bread.

They trade their treasures for food to keep themselves alive.

‘O LORD, look and see how despised I am!’”

1:7–11   I remember the riches I once possessed. But I’ve sinned so much I became a filthy thing. Everyone has seen me naked. My enemies laugh at my downfall.

Zion Speaks Out: No One Offers Comfort

12 “Doesn’t this affect all of you who pass by?

Look and see if there’s any pain

like the pain that the LORD has caused me,

like the pain that he has made me suffer on the day of his fierce anger.

13 He sent fire from above.

He made it go deep into my bones.

He spread a net for my feet.

He made me turn back.

He has left me devastated.

He has made me sick all day long.

14 My rebellious acts are a heavy burden for me.

They were tied together by God’s own hands.

They were tied around my neck.

He has weakened me ⌞with them⌟.

The Lord has handed me over to people I cannot oppose.[4]

15 The Lord has treated all the warriors inside my ⌞walls⌟ with contempt.

He called an army to defeat my young men.

The LORD trampled the people of Judah in a winepress.

16 I’m crying because of ⌞all⌟ these things.

My eyes—my eyes flow with tears.

No one can give me the comfort I need to keep me alive.

Everyone is too far away from me.

My children are devastated because my enemies have won.”

1:12–16   Doesn’t anyone care about the pain you’ve caused me? You tied my sin around my neck. You handed me to enemies too powerful for me to defeat.

17 Zion holds out its hands.

No one offers it comfort.

The LORD has given this order about Jacob:

His own neighbors will become his opponents.

Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.

18 “The LORD is right in what he did,

because I rebelled against his word.

Please listen, all you people, and look at my pain.

My young women and young men have gone into captivity.

19 I called for those who love me, but they betrayed me.

My priests and leaders breathed their last breath in the city,

looking for food to keep themselves alive.

20 “O LORD, see the distress I’m in!

My stomach is churning.

My heart is pounding because I’ve been very bitter.

In the streets swords kill my children.

Inside the houses it’s like death.

21 “All my enemies have heard that I am groaning.

No one offers me comfort.

All my enemies have heard about my disaster.

They are happy that you did it.

You have allowed the day to come, the one that you had announced.

Let my enemies be like me now.[5]

22 Recall all of their wickedness.

Then deal with them as you have dealt with me

because of all my rebellious acts.

I groan so much and feel so sick at heart.”

1:17–22   My lovers have betrayed me. No one who joined my sin has come to help. Can’t you see my distress? Doesn’t anyone else deserve your punishment?

The Prophet Speaks Out: The LORD Destroyed Zion

2  [6]

1 “Look how the Lord has covered the people of Zion

with the cloud of his anger!

He has thrown down Israel’s beauty from heaven to earth.

He didn’t ⌞even⌟ remember his footstool on the day of his anger.

2 The Lord swallowed up all of Jacob’s pastures without any pity.

He tore down the fortified cities of Judah in his fury.

He brought the kingdom ⌞of Judah⌟ and its leaders

down to the ground in dishonor.

3 In his burning anger he cut off all of Israel’s strength.

He withdrew his right hand when they faced their enemy.

He burned like a raging fire in ⌞the land of⌟ Jacob,

destroying everything around him.

4 Like an enemy he bent his bow.

Like an opponent his right hand held the arrow steady.

He killed all the beautiful people.

He poured out his fury like fire on the tent of Zion’s people.

5 The Lord became an enemy.

He swallowed up Israel.

He swallowed up all of its palaces.

He destroyed its strongholds.

He made the people of Judah mourn and moan.

6 He stripped his own booth as if it were a garden

and destroyed his own festivals.

The LORD wiped out the memory of festivals and days of worship in Zion.

He expelled kings and priests because of his fierce anger.

7 The Lord rejected his altar and disowned his holy place.

He handed the walls of Zion’s palaces over to its enemies.

The enemies made noise in the LORD’s temple

as though it were a festival day.

8 The LORD planned to destroy the wall of Zion’s people.

He marked it off with a line.

He didn’t take his hand away until he had swallowed it up.

He made the towers and walls mourn.

They are completely dejected.

2:1–8   You’ve destroyed my beauty. You swallowed up my pastures without pity. You sap my strength and burn like a fire against me. You’ve become my enemy.

The Prophet Describes Jerusalem’s Destruction

9 “⌞Zion’s⌟ gates have sunk into the ground.

⌞The LORD⌟ destroyed and shattered the bars across its ⌞gates⌟.

Its king and influential people are ⌞scattered⌟ among the nations.

There is no longer any instruction ⌞from Moses’ Teachings⌟.

Its prophets can find no visions from the LORD.

10 The respected leaders of Zion’s people sit silently on the ground.

They throw dirt on their heads and put on sackcloth.

The young women of Jerusalem bow their heads to the ground.

11 My eyes are worn out with tears.

My stomach is churning.

My heart is poured out on the ground

because of the destruction of my people.

Little children and infants faint in the city streets.

12 They’re asking their mothers for some bread and wine

as they faint like wounded people in the city streets.

Their lives dwindle away in their mothers’ arms.

2:9–12   I’ve gone without your teachings. I don’t see you at all. My heart spills on the ground for myself and everyone like me.

The Prophet Speaks Out: The LORD Destroyed You

13 “What example can I give you?

What parallel can I show you, people of Jerusalem?

What comparison can I make that will comfort you, beloved people of Zion?

Your wounds are as deep as the sea.

Who can heal you?

14 Your prophets saw misleading visions about you.

They painted a good picture of you.

They didn’t expose your guilt in order to make things better again.

They gave you false prophecies that misled you.

15 Everyone who walks along the road shakes a fist at you.

They hiss and shake their heads at Jerusalem’s people:

‘Is this the city they used to call absolutely beautiful,

the joy of the whole world?’

16 All your enemies gawk at you.

They hiss and grit their teeth.

They say, ‘We’ve swallowed it up.

Yes, this is the day we’ve been waiting for.

At last we have seen it!’

2:13–16   No one helped me see the real me. No one exposed my guilt to help me get better. All I got from prophets were lies.

17 The LORD has accomplished what he had planned to do.

He carried out the threat he announced long ago.

He tore you down without any pity, ⌞Jerusalem⌟.

He made your enemies gloat over you.

He raised the weapons of your opponents.

18 The hearts of Jerusalem’s people

cried out to the LORD, the wall of Zion’s people.

Let your tears run down like a river day and night.

Don’t let them stop.

Don’t let your eyes rest.

19 Get up! Cry out at night, every hour on the hour.

Pour your heart out like water in the presence of the LORD.

Lift up your hands to him ⌞in prayer⌟

for the life of your little children

who faint from hunger at every street corner.”

2:17–19   I never quit crying to you but you still carried out your threats. Now I pour out my heart in your presence. I lift up my hands in prayer.

Zion Speaks Out: The LORD Destroyed Me

20 “O LORD, look and consider:

Have you ever treated anyone like this?

Should women eat their own children,

the children they have nursed?

Should priests and prophets be killed in the Lord’s holy place?

21 Young and old lie on the ground in the streets.

My young women and men are cut down by swords.

You killed them on the day of your anger.

You slaughtered them without any pity.

22 You have invited those who terrorize me on every side,

as though they were invited to a festival.

No one escaped or survived on the day of the LORD’s anger.

My enemy has murdered the children I nursed and raised.”

2:20–22   In your fury you killed me. Without pity you slaughtered me. I didn’t survive your anger.

The Prophet—A Man of Despair

3  [7]

1 “I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod  of God’s fury.

2 God has driven me away

and made me walk in darkness instead of light.

3 He beat me again and again all day long.

4 He has made my flesh and my skin waste away.

He has broken my bones.

5 He has attacked me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

6 He has made me live in darkness,

like those who died a long time ago.

7 He has blocked me so that I can’t get out.

He has put heavy chains on me.

8 Even when I cry and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.

3:1–8   You beat me again and again for my sin. You bind me with heavy chains. When I cry for help, you shut out my prayer.

9 He has blocked my way with cut stones and made my paths crooked.

10 He is like a bear waiting to ambush me, like a lion in hiding.

11 He has forced me off the road I was taking, torn me to pieces,

and left me with nothing.

12 He has drawn his bow and made me the target for his arrows.

13 He has shot the arrows from his quiver into my heart.

14 I have become a laughingstock to all my people.

All day long ⌞they make fun of me⌟ with their songs.

15 He has filled me with bitterness.

He has made me drink wormwood.

16 He has ground my teeth with gravel.

He has trampled me into the dust.

17 “My soul has been kept from enjoying peace.

I have forgotten what happiness is.

18 I said, ‘I’ve lost my strength ⌞to live⌟ and my hope in the LORD.’

19 Remember my suffering and my ⌞aimless⌟ wandering,

the wormwood and poison.

20 My soul continues to remember ⌞these things⌟ and is so discouraged.

3:9–20   You block my way of escape. You fill my heart with arrows. Why have you made me a laughingstock? Why can’t I enjoy some peace?

The Prophet—A Man of Hope

21 “The reason I can ⌞still⌟ find hope is that I keep this one thing in mind:

22 the LORD’s mercy.

We were not completely wiped out.

His compassion is never limited.

23 It is new every morning.

His faithfulness is great.

3:21–23   I only have hope because of your mercy. It’s the only reason you don’t wipe me out. Your compassion is limitless, fresh every morning. Your faithfulness is great.

24 My soul can say, ‘The LORD is my lot ⌞in life⌟.

That is why I find hope in him.’

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him,

to anyone who seeks help from him.

Authentic Prayer

Lamentations 3:21–30

Hope

The reason I can still find hope is that I keep this one thing in mind: the LORD’s mercy. Lamentations 3:21–22

The Lord brings hope when dreams die. Lamentations comprises five funeral songs, likely the writings of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. These dirges convey a nation’s utter despair at its captivity in a distant land, revealing the brokenness of both the physical city of Jerusalem and its citizens. Even the prophet has lost the will to live. Yet there is a reason he still finds hope: the Lord’s mercy.

Biblical hope is more than a wish or desire based on human imagination or emotion. It’s a confident expectancy founded on God. Jeremiah notes that the Lord’s anger hasn’t wiped out his people. His boundless compassion arrives fresh every morning. Jeremiah calls God his “lot” or “portion” (Lamentations 3:24), the only thing left in life and his sole reason for hope. The Lord is good to everyone who looks for his help.

In dark moments you might have no expectation of anything good ever coming your way again. But put your hope in God, whose mercy never ends, and let yourself dream again. Then tell God why you still believe in him.

Pray the Scriptures Hope: Psalm 27:13–14, Psalm 71:1–6, Jeremiah 29:10–14, Romans 5:1–5

26 “It is good to continue to hope and wait silently

for the LORD to save us.

27 It is good for people to endure burdens when they’re young.

28 They should sit alone and remain silent

because the LORD has laid these burdens on them.

29 They should put their mouths in the dust.

Maybe a reason to hope exists.

30 They should turn their cheeks to the one who strikes them

and take their fill of insults.

3:24–30   You’re all I have. And I know you’re good to anyone who looks to you. I’ll wait silently for you to save me.

31 “The Lord will not reject ⌞such⌟ people forever.

32 Even if he makes us suffer,

he will have compassion

in keeping with the richness of his mercy.

33 He does not willingly bring suffering or grief to anyone,

34 crush any prisoner on earth underfoot,

35 deny people their rights in the presence of the Most High God,

36 or deprive people of justice in court.

The Lord isn’t happy to see ⌞these things⌟.

37 Who was it who spoke and it came into being?

It was the Lord who gave the order.

38 Both good and bad come from the mouth of the Most High God.

39 “Why should any living mortal (any person)

complain about being punished for sin?

40 Let us look closely at our ways and examine them

and then return to the LORD.

41 Let us raise our hearts and hands to God in heaven.

3:31–41   You won’t reject me forever. You don’t willingly make me suffer. Why should I complain about being punished for sin? I’ll examine my life and come back to you.

42 “We have been disobedient and rebellious.

You haven’t forgiven us.

43 You covered yourself with anger and pursued us.

You killed without pity.

44 You covered yourself with a cloud

so that no prayer could get through it.

45 You made us the scum and trash of the nations.

46 All our enemies gawk at us.

47 Panic and pitfalls have found us, so have devastation and destruction.

48 “Streams of tears run down from my eyes

over the ruin of my dear people.

49 My eyes will keep flowing without stopping for a moment

50 until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

51 What I see with my eyes disturbs me deeply

because of all the young women in my city.[8]

3:42–51   Tears stream down my face for my ruin. I’ll keep crying until you notice.

52 “Those who were my enemies for no reason hunted me like a bird.

53 They threw me alive into a pit and threw rocks at me.

54 Water flowed over my head. I thought I was finished.

55 “I call your name from the deepest pit, O LORD.

56 Listen to my cry ⌞for help⌟.

Don’t close your ears when I cry out for relief.

57 Be close at hand when I call to you. You told me not to be afraid.

3:52–57   I was tossed in a pit and struck with rocks. Water flowed over my head. I thought I was done. I’ll keep crying to you from the pit.

58 Plead my case for me, O LORD. Reclaim my life.

59 Look at the wrong that has been done to me, O LORD.

Give me a fair verdict.

60 Look at all their malice, all their plots against me.

61 Listen to their insults, all their plots against me.

62 The words and thoughts of those who attack me

are directed against me all day long.

63 Look at them! Whether they are sitting or standing,

they make fun of me in their songs.

64 Pay them back, O LORD, for what they deserve,

for what their own hands have done.

65 Make them stubborn. Let your curse be on them.

66 Pursue them in anger, and wipe them out from under the LORD’s heaven.”

3:58–66   I don’t think I deserve this. Look at everything wrong done to me. Where is your justice?

The Prophet Speaks Out: Zion’s Suffering Was Worse Than Sodom’s

4  [9]

1 “Look how the gold has become tarnished!

The fine gold has changed!

The sacred stones are scattered at every street corner.

2 “Zion’s precious children, who are worth their weight in fine gold,

are now treated like clay pots,

like those made by a potter’s hands.

3 Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young,

but the women of my people are as cruel as wild ostriches.

4 The tongues of nursing infants stick to the roofs of their mouths

because of their thirst.

Little children beg for bread,

but no one will break off a piece for them.

5 Those who used to eat delicacies are now destitute in the streets.

Those who used to wear expensive clothes now pick through piles of garbage.

6 The punishment for my people’s wickedness has been more severe

than the punishment for the sins of Sodom.

Sodom was destroyed instantly, without one human hand touching it.

4:1–6   I used to eat fine food, but now I live in the streets. I used to dress well, but now I pick through garbage. My punishment is worse than Sodom’s.

7 Zion’s princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk.

Their bodies were more pink than coral.

Their hair was like sapphires.

8 Their faces are ⌞now⌟ blacker than soot.

No one recognizes them on the streets.

Their skin has shriveled on their bones.

It has become as dry as bark.

9 Those who were killed with swords are better off

than those who are dying from starvation.

Those who were stabbed bled to death.

The others are dying because there is nothing in the fields to eat.

10 The hands of loving mothers cooked their own children.

The children were used for food by my people

when they were being destroyed ⌞by a blockade⌟.

11 The LORD’s fury has accomplished his purpose.

He unleashed his burning anger.

He started a fire in Zion that even burned its foundations.

4:7–11   You unleashed your burning anger, and your fury has accomplished its purpose. I know my sin. Now I want nothing but you.

12 Neither the kings of the earth nor anyone living on earth could believe

that enemies or invaders would ever get through the gates of Jerusalem.

13 ⌞They got through⌟ because of the sins of Jerusalem’s prophets

and the crimes of its priests,

who spilled the blood of righteous people within it.

14 My people staggered blindly through the streets.

They were so contaminated with bloodstains

that no one would touch their clothes.

15 ‘Get away! You’re unclean,’[10] people yelled at them.

‘Get away! Get away! Don’t touch anyone.’

When they fled and wandered around,

the people of the nations said, ‘They can’t stay here any longer.’

16 The LORD himself has scattered them.

He will no longer look favorably on them.

They no longer respected the priests,

nor did they honor their older leaders.”

4:12–16   The sins of spiritual leaders made me easy prey. I became unclean. People shunned me, and you drove me away.

The People of Zion Speak Out

17 “We are still straining our eyes, trying in vain to find help.

We waited and waited for a nation that didn’t save us.

18 ⌞The enemy⌟ kept tracking us down,

so we couldn’t even go out into the streets.

Our end was near.

Our time was up.

Our end had come.

19 Those who were hunting us were faster than eagles in the sky.

They chased us in the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.

20 The person the LORD anointed ⌞as king⌟, who is the breath of our life,

was caught in their pits.

We had thought that we would live

in our king’s shadow among the nations.”

The Prophet Speaks Out: Be Warned about Edom’s Impending Doom

21 “Rejoice and be glad, people of Edom, inhabitants of the country of Uz.

The cup ⌞of the LORD’s fury⌟ will be passed to you next.

You’ll get drunk and take off all your clothes.

22 People of Zion, the punishment for your wickedness will end.

The LORD will not let you remain in exile.

People of Edom, he will punish you for your wickedness.

He will expose your sins.”

4:17–22   My eyes hurt from looking for your help, but you don’t save me. My time is up.

A Prayer of the Prophet

5

1 “Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us.

Take a look at our disgrace!

2 “The land we inherited has been turned over to strangers.

Our homes have been turned over to foreigners.

3 We are orphans without a father.

Our mothers are like widows.

4 We have to pay to drink our own water.

We have to pay to chop our own wood.

5 ⌞Our enemies⌟ are breathing down our necks.

We are worn out ⌞and⌟ not permitted to rest.

6 We had to beg Egypt and Assyria for food.[11]

7 Our ancestors sinned.

Now they are gone,

⌞but⌟ we have to take the punishment for their wickedness.

8 Slaves rule us.

There is no one to rescue us from them.

9 To get our food, we have to risk our lives

in the heat[12] of the desert.

5:1–9   Remember my fate! Look at my disgrace! I’m an orphan. I’m worn out from enemies breathing down my neck.

10 Our skin is as hot as an oven from the burning heat of starvation.

11 Women in Zion are raped, so are the girls in the cities of Judah.

12 ⌞Our⌟ leaders are hung by their hands.

⌞Our⌟ older leaders are shown no respect.

13 ⌞Our⌟ young men work at the mill,

and ⌞our⌟ boys stagger under loads of wood.

14 ⌞Our⌟ older leaders have stopped meeting at the city gate,

and ⌞our⌟ young men no longer play their music.

15 There is no joy left in our hearts.

Our dancing has turned into mourning.

16 The crown has fallen from our head.

Because we have sinned, it has been disastrous for us.

17 This is why we feel sick.

This is why our eyes see less and less.

18 Foxes roam around on Mount Zion, which lies in ruins.

5:10–18   My skin feels oven-baked. I’m violated and disrespected, a slave staggering under heavy loads. I feel no joy.

19 “But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever,

and your reign continues throughout every generation.

20 Why have you completely forgotten us?

Why have you abandoned us for such a long time?

21 O LORD, bring us back to you, and we’ll come back.

Give us back the life we had long ago,

22 unless you have completely rejected us

⌞and⌟ are very angry with us.”

5:19–22   Can I have my life back? Can I come back to you? Or have you forgotten me? You sit enthroned forever, and your reign is everlasting.

EZEKIEL

INTRODUCTION

Ezekiel shines with God’s glory. Right from the start, this book might make you wonder if the prophet Ezekiel struggled to put dazzling visions into words. It opens with a penetrating look into heaven. The prophet sees a cloud flooded with light resembling hot metal. He spies four fantastic flying creatures accompanied by whirring wheels within wheels. Up high is a dome of bright crystal, and above all is a throne where the Lord blazes like fire.

Ezekiel’s unusual communications fill this book, and heaven isn’t his only vision. He sees a valley of dry bones rattle back to life (Ezekiel 37:1–28) and explores a new temple designed by God (Ezekiel 40:1–48:35). To get attention for God’s messages he employs startling props and actions, like lying on his side for more than a year (Ezekiel 4:1–17) and digging through the wall of his house (Ezekiel 12:1–28). He pronounces judgment on Jerusalem for its idolatry, calls out false prophets, and compares Israel and Judah to prostitutes. He looks forward to a cataclysmic war at the end of time. He watches the Lord’s glory depart (Ezekiel 10:18) but also sees it return (Ezekiel 43:2).

Ezekiel preached at a time when people needed a fresh vision of God. As they endured captivity in Babylon, they had to be jolted out of their resignation and reassured they will return to their homeland and again see God’s glory. Praying this book urges you to be honest about your own spiritual condition and to expect new insights into God.

EZEKIEL

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Ezekiel Sees the LORD’s Throne

1

1 On the fifth day of the fourth month in the thirtieth year, while I was living among the exiles by the Chebar River, the sky opened, and I saw visions from God. 2 On the fifth day of the month, during the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiakin, 3 the LORD spoke his word to the priest Ezekiel, son of Buzi, in Babylon by the Chebar River. The power of the LORD came over Ezekiel.

4 As I looked, I saw a storm coming from the north. There was an immense cloud with flashing lightning surrounded by a bright light. The middle of the lightning looked like glowing metal. 5 In the center of the cloud I saw what looked like four living creatures. They were shaped like humans, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, their feet were like those of calves, and they glittered like polished bronze. 8 They had human hands under their wings on each of their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings. 9 Their wings touched each other. The creatures went straight ahead, and they did not turn as they moved.

10 Their faces looked like this: From the front, each creature had the face of a human. From the right, each one had the face of a lion. From the left, each one had the face of a bull. And from the back, each one had the face of an eagle. 11 That is what their faces looked like. Their wings were spread out, pointing upward. Each creature had two wings with which they touched each other. The other two wings covered their bodies. 12 Each of the creatures went straight ahead. They went wherever their spirit wanted to go, and they didn’t turn as they moved. 13 The living creatures looked like burning coals and torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning came out of the fire. 14 The living creatures ran back and forth like lightning.

1:1–14   You opened the sky and let Ezekiel see you. Winged creatures moved wherever their spirits wanted to go. They looked like burning coals, and fire shot between them.

15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each of them. 16 This is how the wheels looked and how they were made: They looked like beryl. All four wheels looked the same. They looked like a wheel within a wheel. 17 Whenever they moved, they moved in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. 18 The rims of the wheels were large and frightening. They were covered with eyes.

19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved with them. When the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20 Wherever their spirit wanted to go, the creatures went. The wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 So whenever the creatures moved, the wheels moved. Whenever the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still. And whenever the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

22 Something like a dome was spread over the heads of the living creatures. It looked like dazzling crystal. 23 Under the dome, each creature had two wings that were stretched out straight, touching one another. Each creature had two wings that covered its body. 24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings. The sound was like the noise of rushing water, like the thunder of the Almighty, like the commotion in an army camp. When the creatures stood still, they lowered their wings.

1:15–24   Your prophet saw wheels within wheels, frightening rims covered with eyes. A crystal dome dazzled over the heads of the living creatures.

25 A voice came from above the dome over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered. 26 Above the dome over their heads was something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. On the throne was a figure that looked like a human. 27 Then I saw what he looked like from the waist up. He looked like glowing bronze with fire all around it. From the waist down, he looked like fire. A bright light surrounded him. 28 The brightness all around him looked like a rainbow in the clouds. It was like the LORD’s glory. When I saw it, I immediately bowed down, and I heard someone speaking.

1:25–28   Above the dome was a sapphire throne. On the throne sat a figure glowing like fire. When I see your glory, I bow.

Ezekiel’s Vision of a Scroll

2

1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up, and I will speak to you.” 2 As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me, stood me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

3 He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel. They are people from a nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have rebelled against me to this day. 4 I am sending you to these defiant and stubborn children. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says.’ 5 Whether these rebellious people listen or not, they will realize that a prophet has been among them. 6 Son of man, don’t be afraid of them or the things they say. Don’t be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Don’t let the things they say frighten you. Don’t be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people. 7 Speak my words to them whether they listen or not, because they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say. Don’t be rebellious like those rebellious people. Open your mouth, and eat what I am giving to you.”

9 As I looked, I saw a hand stretched out toward me. In it was a scroll. 10 He spread the scroll in front of me. There was writing on the front and back. There were funeral songs, songs of mourning, and horrible things written on it.

2:1–10   You stood Ezekiel on his feet. You spoke to him and sent him to your defiant children. You said he should speak whether they listened or not. You filled his mouth with horrible words.

3

1 The LORD said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find. Eat this scroll. Then speak to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I’m giving you, and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4 He said to me, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel, and speak my words to them. 5 I am not sending you to people whose language is hard to understand or difficult to speak. I am sending you to Israel. 6 I am not sending you to nations whose language is hard to understand, difficult to speak, or whose words you cannot understand. If I send you to those nations, they will certainly listen to you. 7 But the people of Israel will refuse to listen to you because they refuse to listen to me. All the people of Israel are very stubborn and hardheaded. 8 Yet, I will make you as stubborn and as hardheaded as they are. 9 I will make you as hard as a diamond, harder than stone. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people.”

3:1–9   Your people refused Ezekiel like they refused you. Make me your bold spokesperson, as hard as a diamond, as fearless as the people I speak to.

10 He also said to me, “Son of man, take to heart everything I have spoken to you, and listen closely. 11 Go to the exiles, to your people. Whether they listen or not, tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says.’”

12 Then the Spirit lifted me, and behind me I heard a loud thundering voice say, “Blessed is the LORD’s glory, which left this place.” 13 I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures touching one another and the noise of the wheels beside them as well as a loud rumbling. 14 Then the Spirit lifted me and took me away. I went away feeling bitter and angry. The strong power of the LORD came over me. 15 I went to Tel Abib, to the exiles who lived by the Chebar River. I sat there among them for seven days. I was stunned.

3:10–15   I’m stunned when you speak to me. Your strong power leaves me bitter and angry.

Ezekiel Is Appointed to Be a Watchman

16 After seven days the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the people of Israel. Listen to what I say, and warn them for me. 18 Suppose I tell you that wicked people will surely die, but you don’t warn them or speak out so that they can change their wicked ways in order to save their lives. Then these wicked people will die because of their sin, but I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 19 But suppose you warn the wicked people, and they don’t turn from their wicked ways. Then they will die because of their sin, but you will save yourself. 20 If righteous people turn from living the right way and do wrong, I will make them stumble, and they will die. If you don’t warn them, they will die because of their sin, and the right things they did will not be remembered. I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 21 But if you warn righteous people not to sin, and they don’t sin, they will certainly live because they listened to the warning. You will save yourself.”

3:16–21   Make me a faithful watchman over your people. If I don’t warn them, I’ll be guilty of their deaths. If they don’t listen, I’ve at least done what you ask.

The LORD Gives Ezekiel Directions to Follow

22 The power of the LORD came over me. He said, “Get up, and go to the plain. I will speak to you there.” 23 I got up and went to the plain. The LORD’s glory was standing there like the glory I saw by the Chebar River, and I immediately bowed down.

24 Then the Spirit entered me and stood me on my feet. He talked to me. He said, “Go into your home, and shut yourself inside. 25 People will tie you up with ropes, son of man, so that you can’t go outside. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you can’t talk or criticize them, even though they are rebellious people. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth. You will tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says.’ Some will listen, and some will refuse to listen. They are rebellious people.”

3:22–27   I bow when I see your glory. Stand me up and teach me to speak. Open my mouth, and I’ll tell everyone what you say.

Ezekiel Plays Out the Blockade of Jerusalem

4

1 ⌞The LORD said,⌟ “Son of man, take clay, put it in front of you, and draw a map of Jerusalem on it. 2 Set up a blockade against it, build attack walls around it, put up dirt ramps around it, have troops ready to attack it, and place battering rams all around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, and set it up as a wall between you and the city. Turn your face toward the city as if you were going to attack it, and then attack it. This is a sign for the people of Israel.

4 “Then lie on your left side and take the punishment of the nation of Israel yourself. You will bear its punishment as many days as you lie on that side. 5 I have assigned to you one day for each year its punishment will last. So for 390 days, you will bear the punishment for the sins of the nation of Israel. 6 When you finish this, you will lie down again, this time on your right side. You will bear the punishment for the sins of the nation of Judah for 40 days, one day for each year I have assigned to you. 7 Turn your face toward the blockaded Jerusalem. Shake your fist and prophesy against it. 8 I will tie you up with ropes so that you will not be able to turn from one side to the other until you have finished attacking ⌞Jerusalem⌟.

9 “Then take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and winter wheat. Put them in a container, and use them to make bread for yourself. Eat it during the 390 days that you are lying on your side. 10 The food that you eat should be weighed. Eat eight ounces of food every day at set times. 11 Measure out two-thirds of a quart of water, and drink it at set times. 12 Eat the bread as you would eat barley loaves. Bake the bread in front of people, using human excrement for fuel.”

13 Then the LORD said, “In the same way, the people of Israel will eat unclean[1] bread among the nations where I scatter them.”

14 I answered, “Almighty LORD, I have never dishonored myself. From the time I was young until now, I have never eaten an animal that died by itself or was killed by other wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”

15 He said to me, “I will let you use cow manure in place of human excrement. Bake your bread over it.”

16 He also said to me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the bread supply in Jerusalem. People will anxiously eat rationed bread and fearfully drink rationed water. 17 They will be shocked at the sight of each other because of the lack of food and water. They will waste away because of their sin.”

4:1–17   Your punishing attack looms over Jerusalem. You shake your fist at your holy city. You let your people go hungry and thirsty. They’ll waste away because of their sin.

The LORD Tells Ezekiel about the Fall of Jerusalem

5

1 ⌞The LORD said,⌟ “Son of man, take a sharp blade, and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and beard. Take scales to weigh your hair and divide it ⌞into three even parts⌟. 2 When the blockade is over, burn one-third of your hair in a fire in the middle of the city. Take another third, and cut it up with a blade around the city. Then scatter the remaining third to the wind, and I will draw a sword and go after it. 3 Take a few strands of hair, and wrap them in the hem of your clothes. 4 Later, take some of them, and throw them in a fire and burn them up. From there a fire will spread throughout the whole nation of Israel.

5 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: This is Jerusalem! I have placed it in the center of the nations with countries all around it. 6 The people of Jerusalem have rebelled against my rules and my laws more than the surrounding nations. They have rejected my rules, and they don’t live by my laws.

7 “So this is what the Almighty LORD says: ⌞People of Jerusalem,⌟ you have caused more trouble than the nations around you. You haven’t lived by my laws or obeyed my rules. You haven’t even lived up to the standards of the nations around you.

5:1–7   You put Jerusalem in the center of the nations. But your people sinned even more than neighbors who don’t know you.

8 “So this is what the Almighty LORD says: I, too, am against you, and I will punish you in front of the nations. 9 Because of all the detestable things that you do, I will do things to you that I have never done before and will never do again. 10 That is why parents will eat their children, and children will eat their parents. I will punish you and scatter whoever is left to the wind.

11 “As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, because you have dishonored my holy worship place with all your disgusting and detestable things, I will have you killed. I will not have compassion for you or feel sorry for you. 12 One-third of you will die in plagues and be devoured in famines. Another third will die in battles against those around you. I will scatter the remaining third to the wind, and I will pursue them with a sword.

5:8–12   Every nation will see you punish your people. Because of their revolting habits, you’ll let them suffer terrible things. How many need to be devoured?

13 “I will unleash my anger. I will use my fury against you, and I will get revenge. When my fury is unleashed against you, you will know that I, the LORD, spoke to you while I was angry. 14 I will turn you into a wasteland and an object of ridicule among the nations around you and in the presence of everyone who passes by you. 15 The nations that are around you will ridicule you and laugh at you. When I punish you because of my anger, fury, and fierce revenge, you will become something ridiculed and something horrible. I, the LORD, have spoken. 16 When I shoot my destructive arrows of famine at you, I will shoot to kill you. I will bring more and more famines into your land, and I will cut off your food supply. 17 I will send famines and wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children. I will send plagues, violence, and wars to kill you. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

5:13–17   You’ll show off your anger when you take your revenge. You’ll shoot to kill. Your nation will become a reason to sneer.

A Prophecy against the Mountains of Israel

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1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, look toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them. 3 Say this, ‘You mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Almighty LORD! This is what the Almighty LORD says to the mountains and hills and to the ravines and valleys: I am going to attack you with a sword and destroy your worship sites. 4 Your altars will be destroyed, and your incense burners will be smashed. I will kill people in front of your idols. 5 I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel in front of your idols, and I will scatter their bones around your altars. 6 Wherever people live, the cities will be ruined, and the worship sites will be wrecked. Your altars will be ruined and demolished. Your idols will be smashed and completely destroyed. Your incense burners will be cut down, and everything you have done will be wiped out. 7 People will be killed, and they will fall among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

6:1–7   You’ll invade the mountains and rid them of false worship. You’ll smash every god. Everyone will know you’re the Lord.

8 “‘But I will let some people live. Some people will escape the battle among the nations and be scattered throughout the countries. 9 Then those who escape will remember me among the nations where they are taken captive. I was hurt by their adulterous hearts, which turned away from me, and by their eyes, which lusted after idols. They will hate themselves for the evil and disgusting things that they have done. 10 Then you will know that I am the LORD and that the disaster I promised was not an empty threat.

11 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and say, “Oh no!” because the people of Israel have done evil and disgusting things. So they will die in wars, famines, and plagues. 12 Plagues will kill those who are far away. Those who are near will die in wars, and anyone who is left and has escaped will die in famines. This is how I will unleash my anger. 13 Then you will know that I am the LORD.

“‘Those who are killed will lie beside the idols around their altars. They will lie on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every large tree and every leafy oak. These are the places where they made offerings to their disgusting idols. 14 I will use my power against them and destroy the land, from the desert to Diblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

6:8–14   Those who survive your onslaught will scatter. Then they’ll remember you and hate their sickening habits. They’ll realize you don’t make empty threats. Everyone will understand you’re the Lord.

The LORD’s Judgment on Israel

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1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, this is what the Almighty LORD says to ⌞the people in⌟ the land of Israel: The end is coming! The end is coming to the four corners of the earth. 3 Now the end is coming for you. I will send my anger against you. I will judge you for the way you have lived, and I will punish you for all the detestable things that you have done. 4 I will not have compassion for you or feel sorry for you. I will pay you back for the way you have lived and for the detestable things you have done. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

7:1–4   I see the end coming. Please show me compassion. Don’t pay me back for the way I’ve lived.

5 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: One disaster after another is coming. 6 The end is coming. The end is coming. It is stirring itself up against you. It is coming! 7 Destruction is coming to you, inhabitants of the land. The time is coming. The day is near. There will be confusion. There will be no joy in the mountains. 8 Soon I will pour out my fury on you and unleash my anger on you. I will judge you for the way you have lived, and I will punish you for all the detestable things that you have done. 9 I will not have compassion or feel sorry. I will pay you back for the way you have lived and for the detestable things that you are still doing. Then you will know that I am the LORD and that I am the one attacking ⌞you⌟.

7:5–9   I hear you stir against me. Don’t hit me with a whirl of disaster or confusion. Check your fury and forgive my loathsome acts. Then I’ll know you’re the Lord.

10 “The day is near! It is coming! Destruction is coming! Wrongdoing has blossomed. Arrogance has flourished. 11 Violence has grown into a weapon for punishing wickedness. None of the people will be left. None of that crowd, none of their wealth, and nothing of value will be left. 12 The time is coming. The day is near. Buyers will not rejoice, and sellers will not mourn, because ⌞my⌟ fury will be against the whole crowd. 13 Sellers will not live long enough to buy back what they have sold. The visions against that crowd will not change. Because of their sins, none of the people will live. 14 They have blown a ram’s horn, and everything is ready. But no one will go into battle, because my fury is against their whole crowd.

7:10–14   Wrongdoing has blossomed. Arrogance flourishes. None of the wealthy crowd will be left when your wrath is done.

15 “Outside are swords, and inside are plagues and famines. Whoever is in a field will die in battle. Whoever is in the city will be devoured by famines and plagues. 16 Those who survive will escape to the mountains. They will moan like doves in the valleys. They will moan because of their sins. 17 Every hand will hang limp, and every knee will be as weak as water. 18 They will put on sackcloth, and horror will cover them. All their faces will be covered with shame, and every head will be shaved. 19 They will throw their silver and gold into the streets like garbage. Their silver and gold won’t be able to rescue them on the day of the LORD’s anger. It will no longer satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs. Their silver and gold caused them to fall into sin. 20 They were proud of their beautiful jewels and used them to make disgusting and detestable statues ⌞of false gods⌟. That is why I will make their jewels disgusting. 21 I will hand their jewels over to foreigners as loot and to the most evil people on earth as prizes. These foreigners will dishonor the people of Israel. 22 I will turn my face away from the people of Israel, and foreigners will dishonor my treasured place. Robbers will go in and dishonor it.

7:15–22   I moan because of my sins. My knees are weaker than water, and shame covers my head. My riches can’t rescue me. In fact, they’re what lured me into sin. I made my money into false gods.

23 “Get the chains ready! The land is filled with murder, and the city is filled with violence. 24 So I will send the most evil nation, and it will take possession of people’s houses. I will stop those who are strong from feeling proud, and their holy places will be dishonored. 25 Anguish is coming. People will look for peace, but there will be none. 26 One disaster will happen after another. One rumor will follow another. People will ask for a vision from a prophet. The teachings of priests and the advice of leaders will disappear. 27 Kings will mourn, and princes will give up hope. The common people will lose their courage. I will give them what they deserve and judge them as they have judged others. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

7:23–27   I looked for peace but found war. But I won’t stop hoping in you. Don’t take away your teachings. Please don’t give me what I deserve!

Idolatry in Jerusalem

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1 On the fifth day of the sixth month in the sixth year, I was sitting in my home. Judah’s leaders were sitting in front of me. The power of the Almighty LORD came over me. 2 As I looked, I saw something that looked like a human. From the waist down its body looked like fire, and from the waist up its body looked like glowing metal. 3 It stretched out what looked like a hand and grabbed me by the hair on my head. In these visions from God, the Spirit carried me between heaven and earth. He took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the temple. That was where an idol that stirs up ⌞God’s⌟ anger was located. 4 There I saw the glory of Israel’s God as I did in the vision that I saw in the valley.

5 God said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked toward the north, and there in the entrance to the north gate beside the altar, I saw the idol that stirs up ⌞God’s⌟ anger.

6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see what the people of Israel are doing? The people of Israel are doing very disgusting things here, things that will force me to go far away from my holy place. But you will see even more disgusting things.”

8:1–6   You grabbed Ezekiel by his hair and carried him between heaven and earth. An idol stirs up your anger. It forces you far from your holy place. I weep when my sin drives you away.

7 Then he took me to the entrance of the courtyard. As I looked, I saw a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall, and I saw a door.

9 He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked, disgusting things that the people of Israel are doing here.” 10 So I went in and looked. I saw that the walls were covered with drawings of every kind of crawling creature, every kind of disgusting animal, and all the idols in the nation of Israel. 11 In front of these drawings stood 70 of Israel’s leaders. Jaazaniah, son of Shaphan, was standing with the leaders. Each of them was holding an incense burner in his hand, and a cloud of incense went up.

12 God asked me, “Son of man, do you see what the leaders of the nation of Israel are doing in secret? Each of them is in the room where his god is, and each one of them is thinking, ‘The LORD doesn’t see me. The LORD has abandoned this land.’”

8:7–12   Disgusting things cover the walls. Leaders pick their own gods. Each one thinks, “The Lord doesn’t see me. He’s left me.” But you always see when I sin.

13 Then he said to me, “You will see even more disgusting things that they are doing.”

14 He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the LORD’s temple. Women were sitting there and crying for the god Tammuz. 15 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this? You will see even more disgusting things than these.”

16 Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of the LORD’s temple. There at the entrance to the LORD’s temple, between the entrance and the altar, were about 25 men who had their backs turned to the LORD’s temple. They were facing east and worshiping the rising sun. 17 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this? Isn’t it bad enough that the people of Judah have done these disgusting things that you have seen here? Yet, they also fill the land with violence and continue to provoke me even more. Look how they insult me in the worst possible way.[2] 18 So I will take action because I’m angry, and I won’t have compassion for them or feel sorry for them. Even if they shout in my ears, I won’t listen to them.”

8:16–18   People bow to the rising sun. They insult you in the worst possible way. You won’t feel sorry when you destroy them. Find reason to spare me!

The LORD Orders the Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem

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1 Then I heard the LORD call out with a loud voice. He said, “Come here, those who are going to punish this city. Each of you should bring your weapon with you.” 2 So six men came from the upper north gate. Each one brought a deadly weapon with him. Among them was a person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen. The men came in and stood by the bronze altar. 3 Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the angels,[3] where it had been, to the temple’s entrance. The LORD called to the person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen.

4 The LORD said to that person, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan about all the disgusting things that are being done in the city.”

5 Then he said to the others as I was listening, “Follow him throughout the city and kill. Don’t have any compassion, and don’t feel sorry. 6 Kill old men, young men, old women, young women, and children. But don’t come near anyone who has a mark on him. Start with my holy place.” So they started with the old men in front of the temple.

7 He said to them, “Dishonor the temple! Fill its courtyards with dead people, and then leave.” So they went out and killed the people in the city.

9:1–7   Deadly weapons array against your holy city. You keep safe everyone who shares your grief for sickening things. Your messenger starts killing at your holy temple.

8 As they were killing people, I was left alone. So I immediately bowed down. I cried, “Almighty LORD, will you destroy everyone who is left in Israel while you pour out your anger on Jerusalem?”

9 He answered me, “The wickedness of the nations of Israel and Judah is terrible. The land is filled with murder, and the city is filled with wrongdoing. They think that the LORD has abandoned the land and that he doesn’t see. 10 But I will not have compassion or feel sorry. I will do to them what they have done to others.”

11 Then the person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen reported, “I did everything you commanded.”

9:8–11   Will you destroy everyone when you pour out your anger? Will your compassion ever return?

The Glory of the LORD Leaves His Temple

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1 As I looked at the dome over the heads of the angels,[4] I saw something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. 2 The LORD said to the person dressed in linen, “Go between the wheels under the angels, and fill your hands with burning coals. Then scatter them over the city.” So he went between the wheels as I watched.

3 The angels were standing on the south side of the temple as the person went. A cloud filled the inner courtyard. 4 The LORD’s glory rose from the angels to the entrance of the temple, the cloud filled the temple, and the brightness of the LORD’s glory filled the courtyard. 5 The sound of the angels’ wings was heard as far as the outer courtyard. It was like the sound of the Almighty God when he speaks.

6 After the LORD had commanded the person dressed in linen to take burning coals from between the wheels beside the angels, the person went in and stood beside one of the wheels. 7 One of the angels reached into the fire that was between the angels and took out some coals. This angel put them in the hands of the person dressed in linen. The person took them and left.

8 The angels appeared to have what looked like human hands under their wings. 9 As I looked, I saw four wheels beside the angels, one wheel beside each of the angels. The wheels looked like beryl. 10 All four wheels looked the same. Each was like a wheel within a wheel. 11 Whenever the angels moved, they moved in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. They always moved in the direction they faced without turning as they moved. 12 Their entire bodies, their backs, hands, wings, and wheels were covered with eyes. Each of the angels had a wheel. 13 I heard that the wheels were called the whirling wheels. 14 Each of the angels had four faces. The first was the face of an angel, the second was the face of a human, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.

15 The angels rose. These were the living creatures that I saw at the Chebar River. 16 When the angels moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the angels lifted their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels didn’t leave their side. 17 When the angels stood still, the wheels stood still. When the angels rose, the wheels rose with them. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 18 Then the glory of the LORD left the temple’s entrance and stood over the angels. 19 The angels lifted their wings and rose from the ground. I was watching them as they left with the wheels beside them. The angels stood at the door to the east gate of the LORD’s temple, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

20 These are the living creatures that I saw under the God of Israel at the Chebar River. I realized that they were angels. 21 Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings were what looked like human hands. 22 Their faces looked exactly like the faces that I saw by the Chebar River. Each one went straight ahead.

10:1–22   Angels watched your bright glory depart the temple—the place you once promised to dwell. Your people rejected your holiness and despised your presence. So you left.

Judgment on the Rulers of Israel

11

1 Then the Spirit lifted me and took me to the east gate of the LORD’s temple. (It’s the gate that faces east.) Twenty-five men were at the entrance of the gate. I saw among them Azzur’s son Jaazaniah and Benaiah’s son Pelatiah. They were leaders of the people.

2 Then the LORD said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who plan evil and give bad advice in this city. 3 They say, ‘It’s almost time to rebuild homes. This city is a cooking pot, and we’re the meat.’ 4 So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.”

5 The LORD’s Spirit came to me and told me to say, “This is what the LORD says: You are saying these things, nation of Israel. But I know what’s going through your mind. 6 You have killed many people in this city and have filled its streets with corpses.

7 “So this is what the Almighty LORD says: The corpses that you put in the middle of the city are the meat, and the city is the cooking pot. I will force you out of the city. 8 You are afraid of swords, so I will bring swords to attack you, declares the Almighty LORD. 9 I will force you out of the city. I will hand you over to foreigners, and I will punish you. 10 You will die in battle. I will judge you at Israel’s borders. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 11 The city will not be your cooking pot, and you will not be the meat in it. I will judge you at Israel’s borders. 12 Then you will know that I am the LORD. You haven’t lived by my laws, and you haven’t obeyed my rules. You have followed the standards set by the nations around you.”

13 While I was prophesying, Benaiah’s son Pelatiah died.

I immediately bowed down and cried out, “Almighty LORD, will you completely destroy all the remaining people in Israel?”

11:1–13   Your people acted like their neighbors, refusing to live by your laws. Their leaders piled the streets with corpses. You don’t let sin go unpunished.

The LORD’s Promise to Gather Israel from the Nations

14 Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 15 “Son of man, the people who live in Jerusalem are talking about your own relatives and about the entire nation of Israel. The people who live in Jerusalem say, ‘They are far away from the LORD. This land has been given to us as our own property.’

16 “So tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, I have been their sanctuary for a little while among the countries where they’ve gone.’

17 “So tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will bring them together from the nations and gather them from the countries where I’ve scattered them. I will give them the land of Israel. 18 They will come and remove all the disgusting and detestable things that are there. 19 I will give them a single purpose and put a new spirit in them. I will remove their stubborn hearts and give them obedient hearts. 20 Then they will live by my laws and obey my rules. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose minds are set on following detestable and disgusting idols, I will pay them back for what they have done, declares the Almighty LORD.’”

11:14–21   When I’m distant from you, bring me back with a new purpose and spirit. Fix my stubbornness, and teach me to live by your rules.

The Glory of the LORD Leaves Jerusalem

22 Then the angels[5] raised their wings, with the wheels beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23 The LORD’s glory left the middle of the city and stopped above the mountain east of the city.

24 In this vision from God’s Spirit, the Spirit lifted me and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia. Then the vision I saw left me.

25 I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me.

11:22–25   Ezekiel watched your glory leave the city. Your weightiness and significance fled. Will you ever leave me? Will my sins ever exhaust your patience?

Ezekiel Plays Out Israel’s Exile

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1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they can’t see. They have ears, but they can’t hear because they are rebellious people.

3 “Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are rebellious people. 4 Let them see you in the daylight. Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile. 5 Dig a hole through the wall of your house, and leave through it. 6 Let them see you put your bags on your shoulders and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you won’t see the land. I’ve made you a sign to warn the nation of Israel.”

7 I did what I was ordered to do. During the day I brought out bags as if I were going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall. I brought out my bags in the dark. I let the people see me as I carried my bags on my shoulders.

12:1–7   You did your best to get rebels to comprehend the imminence of exile. When I quit listening to your words, give me a sign I can’t miss. Show me what I need to know.

8 The next morning the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 9 “Son of man, didn’t the rebellious nation of Israel ask you what you were doing?

10 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: This is the divine revelation about the prince from Jerusalem and about all the people of Israel who live there.’

11 “Tell them, ‘I am your warning sign. What I have done will happen to you. You will go into exile and into captivity. 12 The prince who is among you will put his bags on his shoulders in the dark and leave. People will dig holes in the wall to go through. The prince will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. 13 I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my net. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, but he will not see it. And that’s where he’ll die. 14 I will scatter in every direction all those who are around him—his staff and all his troops. I will pursue them with my sword. 15 Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. 16 However, I will spare a few of them from wars, famines, and plagues. Wherever they go among the nations, they will realize that everything they did was disgusting. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

12:8–16   You try to tell people their sins are sickening. You don’t scatter them for no reason.

17 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 18 “Son of man, shake as you eat your food. Tremble and be worried as you drink your water.

19 “Tell the people of this land, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says about the people who live in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will be worried as they eat their food and terrified as they drink their water. Their country will be stripped of everything because everyone who lives there is violent. 20 The cities where people live will be destroyed, and the country will become a wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

12:17–20   Your people will feel terror as they eat and drink. Their country will be stripped bare. Is that what it takes for us to know you’re the Lord?

21 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: ‘Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’?

23 “Tell the people, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will put a stop to the use of this proverb. You will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Instead, tell them, ‘The time is near when every vision will come true. 24 There will no longer be any false visions or flattering fortunetelling to the people. 25 I, the LORD, will speak. Everything that I say will happen without any more delay. I will say something, and it will happen during your lifetime, you rebellious people, declares the Almighty LORD.’”

26 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 27 “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees won’t happen for a long time. What he prophecies will happen in the distant future.’

28 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Everything that I say will no longer be delayed. Whatever I say will happen, declares the Almighty LORD.’”

12:21–28   It’s time for every vision to come true, for all your threats to be carried out. Your visions don’t come to nothing.

False Prophets Condemned

13

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Tell those who make up their prophecies, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD.

3 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: How horrible it will be for the foolish prophets. They follow their own ideas, and they have seen nothing. 4 Israel, your prophets are like foxes among the ruins ⌞of a city⌟. 5 They haven’t repaired the gaps in the wall or rebuilt the wall for the nation of Israel. So Israel will not be protected in battle on the day of the LORD. 6 These foolish prophets see false visions, and their predictions don’t come true. They say, “The LORD said this.” But the LORD hasn’t sent them. Then they hope that their message will come true. 7 Prophets of Israel, haven’t you seen false visions and predicted things that don’t come true? Don’t you say, “The LORD said this,” even though I haven’t said anything?

13:1–7   What were those fools thinking? Those prophets hadn’t seen you. Their predictions hadn’t come true. They claimed, “The LORD said this,” but you never sent them.

8 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Your predictions are false, and your visions are lies. That is why I’m against you, declares the Almighty LORD. 9 I will use my power against the prophets who see false visions and predict things that don’t come true. They will not help my people make decisions or be recorded in the records of the nation of Israel. They won’t even enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

10 “‘They have deceived my people by saying that everything is alright, but it’s not alright. When someone builds a flimsy wall, the prophets cover it up with paint. 11 Tell those who cover up the wall with paint that their wall will fall down. Rain will pour down, hailstones will fall on it, and stormy winds will break it to pieces. 12 When the wall falls down, people will ask them, “Where’s the paint that you used to cover the wall?”

13 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: In my fury I’ll cause a storm to break out. In my anger rain will pour down, and hailstones will destroy the wall. 14 I will tear down the wall that the prophets covered up with paint. I will level it and expose its foundation. When the wall falls, they will be destroyed by it. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 15 I will unleash my fury on the wall and on those who covered it up with paint.

13:8–15   Everything isn’t alright. Your fury will set off a storm. You’ll destroy weakness and expose every cover-up. Everyone will understand you’re the Lord.

“‘Then I will say to you, “The wall is gone, and so are those who painted it. 16 The prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem are gone. Those who said that everything was alright, when it wasn’t alright, are gone, declares the Almighty LORD.” ’

17 “Son of man, look at the women among your people who make up prophecies, and prophesy against them.

18 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: How horrible it will be for women who sew magic charms for people’s wrists and make magic veils of every size for people’s heads. You want to trap people. You want to control the lives of my people for your own profit. 19 You dishonor me in front of my people for a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. You kill people who shouldn’t die, and you spare the lives of people who shouldn’t live. You lie to my people who are willing to listen.

20 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I’m against the magic charms that you use to trap people like birds. I will tear them from your arms and free the people that you have trapped. 21 I will tear off your magic veils and rescue my people from your power so that they will no longer be under your control. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 22 You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I hadn’t brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives. 23 That is why you will no longer see false visions or make predictions. I will rescue my people from your power. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

13:16–23   Stand up to everyone who spreads falsehoods. Their lies depress good people. They let wicked people go on doing evil. They cost people their lives.

Idolaters Condemned

14

1 Some of Israel’s leaders came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 3 “Son of man, these people are devoted to their idols, and they are allowing themselves to fall into sin. Should they be allowed to ask me for help?

4 “So speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: Suppose an Israelite is devoted to idols and allows himself to fall into sin. Suppose he goes to a prophet ⌞to ask for my help⌟. I, the LORD, will give that Israelite an answer, the answer that his many idols deserve. 5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the nation of Israel. They have deserted me because of their disgusting idols.’

6 “So tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Change the way you think and act! Turn away from your idols, and don’t return to any of your disgusting things. 7 Suppose an Israelite or a foreigner who lives in Israel deserts me by devoting himself to idols and by allowing himself to fall into sin. If he goes to a prophet to ask for my help, I, the LORD, will give him an answer. 8 I will reject him, and I will make an example of him. I will exclude him from my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

9 “‘If a prophet is tricked into giving a prophecy, it is I, the LORD, who tricked the prophet. I will use my power against you and destroy you from among my people Israel. 10 Both of you will suffer for your sins. The prophet will be as guilty as you are when you ask for his help. 11 Then the people of Israel will no longer wander away from me. They will no longer dishonor me with all their sins. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Almighty LORD.’”

14:1–11   Give me your best answer. Deal with my real issue. Tell me to quit following false gods.

12 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 13 “Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful to me. I will use my power against it, cut off its food supply, send a famine to it, and destroy its people and animals. 14 Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in that country, they would, by their righteousness, rescue only themselves,” declares the Almighty LORD.

15 “Suppose I send wild animals through that country and they make it childless and turn it into such a wasteland that no one travels through it because of the animals. 16 As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their own sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves. And the country would become a wasteland.

17 “Suppose I bring a war against that country by saying, ‘I will let a war go throughout this country.’ Suppose I destroy the people and the animals in it. 18 As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

19 “Suppose I send a plague into that country or pour out my fury on it by killing people and destroying animals. 20 As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could, by their righteousness, rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

21 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will surely send four terrible punishments against Jerusalem. I will send wars, famines, wild animals, and plagues. They will destroy people and animals. 22 But some people will survive. Some of your sons and daughters will be brought out. When they come out to you, you will see how they live. Then you will be comforted after the disasters that I will bring on Jerusalem, after every disaster that I will bring against it. 23 You will be comforted when you see how they live. Then you will know that everything I have done was done for a reason,” declares the Almighty LORD.

14:12–23   No one can rescue me from your threats. I can’t guard anyone else from your wrath. I must turn from my sins for myself.

Jerusalem Is Compared to Wood from a Wild Vine

15

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, what good is the wood from a vine? Is it better than the wood from a tree in the forest? 3 Do people use it to make something? Do they make a peg from it to hang things on? 4 No! It is only thrown into the fire as fuel. The fire burns up both its ends and chars its middle. Then can it be used to make anything? 5 When the vine was in perfect condition, it couldn’t be made into anything. How can it be used to make anything after the fire has burned and charred it?

6 “So this is what the Almighty LORD says: As a vine is taken from among the trees in the forest to be used to feed the fire, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem to punish them. 7 I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will turn against them. 8 I will turn the country into a wasteland because they have been unfaithful,” declares the Almighty LORD.

15:1–8   Because of my unfaithfulness, you make me a wasteland. I won’t be good for anything until I leave my sins and make myself useful.

A Description of Jerusalem’s Sins

16

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, make known to the people of Jerusalem the disgusting things they have done. 3 Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says to the people of Jerusalem: Your birthplace and your ancestors were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. 4 When you were born, your umbilical cord wasn’t cut. You weren’t washed with water to make you clean. You weren’t rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloth. 5 No one who saw you felt sorry enough for you to do any of these things. But you were thrown into an open field. You were rejected when you were born.

6 “‘Then I went by you and saw you kicking around in your own blood. I said to you, “Live.” 7 I made you grow like a plant in the field. You grew up, matured, and became a young woman. Your breasts developed, and your hair grew. Yet, you were naked and bare.

8 “‘I went by you again and looked at you. You were old enough to make love to. So I spread my robe over you, and covered your naked body. I promised to love you, and I exchanged marriage vows with you. You became mine, declares the Almighty LORD.

16:1–8   I was like an abandoned newborn left kicking in my blood. You told me, “Live.” I grew up and you covered my nakedness. You promised to love me, and I became yours.

9 “‘Then I bathed you with water, and I washed off your blood. I poured olive oil over you. 10 I put an embroidered dress on you and fine leather sandals on your feet. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. 11 I gave you jewelry. I put bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck. 12 I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 So you wore gold and silver jewelry. You were dressed in fine linen, silk, and embroidered clothes. Your food was flour, honey, and olive oil. You were very beautiful, and eventually you became a queen. 14 You became famous in every nation because of your beauty. Your beauty was perfect because I gave you my glory, declares the Almighty LORD.

16:9–14   You bathed, dressed, and fed me. You raised me to royal status. You gave me your glory.

15 “‘But you trusted your beauty, and you used your fame to become a prostitute. You had sex with everyone who walked by. 16 You took some of your clothes and made your worship sites colorful. This is where you acted like a prostitute. Such things shouldn’t happen. They shouldn’t occur. 17 You took your beautiful gold and silver jewelry that I had given you and made male idols for yourself. Then you committed adultery with them. 18 You took off your embroidered clothes and covered the idols with them. You offered my olive oil and incense in their presence. 19 You also offered them sweet and fragrant sacrifices. You gave flour, olive oil, and honey—all the food that I gave you to eat. This is what happened, declares the Almighty LORD.

16:15–19   I used my looks and fame to prostitute myself and leave you. I made idols from jewelry you gave me. I offered to false gods food you once served me.

20 “‘You took your sons and daughters, who belonged to me, and you sacrificed them as food to idols. Wasn’t your prostitution enough? 21 You slaughtered my children and presented them as burnt offerings to idols. 22 With all the disgusting things that you did and all your acts of prostitution, you didn’t remember the time when you were young. You didn’t remember when you were naked and bare, kicking around in your own blood.

23 “‘How horrible! How horrible it will be for you! declares the Almighty LORD. After all your wickedness, 24 you built yourself platforms and illegal worship sites in every city square. 25 You also built worship sites at the head of every street. You used your beauty to seduce people there. You offered your body to everyone who passed by. You increased your acts of prostitution. 26 You had sex with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians. You used your prostitution to make me angry.

27 “‘So I used my power against you. I took away some of your land, and I handed you over to your greedy enemies, the Philistines, who were ashamed of what you had done.

28 “‘You had sex with the Assyrians because you weren’t satisfied. You still weren’t satisfied. 29 So you increased your acts of prostitution to include the land of the merchants, the Babylonians. Even after that, you weren’t satisfied.

16:20–29   I sacrificed my children to things I thought were important. I forgot I was once naked and bare. I offered myself to everyone who passed by. I panted insatiably for everyone but you.

30 “‘You have no will power! declares the Almighty LORD. You do everything a shameless prostitute does. 31 You build your platforms at the head of every street and place your illegal worship sites in every square. Yet, you aren’t like other prostitutes, because you don’t want to be paid. 32 You are an adulterous wife who prefers strangers to her husband. 33 All prostitutes get paid. But you give gifts to all your lovers and bribe them to come to you from all directions to have sex with you. 34 You are a different kind of prostitute. No one goes after you for favors. You are the opposite. You pay them, and you don’t accept payment.

16:30–34   I’m like an adulterer who prefers strangers to my mate—except I have to pay people to be with me.

Jerusalem’s Punishment

35 “‘Listen to the word of the LORD, you prostitute. 36 This is what the Almighty LORD says: You exposed yourself and uncovered your naked body when you gave yourself to your lovers and to all your disgusting idols. You also killed your children and sacrificed their blood to these idols. 37 That is why I will gather all your lovers with whom you found pleasure. I will have all those who love you and hate you gather around. I will uncover your body for them, and they will see you naked. 38 I will punish you the same way that those who are guilty of prostitution and murder are punished. I will give you the death penalty in my fury and burning anger. 39 I will hand you over to your lovers. They will destroy your platforms and tear down your illegal worship sites. They will tear off your clothes, take away your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare. 40 They will also bring a mob against you. They will stone you and cut you into pieces with their swords. 41 They will burn your houses and punish you in the presence of many women. I will put an end to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay others. 42 Then I will rest from my fury against you, and I will stop being angry. I will be at peace. I will no longer be angry.

43 “‘You didn’t remember the time when you were young, and you made me very angry with all these things. So I will pay you back for what you have done, declares the Almighty LORD. Didn’t you make wicked plans in addition to all your disgusting practices?

16:35–43   I exposed myself to a large crowd of lovers, and you’ll expose me once again. My lovers will leave me naked and bare. Your anger won’t stop until my sins are paid in full.

44 “‘Everyone who uses proverbs will speak the following saying against you: Like mother, like daughter. 45 You are your mother’s daughter. She rejected her husband and her children. You are exactly like your sisters. They rejected their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.

46 “‘Your older sister was Samaria. She and her daughters lived north of you. Your younger sister is Sodom. She lives south of you with her daughters. 47 You didn’t follow their ways. You didn’t do the same disgusting things that they did. It only took you a little time to be more corrupt than they ever were. 48 As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. 49 This is what your sister Sodom has done wrong. She and her daughters were proud that they had plenty of food and had peace and security. They didn’t help the poor and the needy. 50 They were arrogant and did disgusting things in front of me. So I did away with them when I saw this.

51 “‘Samaria didn’t commit half the sins you did. You have done many more disgusting things than they ever did. Because of all the disgusting things that you have done, you make your sisters look innocent. 52 You will have to suffer disgrace because you accused your sisters. Yet, your sins are more disgusting than theirs. They look like they are innocent compared to you. Be ashamed of yourself and suffer disgrace, because you have made your sisters look like they are innocent.

53 “‘I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and Samaria and her daughters. I will also restore your fortune along with theirs. 54 You will have to suffer disgrace and be ashamed of everything you have done, including comforting them. 55 When Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters return to what they once were, you and your daughters will return to what you once were. 56 You didn’t mention your sister Sodom when you were arrogant. 57 You didn’t mention her before your wickedness was revealed. Now the daughters of Aram[6] and their neighbors despise you. The daughters of the Philistines also despise you. Those around you hate you. 58 You must suffer because of all the crude and disgusting things you have done, declares the LORD.

16:44–58   My behavior was worse than my sisters Sodom and Samaria. You’ll restore our fortunes, but we won’t forget our shame.

59 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will give you what you deserve. You despised your marriage vows and rejected my promise.[7] 60 I will remember the promise that I made with you when you were young, and I will make it a promise that will last forever. 61 Then you will remember what you have done. You will be ashamed when I return your older and younger sisters to you. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of my promise with you. 62 Then I will make my promise with you, and you will know that I am the LORD. 63 You will remember and be ashamed. You will never again open your mouth because of your disgrace when I forgive you for everything you did, declares the Almighty LORD.’”

16:59–63   Remember the promise you made when I was young. Make that promise last forever. Cover my nakedness. Let me feel your love again.

Judah Is Compared to a Tree

17

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, tell this riddle. Give this illustration to the nation of Israel. 3 Say, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: A large eagle came to Lebanon. It had large wings with long, colorful feathers. It took hold of the top of a cedar tree. 4 It broke off the highest twig and carried it to a country of merchants. It planted the twig in a city of merchants.

5 “‘Then it took a seedling from that country and planted the seedling in fertile soil. The eagle planted the seedling like a willow where there was plenty of water. 6 The plant sprouted and grew into a low vine that spread over the ground. Its branches turned upward toward the eagle, but its roots grew downward. So it became a vine, producing branches and growing shoots.

7 “‘There was another large eagle with large wings and many feathers. Now, the vine stretched its roots toward this eagle and sent its branches toward the eagle so that the eagle could water it. The vine turned away from the garden where it was planted. 8 It was planted in good soil beside plenty of water so that it could grow branches, bear fruit, and become a wonderful vine.’

9 “Tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Will this vine live and grow? Won’t the first eagle uproot it and tear off its fruit? Then it will wither. All the leaves on its branches will wither. It won’t take much strength or many people to pull the vine up by its roots. 10 It might be planted again, but will it live and grow? It will wither completely when the east wind blows on it. It will certainly wither in the garden where it is growing.’”

11 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 12 “Ask these rebellious people, ‘Don’t you know what this means?’ Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured its king and its leaders. He brought them home with him to Babylon. 13 Then he took someone from the royal family, made a treaty with him, and made him promise to be loyal. He took away the leading citizens from Judah 14 so that it would remain a humiliated country and be unable to regain its power. The country could only survive by keeping the treaty. 15 But the king of Judah rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending his messengers to Egypt to get horses and many soldiers. Will the king of Judah succeed? Will anyone who does such things escape? He can’t break a treaty and go unpunished.

16 “‘As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, the king of Judah will die in Babylonia. He will die in the country of the king who appointed him king of Judah. The king of Judah broke his promise and his treaty with the king of Babylon. 17 Even with a large army and many people, Pharaoh will not be able to help him in battle when the Babylonians put up dirt ramps and set up blockades to kill many people. 18 The king of Judah broke the promise and the treaty that he pledged to keep. He did all these things, and he can’t go unpunished.

17:1–18   My sin took me captive and led me to a distant place. It left me humiliated and powerless. You won’t let me break an agreement and go unpunished. I can’t pile sin upon sin and escape.

19 “‘So this is what the Almighty LORD says: As I live, I will certainly punish you for rejecting my promise and hating my treaty. 20 I will spread my net over you to catch you in my trap. I will take you to Babylon and judge you there for rebelling against me. 21 The best of your troops will die in battle. Anyone who remains will be scattered in every direction that the wind blows. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.

22 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I, too, will take hold of the top of a cedar tree. I will break off the highest twig and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 I will plant it on a high mountain in Israel. It will grow branches and produce fruit. It will become a magnificent cedar tree. Every kind of bird will nest in it and find a home in the shelter of its branches. 24 Then all the trees in the field will know that I am the LORD. I cut down tall trees, and I make small trees grow tall. I dry up green trees, and I make dry trees grow. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.’”

17:19–24   You wanted to show me mercy, but now you’ll catch me in your trap. When you judge me for rebelling against you, then everyone will find out you’re the Lord.

Everyone Will Suffer for His Own Sins

18

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “What do you mean when you use this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, you will no longer use this proverb in Israel. 4 The life of every person belongs to me. Fathers and their children belong to me. The person who sins will die.

18:1–4   You’re never unfair! You judge me for my own sins—not the sins of anyone else. There’s no one I can blame but myself.

5 “Suppose a righteous person does what is fair and right. 6 He doesn’t eat at the illegal mountain worship sites or look for help from the idols of the nation of Israel. He doesn’t dishonor his neighbor’s wife or have sexual intercourse with a woman while she is having her period. 7 He doesn’t oppress anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security for a loan. He doesn’t rob anyone. He gives food to people who are hungry, and he gives clothes to those who are naked. 8 He doesn’t lend money for interest or make an excessive profit. He refuses to do evil things, and he judges everyone fairly. 9 He lives by my rules and obeys my laws faithfully. This person is righteous. He will certainly live,” declares the Almighty LORD.

10 “But suppose this person has a son who robs and murders. The son does all the things 11 that his father never did. He eats at the illegal mountain worship sites. He dishonors his neighbor’s wife. 12 He oppresses the poor and needy. He robs. He doesn’t return the security for a loan. He looks to idols for help. He does disgusting things. 13 He lends money for interest and makes excessive profits. Will this person live? He will not live. He has done all these disgusting things. So he must die, and he will be responsible for his own death.

14 “But suppose this person has a son. The son sees all the sins that his father does. He is afraid, so he doesn’t do such things.[8] 15 He doesn’t eat at the illegal mountain worship sites or look for help from the idols of the nation of Israel. He doesn’t dishonor his neighbor’s wife. 16 He doesn’t oppress anyone. He doesn’t keep the security for a loan. He doesn’t rob anyone. He gives food to people who are hungry, and he gives clothes to those who are naked. 17 He refuses to hurt the poor. He doesn’t charge interest or make excessive profits. He obeys my rules and lives by my laws. He won’t die for his father’s sins. He will certainly live. 18 But his father has oppressed others, robbed his relative, and done what is wrong among his people. So the father will die because of his sin.

19 “But you ask, ‘Why isn’t the son punished for his father’s sin?’ It is because the son has done what is fair and right. He obeyed my rules and followed them. He will certainly live. 20 The person who sins will die. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. The righteousness of the righteous person will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be his own.

21 “But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die. 22 All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did. 23 I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty LORD. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live.

24 “But suppose a righteous person turns away from doing right and he does evil things. He does all the disgusting things that the wicked person did. Will he live? All the right things that he has done will not be remembered because of his unfaithfulness and because of his sin. He will die because of them.

25 “But you say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Listen, nation of Israel, isn’t my way fair? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair? 26 When a righteous person turns away from doing right and does evil things, he will die. He will die because of the evil things he has done. 27 When a wicked person turns away from the wicked things that he has done and does what is fair and right, he will live. 28 He realized what he was doing and turned away from all the rebellious things that he had done. He will certainly live. He will not die.

29 “But the nation of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Isn’t my way fair, nation of Israel? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair?

18:5–29   You don’t want wicked people to die. You invite them to turn from evil and live. You want good people to stay clear of sin.

30 “That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel,” declares the Almighty LORD. “Change the way you think and act. Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin. 31 Stop all the rebellious things that you are doing. Get yourselves new hearts and new spirits. Why do you want to die, nation of Israel? 32 I don’t want anyone to die,” declares the Almighty LORD. “Change the way you think and act!”

18:30–32   You’re never unfair. You warn me about sin and mold me a new heart. You don’t want anyone to die.

Funeral Songs for Israel’s Princes

19

1 Sing a funeral song for the princes of Israel. 2 Say:

Your mother was like a lioness.

She lay down among the lions.

She fed many cubs.

3 One of the cubs she raised became a young lion.

He learned to tear apart the animals he hunted.

He ate people.

4 The nations heard about him,

caught him in their pit,

and brought him with hooks to Egypt.

5 The lioness waited until she saw that there was no more hope.

Then she took another one of her cubs

and raised him into a young lion.

6 He became a young lion, and he prowled among the lions.

He learned to tear apart the animals he hunted.

He ate people.

7 He destroyed fortresses

and turned cities into wastelands.

The land and everyone living in it

were terrified by the sound of his roar.

8 The nations from every region came together against him.

They spread their net over him

and caught him in their pit.

9 With hooks they put him in a cage

and brought him to the king of Babylon.

They put him in prison

so that his roar wouldn’t be heard anymore

on the mountains of Israel.

19:1–9   Your nation was like a lioness, a mother of many cubs. One tore apart people and was taken to Egypt. Another tore down cities and was taken to Babylon. You sing sad songs when your people disobey.

10 Your mother was like a grapevine

that was planted near water.

It had a lot of fruit and many branches

because there was plenty of water.

11 Its branches were strong.

They were used to make scepters for kings.

It grew to be tall with many branches around it,

and everyone saw it because of its many branches.

12 But in anger it was uprooted and thrown to the ground.

The east wind dried up its fruit.

Its strong branches broke off.

They withered and were burned.

13 Now it is planted in the desert,

in a dry and waterless land.

14 Fire has spread from the vine’s main branch.

Fire has destroyed its fruit.

It no longer has any strong branches

that could be used as a king’s scepter.

This is a funeral song. It is to be used as a funeral song.

19:10–14   For a time your nation thrived like a grapevine planted near water. Yet in your anger you uprooted it. Fire destroyed its fruit. You sing sad songs when your people perish.

Israel’s Past and Present Sins

20

1 On the tenth day of the fifth month in the seventh year, some of the leaders of Israel came to ask for the LORD’s help. They sat in front of me.

2 Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 3 “Son of man, speak to the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Are you coming to ask me for help? As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, you will not be allowed to ask me for help.’

4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Tell them about the disgusting things their ancestors did. 5 Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: When I chose Israel, I raised my hand and swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob’s family. I made myself known to them in Egypt. I made a promise to them and said, “I am the LORD your God.” 6 At that time I promised to bring them out of Egypt to a land that I had chosen for them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 I said to them, “Get rid of the detestable idols that you look to for help. Don’t dishonor yourselves with the disgusting idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”

8 “‘But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me. Not one of them got rid of the detestable idols that they looked to for help. They didn’t abandon the disgusting idols of Egypt. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in Egypt. 9 But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations where they were living. While other nations were watching, I made myself known to them by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.

10 “‘So I brought the Israelites out of Egypt and led them into the desert. 11 I gave them my laws and made my rules known to them. If people obey them they will live. 12 I also gave them certain days to worship me as a sign between us so that they would know that I, the LORD, made them holy.

13 “‘But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They didn’t live by my laws, and they rejected my rules. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them in the desert and completely wipe them out. 14 But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out ⌞of Egypt⌟. 15 I also swore an oath to them in the desert. I swore that I would not bring them into the land that I had promised to give them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 16 They rejected my rules, and they didn’t live by my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, because their hearts chased disgusting idols. 17 But I had compassion on them. I didn’t destroy them or completely wipe them out in the desert. 18 I said to their children in the desert, “Don’t live by the laws of your ancestors. Don’t obey their rules or dishonor yourselves with their disgusting idols. 19 I am the LORD your God. Live by my laws. Obey my rules and follow them. 20 Set apart certain holy days to worship me. This will be a sign between me and you so that you will know that I am the LORD your God.”

20:1–20   Do these leaders actually expect you to help? You brought their ancestors out of Egypt. You gave them your laws and told them how to live. But they rebelled against you.

21 “‘But they rebelled against me. They didn’t live by my laws, and they didn’t obey my rules and follow them. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in the desert. 22 But I didn’t use my power so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out ⌞of Egypt⌟. 23 I raised my hand and swore an oath to them in the desert. I promised to scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. 24 They didn’t follow my rules, and they rejected my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, and they looked to their ancestors’ disgusting idols for help. 25 I also allowed them to follow laws that were no good and rules by which they could not live. 26 I let them dishonor themselves when they sacrificed all their firstborn sons as gifts ⌞to their false gods⌟. I terrified them so that they would know that I am the LORD.’

20:21–26   Don’t these people remember the past? Their ancestors dishonored themselves by their sin. You swore to scatter them to faraway lands.

27 “Speak to the nation of Israel, son of man. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Your ancestors insulted me again because they were unfaithful to me. 28 I brought them to the land that I promised to give them. When they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, they made sacrifices and brought offerings there to make me angry. There they offered their sacrifices and poured out their wine offerings. 29 Then I asked them, “What is this worship site you’re going to?” ’ (So it is still called ‘worship site’ today.)

30 “Tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Will you dishonor yourselves the way your ancestors did? Will you chase their detestable idols like a prostitute? 31 You offer your children as sacrifices by burning them alive. You dishonor yourselves with all your disgusting idols to this day. Should you be allowed to ask me for help, nation of Israel?

“‘As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, you won’t be allowed to ask me for help. 32 What you have in mind will never happen. You think that you want to be like other nations, like the different people in other countries. You want to serve wood and stone.

20:27–32   Do these people really think you’ve changed your mind? Their ancestors behaved like prostitutes. They burned their children alive.

33 “‘As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, I will rule you with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and I will pour out my fury. 34 I will bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where I have scattered you with my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour out my fury. 35 I will bring you into the desert of the nations. There I will put you on trial face to face. 36 I will put you on trial as I put your ancestors on trial in the desert of Egypt, declares the Almighty LORD. 37 Then I will make you suffer punishment and make you keep the terms of the promise.[9] 38 I will get rid of rebels and those who do wrong against me. I will bring you out of the land where you are living. You will never enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

20:33–38   Don’t these leaders see what’s happening? Nothing has changed. Your people commit the same old sins. You’ll put them on trial and punish them.

Israel’s Future

39 “‘Nation of Israel, this is what the Almighty LORD says: Serve your disgusting idols. But afterwards, you will listen to me. You will no longer dishonor my holy name with your gifts and your disgusting idols.

40 “‘The entire nation of Israel, everyone in the land, will worship me on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Almighty LORD. There I will accept you. There I will look for your offerings, your best gifts, and all your holy gifts. 41 When I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as if you were a pleasing sacrifice. Through you I will reveal myself as holy to the nations that are watching. 42 Then you will know that I am the LORD, because I will bring you to the land of Israel, the land that I promised to give your ancestors. 43 There you will remember the way you lived and everything you did to dishonor yourselves. You will be disgusted by every wrong thing that you did. 44 Then you will know that I am the LORD, because I will deal with you for the sake of my name. I will not deal with you based on the evil and corrupt things that you have done, nation of Israel, declares the Almighty LORD.’”[10]

20:39–44   You send your people away to worship their nauseating idols. But one day they’ll listen to you. They’ll look back on their past with disgust. You’ll accept them as if they are holy.

The Burning Forest

45 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 46 “Son of man, turn to the south, preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest in the Negev. 47 Tell the forest in the Negev, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD. This is what the Almighty LORD says: I am about to set fire to you to destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The blazing fire will not be put out. It will burn the whole land from the south to the north. 48 Then everyone will know that I, the LORD, started the fire. It will never be put out.’”

49 Then I said, “Oh no! Almighty LORD, no! The people already say that I’m only telling stories.”

The Sword of the LORD

21  [11]

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, turn to Jerusalem, preach against the holy places. Prophesy against the land of Israel. 3 Tell the land of Israel, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will take my sword out of its scabbard and kill the righteous people and the wicked people among you. 4 I’m going to kill the righteous people and the wicked people among you. That is why my sword will come out of its scabbard to be used against everyone from the south to the north. 5 Then everyone will know that I, the LORD, have taken my sword from its scabbard, and I will not put it back again.’

21:1–5   Your sword comes out of its scabbard. You plan to kill the righteous and the wicked. This is coming! It will surely take place!

6 “So, son of man, groan with a breaking heart and with bitter crying while the people watch you. 7 When they ask you why you are groaning, say, ‘News has come that will discourage everyone. People’s hands will hang limp, their hearts will lose courage, and their knees will become as weak as water. It’s coming! It will surely take place!’ declares the Almighty LORD.”

8 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 9 “Son of man, prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

A sword, a sword is sharpened and polished,

10 It’s sharpened to kill

and polished to flash like lightning.

How can we rejoice?

My son has refused to be disciplined or punished.[12]

11 The sword has been handed over to be polished,

to be placed in the hand.

The sword is being sharpened and polished

to be placed in the hands of killers.

12 “‘Cry and mourn, son of man,

because the sword will be used against my people

and against all the princes of Israel.

I will throw the princes and my people on the sword.

So beat your breast, and grieve.

13 Testing will surely come.

What if you refuse to be disciplined again?

Won’t you be tested? declares the Almighty LORD.

14 So prophesy, son of man.

Clap your hands!

Let the sword strike again and again.

It’s the sword for killing.

It’s the sword for killing many people.

It’s the sword that surrounds them.

15 I have appointed my sword to slaughter people at all their gates

so that their hearts will sink and many will die.

Yes! It’s ready to flash like lightning.

It’s polished to kill.

16 Sword, cut to the right.

Cut to the left

or wherever your blade is turned.

17 I will also clap my hands and rest from my fury.

I, the LORD, have spoken.’”

21:6–17   Your sword is sharpened to kill, because your son refuses your discipline. It strikes again and again. It cuts wherever its blade is turned.

The Sword of the King of Babylon

18 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 19 “Son of man, mark two roads that the king of Babylon and his sword can take. Both of these roads should start from the same country. Make a sign, and put it where the roads start to fork toward the cities. 20 Mark the road that the king and his sword can take to the Ammonite city of Rabbah, and mark the road that leads to Judah and the fortified city of Jerusalem. 21 The king of Babylon will stop where the roads branch off, where there is a fork in the road. Then he will look for omens. He will shake some arrows, ask his household gods for help, and examine animal livers. 22 The omens will indicate that he should go to the right, to Jerusalem. So he will set up his battering rams there, give the order to kill, raise a battle cry, aim the battering rams against the city gates, put up ramps, and set up blockades. 23 The people won’t believe this because they have made treaties with other nations. But the king of Babylon will remind them of their sins, and they will be captured.

24 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: You make people remember how sinful you are because you openly do wrong. You show your sins in everything you do. So you will be taken captive.

25 “You dishonest and wicked prince of Israel, the time for your final punishment has come. 26 This is what the Almighty LORD says: Take off your turban, and get rid of your crown. Things are going to change. Those who are unimportant will become important, and those who are important will become unimportant. 27 Ruins! Ruins! I will turn this place into ruins! It will not be restored until its rightful owner comes. Then I will give it to him.

28 “Son of man, prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says about the Ammonites and their insults:

A sword, a sword is drawn ready to kill.

It’s polished to destroy and flash like lightning.

29 People see false visions about you

and prophesy lies about you.

The sword will be placed on the necks of dishonest, wicked people,

for whom the time of final punishment has come.

30 “‘Return your sword to its scabbard.

In the place where you were created,

in the land where you were born,

there I will judge you.

31 I will pour out my fury on you

and breathe on you with my fiery anger.

I will hand you over to cruel people who are skilled in destruction.

32 You will be fuel for the fire.

You will die in the land.

You will no longer be remembered.

I, the LORD, have spoken.’”

21:18–32   The king of Babylon will ask for omens—and end up attacking your holy city. Jerusalem’s sin is obvious—it openly does wrong. Does sin show up in everything I do? Don’t send me into captivity. Don’t leave me in ruins.

Jerusalem Is Judged because of Its Murderous History

22

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Will you judge, son of man? Will you judge the city of murderers? Then tell it about all the disgusting things that it has done. 3 Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: ⌞Jerusalem,⌟ you are the city that murders people who live in you. Your time has come. You dishonor yourself with disgusting idols. 4 You are guilty because of the people you have killed. You are dishonored because of the disgusting idols you have made. You have brought an end to your days, and you have come to the end of your years. That is why I will make you a disgrace to the nations and a joke in every land. 5 Those near and those far away will mock you. Your name will be dishonored, and you will be filled with confusion.

22:1–5   Jerusalem murders its inhabitants. That’s why its days draw to an end. Everyone near and far will mock the citizens of the city.

6 “‘See how all the princes of Israel who live in you have used their power to murder people. 7 People in you hate their fathers and mothers. They oppress foreigners in you. They oppress orphans and widows in you. 8 You have despised my holy things and dishonored the day to worship me. 9 Some of your people slander. They want to kill people. People who live in you eat food sacrificed to idols at the worship sites on the hills, and they sin sexually. 10 Men have sex with their father’s wives. They have sex with women when the women are having their periods and are unclean.[13] 11 Men do disgusting things with their neighbors’ wives. Some men sexually dishonor their daughters-in-law. Other men who live in you have sex with their sisters, their father’s daughters. 12 Other people take bribes to murder people. You collect interest and make excessive profits. You make profits by mistreating your neighbors. You have forgotten me, declares the Almighty LORD.

22:6–12   People hate their parents and oppress the weak. They despise your holiness and employ their bodies for sin. They think only of making money. Has everyone forgotten you?

13 “‘I will use my power against you because of the excessive profits you have made and the murders you have committed. 14 Will you still be brave? Will you remain strong when I deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations and force you into other countries. I will put an end to your uncleanness. 16 You will be dishonored in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

17 Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 18 “Son of man, the people of Israel have become worthless to me. All of them are like copper, tin, iron, and lead in a smelting furnace. They are like the impurities left from silver. 19 This is what the Almighty LORD says: All of you have become worthless. That is why I’m going to gather you in Jerusalem. 20 People gather silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin together in a smelting furnace to melt them with a fiery blast. In the same way, in my anger and fury I will gather you and put you in the city. I will melt you there. 21 Yes, I will gather you, breathe on you with my fiery anger, and melt you in the city. 22 You will be melted in the city like silver that is melted in a furnace. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out my fury on you.”

22:13–22   You scatter sinners. You unleash your fury with a fiery blast.

23 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 24 “Son of man, tell the city, ‘You are an unclean land that has not had rain during the day of my anger. You have not been made clean.[14] 25 Your princes are like roaring lions who tear their prey into pieces. They eat people and take their treasures and precious belongings. They turn many women into widows. 26 Your priests violate my teachings and dishonor my holy things. They don’t distinguish between what is holy and what is unholy. They don’t teach the difference between what is clean and what is unclean. They ignore the days to worship me. So I am dishonored among the people. 27 Your leaders are like wolves that tear their prey into pieces. They murder and destroy people to make excessive profits. 28 Your prophets cover up these things by seeing false visions and by prophesying lies. They say, “This is what the Almighty LORD says.” Yet, the LORD hasn’t spoken. 29 The common people oppress and rob others. They do wrong to humble people and to poor people. They oppress foreigners for no reason.

30 “‘I looked for someone among you who could build walls or stand in front of me by the gaps in the walls to defend the land and keep it from being destroyed. But I couldn’t find anyone. 31 So I will pour out my anger on you, and with my fiery anger I will consume you. This is because of all the things you have done,’ declares the Almighty LORD.”

22:23–31   Your leaders tear prey to pieces. They don’t know your teachings and can’t tell holy from unholy. They murder to make a big profit. Who will stand in the gap and deflect your anger?

Samaria and Jerusalem Acted Like Prostitutes

23

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, there were once two women, daughters of the same mother. 3 They became prostitutes in Egypt when they were young. There men fondled and caressed their breasts.

4 “The older girl was named Oholah, and the younger girl was named Oholibah. I married them, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem. 5 Oholah acted like a prostitute, although she was my wife. She lusted after her Assyrian lovers who lived nearby. 6 They were governors and commanders clothed in purple. They were all handsome young men who rode on horses. 7 She became a prostitute for all the important men in Assyria. She dishonored herself with the idols of all those with whom she fell in love. 8 She continued the prostitution that she started in Egypt. When she was young, men went to bed with her, caressed her breasts, and treated her like a prostitute.

9 “That is why I handed her over to her lovers, to the Assyrians whom she lusted after. 10 They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters, and killed her with a sword. Women gossiped about how she was punished.

11 “Even though her younger sister Oholibah saw this, Oholibah lusted after men more than her sister did. Oholibah’s prostitution became worse than her sister’s prostitution. 12 She lusted after the Assyrians who were nearby. They were governors and commanders in full dress. They were mounted horsemen, all of them desirable young men. 13 I saw that she was dishonoring herself. Both sisters acted the same way. 14 Yet, she carried her prostitution even further. She saw pictures of men carved on walls. They were figures of Babylonian men, painted in bright red. 15 The men had belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads. All of them looked like Babylonian officers who were born in Babylon. 16 She fell in love with them at first sight and sent messengers to them in Babylonia. 17 So these men came from Babylon, went to bed with her, and dishonored her with their lust. After they had dishonored her, she turned away from them in disgust.

18 “She carried out her prostitution openly, and she lay around naked. I turned away from her in disgust as I had turned away from her sister. 19 She remembered how she had been a prostitute in Egypt when she was young. So she took part in even more prostitution. 20 She lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose semen was like that of horses. 21 So she longed to do the sinful things she did when she was young in Egypt, when young men caressed and fondled her breasts.

22 “Oholibah, this is what the Almighty LORD says: I’m going to stir up your lovers against you. They are the lovers you turned away from in disgust. I will bring them against you from every side. 23 I will bring men from Babylon and from all Babylonia, men from Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, as well as all the Assyrians. They are desirable young men, governors and commanders, military officers and important men. All of them ride on horses. 24 They will attack you from the north,[15] with chariots and wagons and with a large number of troops. They will attack you from all around with small and large shields and with helmets. I have handed you over to them for punishment. They will punish you with their own kind of punishment. 25 I will direct my burning anger against you so that they will deal with you in anger. They will cut off your nose and ears and kill everyone who remains. They will take your sons and your daughters and burn down whatever is left. 26 They will rip off your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels. 27 I will put a stop to your sinning and to your prostitution, which you began in Egypt. You won’t desire these things anymore or remember Egypt anymore.

23:1–27   Samaria and Jerusalem sold themselves to their neighbors. They served other nations’ false gods. That’s why you gave them up to their lovers.

28 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: I’m going to hand you over to those you hate and to those you turned away from in disgust. 29 They will treat you hatefully and take away everything that you have worked for. They will leave you naked and bare. The shame of your prostitution will be revealed. 30 Your sinning and your prostitution have done this to you, because you lusted after the nations and dishonored yourself with their idols. 31 You’ve acted the same way as your sister. That is why I will put her cup in your hand. 32 This is what the Almighty LORD says:

You will drink from your sister’s cup,

a cup that is deep and wide.

You will be scorned and mocked,

because this cup holds so much.

33 The cup of your sister Samaria will be filled

with drunkenness and sorrow.

34 You will drink from it and drain it.

You will break it into pieces

and tear your breasts off your body.

I have spoken, declares the Almighty LORD.

35 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: You have forgotten me and turned your back on me. So you will be punished for your sinning and prostitution.”

36 The LORD said to me, “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah and tell them about their disgusting practices? 37 They have committed adultery. Their hands are covered with blood. They commit adultery with their idols. They have sacrificed the children they gave birth to for me as burnt offerings to idols. 38 They have also done this to me: They have polluted my holy places when they do these things and dishonored the days to worship me. 39 When they sacrificed their children to their idols, they came into my holy place and dishonored it. That is what they’ve done in my temple.

40 “They even sent messengers to invite men to come from far away. When the men arrived, they washed themselves for the men, painted their eyes, and put on their jewels. 41 They sat on their fine couches with tables in front of them. They put my incense and my olive oil on their tables.

42 “I heard the noise from a carefree crowd. A large number of people came from the desert, and they put bracelets on the women’s wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads. 43 Then I said, ‘She is worn out from her acts of adultery.’ Yet, men continued to have sex with her. 44 Men slept with her. They slept with those sinful women, Oholah and Oholibah just as they slept with a prostitute. 45 Righteous people will punish these women for adultery and for murder, because these women have committed adultery and their hands are covered with blood.

46 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: Bring together a mob ⌞against the people of Samaria and Jerusalem⌟. Hand them over to terror and looting. 47 Then the mob will stone them and kill them with swords. The mob will kill their sons and daughters and burn their homes. 48 So I will put a stop to the sinning in the land, and all the women will be warned not to sin as they do. 49 They will be punished for their sins, and they will pay for their sin of idolatry. Then they will know that I am the Almighty LORD.”

23:28–49   Nations will lay Jerusalem bare. Its sin has done this. Punishment is coming for polluting your holy places. Let their fate be a warning to me.

Judah Is Compared to a Boiling Pot

24

1 On the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, write down today’s date. The king of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem this very day. 3 Tell these rebellious people a story. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

Put the pot on the fire; put it on.

Pour water in it.

4 Cut the meat into pieces,

all the best pieces, the thigh and shoulder.

Fill the pot with the meatiest bones

5 selected from the best sheep.

Pile wood under the pot.

Bring the mixture in the pot to a boil.

Cook the bones that are in it well.

6 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

How horrible it will be for that city of murderers,

for that tarnished pot.

Its tarnish will not come off.

Empty the meat out of it piece by piece

without choosing any particular piece.

7 Blood is still in that city.

The blood was poured on a bare rock.

It wasn’t poured on the ground where dust would cover it.

8 In order to stir up my fury so that I would pay that city back,

I put the blood of its victims on a bare rock.

Now that blood can’t be covered.

9 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

How horrible it will be for that city of murderers.

I, too, will pile the wood high.

10 Pile it high, and light the fire.

Cook the meat thoroughly, stir the mixture,

and let the bones burn.

11 Then set the empty pot on the coals

so that it gets hot and its copper glows.

Its impurities will melt away,

and its tarnish will burn off.

12 “‘I have worn myself out trying to clean this pot. Even the fire can’t take away its thick tarnish. 13 I tried to clean you of your filthy lust, but you wouldn’t clean yourself from your filth. You will never be clean until I unleash my fury on you. 14 I, the LORD, have spoken. It will happen, and I will do it. I will not ignore you, pity you, or change my plans. I will punish you because of the way you lived and because of everything you have done,’” declares the Almighty LORD.

24:1–14   You wore yourself out trying to clean this pot. Now you’ll use fire to burn off its impurities. You can’t ignore Jerusalem’s evil. You won’t pity them or change your plans.

Ezekiel’s Silent Sorrow over the Destruction of Jerusalem

15 Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 16 “Son of man, with one blow I’m going to take away from you the person you love the most. But you must not mourn, cry, or let tears run down your face. 17 Groan silently. Don’t grieve for the person who dies. Tie on your turban, and put on your sandals. Don’t cover your face or eat the food that mourners eat.”

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I was ordered.

19 The people asked me, “Tell us, what do these things that you are doing mean to us?”

20 I told them, “The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 21 ‘Tell the nation of Israel, “This is what the Almighty LORD says: I’m going to dishonor my holy place. You brag that my holy place gives you strength. It’s the thing you love the most. It’s your hearts’ desire. So the sons and daughters that you left behind will die in battle. 22 Then you must do as I did. Don’t cover your faces or eat the food that mourners eat. 23 Leave your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. Don’t grieve or cry! You will waste away because of your guilt and groan to one another. 24 Ezekiel is a sign to you. You will do everything he has done. Then you will know that I am the Almighty LORD.” ’

25 “Son of man, on that day I will take their stronghold away from them. It makes them happy and proud. It is their hearts’ desire and the thing they love the most. I will also take away their sons and daughters. 26 On that day a refugee will come to you to tell you the news. 27 On that very day your mouth will be opened, and you will talk to the refugee. You will speak and not be silent anymore. You will be a sign to them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

24:15–27   You forbid Ezekiel to mourn his wife’s death. You commanded your people not to weep for the lifeless. They thought your temple made them invincible. Now they groan silently.

Judgment on Ammon

25

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, turn to the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Tell the Ammonites, ‘Listen to the word of the Almighty LORD. This is what the Almighty LORD says: You were glad when my holy place was dishonored, when the land of Israel was ruined, and when the nation of Judah went into exile. 4 That is why I’m going to hand you over to the people in the east. They will possess your land. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your crops and drink your milk. 5 I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels, and I will turn Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

6 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: You clapped your hands and stomped your feet. You rejoiced and felt contempt for the land of Israel. 7 That is why I will use my power against you and hand you over to the nations as loot. I will wipe you out from among the nations, make you disappear, and destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

25:1–7   Ammon was glad to see your people led away as prisoners. Now you’ll make Ammon disappear.

Judgment on Moab

8 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Moab and Seir said, “The nation of Judah is like all the other nations.” 9 That is why I’m going to open up the cities that protect Moab’s borders. They are the beautiful cities of Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim. 10 I will hand the Moabites and the Ammonites over to the people in the east. So the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. 11 I will punish Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Judgment on Edom

12 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Edom took revenge on the nation of Judah and became guilty because of it. 13 So this is what the Almighty LORD says: I will use my power against Edom. I will wipe out people and animals. I will turn the land into ruins from Teman to Dedan. People will die in battle. 14 I will use my people Israel to take revenge on Edom. My people will deal with Edom based on my anger and my fury. Then the Edomites will know my revenge, declares the Almighty LORD.

Judgment on the Philistines

15 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: The Philistines have taken revenge with spiteful hearts. They have tried to destroy their long-time enemies. 16 So this is what the Almighty LORD says: I’m going to use my power against the Philistines, cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the people that are left on the coast. 17 I will take fierce revenge on them and punish them with fury. I will take revenge on them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

25:8–17   Moab wouldn’t admit Judah belonged to you. Edom took revenge on your nation. The Philistines tried to destroy your people. Now is the time to smash them with your fury. No nation ever escapes your judgment.

Judgment on Tyre

26

1 On the first day of the month in the eleventh year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, Tyre said this about Jerusalem: ‘The city that was the gateway for the nations is destroyed, and its doors are swung open to me. I’ll get rich now that it’s ruined.’ 3 So this is what the Almighty LORD says: I am against you, Tyre. I will bring many nations against you as the waves on the sea rise. 4 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down its towers. Then I will sweep up the dust and turn Tyre into a bare rock. 5 It will become a place by the sea where people spread their fishing nets. I have spoken, declares the Almighty LORD. It will become a prize for the nations. 6 The people in the villages and on the mainland will die in battle. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

7 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: From the north I’m going to bring King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon against you, Tyre. He is the greatest king. He will bring horses, chariots, war horses, many people, and many troops. 8 He will destroy the villages on your mainland. He will set up blockades, put up dirt ramps, and raise his shields against you. 9 He will direct his battering rams against your walls, and he will cut down your towers with his axes. 10 He will have so many horses that their dust will cover you. The noise from the war horses, wagon wheels, and chariots will shake your walls when he enters your gates. He will enter as people enter a conquered city. 11 With his horses’ hoofs he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people in battle, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground. 12 His troops will loot your riches and take your goods as prizes. They will destroy your walls and tear down your delightful homes. They will throw your stones, wood, and soil into the water.

26:1–12   Tyre thought it could get rich off Jerusalem’s ruin, so you made it a prize for the nations. You sent Nebuchadnezzar to trample the city and loot its wealth.

13 “I will put a stop to your noisy songs, and the music from your harps will no longer be heard. 14 I will turn you into bare rock. You will become a place to spread fishing nets. You will never be rebuilt. I, the LORD, have spoken, declares the Almighty LORD.

15 “This is what the Almighty LORD says to Tyre: The people who live on the coast will shake with fear when they hear about your defeat. They will groan when your people are wounded and slaughtered. 16 Then the princes from the coast will come down from their thrones. They will remove their robes and take off their embroidered clothes. Dressed in terror, they will sit on the ground. They will tremble constantly and be shocked at you. 17 Then they will sing this funeral song for you:

Tyre, you famous city, you have been destroyed.

You have been shattered by the sea.

You and your people ruled the sea.

All your people terrified those who lived by the coast.

18 Your defeat will make the people who live by the coast tremble.

Your end will terrify the islands in the sea.

19 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will turn your city into ruins like cities that have no one living in them. I will bring the deep ocean over you, and the Mediterranean Sea will cover you. 20 I will bring you down with those who descend to the grave to join the people of long ago. I will make you live below the earth among the ancient ruins with those who go down to the grave. You will never return or take your place in the land of the living. 21 I will turn you into a terror, and you will no longer exist. People will look for you, but they will never see you again,” declares the Almighty LORD.

26:13–21   You stopped Tyre’s noisy songs. You silenced its happy harps. You assigned others to sing funeral songs for the famous city. You made sure Tyre vanished.

A Funeral Song about Tyre

27

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, sing a funeral song about Tyre. 3 Tyre is the city at the entrance to the sea. It is the merchant to the nations. Say to Tyre, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

Tyre, you used to brag about your perfect beauty.

4 Your home is the sea.

“‘Your builders made your beauty perfect.

5 Your builders made all your boards from pine trees on Mount Hermon.

They took cedar trees from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

6 They made your oars from oaks in Bashan.

They made your deck from pine trees on the shores of Cyprus.

It had ivory set in it.

7 Your sails were made out of fine embroidered linen from Egypt.

They were like your flags.

Your awnings were violet and purple.

They came from the coasts of Elishah.

8 People from Sidon and Arvad used to row you.

Your own skilled people were your sailors.

9 Master shipbuilders from Gebal went inside you to caulk your seams.

All the ships on the sea and their sailors

docked alongside you to trade with you.

10 People from Persia, Lud, and Put were soldiers in your army.

They hung their shields and helmets inside you.

Their victories made you look good.

11 “‘People from Arvad and Helech[16] were guards all around your walls. People from Gammad guarded your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls, making your beauty perfect.

27:1–11   Builders made sure Tyre’s beauty was flawless. Its ships ruled the sea. They set sail under fine linen.

12 “‘People from Tarshish traded with you because you were so very rich. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13 People from Greece, Tubal, and Meshech traded with you. They exchanged slaves and bronze items for your goods. 14 People from Beth Togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise. 15 People from Dedan traded goods with you. You traded with many people on the coasts, and they brought you ivory and ebony as payment.

16 “‘People from Syria traded with you because you had so many products. They exchanged emeralds, purple cloth, richly woven cloth, linen, coral, and rubies for your merchandise. 17 Judah and Israel traded with you. They exchanged wheat from Minnith, baked goods, honey, olive oil, and balsam for your goods. 18 People from Damascus traded with you because you had so many products. They exchanged wine from Helbon and wool from Sahar.

19 “‘Danites and Greeks from Uzal traded for your merchandise. They exchanged wrought iron, cassia, and sugar cane for your goods. 20 Dedan traded saddle blankets with you. 21 Arabia and all the officials of Kedar traded with you. They traded lambs, rams, and male goats. 22 The merchants from Sheba and Raamah traded with you. They traded the finest spices, precious stones, and gold for your merchandise. 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants from Sheba, Assyria, and Kilmad traded with you. 24 In your marketplace they traded for beautiful clothes, purple robes, embroidered cloth, and many multicolored rugs with woven and twisted cords.

25 “‘Ships from Tarshish carried your goods.

You were like a ship filled with heavy cargo in the sea.

26 Your rowers took you out to the high seas,

and an east wind wrecked you in the sea.

27 Your wealth, your merchandise, and the goods you sell,

your mariners and your sailors,

your caulkers and your merchants,

your soldiers and everyone else on board

sank into the sea when your ship was wrecked.

27:12–27   Tyre traded every luxury good and every necessary thing. But you sank its ships.

28 “‘When your sailors cried out, people on the shore trembled.

29 All the rowers, the sailors,

and all the mariners came down from their ships

and stood on the shore.

30 They cried loudly and bitterly over you.

They put dust on their heads and covered themselves with ashes.

31 They shaved their heads because of you and put on sackcloth.

They cried over you with bitterness and with bitter mourning.

32 They sang a funeral song for you with loud crying:

“Who is like Tyre, the city destroyed in the sea?”

33 Your merchandise was sent overseas.

You filled many people with your great wealth and your goods.

You made the kings of the earth rich.

34 Now you are wrecked in the sea, at the bottom of the sea.

Your goods and your whole crew sank with you.

35 All those who live on the coasts are horrified because of you.

Their kings are terribly afraid.

Their faces show their fear.

36 The merchants among the nations laugh at you.

You have come to a terrible end,

and you will never exist again.’”

27:28–36   Tyre weeps bitterly for its dead. Its goods and its crews lie at the bottom of the sea. Everyone laughs at its terrible end. This is judgment from you.

Judgment on the King of Tyre

28

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

In your arrogance you say,

“I’m a god. I sit on God’s throne in the sea.”

But you’re only human and not a god,

although you think you are a god.

3 You think that you are wiser than Daniel

and that no secret can be hidden from you.

4 Because you are wise and understanding,

you’ve made yourself rich.

You saved gold and silver in your treasuries.

5 Because of your great skill in trading,

you’ve made yourself very wealthy.

You have become arrogant because of your wealth.

28:1–5   Tyre’s ruler thought he could take your throne, but he was only a human. Skill might make me wealthy, but riches can make me obnoxiously arrogant.

6 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

You think you are wise like God.

7 That is why I am going to bring foreigners against you,

the most ruthless foreigners among the nations.

They will draw their swords against your fine wisdom

and dishonor your greatness.

8 They will throw you into a pit,

and you will die a violent death in the sea.

9 You will no longer say that you are a god

when you face those who kill you.

You will be a human, not a god, in the hands of those who kill you.

10 You will die at the hands of foreigners like a godless person.

I have spoken,’” declares the LORD.

28:6–10   If I rise up against you, you’ll bring me down. If I’m dead, no one will mistake me for you.

11 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 12 “Son of man, sing a funeral song for the ruler of Tyre. Tell him, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

You were the perfect example,

full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden, God’s garden.

You were covered with every kind of precious stone:

red quartz, topaz, crystal,

beryl, onyx, gray quartz, sapphire,

turquoise, and emerald.

Your settings and your sockets

were made of gold when you were created.

14 I appointed an angel[17] to guard you.

You were on God’s holy mountain.

You walked among fiery stones.

15 Your behavior was perfect from the time you were created,

until evil was found in you.

16 You traded far and wide. You learned to be violent, and you sinned.

So I threw you down from God’s mountain in disgrace.

The guardian angel forced you out from the fiery stones.

28:11–16   You made the king perfect in wisdom and beauty. You covered him with every precious stone. He stood on your holy mountain. He stayed in line until evil took over.

17 You became too proud because of your beauty.

You wasted your wisdom because of your greatness.

So I threw you to the ground

and left you in front of the kings

so that they could see you.

18 You dishonored your own holy places

because of your many sins and dishonest trade.

So I set fire to you to burn you up.

I turned you into ashes on the ground

in the presence of all who saw you.

19 All the nations who knew you are horrified because of you.

You have come to a terrible end,

and you will never exist again.’”

28:17–19   Don’t let my assets make me proud. Don’t let my wisdom go to waste.

Judgment on Sidon Means Hope for Israel

20 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 21 “Son of man, turn to Sidon and prophesy against it. 22 Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

I’m against you, Sidon.

I will show my greatness through you.

Then people will know that I am the LORD,

because I will punish you and show you how holy I am.

23 I will send a plague against you

and make blood flow in your streets.

Your people will fall dead.

People with swords will attack you from every side.

Then they will know that I am the LORD.

24 The nation of Israel will no longer be hurt

by prickly thorns or sharp briars from everyone around them.

Then they will know that I am the Almighty LORD.

25 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they were scattered, I will show that I am holy as the nations watch. The people of Israel will live in their own land, the land I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 They will live there in safety. They will build homes and plant vineyards. They will live in safety when I punish all the surrounding people who treat them with scorn. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’”

28:20–26   You’ll punish Sidon to show your holiness. Everyone will know you’re the Lord. Your nation will no longer be hurt.

Judgment on Egypt

29

1 On the twelfth day of the tenth month in the tenth year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, turn to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3 Tell him, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

I’m against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

You are like a monster crocodile lying in the Nile River.

You say, “The Nile River is mine. I made it for myself.”

4 “‘I will put hooks in your jaws

and make the fish in the Nile River stick to your scales.

I will pull you out of your river

with all the fish in the Nile sticking to your scales.

5 I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish from the Nile.

You will fall in an open field.

No one will pick you up or bury you.

I will feed you to wild animals and birds.

6 Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the LORD.

Egypt, you have become like a ⌞broken⌟ walking stick

to the nation of Israel.

7 When Israel grabbed you, you splintered and tore up their shoulders.

When they leaned on you, you broke, and they wrenched their backs.

29:1–7   Pharaoh is like a monster crocodile lying in the Nile. You’ll pull him out of the river and drop him in the desert. I’ll remember that you’re in charge.

8 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I am going to attack you with a sword. I will kill people and animals. 9 Egypt will become a wasteland and a pile of rubble. Then you will know that I am the LORD. You said, “The Nile River is mine. I made it.” 10 That is why I’m against you and the Nile River. I will turn Egypt into a pile of rubble. It will become a wasteland, from Migdol to Syene, all the way to the border of Sudan. 11 No human or animal will walk through it, and no one will live there for 40 years. 12 I will make Egypt the most desolate country in the world. For 40 years Egypt’s cities will lie in ruins. They will be ruined more than any other city. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and force them into other countries.

13 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: After 40 years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they have been scattered. 14 I will bring back the Egyptian captives and return them to Pathros,[18] the land they came from. There they will be a weak kingdom. 15 They will be the weakest kingdom, and they will never rule the nations again. I will make them so weak that they will never rule the nations again. 16 The nation of Israel will never trust Egypt again. The people of Israel will remember how wrong they were whenever they turned to Egypt ⌞for help⌟. Then they will know that I am the Almighty LORD.’”

29:8–16   Egypt will pay for what it did to your people. You’ll make it desolate, unable to rule your people ever again. Warn me when I trust the wrong people for help.

17 On the first day of the first month in the twenty-seventh year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 18 “Son of man, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his army fight hard against Tyre. Every soldier’s head was worn bald, and every soldier’s shoulder was rubbed raw. Yet, he and his army got no reward for their hard-fought battle against Tyre. 19 This is what the Almighty LORD says: I’m going to give Egypt to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He will carry off its wealth, take its prized possessions, and loot it. That will be the pay for his army. 20 I have given him Egypt as pay for what he has done. Nebuchadnezzar and his army worked for me, declares the Almighty LORD.

21 “On that day I will make the people of Israel strong again, and I will give you, Ezekiel, something to say among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Nebuchadnezzar Will Conquer Egypt

30

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, prophesy. Say, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

Cry for that day!

3 The day is near. The day of the LORD is near.

It will be a gloomy day, a time of trouble for the nations.

4 There will be war in Egypt and anguish in Ethiopia.

Many Egyptians will fall dead.

People will take away Egypt’s wealth,

and its foundations will be torn down.

5 Sudan, Put, Lud, all the Arabs, the Libyans,

and people from the promised land will die in battle.

6 “‘This is what the LORD says:

All Egypt’s allies will die.

Egypt’s strength will disappear.

People will die in war from Migdol to Syene,

declares the Almighty LORD.

7 “‘Egypt will become the most desolate country in the world, and Egypt’s cities will lie in ruins. They will be ruined more than other cities. 8 Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will set fire to Egypt and all her defenders will be killed. 9 On that day I will send messengers in ships to terrify those who live in safety in Sudan. The people of Sudan will be in anguish when Egypt is in trouble. That day is coming!

10 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will use King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to bring an end to Egypt. 11 He and his troops, the most ruthless troops among the nations, will be brought to destroy the land. They will draw their swords to attack Egypt and fill the land with dead bodies. 12 I will dry up the Nile River and sell the land to wicked people. I will have foreigners destroy the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken.

30:1–12   Your time is coming. Your day is near. I’ll cry for that day of gloom and trouble!

13 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will destroy the statues and put an end to the idols in Memphis. A prince will never rise again in Egypt. I will spread fear throughout Egypt. 14 I will destroy Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and bring punishment on Thebes. 15 I will pour out my fury on Sin, Egypt’s fortress, and I will kill many people in Thebes. 16 I will set fire to Egypt. Sin will be in much pain. Thebes will be broken into pieces, and Memphis will be in trouble every day. 17 The young men from Heliopolis and Bubastis will die in battle, and people from these cities will go into exile. 18 At Tahpanhes the day will turn dark when I break Egypt’s power. Egypt’s strong army will be defeated. Clouds will cover Egypt, and people from its villages will go into exile. 19 Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will bring punishment on Egypt.’”

20 On the seventh day of the first month in the eleventh year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. His arm isn’t bandaged, so it can’t heal and be strong enough to hold a sword.

22 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: I’m against Pharaoh, king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the healthy one and the broken one. I will make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and force them into other countries. 24 I will make the arms of the king of Babylon strong. I will put my sword in his hand, but I will break Pharaoh’s arms. Pharaoh will groan like a person who is dying. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall. Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will put my sword in the hand of the king of Babylon. He will strike Egypt with it. 26 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and force them into other countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

30:13–26   You destroy idols and spread fear. You pour fury on fortresses and set fire to nations. Your strength shows everyone you’re the Lord.

Egypt Will Be Conquered as Assyria Was Conquered

31

1 On the first day of the third month in the eleventh year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his many people,

‘Was there ever anyone as great as you?

3 What about Assyria?

It was a cedar in Lebanon

with fine branches that shaded the forest.

It was very tall.

Its top was among the clouds.

4 Water made the tree grow,

and underground springs made it tall.

Rivers flowed around the place where the tree was planted.

Streams ran beside all the other trees around it.

5 That is why it grew taller than all the other trees in the field.

Its branches became large and long because of so much water.

6 All the birds made their nests in its branches.

All the wild animals gave birth to their young under it.

All the powerful nations lived in its shade.

7 So the tree was big and beautiful with its long branches.

Its roots reached down to many sources of water.

8 The cedar trees in God’s garden couldn’t compare to it.

The pine trees couldn’t equal its branches.

The plane trees couldn’t measure up to its branches.

All the trees in God’s garden couldn’t match its beauty.

9 I was the one who made it beautiful with its many branches.

This tree was the envy of all the trees in Eden, in God’s garden.

10 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: The tree grew very tall, and its top reached the clouds. It became arrogant because it was so tall. 11 So I handed it over to a mighty ruler among the nations, and he surely dealt with it. I forced it out because of its wickedness. 12 Foreigners from the most ruthless nation cut it down and threw it away. Its branches fell on the mountains and in every valley. Its broken branches fell in every ravine in the land. All the nations in the world came out from under its shade and left. 13 All the birds perched on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived in its branches. 14 Then all the other trees growing by the water were kept from becoming arrogant because of their height, and their tops were no longer allowed to reach the clouds. So no tree, even if it is well-watered, will ever stand that tall. Every tree is going to die and go below the earth to join those who have died and gone down to the pit.

15 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: When the tree went down to the grave, I made people mourn. I covered the underground springs and held back the rivers. The many water sources stopped flowing. I made Lebanon mourn for the tree, and all the trees in the field fainted as they grieved over it. 16 I made the nations tremble in fear at the sound of the tree’s crash. I brought the tree down to the grave to join those who had gone down to the pit. Then all the trees in Eden, the choicest and best trees of Lebanon, and all the trees that were well-watered were comforted below the earth. 17 They had gone down with the tree in the grave to join others killed in battle. All who lived in its shadow were scattered among the nations.

18 “‘This tree is you, Pharaoh, and all your many people. No tree in Eden has ever been as honorable and as great as you. But you will be brought down below the earth with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the godless people who were killed in battle, declares the Almighty LORD.’”

31:1–18   Assyria was like a tree whose top reached the clouds—a cedar of matchless beauty. Yet you chopped off its branches and threw it away. Now proud Egypt will also be brought down. You always keep your word.

A Funeral Song about Pharaoh

32

1 On the first day of the twelfth month in the twelfth year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, sing a funeral song for Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Tell him,

‘You think you are like a lion among the nations.

Instead, you are like a crocodile in the water.

You splash around in the water.

You stir up the water with your feet.

You make the streams muddy.

3 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: When many nations gather together, I will spread my net over you, and they will haul you up in a net. 4 I will throw you on the ground and toss you into an open field. I will make birds perch on you, and wild animals from all over the earth will feed on you. 5 I will scatter your flesh on the hills and fill the valleys with your rotting corpse. 6 I will drench the earth with your flowing blood all the way to the mountains. Ravines will be filled with your dead body.

32:1–6   The nations will sing a funeral song for Pharaoh, king of Egypt. You’ll pull him like a crocodile from the Nile. You’ll scatter his flesh on the hills.

7 “‘When I put out your light, I will cover the sky and darken the stars. I will cover the sun with clouds, and the moon won’t shine anymore. 8 I will darken all the lights shining in the sky above you. I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Almighty LORD.

9 “‘I will make many people troubled when I spread the news of your destruction among the nations to countries that you haven’t heard of. 10 Many people will be shocked by what I will do to you. Their kings will shudder when I swing my sword in their faces. When you die, all of them will tremble in fear for their own lives.

11 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: The sword of the king of Babylon will attack you. 12 I will cut down your people with the swords of warriors. All of them will be the most ruthless warriors among the nations. They will shatter the pride of Egypt and destroy its many people. 13 I will also destroy all the animals beside its many water sources. The feet of humans and the hoofs of animals won’t stir up the water anymore. 14 Then I will make its water clear and make its streams flow like oil, declares the Almighty LORD. 15 I will turn Egypt into a wasteland. I will take everything in the land, and I will kill all the people who live there. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’

16 “This is a funeral song. The people from the nations will sing this song. They will sing it as they mourn for Egypt and its many people,” declares the Almighty LORD.

32:8–16   You’ll shock the nations with your wrath against Egypt. They’ll shudder when you swing your sword in their faces. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

The Egyptians Will Join the Other Nations in the Grave

17 On the fifteenth day of the month in the twelfth year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 18 “Son of man, cry for the many people of Egypt. Bring them down along with the other mighty nations. Send them down below the earth to be with those who have gone down to the pit.

19 “⌞Tell them,⌟ ‘Are you more beautiful than anyone else? Go down and join the godless people.’

20 “The Egyptians will lie among those who were killed in battle. A sword has been drawn. Drag Egypt and all its people away. 21 The mightiest warriors will say to Pharaoh from the grave, ‘You and your defenders have come down, and you now lie with the godless people who were killed in battle.’

22 “Assyria is there with its whole army, and the graves of its soldiers are all around it. All of its soldiers are dead. They have been killed in battle. 23 Their graves are in the deepest parts of the pit. Assyria’s army lies around its grave. All of its soldiers are dead. They have been killed in battle. They once terrified people in the land of the living.

24 “Elam is there with all its soldiers, and the graves of its soldiers are all around it. All of its soldiers are dead. They have been killed in battle. They went down below the earth as godless people. They once terrified people in the land of the living. Now they suffer disgrace with those who have gone down to the pit. 25 A bed has been made for Elam among the dead. The graves of its soldiers are all around it. The soldiers were godless people. They were killed in battle because they terrified others in the land of the living. Now they suffer disgrace with those who have gone down to the pit. They lie among the dead.

26 “Meshech and Tubal are there with all their soldiers, and the graves of their soldiers are all around them. Their soldiers were all godless people. They were killed in battle because they terrified others in the land of the living. 27 They don’t lie with the godless warriors who died and went down to the grave with their weapons of war. Their swords were placed under their heads. Their shields were placed on their bones because they terrified others in the land of the living.

28 “You Egyptians will be crushed with the godless people, and you will lie with those who were killed in battle.

29 “Edom is there with its kings and its princes. They used to be powerful, but now they lie with those who were killed in battle. They lie there with the godless people and with those who have gone down to the pit.

30 “All the rulers from the north and all the people from Sidon are there. They, too, went down with the dead. They are disgraced because they terrified people with their power. They were godless people. Now they lie with those who were killed in battle. They suffer disgrace with those who went down to the pit.

31 “Pharaoh and his army will see these things and be comforted over all the soldiers who have been killed in battle, declares the Almighty LORD. 32 I terrified people in the land of the living. Pharaoh and all his soldiers will be laid among the godless people who were killed in battle,” declares the Almighty LORD.

32:17–32   You send Egypt to join other godless people in the grave. Assyria and Elam are there. So are Meshech and Tubal. You dragged them all away. Don’t drag me from the land of the living.

Ezekiel Is Called to Be a Watchman

33

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, speak to your people. Tell them, ‘Suppose I bring war on this country, and the people of this country choose one of their men and make him their watchman. 3 If he sees the enemy coming to attack the country, he will blow his horn to warn the people. 4 If the people hear the horn and ignore the warning and the enemy comes and takes them, they will be responsible for their own deaths. 5 They heard the sound of the horn but ignored its warning. So they are responsible for their own deaths. If they had taken the warning, they would have saved themselves.

6 “‘But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t blow his horn to warn the people and the enemy comes and kills someone, that watchman must die because of his sin. I will hold him responsible for their deaths.’

7 “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the people of Israel. Listen to what I say, and warn them for me. 8 Suppose I say to a wicked person, ‘You wicked person, you will certainly die,’ and you say nothing to warn him to change his ways. That wicked person will die because of his sin, and I will hold you responsible for his death. 9 But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his ways and he doesn’t turn from them, then he will die because of his sin. However, you will save yourself.

33:1–9   I see the enemy coming. My people are under attack. I’ll sound the warning so many will live. I’ll remind the wicked they’ll surely die.

10 “Son of man, say to the people of Israel, ‘You have said this, “Our wickedness and our sins weigh us down, and we are rotting away because of them. How can we live?” ’

11 “Tell them, ‘As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, I don’t want wicked people to die. Rather, I want them to turn from their ways and live. Change the way you think and act! Turn from your wicked ways! Do you want to die, people of Israel?’

12 “Son of man, say to your people, ‘The right things that a righteous person has done will not save him when he rebels. The wicked things that a wicked person has done will not make him stumble when he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person will not live when he sins.’ 13 I may promise the righteous person that he will certainly live. But if he trusts in the right things that he has done and he does evil, none of the right things that he has done will be remembered. He will die because of the evil things he has done. 14 I may warn the wicked person that he will certainly die. But suppose he turns from his sin and does what is fair and right. 15 He returns the security for a loan, pays back everything he stole, lives by the rules of life, and does nothing evil. Then he will certainly live. He will not die. 16 None of the sins that he has done will be remembered. He has done what is fair and right. He will certainly live.

17 “But your people say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Yet, their ways are unfair. 18 If the righteous person turns from the right things that he has done and does evil, he will die because of it. 19 If the wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is fair and right, he will live because of it. 20 Yet, the people of Israel say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ I will judge each of you by your own ways, people of Israel.”

33:10–20   My sins weigh me down. My evil deeds are killing me. But you don’t want me to die. If I turn from my sins, you’ll forget them.

21 On the fifth day of the tenth month in the twelfth year of our captivity, a refugee from Jerusalem came to me. He said, “The city has been captured.” 22 The evening before the refugee arrived, the power of the LORD came over me. On the morning the refugee arrived, the LORD made me speak. So I spoke, and I was no longer quiet.

23 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 24 “Son of man, those who live in the ruined cities in Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one person, and he was given the land. But we are many. Certainly the land has been given to us.’ 25 So tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: You eat meat with blood in it. You look to your idols for help. You murder people. Should the land be given to you? 26 You rely on your swords. You do disgusting things. You dishonor your neighbor’s wife. Should the land be given to you?’

27 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: As I live, whoever is in the ruined cities will be killed in battle. Whoever is in the open field will become food for wild animals. Whoever is in fortified places and caves will die from plagues. 28 I will turn the land into a barren wasteland. People will no longer brag about its power. The mountains of Israel will become so ruined that no one will travel through them. 29 Then people will know that I am the LORD, when I make the land a barren wasteland because of all the disgusting things that they have done.’

33:21–29   Your blessings flee when I ignore your commands. You make my life a wasteland.

30 “Son of man, your people are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of their homes. They are saying to each other, ‘Let’s go and hear the word that has come from the LORD.’ 31 Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they don’t do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits. 32 To them you are nothing more than a singer with a beautiful voice who sings love songs or a musician who plays an instrument. They listen to your words, but they don’t do them. 33 When all your words come true—and they certainly will come true—these people will know that a prophet has been among them.”

33:30–33   I’ll listen to your words and do them. I’ll love you with heart, mind, and body. You’re more than a beautiful voice or a favorite song.

The Promise of a New Shepherd for the LORD’s Sheep

34

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy to these shepherds. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Shouldn’t shepherds take care of the sheep? 3 You eat the best parts of the sheep, dress in the wool, and butcher the finest sheep. Yet, you don’t take care of the sheep. 4 You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured. You have not brought back those that strayed away or looked for those that were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd. When they were scattered, they became food for every wild animal. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered throughout the whole earth. No one searched or looked for them.

34:1–6   Your shepherds care only for themselves. They feed off your sheep, eating the best parts and wrapping themselves in the wool. But they don’t strengthen the weak or heal the sick.

7 “‘So, you shepherds, listen to the word of the LORD. 8 As I live, declares the Almighty LORD, because there is no shepherd, my sheep have become prey. My sheep have become food for every wild animal. My shepherds haven’t searched for my sheep. They have taken care of only themselves, not my sheep. 9 So, you shepherds, listen to the word of the LORD. 10 This is what the Almighty LORD says: I am against the shepherds. I will demand that they hand over my sheep. I won’t let them take care of my sheep anymore, and they will no longer take care of only themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, and my sheep will no longer be their food.

34:7–10   Your sheep have become easy prey. Demand that your shepherds hand over the flock! Don’t let your sheep be food for the shepherds.

11 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will search for my sheep myself, and I will look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them on a cloudy and gloomy day from every place where they have been scattered. 13 I will bring them out from the nations, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own land. I will take care of them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and they will graze on the mountains of Israel. They will rest on the good land where they graze, and they will feed on the best pastures in the mountains of Israel. 15 I will take care of my sheep and lead them to rest, declares the Almighty LORD. 16 I will look for those that are lost, bring back those that have strayed away, bandage those that are injured, and strengthen those that are sick. I will destroy those that are fat and strong. I will take care of my sheep fairly.

34:11–16   Come looking for me! Rescue me from the gloomy places I’ve been scattered. Let me rest on good land. Feed me on the best pastures. Bandage my injuries and heal my diseases!

17 “‘As for you, my sheep, this is what the Almighty LORD says: I will judge disputes between one sheep and another, between rams and male goats. 18 Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? You drink clean water. Must you muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 Must my sheep eat what your feet have trampled and drink what your feet have muddied?

20 “‘So this is what the Almighty LORD says to them: I will judge disputes between the fat sheep and the skinny sheep. 21 You fat sheep push the skinny sheep with your sides and shoulders, and you knock down all the sick sheep with your horns. You have scattered them all over. 22 So I will rescue my sheep, and they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 Then I will place one shepherd over them, my servant David, and he will take care of them. He will take care of them and be their shepherd. 24 I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be their prince. I, the LORD, have spoken.

34:17–24   I won’t trample the pasture where others graze. I won’t muddy the water where others drink.

25 “‘I will promise them peace. I will remove the wild animals from the land so that my sheep can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will bless them and the places around my hill. I will send rain at the right time. These showers will be a blessing to them. 27 Then the trees in the field will produce fruit, the land will yield crops, and my sheep will live safely in their land. Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will break off the bars on their yokes[19] and rescue them from the people who made them slaves. 28 They will no longer be prey to the nations, and the wild animals will no longer eat them. They will live safely, and no one will frighten them. 29 I will give them a place that is known for its good crops. They will no longer experience hunger in the land, and they will no longer suffer the insults of other nations. 30 Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the people of Israel, are my people, declares the Almighty LORD. 31 You, my sheep, are the sheep in my pasture. You are mortal, and I am your God, declares the Almighty LORD.’”

Judgment on Edom

35

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, turn to Mount Seir, and prophesy against it. 3 Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says:

I’m against you, Mount Seir.

I will use my power against you,

and you will become a wasteland.

4 I will turn your cities into ruins,

and you will become a wasteland.

Then you will know that I am the LORD.

5 “‘You have always been an enemy of Israel.

You deserted the people of Israel in battle

when they were in trouble during their final punishment.

6 That is why, as I live, declares the Almighty LORD,

I will let you be murdered.

Murderers will pursue you.

Since you don’t hate murdering people, murder will pursue you.

7 I will turn Mount Seir into a barren wasteland,

and I will destroy everyone who comes or goes from there.

8 I will fill your mountains with those who have been killed.

Those killed in battle will fall on your hills

and in your valleys and ravines.

9 I will turn you into a permanent wasteland.

Your cities will not be lived in.

Then you will know that I am the LORD.

10 “‘You said, “These two nations, Israel and Judah, along with their land, belong to us. We will take possession of them.” But the LORD was there. 11 That is why, as I live, declares the Almighty LORD, I will do to you what you did to them. When you were angry and jealous, you acted hatefully toward them. 12 Then you will know that I, the LORD, heard all the insults that you spoke about the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been deserted and handed over to us to use up.” 13 You bragged and continually talked against me. I heard you.

14 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: The whole earth will be glad when I turn you into a wasteland. 15 You were happy when the land of Israel became a wasteland. I will do the same thing to you. You will become a wasteland, Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

35:1–15   You’ll do to Edom what it did to Israel and Judah. You’ll pay back their anger and jealousy and hatred. Don’t hand me over. Don’t give me what my sins deserve.

Blessings for the Mountains of Israel

36

1 ⌞The LORD said,⌟ “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel. Tell them, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the LORD. 2 This is what the Almighty LORD says: Your enemies said this about you, “Aha! The ancient worship sites now belong to us.” ’

3 “So prophesy. Say, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Your enemies turned you into ruins and crushed you from every side. You became the possession of the rest of the nations, and people began to talk and gossip about you.

4 “‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Almighty LORD. This is what the Almighty LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, and to the empty ruins and abandoned cities that have become prey and are mocked by the rest of the surrounding nations: 5 In my fiery anger I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all of Edom. The Edomites have taken possession of my land with wholehearted joy and with complete scorn. They forced out the people and took their land.’

6 “So prophesy about Israel. Tell the mountains and hills and the ravines and valleys, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I am speaking in my anger and fury because you have been insulted by the nations. 7 So this is what the Almighty LORD says: I raise my hand and swear that the nations which surround you will be insulted.

8 “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will grow branches and bear fruit for my people Israel. My people will come home soon. 9 I am for you. I will turn to you, and you will be plowed and planted. 10 I will increase the number of people who live on you. All the people of Israel, all of them, will live on you. The cities will be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 11 I will increase the number of people and animals that live on you. They will grow and become many. I will let people live on you as in the past, and I will make you better off than ever before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 12 I will bring people, my people Israel, to you. They will take possession of you, and you will be their inheritance. You will no longer take their children away from them.

36:1–12   Foreign gods ruled your mountaintops. Enemies turned your peaks into ruins. But you’ll bring your people back to their land. Call me home when enemies have chased me away.

13 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: People say that you devour your people and take the children away from your nation. 14 So you will no longer devour your people or take the children away from your nation, declares the Almighty LORD. 15 I will no longer let you hear the insults from the nations. You will no longer suffer the disgrace of the people. You will never again take the children away from your own nation, declares the Almighty LORD.’”

16 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 17 “Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they dishonored it by the way they lived and by everything they did. Their ways were as unclean[20] as a woman’s menstrual period. 18 So I poured out my fury on them because they poured out blood on the land and they dishonored the land with their idols. 19 I forced them into other nations, and they became scattered among the nations. I judged them based on the way that they lived and based on everything that they had done. 20 But wherever they went among the nations, they dishonored my holy name. People said about them, ‘These are the LORD’s people, yet they had to leave his land.’ 21 I became concerned about my holy name because my people dishonored it among the nations wherever they went.

22 “So tell the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I am about to do something, people of Israel. I will not do this for your sake but for the sake of my holy name, which you have dishonored among the nations wherever you have gone. 23 I will reveal the holiness of my great name, which has been dishonored by the nations, ⌞the name⌟ that you have dishonored among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, because I will reveal my holiness among you as they watch, declares the Almighty LORD.

36:13–23   My life was unclean, so you poured out your fury and forced me away. But now reveal the holiness of your great name. Then everyone will know you’re the Lord.

24 “‘I will take you from the nations and gather you from every country. I will bring you back to your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean[21] instead of unclean. Then I will cleanse you from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stubborn hearts and give you obedient hearts. 27 I will put my Spirit in you. I will enable you to live by my laws, and you will obey my rules. 28 Then you will live in the land that I gave your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will rescue you from all your uncleanness. I will make the grain grow so that you will never again have famines. 30 I will make fruit grow on the trees and crops grow in the fields so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famines. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and the bad things that you did, and you will hate yourselves for all these wicked and disgusting things. 32 I want you to know that I’m not doing this for your sake, declares the Almighty LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced because of your ways, people of Israel.

36:24–32   Cleanse me from my idols. Give me a new heart and put your Spirit inside me. Remove my stubborn heart and enable me to live by your commands. I’ll flee the bad things I did.

33 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: On the day that I cleanse you from all your wickedness, I will cause your cities to be lived in again, and your ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The wasteland will be plowed. It will no longer remain empty for everyone passing by to see. 35 People will say, “This wasteland has become like the garden of Eden. The cities were destroyed. They were empty and ruined, but now they are fortified and have people living in them.” 36 The surrounding nations that are left will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted crops in the land that was empty. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.’

37 “This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will also let the people of Israel ask me to make them as numerous as sheep. 38 They will be like the sheep for sacrifices, like the sheep in Jerusalem during the appointed festivals. Their ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

36:33–38   Make my wastelands like the Garden of Eden. Fill the lonely places with life. Then I’ll be certain you’re the Lord.

The Valley of Dry Bones

37

1 The power of the LORD came over me. The LORD brought me out by his Spirit and put me down in the middle of a valley. The valley was filled with bones. 2 He led me all around them. I saw that there were very many bones at the bottom of the valley, and they were very dry.

3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I answered, “Only you know, Almighty LORD.”

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones. Tell them, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD. 5 This is what the Almighty LORD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. 6 I will put ligaments on you, place muscles on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. While I was prophesying, suddenly there was a rattling noise, and the bones came together, one bone ⌞attaching itself⌟ to another. 8 As I looked, I saw that ligaments were on them, muscles were on them, and skin covered them. Yet, there was no breath in them.

9 Then the LORD said to me, “Prophesy to the breath![22] Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Come from the four winds, Breath, and breathe on these people who were killed so that they will live.’”

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them. Then they came to life and stood on their feet. There were enough of them to form a very large army.

37:1–10   Only you can make my dead bones live. Restring my ligaments. Put muscles on my bones. Cover me with skin. Breath life into this dead body.

11 The LORD also said to me, “Son of man, all the people of Israel are like these bones. The people say, ‘Our bones are dry, and our hope has vanished. We are completely destroyed.’ 12 So prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: My people, I will open your graves and take you out of them. I will bring you to Israel. 13 Then, my people, you will know that I am the LORD, because I will open your graves and bring you out of your graves. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”

37:11–14   My bones are dry. My hope has vanished. But you’ll open my grave and bring me out. You’ll put your Spirit in me and I’ll live.

15 The LORD spoke his word to me again. He said, 16 “Son of man, take a stick and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the Israelites who are associated with it.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘The stick of Ephraim, for Joseph and for all the people of Israel associated with it.’ 17 Then join both sticks together so that they will be one in your hand. Your people will say to you, 18 ‘Tell us what you mean by this.’ 19 Then say to them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will take Joseph’s stick, which is in Ephraim’s hand, and the tribes of Israel associated with it, and I will put them with Judah’s stick. I will make them into one stick. They will be one in my hand.’ 20 When you hold the sticks in your hand, let the people see them.

21 “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they’ve gone. I will gather them from everywhere and bring them to their own land. 22 I will form them into one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule all of them. They will no longer be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer dishonor themselves with their idols, with their detestable things, or with their rebellious acts. I will forgive them for all the times they turned away from me and sinned. I will cleanse them so that they will be my people, and I will be their God.

37:15–23   Bring me back from the land where I’ve been held prisoner. Join me to your people and give us a good king to rule us. Forgive all the times we’ve sinned.

24 “‘My servant David will be their king, and all of them will have one shepherd. They will live by my rules, and they will obey my laws. 25 They will live in the land that I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They, their children, and their grandchildren will live in it permanently. My servant David will always be their prince. 26 I will promise them peace. This promise[23] will last forever. I will establish them, make them increase in number, and put my holy place among them permanently. 27 My dwelling place will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I, the LORD, have set Israel apart as holy, because my holy place will be among them permanently.’”

37:24–28   Give us a good shepherd and let us live in your blessing. Dwell among us, be our God, and we’ll be your people. Every nation on earth will know you’ve made us yours.

The Destruction of Gog and Its Army

38

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, turn to Gog from the land of Magog. He is the chief prince of ⌞the nations of⌟ Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him. 3 Tell him, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws. I will lead you out with all your military forces, with horses and riders. Your soldiers will be fully armed. They will carry large and small shields and be able to use swords. 5 Persia, Sudan, and Put will be with you. They, too, will have shields and helmets. 6 Gomer will come with all its troops and with the nation of Togarmah from the far north. There will be many armies with you.

7 “‘Be prepared! Be prepared, you and all the soldiers assembled around you. You will be their leader. 8 After a long time you will be called to service. In the years to come, you will attack a land that has been rebuilt after a war. Its people have been gathered from many nations and brought to the mountains of Israel, mountains that have been ruined for a long time. These people were brought there from the nations, and all of them live there safely. 9 You will attack like a storm and cover the land like a cloud. Your troops and the many armies will be with you.

10 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: At that time ideas will enter your head, and you will make wicked plans. 11 You will say, “I’ll attack a land with unwalled villages. I will attack peaceful people who live safely. All of them live without walls, locks, or gates. 12 I will come to rob them and loot them. I will use my power against the ruins that people are living in again. I will use it against the people who were gathered from the nations. These people have cattle and property, and they live in the world.”

13 “‘Sheba, Dedan, the merchants from Tarshish, and all their villages will ask you, “Did you come to rob these people of their possessions? Did you assemble all these soldiers to carry away large amounts of silver and gold and to take cattle and property?” ’

14 “So prophesy, son of man. Tell Gog, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: At that time my people Israel will live safely, and you will know it. 15 You will come from your place in the far north and many armies will be with you. All of you will ride on horses. You will be a large crowd and a mighty army. 16 You will attack my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In the days to come, I will let you attack my land so that nations will know me. I will use you for my holy purpose as they watch.

38:1–16   Gog will invade from the far north. You’ll let Gog attack your land so nations will know you. You’ll use Gog for your holy purposes.

17 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: You are the one I spoke about long ago through my servants the prophets of Israel. They prophesied in those days that I would bring you to attack them. 18 On the day that Gog attacks the land of Israel, I will be filled with burning anger, declares the Almighty LORD. 19 In my fiery anger I tell you this. On that day there will be a large earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 Fish, birds, wild animals, everything that crawls on the ground, and every person on earth will tremble in my presence. The mountains will be torn down, the cliffs will crumble, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will declare war against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Almighty LORD. Each person will use his sword against his relative. 22 I will punish Gog with plagues and death. I will send rainstorms, large hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur on his troops and on the many armies with him. 23 I will show my greatness and my holiness. I will reveal myself to many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

38:17–23   You’ll burn with anger on the day Gog attacks. Every creature on earth will tremble in your presence. When you punish Gog with plagues and death, you’ll put your greatness and holiness on display. Then everyone will know you’re the Lord.

39

1 ⌞The LORD said,⌟ “Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I am against you, Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 2 I will turn you around and lead you. I will bring you from the far north and have you attack the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand and make you drop the arrows in your right hand. 4 You will die on the mountains of Israel with your troops and the armies that are with you. I will let you become food for every bird of prey and for every wild animal. 5 You will die in the open field because I said so, declares the Almighty LORD. 6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the LORD. 7 I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, and I will never let them dishonor my holy name again. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

8 “‘It’s coming! It will happen! declares the Almighty LORD. This is the day I have spoken about. 9 Those living in the cities of Israel will go out. They will set fire to weapons and burn them. They will burn small and large shields, bows and arrows, and war clubs and spears. They will burn them for seven years. 10 They will not need to get wood from the field or cut down trees in the woods. They will make fires with the weapons. They will loot those who looted them, and they will grab things back from those who grabbed their things, declares the Almighty LORD.

11 “‘When that day comes, I will give Gog a burial place in Israel. It will be in Travelers Valley, east of the Dead Sea. It will block those who travel ⌞through the valley⌟. Gog and his whole army will be buried there. So it will be called the valley of Gog’s troops. 12 The people of Israel will be burying them there for seven months to make the land clean.[24] 13 All the common people will be burying them. The people of Israel will be honored on the day of my victory, declares the Almighty LORD.

14 “‘People will be chosen to go through the land and make it clean. With the help of others they will bury the dead soldiers that are still on the ground. At the end of seven months they will begin their search. 15 Whenever they go through the land and see a human bone, they will set up a marker beside it until the grave diggers have buried that bone in the valley of Gog’s troops. 16 (A city named Hamonah[25] will also be there.) In this way they will cleanse the land.’

39:1–16   You’ll let Gog attack your land. But you’ll slay its army on the mountains of Israel. It’s coming! It will happen!

17 “Son of man, this is what the Almighty LORD says: Tell every kind of bird and every wild animal, ‘Assemble, and come together from all around for the sacrifice that I’m preparing for you. It will be a huge feast on the mountains of Israel. You can eat meat and drink blood there. 18 You can eat the meat of warriors and drink the blood of the princes of the earth. All of them will be killed like rams, lambs, goats, bulls and all the best animals of Bashan. 19 You can eat the best meat until you are full and drink blood until you are drunk at the sacrifice that I am preparing for you. 20 At my table you will be filled with horses and riders, warriors, and soldiers of every kind, declares the Almighty LORD.’

21 “I will show my greatness among the nations. All the nations will see how I will turn my power against them to punish them. 22 From that day on, the people of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God. 23 Then the nations will know that the people of Israel went into captivity because they did wrong and rebelled against me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies. They were killed in battle. 24 I paid them back for their uncleanness and their sins, and I hid my face from them.

25 “So this is what the Almighty LORD says: Now I will bring back Jacob’s captives and have compassion for the whole nation of Israel. I will stand up for my holy name. 26 When they live safely in a land where no one will frighten them, they will forget their shame and all the unfaithful things they have done against me. 27 I will bring them back from the other nations and gather them from the countries of their enemies. Many nations will see that I am holy. 28 Then my people will know that I am the LORD their God. I sent them into captivity among the nations, and I brought them back again to their land. I left none of them behind. 29 I will no longer hide my face from them, because I will pour out my Spirit on the nation of Israel, declares the Almighty LORD.”

39:17–29   Birds and wild animals will feast in the mountains of Israel. They’ll fill up on horses and riders, soldiers of every kind. All nations will see your punishing power. And you’ll bring your people back to the land.

The New Temple of God

40

1 It was the tenth day of the month in the beginning of the twenty-fifth year of our captivity and fourteen years after Jerusalem was captured. At that time the LORD’s power came over me, and he brought me to Jerusalem. 2 In visions, God brought me to Israel and set me down on a very high mountain. On the south side of the mountain were some buildings that looked like those in a city. 3 He brought me closer. I saw a man who looked like he was covered with bronze. The man was holding a linen tape measure and a measuring stick, and he stood in a gateway. 4 He said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and listen with your ears. Pay close attention to everything I’m going to show you. You were brought here to be shown these things. Tell the nation of Israel everything that you see.”

The East Gateway

5 I saw a wall that surrounded the temple. The man had a measuring stick that was 10½ feet long. He measured the wall. It was 10½ feet thick and 10½ feet high.

6 Then the man went to the gateway that faced east. He went up its steps and measured the entrance to the gateway. It was 10½ feet wide. 7 There were also guardrooms. Each guardroom was 10½ feet long and 10½ feet wide. The space between the guardrooms was 9 feet thick. And the entrance to the gateway by the entrance hall of the temple was 10½ feet wide. 8 He also measured the entrance hall of the gateway. 9 It extended 14 feet from the temple. Its recessed walls were 3½ feet thick. The gateway’s entrance hall faced the temple.

10 Now, there were three guardrooms on each side of the eastern gateway. All three rooms on each side were the same size, and the recessed walls on each side were the same size.

11 Then the man measured the width of the entrance to the gateway. It was 17½ feet wide, and the gateway was 23 feet long. 12 There was a barrier about 21 inches in front of each guardroom. The guardrooms were 10½ feet square.

13 He measured the gateway from the top of one guardroom to the top of the opposite guardroom. It was 44 feet wide from one door to the opposite door. 14 He also measured the entrance hall. It was 35 feet wide. In front of the entrance hall to the gateway was a courtyard on all sides.

15 The total length of the gateway from the front of the outer part to the front of the inner part of the entrance hall was 87½ feet.

16 The guardrooms and recessed walls inside the gateway had small windows all around. The entrance hall also had windows all around on the inside. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls.

The Outer Courtyard

17 Then the man brought me into the outer courtyard. I saw rooms there and pavement all around the courtyard. There were 30 rooms along the edge of the pavement. 18 The pavement in the lower courtyard ran alongside the gateways. It was as wide as it was long. 19 The man measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner courtyard. It was 175 feet from east to north.

The North Gateway

20 Then the man measured the length and width of the gateway, leading to the outer courtyard. This was the gateway that faced north. 21 Its three guardrooms, its recessed walls, and its entrance hall were the same size as those in the east gateway. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 22 Its windows, recessed walls, and palm tree pictures were the same size as those in the east gateway. Seven steps went up to it and led to its entrance hall. 23 The inner courtyard had a gateway opposite the north gate just like the east gateway. The man measured the distance from one gate to the other gate. It was 175 feet.

The South Gateway

24 Then the man led me to the south side, and I saw a gateway that faced south. He measured its recessed walls and its entrance hall. They were the same size as those of the other gateways. 25 The gateway and its entrance hall had windows on all sides like the windows in the other gateways. It was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 26 Seven steps went up to it and led to its entrance hall. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, one picture on each side. 27 The inner courtyard had a gateway facing south. The man measured the distance from the gateway on the south side to its opposite gateway. It was 175 feet.

The Inner Courtyard

28 Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard through the south gateway. He measured the south gateway. It was the same size as the others. 29 Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance hall were the same size as the other gateways. The guardrooms and the entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 30 There were entrance halls all around the inner courtyard. They were all 44 feet long and 9 feet wide. 31 The entrance halls faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to each gateway.

32 Then the man brought me to the east side of the inner courtyard. He measured the gateway. It was the same size as the others. 33 Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance halls were the same size as those of the other gateways. Its guardrooms and entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 34 Its entrance hall faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to the gateway.

35 Then the man brought me to the north gateway. He measured it. It was the same size as the others. 36 Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 37 Its recessed walls faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to the gateway.

Special Rooms

38 There was a room with a door that opened toward the entrance hall of the gateway. This is the room where the priests washed the animals for the burnt offerings. 39 In the entrance hall of the gateway there were two tables on each side of the room. On these tables the animals were slaughtered for burnt offerings, offerings for sin, and guilt offerings. 40 On each side of the entrance to the north gateway there were two tables, and on the other side of the entrance hall of the gateway there were two tables. 41 So there were four tables on each side of the gateway, eight tables in all, on which they slaughtered animals. 42 There were four tables made of cut stone for burnt offerings. They were 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 21 inches high. On these tables the priests laid the utensils that were used to slaughter animals for burnt offerings and sacrifices. 43 Double-pronged hooks, three inches long, were attached to the wall all around the room, and the tables were for the meat of the animals. 44 Outside the gateways to the inner courtyard were the rooms for the singers in the inner courtyards. One room was at the side of the north gateway. It faced south. The other room was at the side of the south gateway. It faced north. 45 The man said to me, “This room that faces south is for the priests who serve in the temple. 46 The room that faces north is for the priests who serve at the altar. These priests are Zadok’s descendants. They are the only Levites who are able to come near the LORD and serve him.” 47 The man measured the courtyard. It was a perfect square—175 feet long and 175 feet wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.

48 Then the man brought me to the entrance hall of the temple and measured its recessed walls. They were 9 feet on each side. The gateway was 24½ feet wide, and the walls on each side were 5 feet wide. 49 The entrance hall was 35 feet long and 21 feet wide. Steps led up to it. Pillars stood by the recessed walls, one on each side of the entrance hall.

40:1–49   You swept Ezekiel to Jerusalem. You told him to watch as you unveiled a new temple. Bring me to a place where I can worship you fully.

The Holy Place in the Temple

41

1 Then the man brought me into the holy place in the temple and measured the recessed walls. They were 10½ feet wide on each side. 2 The entrance was 17½ feet wide, and on each side of the entrance the walls were 9 feet wide. Then he measured the length of the holy place. It was 70 feet long and 35 feet wide.

3 Then the man went inside and measured the passageway. It was 3½ feet thick. The entrance was 10½ feet high and 12 feet wide. 4 Then he measured the room at the end of the holy place. It was 35 feet long and 35 feet wide. The man said to me, “This is the most holy place.”

5 Next, the man measured the temple wall. It was 10½ feet wide. The width of each side room around the temple was 7 feet. 6 The rooms were arranged on three different stories. There were 30 rooms on each story. These rooms had supports all the way around the temple wall, but these supports were not fastened to the temple wall. 7 The side rooms grew wider all the way around as they went up, story after story. The surrounding structure went from story to story all around the temple. The structure grew wider as it went higher. A stairway went from the first story through the second story to the third story.

8 I also saw a raised base all around the temple. This base was the foundation for the side rooms. It measured the full length of the measuring rod, 10½ feet. 9 The outer wall of the side rooms was 9 feet thick. There was an open area between the side rooms connected to the temple 10 and the priests’ rooms. It was 35 feet wide and went all around the temple. 11 The doors in the side rooms were entrances into the open area. There was one door to the north and another to the south. The base of the open area was 9 feet wide all the way around.

12 At the far end of the open area, on the west side of the temple, was a building 122½ feet wide. The wall of the building was 9 feet thick all the way around, and it was 157½ feet long.

13 Then the man measured the temple. It was 175 feet long. This included the open area with the building and its walls. All together it was 175 feet long. 14 The eastern side of the temple, including the open area, was also 175 feet wide. 15 He also measured the length of the building facing the courtyard on the west side along with its corridors on both sides. It was 175 feet long.

The holy place and the most holy place were paneled. 16 The doorposts, the small windows, and the corridors of all three stories were paneled. The walls, from the floor up to the windows, were paneled. 17 In the space above the door to the most holy place and on the walls all around it, 18 there were pictures of angels[26] and palm trees. Palm trees were positioned between each of the angels, and each angel had two faces: 19 the face of a man, which was turned toward a palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion, which was turned toward a palm tree on the other side. These pictures were carved all around the temple. 20 Pictures of angels and palm trees were carved on the walls from the floor to the space above the door.

21 The doorframes in the holy place were square. In front of the most holy place was something similar. 22 There was a wooden altar, 5 feet high and 3½ feet wide. Its corners, its base, and its sides were made of wood. Then the man told me, “This is the table that is in the presence of the LORD.”

23 The holy place and the most holy place had two doors. 24 Each of the doors were double doors that swung open. 25 Pictures of angels and palm trees were carved on the doors of the holy place as on the walls. There was a wooden roof hanging over the outer entrance hall. 26 There were small windows and palm trees on both sides of the entrance hall, on the side rooms of the temple, and on the roofs.

41:1–26   You measured out a temple according to your holy plan. You designed a place to meet with your people. Your presence makes your house holy.

The Courtyards of the LORD’s New Temple

42

1 Then the man led me out toward the north to the outer courtyard. He brought me to the side rooms opposite both the open area and the northern building. 2 The building that faced north was 175 feet long and 87½ feet wide. 3 Opposite the inner courtyard was an area that was 35 feet wide, and opposite the pavement of the outer courtyard were corridors facing corridors on all three stories. 4 In front of the side rooms was a walkway, 17½ feet wide and 175 feet long. The doors of these side rooms faced north.

5 The side rooms on the third story were narrower than those on the first or second stories of the building because the corridors took space away from them. 6 The rooms were in three stories. They didn’t have pillars like the pillars in the courtyards. That is why the rooms on the third story were set farther back than those on the first and second stories. 7 There was a wall which ran parallel to the side rooms and the outer courtyard. It ran alongside the side rooms for 87½ feet. 8 The row of rooms in the outer courtyard was 87½ feet long. The rooms that faced the temple were 175 feet long. 9 These lower side rooms had an entrance on the east side. A person was able to enter the outer courtyard through them.

10 There were side rooms parallel to the wall of the courtyard on the south side.[27] They faced the open area and the building. 11 There was a walkway in front of them like the one that was in front of the side rooms on the north side. These side rooms were as long and as wide as the northern rooms. They had the same exits, dimensions, and doors. 12 The doors to the south rooms were the same as the doors to the north rooms. There was a doorway at the other end of the walkway that was parallel to the corresponding wall that ran eastward. People entered through that doorway.

13 Then the man said to me, “The northern and southern side rooms that face the open area are holy rooms. These rooms are where the priests who come near the LORD eat the holiest offerings. Because these rooms are holy, the priests keep the holiest offerings there: the grain offerings, the offerings for sin, and the guilt offerings. 14 Once the priests enter the holy place, they must not go out of the holy place into the outer courtyard until they leave behind the clothes that they wore as they served. These clothes are holy. The priests must put on other clothes. Then they can go into the area that is for the people.”

15 When the man had finished measuring the inner part of the temple area, he led me out through the east gate. Then he measured all the way around the outer area. 16 He measured the east side with a measuring stick. It was 875 feet long according to the measuring stick. 17 He measured the north side. It was 875 feet long according to the measuring stick. 18 He measured the south side. It was 875 feet long according to the measuring stick. 19 He came around to the west side and measured it. It was 875 feet long according to the measuring stick. 20 So he measured all four sides. There was a wall all around it. The wall was 875 feet long and 875 feet wide. It separated what was holy from what was unholy.

42:1–20   You revealed the measurements of your temple all around. You made places for priests and all the people.

The Glory of the LORD Fills the New Temple

43

1 Then the man took me to the east gate. 2 I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the sound of rushing water, and the earth was shining because of his glory. 3 This vision was like the one I saw when he came[28] to destroy Jerusalem and like the one I saw by the Chebar River. I immediately bowed down. 4 The LORD’s glory came into the temple through the east gate.

5 The Spirit lifted me and brought me into the inner courtyard. I saw the LORD’s glory fill the temple. 6 I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple while the man was standing beside me. 7 The voice said to me, “Son of man, this is the place where my throne is and the place where my feet rest. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. Then the people of Israel and their kings will no longer dishonor my holy name by acting like prostitutes, nor will they dishonor it with the dead bodies of their kings. 8 They put their doorway by my doorway and their doorposts by my doorposts. Only a wall separated me from them. They dishonored my holy name because of the disgusting things that they have done. So I destroyed them in my anger. 9 Now they must stop acting like prostitutes and take the dead bodies of their kings far away from me. Then I will live among them forever.

43:1–6   Your glory came from the east. Your voice sounded like rushing water, and the earth shined with your brightness. Your glory filled your temple.

10 “Son of man, describe this temple to the people of Israel. Then they will be ashamed because of their sins. Let them study the plans. 11 Suppose they are ashamed of everything that they have done. Then show them the design of the temple, its arrangements, its exits and entrances—its entire design. Tell them about all its rules and regulations. Then write these things down for them so that they can remember its design and follow all its rules.

12 “This is a regulation of the temple: The whole area all the way around the top of the mountain is most holy. Yes, this is a regulation of the temple.”

43:7–12   The temple is your throne on earth. Your people dishonored you, and in your anger you destroyed them. Now you’ll live among them forever.

The Altar in the New Temple

13 These are the measurements of the altar, using royal measurements. (The royal measuring stick was 21 inches long.) The base of the altar was 21 inches high and 21 inches wide. All around the edge of the altar was a rim measuring 9 inches wide. This was the height of the altar: 14 From the base on the ground to the lower ledge it was 3½ feet high, and from the lower ledge to the upper ledge it was 7 feet high and 21 inches wide. 15 The place where the sacrifices were burned was 7 feet high. There were four horns above it. 16 It was square, 21 feet wide and 21 feet long. 17 The upper ledge was also square. It was 24½ feet long and 24½ feet wide. It had a rim all the way around that was 10½ inches wide. Its base was 21 inches. The steps to the altar faced east.

18 Then the man said to me, “Son of man, this is what the Almighty LORD says: These are the rules for sacrificing burnt offerings and for sprinkling blood on the altar after the altar is built. 19 Give a young bull to the priests as an offering for sin. These priests are Zadok’s descendants, men from the tribe of Levi, who can come near me and serve me. 20 Take some of the bull’s blood, and put it on the altar’s four horns, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the rim all the way around the altar. When you do this, you will remove sin from the altar and make peace with the LORD. 21 Then take a young bull as an offering for sin, and burn it in the place appointed near the temple, outside the holy place.

22 “On the second day bring a male goat that has no defects as an offering for sin. Remove sin from the altar as you did with the young bull. 23 When you finish removing sin, offer a young bull and a ram that have no defects. 24 Offer them to the LORD. The priests must throw salt on them and offer them as burnt offerings to the LORD. 25 Every day for seven days you must sacrifice a goat, a young bull, and a ram from the flock as an offering for sin. They must be animals that have no defects. 26 For seven days the priests should make peace with the LORD at the altar, purify it, and consecrate it. 27 When those days are over, on the eighth day, the priests must sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. Then I will accept them, declares the Almighty LORD.”

43:13–27   You called for an altar and cleansed it for your purposes. You commanded offerings for sins. I want to worship you in the way you prescribe.

The East Gate Is Sealed Shut

44

1 Then the man took me back to the outer east gate of the holy place, and the gate was shut. 2 The LORD said to me, “This gate will stay shut and will not be opened. No one may enter through it because the LORD God of Israel entered through it. It must be kept shut. 3 Only the prince may sit there and eat food in the presence of the LORD. He will enter through the entrance hall of the gateway and leave the same way.”

4 The man brought me through the north gate in front of the temple. When I looked, I saw the LORD’s glory fill the LORD’s temple. I immediately bowed down.

44:1–4   You made a holy entrance for yourself. When I see your glory, I bow down.

The People Serving in the New Temple

5 The LORD said to me, “Son of man, pay close attention. Look, and listen to everything I’m going to tell you. Listen to all the rules and regulations for the LORD’s temple. Pay close attention to everyone who enters the temple and leaves from the holy place. 6 Tell the rebellious people of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I’ve had enough of all the disgusting things that you have done, people of Israel. 7 You brought godless foreigners[29] into my holy place. You dishonored my temple when you offered fat and blood to me. You rejected my promise so that you could do all your disgusting things. 8 You didn’t take care of my holy things. You put foreigners in charge of my temple. 9 So this is what the Almighty LORD says: Any godless foreigner who lives among the Israelites may not enter my holy place.

44:5–9   Your people did repulsive things. They rejected your promise and neglected your holy things.

10 “‘Some Levites went far away from me when Israel wandered off to follow their idols. They must be punished for their sins. 11 They could have served in my holy place. They could have guarded the gates of the temple. They could have served in the temple by slaughtering the animals for the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for the people. They could have stood in front of the people and served them. 12 But they served the people by standing in front of their idols and by making Israel fall into sin. So I raised my hand and swore that they would be punished for their sins, declares the LORD. 13 They must not come near me and serve me as priests. They must not come near any of my holy things or my most holy things. They must suffer disgrace because of the disgusting things that they have done. 14 I will assign them all of the less important work in the temple.

44:10–14   Some Levites wandered away and followed idols. They could have served you, but you swore they must be punished for their wrongs. Don’t let my sin relegate me to less important work.

15 “‘But the priests who are Levites and descendants of Zadok took care of my holy place when the Israelites wandered away from me. They may come near me and serve me, and they may stand in my presence. They may bring fat and blood to me, declares the Almighty LORD. 16 They may enter my holy place, come near my table to serve me, and take care of everything I gave them. 17 When they enter the gateways to the inner courtyard, they must wear linen clothes. They must have no wool on them while they serve in the gateways to the inner courtyard and in the temple. 18 They must wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that makes them sweat. 19 When they go out among the people in the outer courtyard, they must take off the clothes that they wore as they served. They must leave their clothes in the side rooms of the holy place and put on other clothes so that they do not transfer the holiness from their clothes to the people.

20 “‘They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long. They must keep the hair on their heads trimmed. 21 None of the priests may drink wine when they enter the inner courtyard. 22 They must not marry widows or women who have been divorced. They may marry only virgins from the nation of Israel or widows of priests. 23 They must teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is unholy. They must show the people how to tell the difference between what is clean and what is unclean.[30] 24 In all disputes the priests must act as judges and make decisions based on my laws. They must obey my rules and my regulations at all my festivals. They must observe holy days to worship me.

25 “‘A priest must not make himself unclean by going near a dead body. But a priest may become unclean if the dead person is his father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or unmarried sister. 26 After a priest is made clean, he must wait seven days. 27 When he enters the inner courtyard of the holy place to serve in the holy place, he must bring his offering for sin, declares the Almighty LORD.

28 “‘The priests will have no inheritance. I am their inheritance. Don’t give them any possessions in Israel. The priests belong to me. 29 They will eat grain offerings, offerings for sin, and guilt offerings. Everything in Israel that is devoted to the LORD will belong to them. 30 The priests should have the best of all the first ripened fruits. The best of every gift from all your contributions must go to the priests. The best of your dough must go to the priests. This will cause a blessing to rest on your home. 31 The priests must never eat any bird or animal that has died naturally or was killed by other wild animals.

44:15–31   Some Levites cared for your holy place while your people wandered away. You invite them to serve you in the way you prescribe. I want to make myself fit for your service.

Land for the Priests, Levites, and the Prince

45

1 “‘Divide the land by drawing lots for the property you will inherit. Set aside an area 43,750 feet long and 35,000 feet wide for the LORD. The entire area will be holy. 2 An area of 875 feet square will be for the holy place with an open area 87½ feet wide. 3 Measure off an area 43,750 feet long and 17,500 feet wide. The holy place, that is, the most holy place, will be in this area. 4 This holy part of the land will belong to the priests who serve in the holy place, the priests who come near to serve the LORD. They will use this place for their homes, and it will be the location for the holy place. 5 An area 43,750 feet long and 17,500 feet wide will belong to the Levites who serve in the temple. It will be given to them so that they have cities to live in.

6 “‘You must designate an area 8,750 feet wide and 43,750 feet long as the city’s property. It will be located alongside the holy area. It will belong to all the people of Israel.

7 “‘The prince will have all the land on both sides of the holy area and on both sides of the property belonging to the city. From the western boundary of the holy area, his land will extend to the Mediterranean Sea. From the eastern boundary of the holy area, his land will extend to the eastern border ⌞of the country⌟. His territory will be as large as the territory of one of the tribes. 8 This land will belong to the prince in Israel. Then my princes will no longer oppress my people. They will give land to each tribe of the nation of Israel.

45:1–8   You set aside land for your servants. Watch over people whose lives are dedicated to you.

Honest Weights and Measures for the LORD’s People

9 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: I’ve had enough of you, you princes of Israel. Stop your violence and looting, and do what is fair and right. Stop evicting my people, declares the Almighty LORD. 10 You must have honest scales and honest dry and liquid measures. 11 The dry and liquid measures must always be the same: The ephah and the bath should hold the same as one-tenth of a homer. The homer must be the standard measure.[31] 12 One shekel must weigh 20 gerahs. One mina must weigh 60 shekels.[32]

45:9–12   You hate violence and evictions. You’ve had enough of dishonest weights. Bring peace and justice to this world.

Rules for Worship

13 “‘This is the contribution you must give to the LORD: seventeen percent of your wheat and seventeen percent of your barley. 14 You must give one percent of your olive oil using the standard measure. 15 You must take one sheep out of every 200 from the well-watered pastures of Israel. You must sacrifice them with grain offerings, burnt offerings, and fellowship offerings to make peace with the LORD, declares the Almighty LORD. 16 All the common people must give this contribution to the prince in Israel. 17 Then the prince is responsible to provide burnt offerings, grain offerings, and wine offerings at the annual festivals, the New Moon Festivals, the weekly days of worship, and all the other appointed festivals of the nation of Israel. He must prepare offerings for sin, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and fellowship offerings to make peace with the LORD for the nation of Israel.

18 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: On the first day of the first month, take a young bull that has no defects and remove sin from the holy place. 19 The priest must take some blood from the offering for sin and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the doorposts of the gateways of the inner courtyard. 20 You must do the same on the seventh day of the month for everyone who unintentionally does something wrong and is unaware of it. So you must make peace with the LORD for the temple.

21 “‘On the fourteenth day of the first month, you will celebrate the Passover, a festival lasting seven days when unleavened bread is eaten. 22 At that time the prince must prepare for himself and for all the common people a young bull as an offering for sin. 23 Every day during the seven days of the festival, he must prepare burnt offerings for the LORD: seven young bulls that have no defects, seven rams that have no defects, and one male goat as an offering for sin. 24 He must also give as a grain offering a half-bushel for each young bull and a half-bushel for each ram. He must also give one gallon of olive oil for every half-bushel of grain. 25 On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, at the Festival of Booths, he must do the same as on those seven days. He must prepare the same offerings for sin, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and olive oil.

45:13–25   You commanded contributions and offerings, festivals and feasts. I’ll worship you in the way you desire.

46

1 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: The east gate of the inner courtyard must be closed during the six working days, but it must be opened on the weekly day of worship. It must also be opened on the New Moon Festival. 2 The prince must enter from the outside through the entrance hall of the gateway. He must stand by the doorposts of the gateway. Then the priests must prepare the prince’s burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He must worship at the entrance of the gateway and then leave. The gate must not be closed until evening. 3 The common people must worship at the door of the gateway in the presence of the LORD on the weekly days of worship and on New Moon Festivals. 4 The prince must offer to the LORD six lambs that have no defects and one ram that has no defects as a burnt offering on the day of worship. 5 The grain offering that is to be brought with the ram must be a half-bushel, and the grain offering that is to be brought with the lambs must be whatever the prince can bring. One gallon of olive oil must be brought with each half-bushel of grain. 6 On the first day of the month, the burnt offering must be one young bull, six lambs, and one ram—all animals that have no defects. 7 With each young bull and each ram the offering must include a half-bushel of grain, and with each lamb the offering must be whatever the prince wants to bring. One gallon of olive oil must be offered with each half-bushel of grain. 8 When the prince enters, he must enter through the entrance hall of the gateway. He must enter and leave the same way.

9 “‘The people will enter the LORD’s presence at the time of the appointed festivals. Those entering through the north gate to worship must leave through the south gate. Those entering through the south gate must leave through the north gate. They must not leave through the same gate they entered. They must leave through the opposite gate. 10 The prince must be among them. When they enter, he must enter. When they leave, he must leave.

11 “‘On festival days and at appointed festivals, a grain offering of a half-bushel must be brought with each young bull, and a half-bushel must be brought with each ram. But with the lambs, the prince may bring whatever he wants to bring. One gallon of olive oil must be brought with each half-bushel of grain. 12 When the prince prepares a freewill burnt offering, either a burnt offering or a fellowship offering to the LORD, the east gate must be opened for him. He must sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings as he does on the day of worship. When he leaves, the gate must be shut after him.

13 “‘Prepare a year-old lamb that has no defects every day as a burnt offering to the LORD. Do this every morning. 14 Also, prepare a grain offering with it every morning: three-and-a-third quarts of grain and one-and-a-third quarts of olive oil to moisten the flour. It will be a grain offering dedicated to the LORD. These rules are to be followed always. 15 Prepare the lamb, the grain offering, and the olive oil every morning as a daily burnt offering.

16 “‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Suppose the prince offers one of his sons a gift from his property. The gift will belong to his descendants because it is their inheritance. 17 But suppose the prince offers a gift from his property to one of his servants. The gift will belong to the servant only until the year of freedom. Then the gift will go back to the prince. Only his sons can inherit his property. 18 The prince must not take any of the people’s property. He must not force them to give up their property. He must give his own property as an inheritance to his sons so that none of my people will be separated from their property.’”

19 The man brought me through a passage beside the gateway to the side rooms that faced north. These rooms were reserved for the priests. He showed me a place on the west side of the rooms. 20 He said to me, “This is the place where the priests must boil the meat for the guilt offering and the offering for sin. This is the place where they must bake grain offerings so that they don’t have to bring the offerings into the outer courtyard. This way they won’t transfer holiness to the people.”

21 Then the man led me to the outer courtyard and took me past the four corners of the courtyard. I saw that in each corner of the courtyard there was a smaller courtyard. 22 The smaller courtyards that were in each of the four corners of the courtyard were 60 feet long and 45 feet wide. All four of the smaller courtyards in the corners of the courtyard were the same size. 23 Around each of the four courtyards were stone walls, and these walls were equipped with fireplaces.

24 Then the man said to me, “These are the kitchens where the temple servants must boil the people’s sacrifices.”

46:1–24   You want nothing less than perfect offerings—the most valuable animals and the best grains. You want these rules followed completely. I gladly and freely give you my best.

Water Flowing from the Temple

47

1 Then the man took me back to the door of the temple. I saw water flowing from under the entrance of the temple toward the east. (The temple faced east.) The water was flowing under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 Then he led me through the north gate and around to the outer east gate. The water was flowing down the south side of the gate.

3 With a measuring line in his hand, the man went eastward. He measured off 1,500 feet and led me through the water. The water came up to my ankles. 4 Then he measured off another 1,500 feet and led me through the water. The water came up to my knees. He measured off another 1,500 feet and led me through the water. The water came up to my waist. 5 Then he measured another 1,500 feet. But the water had risen so much that it became a river which I couldn’t cross. The river was too deep to cross except by swimming. 6 Then he asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

7 Then the man led me back along the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw many trees on both sides of the river. 8 Then the man said to me, “This water flows through the land to the east, down into the Jordan Valley, and into the Dead Sea. When the water flows into the Dead Sea, it will replace the salt water there with fresh water. 9 Wherever the river flows, there will be many fish and animals. The river will make the water in the Dead Sea fresh. Wherever the river flows, it will bring life. 10 From En Gedi to En Eglaim people will be standing on the shore of the sea with their fishing nets spread out. As many kinds of fish will be there as there are in the Mediterranean Sea. 11 But the water in the swamps and marshes won’t become fresh. It will remain salty. 12 All kinds of fruit trees will grow on both sides of the river. Their leaves won’t wither, and they won’t fail to produce fruit. Each month they will produce fresh fruit because this water flows from the holy place. The fruit will be good food, and the leaves will be used for healing.”

47:1–12   Your water flows deep and wide. Wherever your river goes, it brings life. Let your waters wash over every corner of my existence.

Dividing the Land for the LORD’s People

13 This is what the Almighty LORD says: These are the borders of the land that is to be divided among the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph gets two parts. 14 Divide the land equally. I raised my hand and swore that I would give the land to your ancestors. So this land will be your inheritance.

15 This is the northern border for the land: On the north side the border will run from the Mediterranean Sea all the way to Hethlon and Hamath Pass. It will run through the city of Zedad and through 16 Berothah and Sibraim, which are between the borders of Damascus and Hamath. It will run to Hazer Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 So the border will run from the Mediterranean Sea to Hazar Enon on the border of Damascus. The border of Hamath will lie to the north. This is the north side.

18 On the east side the border will run between Hauran and Damascus. The Jordan River will serve as the border between Gilead and the land of Israel. The border will continue from the Dead Sea down to Tamar. This is the east side.

19 On the south side the border will run from Tamar to the oasis at Meribah in Kadesh along the ravine to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the southern border.

20 On the west side the Mediterranean Sea is the border up to a point opposite Hamath Pass. This is the west side.

21 Divide this land among yourselves for each of the tribes of Israel. 22 Divide it by drawing lots. This land will be for you. It will also be for the foreign residents who live among you and have given birth to children while they lived with you. Think of them as Israelites. They will draw lots with you for their inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 Foreign residents will receive their share of the inheritance with the people of the tribe among whom they are living, declares the Almighty LORD.

47:13–23   You gave land to your people as their inheritance. You set aside a place for them to live in your presence. Show me my lot in life.

48

1 These are the names of the tribes. Beginning at the northern border, Dan will have one part of the land. It will extend from the road to Hethlon to Hamath Pass and Hazar Enon, on the northern border of Damascus near Hamath, from the eastern border to the western border.

2 Asher will have one part of the land and border Dan on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

3 Naphtali will have one part of the land and border Asher on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

4 Manasseh will have one part of the land and border Naphtali on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

5 Ephraim will have one part of the land and border Manasseh on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

6 Reuben will have one part of the land and border Ephraim on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

7 Judah will have one part of the land and border Reuben on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

8 The land that you set aside as a special gift for the LORD will border Judah on the south. It will be 43,750 feet wide, and it will be as long as one of the sections of the tribes. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border, and the holy place will be in the middle of it.

9 This special land that you set aside for the LORD will be 43,750 feet long and 17,500 feet wide. 10 This holy area will belong to the priests. On the north side it will be 43,750 feet long. On the west side it will be 17,500 feet wide. On the east side it will be 17,500 feet wide. On the south side it will be 43,750 feet long. The LORD’s holy place will be in the middle of it. 11 This land that has been set apart will belong to the priests who are descendants of Zadok. They took care of my holy place. They didn’t wander away with the Israelites as the Levites did. 12 So they will have a special portion from the land. It will be the holiest part of land, next to the land belonging to the Levites.

13 Alongside the land belonging to the priests will be the land belonging to the Levites. It will be 43,750 feet long and 17,500 feet wide. 14 They must not sell any of it or trade any of it. They must not let others have the best part of the land, because the land is the LORD’s and it is holy.

15 A strip of land, 8,750 feet wide by 43,750 feet long, will be left for cities, homes, and pastures. The city will be in the middle of it. 16 These will be the measurements for the city: On the north side it will be 7,875 feet long. On the south side it will be 7,875 feet long. On the east side it will be 7,875 feet wide. And on the west side it will be 7,875 feet wide. 17 The city’s pastureland will be 4,375 feet on the north, 4,375 feet on the south, 4,375 feet on the east, and 4,375 feet on the west. 18 The rest of the land borders the holy area and runs lengthwise. This land will be 17,500 feet on its east side and 17,500 feet on its west side. It will be used to provide food for the city workers. 19 City workers from all the tribes in Israel will farm it. 20 The whole area will be 43,750 feet square. You must give this land as a special gift to the LORD along with the city property.

21 Whatever is left on the east side and west side of the holy area and the city property will belong to the prince. This land will extend eastward from the holy area to the eastern border, and it will extend westward to the western border. Both of these areas are as long as one of the sections of the tribes. These areas belong to the prince, and the holy area with the holy place of the temple will be between them. 22 So the Levites’ property and the city’s property will be between the prince’s part of the land. What is between Judah’s and Benjamin’s boundaries will belong to the prince.

23 This is what the rest of the tribes will receive: Benjamin will have one part of the land. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

24 Simeon will have one part of the land and border Benjamin on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

25 Issachar will have one part of the land and border Simeon on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

26 Zebulun will have one part of the land and border Issachar on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

27 Gad will have one part of the land and border Zebulun on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

28 The southern border of Gad will run south from Tamar to the oasis at Meribah in Kadesh, and it will run along the Brook of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. 29 This is the land you will divide as your inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their areas, declares the Almighty LORD.

48:1–29   You gave land to each tribe of your people. You made your home in a new city named “The Lord is There.” Tell me the place you live, and I’ll make it my home.

The New City of God

30 These will be the exits for the city: The north side will be 7,875 feet long. 31 The gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. The three gates on the north side will be Reuben Gate, Judah Gate, and Levi Gate.

32 The east side will be 7,875 feet long. The three gates on the east side will be Joseph Gate, Benjamin Gate, and Dan Gate.

33 The south side will be 7,875 feet long. The three gates on the south side will be Simeon Gate, Issachar Gate, and Zebulun Gate.

34 The west side will be 7,875 feet long. The three gates on the west side will be Gad Gate, Asher Gate, and Naphtali Gate.

35 The city will measure about 31,500 feet all the way around. From then on the city’s name will be: The LORD Is There.

DANIEL

INTRODUCTION

Daniel portrays believers following God without compromise. There’s more to this book than the famous story of Daniel being thrown into a pit of lions.

Set in the early days of the Babylonian captivity, the book explains that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon sought the brightest young men of conquered nations to serve in his kingdom. When he recruits Daniel and three friends for palace training, they earn respect and appointments to powerful positions.

Only when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to an enormous gold statue of the king does their faith in God become a life-and-death issue. Nebuchadnezzar orders the men bound and tossed into a blazing furnace, but when he peers inside he sees them walking around unharmed, joined by a fourth man who “looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25). The three young Israelites emerge not even smelling of smoke.

The book of Daniel shows the Lord chastising both Nebuchadnezzar and his successor, Belshazzar. Nobles under a third king, Darius, jealously persecute Daniel for his habit of praying to the one true God. Like his friends, Daniel experiences the Lord’s protection, and he survives a night with the lions. In the second half of the book, Daniel sees awe-striking visions of the end of time.

Daniel and his friends demonstrate how to live fully for God in a culture set with deadly force against their faith. Praying this book prompts you to examine your commitment to the Lord and to pray for courage to stand for him.

DANIEL

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Daniel and His Friends Remain Faithful to God

1

1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and attacked it. 2 The Lord handed King Jehoiakim of Judah and some utensils from God’s temple over to Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar took the utensils to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put them in the temple treasury.

3 The king told Ashpenaz, the chief-of-staff, to bring some of the Israelites, the royal family, and the nobility. 4 They were to be young men who were healthy, good-looking, knowledgeable in all subjects, well-informed, intelligent, and able to serve in the king’s palace. They were to be taught the language and literature of the Babylonians.

5 The king arranged for them to get a daily allowance of the king’s rich food and wine. They were to be trained for three years. After that, they were to serve the king. 6 Among these young men were some Judeans: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief-of-staff gave them ⌞Babylonian⌟ names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar. To Hananiah he gave the name Shadrach. To Mishael he gave the name Meshach. And to Azariah he gave the name Abednego.

1:1–7   The king chose the best of your best—Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They got jobs working for Nebuchadnezzar, but it’s really you they served.

8 Daniel made up his mind not to harm himself by eating the king’s rich food and drinking the king’s wine. So he asked the chief-of-staff for permission not to harm himself in this way.

9 God made the chief-of-staff kind and compassionate toward Daniel. 10 The chief-of-staff told Daniel, “I’m afraid of my master, the king. The king determined what you should eat and drink. If he sees that you look worse than the other young men your age, he would have my head cut off.”

11 The chief-of-staff put a supervisor in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Daniel said to the supervisor, 12 “Please test us for ten days. Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare us to the young men who are eating the king’s rich food. Decide how to treat us on the basis of how we look.”

14 The supervisor listened to them about this matter and tested them for ten days. 15 After ten days they looked healthier and stronger than the young men who had been eating the king’s rich food. 16 So the supervisor took away the king’s rich food and wine and gave them vegetables.

1:8–16   Daniel and his friends dared to trust you, eating your rations instead of rich royal food. I trust you to bless my steady obedience.

17 God gave these four men knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to understand all kinds of literature. Daniel could also understand all kinds of visions and dreams.

18 At the end of the three-year training period, the chief-of-staff brought all the young men to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked to them and found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah among all of them. So these four men served the king. 20 Whenever the king asked them about things that required wisdom and insight, he found that they knew ten times more than all the magicians and psychics in his whole kingdom.

21 Daniel served the royal palace until the first year of King Cyrus ⌞of Persia⌟.

1:17–21   No one could keep up with the insights you gave your men. Make me more astute than everyone who challenges your name.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream about a Statue Made of Four Metals

2

1 During the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he had some dreams. He was troubled, but he stayed asleep. 2 The king sent for the magicians, psychics, sorcerers, and astrologers so that they could tell him what he had dreamed. So they came to the king.

3 The king said to them, “I had a dream, and I’m troubled by it. I want to know what the dream was.”

4 The astrologers spoke to the king in Aramaic, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! Tell us the dream, and we’ll interpret it for you.”

5 The king answered the astrologers, “I meant what I said! If you don’t tell me the dream and its meaning, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and its meaning, I will give you gifts, awards, and high honors. Now tell me the dream and its meaning.”

7 Once more they said, “Your Majesty, tell us the dream, and we’ll tell you its meaning.”

8 The king replied, “I’m sure you’re trying to buy some time because you know that I meant what I said. 9 If you don’t tell me the dream, you’ll all receive the same punishment. You have agreed among yourselves to make up a phony explanation to give me, hoping that things will change. So tell me the dream. Then I’ll know that you can explain its meaning to me.”

10 The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can tell the king what he asks. No other king, no matter how great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, psychic, or astrologer. 11 What you ask is difficult, Your Majesty. No one can tell what you dreamed except the gods, and they don’t live with humans.”

12 This made the king so angry and furious that he gave an order to destroy all the wise advisers in Babylon. 13 So a decree was issued that the wise advisers were to be killed, and some men were sent to find Daniel and his friends and kill them.

14 While Arioch, the captain of the royal guard, was leaving to kill the wise advisers in Babylon, Daniel spoke to him using shrewd judgment. 15 He asked Arioch, the royal official, “Why is the king’s decree so harsh?” So Arioch explained everything to Daniel.

16 Daniel went and asked the king to give him some time so that he could explain the dream’s meaning. 17 Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about this matter. 18 He told them to ask the God of heaven to be merciful and to explain this secret to them so that they would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise advisers in Babylon.

19 The secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision during the night. So Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20 He said,

2:1–19   Nebuchadnezzar had a ridiculous demand, an impossible challenge for a psychic or astrologer. Only a God who lives with people could answer the king. Only you could tell the truth.

“Praise God’s name from everlasting to everlasting

because he is wise and powerful.

21 He changes times and periods of history.

He removes kings and establishes them.

He gives wisdom to those who are wise

and knowledge to those who have insight.

22 He reveals deeply hidden things.

He knows what is in the dark,

and light lives with him.

23 God of my ancestors, I thank and praise you.

You gave me wisdom and power.

You told me the answer to our question.

You told us what the king wants to know.”

2:20–23   I’ll praise your wisdom and power forever. You reign over history and supply wisdom to the wise. You reveal what no one else can discern.

24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy Babylon’s wise advisers. Daniel told him, “Don’t destroy Babylon’s wise advisers. Take me to the king, and I’ll explain the dream’s meaning to him.”

25 Arioch immediately took Daniel to the king. He told the king, “I’ve found one of the captives from Judah who can explain the dream’s meaning to you, Your Majesty.”

26 The king asked Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar), “Can you tell me the dream I had and its meaning?”

27 Daniel answered the king, “No wise adviser, psychic, magician, or fortuneteller can tell the king this secret. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. He will tell King Nebuchadnezzar what is going to happen in the days to come. This is your dream, the vision you had while you were asleep: 29 Your Majesty, while you were lying in bed, thoughts about what would happen in the future came to you. The one who reveals secrets told you what is going to happen. 30 This secret wasn’t revealed to me because I’m wiser than anyone else. It was revealed so that you could be told the meaning and so that you would know your innermost thoughts.

2:24–30   You’re the God who reveals secrets, who alone knows the future. You make it known in your own time.

31 “Your Majesty, you had a vision. You saw a large statue. This statue was very bright. It stood in front of you, and it looked terrifying. 32 The head of this statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were made of silver. Its stomach and hips were made of bronze. 33 Its legs were made of iron. Its feet were made partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 While you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by humans. It struck the statue’s iron-and-clay feet and smashed them. 35 Then all at once, the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were smashed. They became like husks on a threshing floor[1] in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain which filled the whole world. 36 This is the dream. Now we’ll tell you its meaning.

37 “Your Majesty, you are the greatest king. The God of heaven has given you a kingdom. He has given you power, strength, and honor. 38 He has given you control over people, wild animals, and birds, wherever they live. He has made you ruler of them all. You are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to power after you. Then there will be a third kingdom, a kingdom of bronze, that will rule the whole world. 40 There will also be a fourth kingdom. It will be as strong as iron. (Iron smashes and shatters everything.) As iron crushes things, this fourth kingdom will smash and crush all the other kingdoms. 41 You also saw the feet and toes. They were partly potters’ clay and partly iron. This means that there will be a divided kingdom which has some of the firmness of iron. As you saw, iron was mixed with clay. 42 The toes were partly iron and partly clay. Part of the kingdom will be strong, and part will be brittle. 43 As you saw, iron was mixed with clay. So the two parts of the kingdom will mix by intermarrying, but they will not hold together any more than iron can mix with clay.

2:31–43   You give power, strength, and honor to kings. You’re the reason they rise or fall.

44 “At the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed. No other people will be permitted to rule it. It will smash all the other kingdoms and put an end to them. But it will be established forever. 45 This is the stone that you saw cut out from a mountain, but not by humans. It smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God has told you what will happen in the future, Your Majesty. The dream is true, and you can trust that this is its meaning.”

46 King Nebuchadnezzar immediately bowed down on the ground in front of Daniel. He ordered that gifts and offerings be given to Daniel. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings. He can reveal secrets because you were able to reveal this secret.”

48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many wonderful gifts. Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel governor of the whole province of Babylon and head of all Babylon’s wise advisers. 49 With the king’s permission, Daniel appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to govern the province of Babylon. But Daniel stayed at the king’s court.

2:44–49   I bow when you show me your truth. You’re the only real God. You’ll end all human kingdoms. You’ll start a kingdom that won’t ever be destroyed.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Refuse to Worship an Idol

3

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. He set it up in a recessed area in the wall[2] in the province of Babylon. 2 King Nebuchadnezzar sent messengers to assemble the satraps, governors, mayors, military advisers, treasurers, judges, officers, and all the other provincial officials to dedicate the statue he had set up. 3 Then the satraps, governors, mayors, military advisers, treasurers, judges, officers, and all the other provincial officials assembled to dedicate the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of the statue.

4 The herald called out loudly, “People of every province, nation, and language! 5 When you hear the sound of rams’ horns, flutes, lyres, harps, and three-stringed harps playing at the same time with all other kinds of instruments, bow down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever doesn’t bow down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” 7 As soon as they heard the sound of rams’ horns, flutes, lyres, harps, and three-stringed harps with all other kinds of instruments, all the people from every province, nation, and language bowed down and worshiped the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 After that happened, some astrologers came forward and brought charges against the Jews. 9 They addressed King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! 10 Your Majesty, you gave an order that everyone who hears the sound of rams’ horns, flutes, lyres, harps, and three-stringed harps playing at the same time with all other kinds of instruments should bow down and worship the gold statue. 11 ⌞Your order said that⌟ whoever doesn’t bow down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you appointed to govern the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men didn’t obey your order, Your Majesty. They don’t honor your gods or worship the statue that you set up.”

3:1–12   A furnace blazed for anyone who wouldn’t worship the king’s statue. Everyone bowed—except your loyal followers. Train me to stand up for you.

13 Then, in a fit of rage and anger, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Immediately, they were brought to the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t honor my gods or worship the gold statue that I set up? 15 When you hear the sound of the rams’ horns, flutes, lyres, harps, and three-stringed harps playing at the same time with all other kinds of instruments, will you bow down and worship the gold statue I made? If you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. What god can save you from my power then?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “We don’t need to answer your last question. 17 If our God, whom we honor, can save us from a blazing furnace and from your power, he will, Your Majesty. 18 But if he doesn’t, you should know, Your Majesty, we’ll never honor your gods or worship the gold statue that you set up.”

3:13–18   Your men didn’t bow. Teach me to trust you to save me. Help me to trust you even if you don’t save me.

19 Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with anger toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face turned red. He ordered that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than normal. 20 He told some soldiers from his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego so that they could be thrown into the blazing furnace. 21 Then the three men were thrown into the blazing furnace. They were wearing their clothes, hats, and other clothing. 22 The king’s order was so urgent and the furnace was so extremely hot that the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were killed by the flames from the fire. 23 So these three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—fell into the blazing furnace. They were still tied up.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar was startled. He sprang to his feet. He asked his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire?”

“That’s true, Your Majesty,” they answered.

25 The king replied, “But look, I see four men. They’re untied, walking in the middle of the fire, and unharmed. The fourth one looks like a son of the gods.”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the blazing furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—servants of the Most High God—come out here.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27 The king’s satraps, governors, mayors, and advisers gathered around the three men. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies. The hair on their heads wasn’t singed, their clothes weren’t burned, and they didn’t smell of smoke.

28 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He sent his angel and saved his servants, who trusted him. They disobeyed the king and risked their lives so that they would not have to honor or worship any god except their own God. 29 So I order that people from every province, nation, or language who say anything slanderous about the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb. Their houses will be turned into piles of rubble. No other god can rescue like this.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to higher positions in the province of Babylon.

3:19–30   You stood in the blazing furnace with your followers—three men untied, walking in flames unsinged. Stand with me in the fire. Make me obedient to the death for you.

A Letter from Nebuchadnezzar about His Insanity

4  [3]

1 From King Nebuchadnezzar.

To the people of every province, nation, and language in the world.

I wish you peace and prosperity.

2 I am pleased to write to you about the miraculous signs and amazing things the Most High God did for me.

3 His miraculous signs are impressive.

He uses his power to do amazing things.

His kingdom is an eternal kingdom.

His power lasts from one generation to the next.

4:1–3   You’re God Most High. Your miraculous signs are impressive. Your power does amazing deeds. Your kingdom lasts forever.

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace. 5 I had a dream that terrified me. The visions I had while I was asleep frightened me. 6 So I ordered all the wise advisers in Babylon to be brought to me to tell me the dream’s meaning. 7 The magicians, psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers came to me. I told them the dream, but they couldn’t tell me its meaning. 8 Finally, Daniel came to me. (He had been renamed Belteshazzar after my god ⌞Bel⌟.) The spirit of the holy gods is in him.

I told him the dream: 9 “Belteshazzar, head of the magicians, I know the spirit of the holy gods is in you. No secret is too hard for you ⌞to uncover⌟. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream. 10 These are the visions I had while I was asleep: I was looking, and I saw an oak tree in the middle of the earth. It was very tall. 11 The tree grew, and it became strong enough and tall enough to reach the sky. It could be seen everywhere on earth. 12 It had beautiful leaves and plenty of fruit, enough to feed everyone. Wild animals found shade under it. Birds came to live in its branches. It fed every living creature.

13 “I was seeing these visions as I was asleep. I saw a guardian, a holy being, come down from heaven. 14 He shouted loudly, ‘Cut down the oak tree! Cut off its branches! Strip off its leaves! Scatter its fruit! Make the animals under it run away, and make the birds fly from its branches. 15 But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Secure it with an iron and bronze chain in the grass in the field. Let it get wet with the dew from the sky. And let it get its share of the plants on the ground with the animals. 16 Let its human mind be changed, and give it the mind of an animal. Let it remain like this for seven time periods. 17 The guardians have announced this decision. The holy ones have announced this so that every living creature will know that the Most High has power over human kingdoms. He gives them to whomever he wishes. He can place the lowest of people in charge of them.’”

18 ⌞I said,⌟ “This is the dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning because the wise advisers in my kingdom can’t tell it to me. However, you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

19 Then Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar) was momentarily stunned. What he was thinking frightened him. I told him, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its meaning frighten you.”

Belteshazzar answered, “Sir, I wish that the dream were about those who hate you and its meaning were about your enemies. 20 You saw an oak tree grow and become strong enough and tall enough to reach the sky. It could be seen everywhere on earth. 21 It had beautiful leaves and plenty of fruit, enough to feed everyone. Wild animals lived under it, and birds made their homes in its branches. 22 You are that tree, Your Majesty. You grew and became strong and mighty until you reached the sky. Your power reaches the most distant part of the world. 23 You saw a guardian, a holy being, come down from heaven. He said, ‘Cut down the oak tree! Destroy it! But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Secure it with an iron and bronze chain in the grass in the field. Let it get wet with the dew from the sky. Let it get its share of the plants on the ground with the wild animals for seven time periods.’

24 “This is the meaning, Your Majesty. The Most High has decided to apply it to you, Your Majesty. 25 You will be forced away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle. The dew from the sky will make you wet. And seven time periods will pass until you realize that the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes. 26 Since I said that the stump and the tree’s roots were to be left, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you realize that heaven rules.

4:4–26   Because your Spirit was on Daniel, no secret was too hard for him to uncover. You drive kings mad. You force them to recognize your majesty.

27 “That is why, Your Majesty, my best advice is that you stop sinning, and do what is right. Stop committing the same errors, and have pity on the poor. Maybe you can prolong your prosperity.”

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, he was walking around the royal palace in Babylon. 30 The king thought, “Look how great Babylon is! I built the royal palace by my own impressive power and for my glorious honor.” 31 Before the words came out of his mouth, a voice said from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to this: The kingdom has been taken from you. 32 You will be forced away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle. And seven time periods will pass until you realize that the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes.” 33 Just then the prediction about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was forced away from people and ate grass like cattle. Dew from the sky made his body wet until his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails grew as long as birds’ claws.

34 At the end of the seven time periods, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my mind came back to me. I thanked the Most High, and I praised and honored the one who lives forever, because his power lasts forever and his kingdom lasts from one generation to the next. 35 Everyone who lives on earth is nothing compared to him. He does whatever he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who live on earth. There is no one who can oppose him or ask him, “What are you doing?”

36 Just then my mind came back to me. My royal honor and glory were also given back to me. My advisers and nobles wanted to meet with me ⌞again⌟. I was given back my kingdom and made extraordinarily great. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, will praise, honor, and give glory to the King of Heaven. Everything he does is true, his ways are right, and he can humiliate those who act arrogantly.

4:27–37   The king ate grass with cows until you gave him back his mind. I give you praise, honor, and glory. Everything you do is true. Everything you do is right. I’ll humble myself so you don’t need to humiliate me.

The Handwriting on the Wall

5

1 King Belshazzar threw a large banquet for 1,000 nobles and drank wine with them. 2 As they were tasting the wine, Belshazzar ordered that the gold and silver utensils which his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem be brought to him. He wanted to drink from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.[4]

3 So the servants brought the gold utensils that had been taken from God’s temple in Jerusalem. The king, his nobles, wives, and concubines drank from them. 4 They drank the wine and praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, or stone.

5 Suddenly, the fingers of a person’s hand appeared and wrote on the plaster wall opposite the lamp stand of the royal palace. The king watched as the hand wrote. 6 Then the king turned pale, and his thoughts frightened him. His hip joints became loose, and his knees knocked against each other.

7 The king screamed for the psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers to be brought to him. He told these wise advisers of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me its meaning will be dressed in purple, wear a gold chain on his neck, and become the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.” 8 All the king’s wise advisers came, but they couldn’t read the writing or tell the king its meaning. 9 King Belshazzar was terrified, and his face turned pale. His nobles didn’t know what to do.

5:1–9   King Belshazzar screamed for his advisors. None of their dark arts could explain what your finger had scrawled on his palace wall.

10 The discussion between the king and his nobles brought the queen herself into the banquet hall. The queen said, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! Don’t let your thoughts frighten you, and don’t turn pale. 11 There’s a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your grandfather, he was found to have insight, good judgment, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him head of the magicians, psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers. 12 This Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar) was found to have knowledge, judgment, and an extraordinary spirit. He has the ability to interpret dreams, solve riddles, and untangle problems. Now, call Daniel, and he will tell ⌞you⌟ what it means.”

13 So Daniel was taken to the king. The king asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the captives that my grandfather brought from Judah? 14 I’ve heard that you have the spirit of the gods and that you have insight, good judgment, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 The wise advisers and the psychics were brought to me to read this writing and tell me its meaning. But they couldn’t tell me its meaning. 16 I have heard that you can interpret such things and untangle problems. If you can read the writing and tell ⌞me⌟ its meaning, you will be dressed in purple, wear a gold chain on your neck, and become the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.”

17 Daniel told the king, “Keep your gifts. Give your gifts and awards to someone else. I’ll still read the writing for you and tell you its meaning.

18 “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, might, honor, and glory. 19 People from every province, nation, and language trembled and were terrified by him, because God gave him power. Nebuchadnezzar killed whomever he wanted to kill, and he kept alive whomever he wanted to keep alive. He promoted whomever he wanted to promote, and he demoted whomever he wanted to demote. 20 But when he became so arrogant and conceited that he became overconfident, he was removed from the royal throne. His honor was taken away from him. 21 He was chased away from people, and his mind was changed into an animal’s mind. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body became wet with dew from the sky. This happened until he realized that the Most High God has power over human kingdoms. God puts whomever he wishes in charge of them.

22 “Belshazzar, you are one of Nebuchadnezzar’s successors. You didn’t remain humble, even though you knew all this. 23 But you made yourself greater than the Lord of heaven. You had the utensils from his temple brought to you. You, your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them. You praised your gods made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, or stone. These gods can’t see, hear, or know anything. You didn’t honor God, who has power over your life and everything you do. 24 So he sent the hand to write this inscription. 25 This is what has been written: Numbered, Numbered, Weighed, and Divided. 26 This is its meaning: Numbered—God has numbered the days of your kingdom and will bring it to an end. 27 Weighed—you have been weighed on a scale and found to be too light. 28 Divided—your kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”[5]

29 Then Belshazzar ordered that Daniel be dressed in purple and wear a gold chain on his neck. He made Daniel the third-highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That night King Belshazzar of Babylon was killed.[6] 31 Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. He was 62 years old.

5:10–31   You exert power over human kingdoms. You choose who will be in charge. I won’t praise gods who know nothing. I choose to honor you. You rule everything I do.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

6  [7]

1  Darius decided it would be good to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom. 2 Over these satraps were three officials. Daniel was one of these officials. The satraps were to report to these three officials so that the king wouldn’t be cheated.

3 This man, Daniel, distinguished himself among the other officials and satraps because there was an extraordinary spirit in him. The king thought about putting him in charge of the whole kingdom. 4 So the other officials and satraps tried to find something to accuse Daniel of in his duties for the kingdom. But they couldn’t find anything wrong because he was trustworthy. No error or fault could be found. 5 These men said, “We won’t find anything to accuse this man, Daniel, unless we find it in his religious practices.”

6 So these officials and satraps went to the king as a group. They said to him, “May King Darius live forever! 7 All the officials, governors, satraps, advisers, and mayors agree that the king should make a statute and enforce a decree. The decree should state that for the next 30 days whoever asks for anything from any god or person except you, Your Majesty, will be thrown into a lions’ den. 8 Your Majesty, issue this decree, and sign it. According to the law of the Medes and Persians no one could change it or repeal it.” 9 So Darius signed the written decree.

10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went to his house. An upper room in his house had windows that opened in the direction of Jerusalem. Three times each day he got down on his knees and prayed to his God. He had always praised God this way.

6:1–10   The world watched Daniel keep doing what he always did. Nothing could stop him from kneeling to you. Teach me to live my faith in the open.

11 One of those times the men came in as a group and found Daniel praying and pleading to his God. 12 Then they went and spoke to the king about his decree. ⌞They asked,⌟ “Didn’t you sign a decree which stated that for 30 days whoever asks for anything from any god or person except you, Your Majesty, will be thrown into a lions’ den?”

The king answered, “That’s true. According to the law of the Medes and Persians the decree can’t be repealed.”

13 They replied, “Your Majesty, Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, refuses to obey your order or the decree that you signed. He prays three times each day.”

14 The king was very displeased when he heard this. He tried every way he could think of to save Daniel. Until sundown he did everything he could to rescue him.

15 Then Daniel’s accusers gathered in front of the king. They said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, the Medes and Persians have a law that no decree or statute the king makes can be changed.”

16 So the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought to him and thrown into the lions’ den. The king told Daniel, “May your God, whom you always worship, save you!”

6:11–16   The king couldn’t break the rules to save his friend Daniel. And Daniel wouldn’t stop pleading with you.

17 A stone was brought and placed over the opening of the den. The king put his seal on the stone, using his ring and the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation could not be changed.

18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night without food or company. He couldn’t get to sleep. 19 At dawn, as soon as it was light, the king got up and quickly went to the lions’ den. 20 As he came near the den where Daniel was, the king called to Daniel with anguish in his voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was God, whom you always worship, able to save you from the lions?”

21 Daniel said to the king, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they couldn’t hurt me. He did this because he considered me innocent. Your Majesty, I haven’t committed any crime.”

23 The king was overjoyed and had Daniel taken out of the den. When Daniel was taken out of the den, people saw that he was completely unharmed because he trusted his God.

6:17–23   You shut lions’ mouths because Daniel was innocent. He trusted in you, and you saved him from harm.

24 The king ordered those men who had brought charges against Daniel to be brought to him. They, their wives, and their children were thrown into the lions’ den. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions attacked them and crushed all their bones.

25 Then King Darius wrote to the people of every province, nation, and language all over the world:

I wish you peace and prosperity.

26 I decree that in every part of my kingdom people should tremble with terror in front of Daniel’s God, the living God who continues forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His power lasts to the end ⌞of time⌟. 27 He saves, rescues, and does miraculous signs and amazing things in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the lions.

28 This man, Daniel, prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

6:24–28   Everyone should quake before you. Your kingdom will never be destroyed. You save. You rescue. You do amazing things.

Daniel’s Vision about Four Animals

7

1 In Belshazzar’s first year as king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream. He saw a vision while he was asleep. He wrote down the main parts of the dream.

2 In my visions at night I, Daniel, saw the four winds of heaven stirring up the Mediterranean Sea. 3 Four large animals, each one different from the others, came out of the sea.

4 The first animal was like a lion, but it had wings like an eagle. I watched until its wings were plucked off and it was lifted off the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human and was given a human mind.

5 I saw a second animal. It looked like a bear. It was raised on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, “Get up, and eat as much meat as you want.”

6 After this, I saw another animal. It looked like a leopard. On its back it had four wings, like the wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads. It was given power to rule.

7 After this, I saw a fourth animal in my vision during the night. It was terrifying, dreadful, extraordinarily strong, and had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed its victims and trampled whatever was left. It acted differently from all the other animals that I had seen before. It had ten horns. 8 While I was thinking about the horns, another horn, a little horn, came up among them. It uprooted three of the other horns. This horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that spoke impressive things.

7:1–8   Your winds stirred the sea and four animals emerged. The fourth was terrifying, dreadful, extraordinarily strong. It grew a horn atop horns.

9 I watched until thrones were set up

and the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, sat down.

His clothes were as white as snow

and the hair on his head was like pure wool.

His throne was fiery flames,

and its wheels were burning fire.

10 A river of fire flowed.

It came from him.

Thousands and thousands served him.

Ten thousand times ten thousand were stationed in front of him.

The court convened,

and the books were opened.

7:9–10   You’re the Ancient One. You’ve ruled for endless years. You reign on a fiery throne.

11 I continued to watch because of the impressive words that the horn was speaking. I watched until the animal was killed. Its body was destroyed and put into a raging fire. 12 The power of the rest of the animals was taken away, but they were allowed to live for a period of time.

7:11–12   The fourth animal’s words were impressive. He was killed and tossed in a raging fire.

13 In my visions during the night, I saw among the clouds in heaven someone like the Son of Man.[8] He came to the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, and was presented to him. 14 He was given power, honor, and a kingdom. People from every province, nation, and language were to serve him. His power is an eternal power that will not be taken away. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

7:13–14   You gave the Son of Man power, honor, and an indestructible kingdom. His strength will never cease. People from every land and language will serve him.

15 I, Daniel, was deeply troubled, and my visions frightened me. 16 I went to someone who was standing there and asked him to tell me the truth about all this. So he told me what all this meant. 17 He said, “These four large animals are four kingdoms that will rise to power on the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will take possession of the kingdom and keep it forever and ever.”

19 Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth animal, which was so different from all the others. It was very terrifying and had iron teeth and bronze claws. It devoured and crushed its victims, and trampled whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that had come up and made three of the horns fall out. That horn had eyes and a mouth that spoke impressive things. It appeared to be bigger than the others. 21 I saw that horn making war against the holy people and defeating them. 22 It did this until the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, came and judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. The time came when the holy people took possession of the kingdom.

23 He said, “The fourth animal will be the fourth of these kingdoms on earth. It will be different from all other kingdoms. It will devour, trample, and crush the whole world. 24 The ten horns are ten kings that will rise to power from that kingdom. Another king will rise to power after them. He will be different from the kings who came before him, and he will humble three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High God, oppress the holy people of the Most High, and plan to change the appointed times and laws. The holy people will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half of a time. 26 But judgment will be handed down, his power will be taken away, and he will be completely and permanently destroyed. 27 The kingdom, along with the power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven, will be given to the holy people of the Most High. Their kingdom is eternal. All other powers will serve and obey them.”

28 Here is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts, and I turned pale. I kept this to myself.

7:15–28   These visions are frightening. But you’ll rescue your people from a fearsome king. Your holy people will take possession of the kingdom and keep it forever.

Daniel’s Vision about the Ram and the Goat

8

1  In Belshazzar’s third year as king, I, Daniel, saw a vision. This vision came after the one I saw earlier. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the fortress of Susa in the province of Elam. In my vision I saw myself at Ulai Gate. 3 I looked up and saw a single ram standing beside the gate. The ram had two long horns, one longer than the other, though the longer one had grown up later. 4 I saw the ram charging west, north, and south. No other animal could stand in front of it, and no one could escape from its power. It did anything it pleased and continued to grow.

5 As I was watching closely, I saw a male goat coming from the west. It crossed the whole earth without touching it. This goat had a prominent horn between its eyes. 6 The goat was coming toward the two-horned ram that I had seen standing beside the gate. It furiously ran at the ram. 7 I saw it come closer to the ram. The goat was extremely angry with the ram, so it attacked the ram. It broke both of the ram’s horns. The ram didn’t have the strength to stand up against the goat. So the ram was thrown down on the ground and trampled. No one could rescue the ram from the goat’s power.

8 The male goat became very important. But when the goat became powerful, his large horn broke off. In its place grew four horns. They corresponded to the four winds of heaven. 9 Out of one of the horns came a small horn. It gained power over the south, the east, and the beautiful land. 10 It continued to gain power until it reached the army of heaven. It threw some of the army of heaven, the stars, down on the ground and trampled them. 11 Then it attacked the commander of the army so that it took the daily burnt offering from him and wrecked his holy place. 12 In its rebelliousness it was given an army to put a stop to the daily burnt offering. It threw truth on the ground. The horn was successful in everything it did.[9]

8:1–12   The goat battered the ram and became important and powerful. One of its horns put an end to your offerings.

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one said to the one who was speaking, “How long will the things in this vision—the daily burnt offering, the destructive rebellion, the surrender of the holy place, and the trampling of the army—take place?”

14 He told me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the holy place will be made acceptable to God.”

15 Now as I, Daniel, watched the vision and tried to understand it, I saw someone who looked like a man standing in front of me. 16 I heard a man in Ulai ⌞Gate⌟ call loudly, “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

17 Gabriel came up beside me, and when he came, I was terrified and immediately knelt down.

He said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision is about the end times.” 18 As he spoke to me, I fainted facedown on the ground, but he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “I will tell you what will happen in the last days, ⌞the time of God’s⌟ anger, because the end time has been determined.

20 “The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia. 21 The hairy male goat is the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is its first king. 22 The horn broke off, and four horns replaced it. Four kingdoms will come out of that nation, but they won’t be as strong as the first king was.

23 “In the last days of those kingdoms, when rebellions are finished, a stern-looking king who understands mysterious things will rise to power. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own strength. He will cause astounding destruction and will be successful in everything he does. He will destroy those who are powerful along with some holy people. 25 He will cleverly use his power to deceive others successfully. He will consider himself to be great and destroy many people when they don’t expect it. He will oppose the Commander of Commanders, but he will be defeated, though not by any human power. 26 The vision about the ⌞2,300⌟ evenings and mornings that was explained to you is true. Seal the vision, because it is about things that will happen in the distant future.”

27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and worked for the king. The vision horrified me because I couldn’t understand it.

8:13–27   You reveal what you’ve determined will happen at the end. A king will rise to power. He’ll deceive and destroy. Thinking about this exhausts me. I can’t understand it.

Daniel’s Prayer about Jerusalem Is Answered

9

1 Xerxes’ son Darius, who was a Mede by birth, was made ruler of the kingdom of Babylon. 2 In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from the Scriptures the number of years that Jerusalem would remain in ruins. The LORD had told the prophet Jeremiah that Jerusalem would remain in ruins for 70 years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and looked to him for help. I prayed, pleaded, and fasted in sackcloth and ashes.

4 I prayed to the LORD my God. I confessed and said, “Lord, you are great and deserve respect as the only God. You keep your promise[10] and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments. 5 We have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commandments and laws. 6 We haven’t listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, ancestors, and all the common people. 7 You, Lord, are righteous. But we—the men of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, and all the Israelites whom you scattered in countries near and far—are still ashamed because we have been unfaithful to you. 8 We, our kings, leaders, and ancestors are ashamed because we have sinned against you, LORD.

9:1–8   Seventy years is a long time. It’s a lifetime. When I’m held captive I’ll look to you for help. You deserve my utmost respect. You keep your promises and show mercy. I admit that I’ve sinned!

9 “But you, Lord our God, are compassionate and forgiving, although we have rebelled against you. 10 We never listened to you or lived by the teachings you gave us through your servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has ignored your teachings and refused to listen to you. So you brought on us the curses you swore in an oath, the curses written in the Teachings of your servant Moses. We sinned against you. 12 So you did what you said you would do to us and our rulers by bringing a great disaster on us. Nowhere in the world has anything ever happened like what has happened to Jerusalem. 13 This entire disaster happened to us, exactly as it was written in Moses’ Teachings. LORD our God, we never tried to gain your favor by turning from our wrongs and dedicating ourselves to your truth. 14 So you were prepared to bring this disaster on us. LORD our God, you are righteous in everything you do. But we never listened to you.

9:9–14   You’re compassionate and forgiving. Yet I quit listening to you long ago. When I ignored you, I fell under your judgment. You made your threats come true.

15 “Lord our God, you brought your people out of Egypt with your strong hand and made yourself famous even today. We have sinned and done evil things. 16 Lord, since you are very righteous, turn your anger and fury away from your city, Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Jerusalem and your people are insulted by everyone around us because of our sins and the wicked things our ancestors did.

17 “Our God, listen to my prayer and request. For your own sake, Lord, look favorably on your holy place, which is lying in ruins. 18 Open your ears and listen, my God. Open your eyes and look at our ruins and at the city called by your name. We are not requesting this from you because we are righteous, but because you are very compassionate. 19 Listen to us, Lord. Forgive us, Lord. Pay attention, and act. Don’t delay! Do this for your sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Authentic Prayer

Daniel 9:1–19

Mercy

We are not requesting this from you because we are righteous, but because you are very compassionate. Listen to us, Lord. Forgive us, Lord. Pay attention, and act. Don’t delay! Daniel 9:18–19

If not for God’s mercy, you would have no reason to pray. As Daniel admits, all human beings have “sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commandments and laws” (Daniel 9:5). Yet his mercy rebuilds a relationship with you through Christ, whose death on the cross allows God to forgive you and invite you near. Because the Lord is full of mercy, he welcomes you into his presence (Hebrews 10:19–23).

The apostle Paul once explained to his friend Titus that mercy drives God to rescue humankind (Titus 3:3–6). His compassion makes him reach out to the miserable . . . lost . . . rebellious . . . entrapped . . . broken. When Daniel asks the Lord to raise Jerusalem from the ruins of a lost war with the Babylonian Empire, he doesn’t try to win God’s favor with human goodness. He appeals to God’s abundant compassion. He asks the Lord to listen . . . forgive . . . pay attention . . . act.

You can’t approach God on your own merit. You need his mercy. Before you think of asking the Lord for anything, first thank him for his compassion.

Pray the Scriptures Mercy: Exodus 34:6–7, Ephesians 2:1–7, Titus 3:3–6, 1 Peter 1:3–5

20 I continued to pray, confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel. I humbly placed my request about my God’s holy mountain in front of the LORD my God. 21 While I was praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the first vision, came to me about the time of the evening sacrifice. He was exhausted. 22 He informed me, “Daniel, this time I have come to give you insight. 23 As soon as you began to make your request, a reply was sent. I have come to give you the reply because you are highly respected. So study the message, and understand the vision.

9:15–23   My life is in ruins. I don’t expect you to help me because I’m good. I can only count on your compassion. Forgive me and act! Save me now!

24 “Seventy sets of seven time periods have been assigned for your people and your holy city. These time periods will serve to bring an end to rebellion, to stop sin, to forgive wrongs, to usher in everlasting righteousness, to put a seal on a prophet’s vision, and to anoint the Most Holy One. 25 Learn, then, and understand that from the time the command is given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the anointed prince comes, seven sets of seven time periods and sixty-two sets of seven time periods will pass. Jerusalem will be restored and rebuilt with a city square and a moat during the troubles of those times. 26 But after the sixty-two sets of seven time periods, the Anointed One[11] will be cut off and have nothing. The city and the holy place will be destroyed with the prince who is to come.[12] His end will come with a flood until the end of the destructive war that has been determined. 27 He will confirm his promise with many for one set of seven time periods. In the middle of the seven time periods, he will stop the sacrifices and food offerings. This will happen along with disgusting things that cause destruction until ⌞those time periods⌟ come to an end. It has been determined that this will happen to those who destroy ⌞the city⌟.”

9:24–27   You’ll stop sin and forgive wrongs. You’ll usher in everlasting righteousness. We’ll welcome the Anointed One. In the meantime, a flood of destruction will sweep us along.

An Angel Comes to Daniel with a Message

10

1 In Cyrus’ third year as king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar). The message was true. It was about a great war. Daniel understood the message because he was given insight during the vision.

2 During those days I, Daniel, mourned for three whole weeks. 3 I didn’t eat any good-tasting food. No meat or wine entered my mouth. I didn’t wash myself until the entire three weeks were over.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was by the great Tigris River. 5 When I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen, and he had a belt made of gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl. His face looked like lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs looked like polished bronze. When he spoke, his voice sounded like the roar of a crowd. 7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me didn’t see the vision. Yet, they started to tremble violently, and they quickly hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone to see this grand vision. I had no strength left in me. My face turned deathly pale, and I was helpless. 9 I heard the man speak, and as I listened to his words, I fainted facedown on the ground.

10:1–9   Daniel understood your vision about a great war. He mourned and went unwashed. He fainted facedown when he heard your messenger speak.

10 Then a hand touched me and made my hands and knees shake. 11 The man said to me, “Daniel, you are highly respected. Pay attention to my words. Stand up, because I’ve been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, trembling. 12 He told me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. God has heard everything that you said ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in front of your God so that you could learn to understand things. I have come in response to your prayer. 13 The commander of the Persian kingdom opposed me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the chief commanders, came to help me because I was left alone with the kings of Persia. 14 I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the last days, because the vision is about times still to come.”

15 When he said this to me, I bowed down with my face touching the ground and was silent. 16 Then someone who looked like a human touched my lips. I opened my mouth and began to talk. I said to the person standing in front of me, “Sir, because of this vision, pain has overwhelmed me, and I’m helpless. 17 How can I talk to you, sir? I have no strength left, and the wind has been knocked out of me.”

18 Again, the person who looked like a human touched me, and I became stronger. 19 He said, “Don’t be afraid. You are highly respected. Everything is alright! Be strong! Be strong!”

As he talked to me, I became stronger. I said, “Sir, tell me what you came to say. You have strengthened me.”

20 He asked, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight the commander of Persia. When I go, the commander of Greece will come. 21 However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the true writings. No one will support me when I fight these commanders except your commander, Michael.

11

1During Darius the Mede’s first year as king, I strengthened and defended Michael.”

10:10–11:1   You heard Daniel’s every word. You lifted him up and listened to his pain. You reminded him that you respect him. You commanded him to be fearless. As you talk to me, I become strong!

Greece Will Conquer Persia

2 ⌞The person who looked like a human continued,⌟ “What I am about to tell you is the truth. Three more kings will rule Persia. Then there will be a fourth, who will become much richer than all the others. As he becomes strong through his wealth, he will turn everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

3 “Then a warrior-king will come. He will rule a vast empire and do as he pleases. 4 But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken into pieces and divided in the directions of the four winds of heaven. The empire will not be given to his descendants. It will no longer be like his empire, since it will be uprooted and given to others.

The Northern and Southern Kings

5 “The southern king will be strong, but one of his officers will become stronger than he is and rule a vast empire. 6 After a few years the southern and northern kings will make an alliance. The southern king’s daughter will go to the northern king to make peace. She won’t hold on to her power, and the alliance won’t last. She, those who came with her, and the one who fathered[13] and protected her will be given away.

7 “At that time a shoot will grow from her roots to replace her father. He will attack the northern army, enter the stronghold of the northern king, fight against them, and be victorious. 8 He will take the metal statues of their gods and their precious utensils of silver and gold back to Egypt. He will rule for more years than the northern king. 9 He will invade the southern kingdom and return to his own country.

10 “Then his sons will prepare for war. They will assemble a large number of forces so that they can overwhelm ⌞the enemy⌟ and pass through its land. They will return and wage war all the way to the stronghold. 11 The southern king will be outraged. He will go to fight the northern king, who will raise a large army that will fall into the southern king’s hands. 12 When that army is captured, the southern king will become conceited. Although he will dominate tens of thousands of people, he will not always be strong.

13 “The northern king will return and raise an army larger than the first one. After a few years he will invade with a large army and a lot of equipment. 14 In those times many people will rebel against the southern king, and violent men from your own people will rebel in keeping with this vision, but they will be defeated. 15 Then the northern king will come, build dirt attack ramps, and capture a fortified city. The southern forces will not be able to withstand him. Even their best troops will not be strong enough. 16 The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to withstand his attack. He will rise to power in the beautiful land and it will be completely under his control.

17 “Then the northern king will decide to invade with the power of his entire kingdom, and some decent men will invade with him. He will give the southern king his daughter as a wife in order to destroy the southern kingdom. But this will not succeed or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will silence the insults that the northern king makes and even insult him.[14] 19 He will turn back toward the fortresses in his own country, but he will stumble, fall, and disappear.

20 “Another king will take his place. He will have a cruel official go out in royal splendor. But in a few days the king will be destroyed, although not in anger or war.

21 “A contemptible person will take his place. He will not be given royal splendor. He will invade when people are feeling secure, and he will seize the kingdom using false promises. 22 He will overwhelm large forces and defeat them, including the prince of the promise.[15] 23 After an alliance has been made with him, he will act deceitfully and rise to power with only a few people. 24 When people feel secure, he will invade the richest parts of the provinces and do something that none of his predecessors ever did. He will distribute loot and wealth to his followers. He will invent new ways of attacking fortifications. But this will last only for a little while.

25 “With a large army he will summon his power and courage against the southern king, who will prepare for war with a large, strong army. But the southern king won’t be able to withstand him because of the schemes devised against him. 26 People who eat the king’s rich food will ruin him. His army will be overwhelmed, and many will die in battle. 27 The two kings will both plan to do evil. They will sit at the same table and tell lies. But they will not succeed, because the end must wait until the appointed time. 28 The northern king will return to his country with a lot of wealth. He will be determined to fight against the holy promise. He will take action and return to his own country.

29 “At the appointed time he will again invade the south, but this time will be different from the first. 30 Ships will come from the west to attack him, and he will be discouraged and turn back. Angry at the holy promise, he will return, take action, and favor those who abandon the holy promise. 31 His forces will dishonor the holy place (the fortress), take away the daily burnt offering, and set up the disgusting thing that causes destruction. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who abandon the promise. But the people who know their God will be strong and take action.

11:2–32   A king will dishonor your holy place and halt offerings. He’ll set up a disgusting thing and cause destruction. People who know you will be strong and take action.

33 “People who are wise will help many to understand. But for some time they will be defeated by swords and flames. They will be captured and looted. 34 As they are being defeated, they will get a little help, but many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise people will be defeated in order to refine, purify, and make them white until the end times. But the appointed time is still to come.

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will highly honor himself above every god. He will say amazing things against the God of gods. He will succeed until God’s anger is over, because what has been decided must be done. 37 He will have no interest in the gods of his ancestors or desire for women. He will have no interest in any god, because he will make himself greater than anyone else. 38 Instead, he will honor the god of fortresses. With gold, silver, precious stones, and other expensive things he will honor a god his ancestors never heard of. 39 With the help of a foreign god, he will deal with strong fortresses. He will give high honors to those who acknowledge him, make them rulers over many people, and distribute land for a price.

40 “In the end times the southern king will attack him. The northern king will rush at him like a storm with chariots, horses, and many ships. He will invade countries, overwhelm them, and pass through their land. 41 He will invade the beautiful land, and tens of thousands will be defeated. But Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites will escape from his power. 42 He will use his power against many countries. Even Egypt will not escape. 43 He will control gold and silver treasures and all Egypt’s treasuries. Libya and Sudan will surrender to him. 44 But news from the east and the north will frighten him. He will leave very angry to destroy and exterminate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at a beautiful holy mountain. When he comes to his end, there will be no one to help him.”

11:33–45   A king will say amazing things against you, but you’ll bring him to his predetermined end. No one will rise up to help him.

12

1 ⌞The person who looked like a human continued,⌟ “At that time Michael, the great commander, will stand up on behalf of the descendants of your people. It will be a time of trouble unlike any that has existed from the time there have been nations until that time. But at that time your people, everyone written in the book, will be rescued. 2 Many sleeping in the ground will wake up. Some will wake up to live forever, but others will wake up to be ashamed and disgraced forever. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness on the horizon. Those who lead many people to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times. Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”

12:1–4   There will be a time of trouble unlike anything the world has ever seen. Then you’ll wake everyone from the ground—some to eternal life, some to eternal disgrace. People who lead others to righteousness will shine like the stars.

The Words Are Sealed Up

5 When I, Daniel, looked up, I saw two men standing there. One man stood on one side of the river, and the other one stood on the other side. 6 One of them asked the man dressed in linen clothes who was above the river, “How long will it be until these miracles are over?” 7 I heard the man dressed in linen clothes who was above the river. He raised his right hand and left hand to heaven and swore an oath by the one who lives forever. He said, “It will be for a time, times, and half of a time. When the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, then all these things will be finished.”

8 I heard him, but I did not understand. So I asked him, “Sir, how will these things end?”

9 He replied, “Go, Daniel. These words are to be kept secret and sealed until the end times. 10 Many will be purified, made white, and refined. But wicked people will do wicked things, and none of them will understand. Only wise people will understand. 11 From the time the daily burnt offering is taken away and the disgusting thing that causes destruction is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed are those who wait until they reach 1,335 days. 13 But go on until the end. You will rest, and you will rise for your inheritance at the end of time.”

12:5–13   Your words will be sealed until the end times. Only wise people will understand. I’ll go on until the end.

HOSEA

INTRODUCTION

Hosea demonstrates God’s persistent love. The Lord uttered an outrageous instruction to the prophet Hosea. “Marry a prostitute,” he said, “and have children with that prostitute. The people in this land have acted like prostitutes and abandoned the LORD” (Hosea 1:2).

Hosea complies by marrying Gomer, who soon gives birth to three children. When Gomer abandons Hosea for another man, she becomes not only his lover but also his property. Hosea has to buy her back for the price of a common slave (Hosea 3:1–4).

Even when God warned his people of dire consequences for serving other gods (Deuteronomy 8:19), they continued in a long pattern of disobedience, chasing the deities of neighboring peoples including Baal, Asherah, and Molech, an idol worshiped through child sacrifice (2 Kings 23:10). The Lord, like Hosea, is a spurned husband. Hosea’s difficult marriage acts out a message of the Lord’s relentless love for his sinful people. Even as the Lord pronounces judgment on his people for rejecting his promises, he reaches out to reclaim the nation and bring it home.

Praying this book prompts you to contemplate your own unfaithfulness and to be sure that the Lord still loves you. He wants you to come home.

HOSEA

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The Prophet Hosea

1

1 The LORD spoke his word to Hosea, son of Beeri, when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah and when Jeroboam, son of Joash, was king of Israel.

Hosea Marries a Prostitute

2 When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, the LORD told him, “Marry a prostitute and have children with that prostitute. The people in this land have acted like prostitutes and abandoned the LORD.” 3 So Hosea married Gomer, daughter of Diblaim. She became pregnant and had a son.

1:1–3   Your first words to Hosea were “Marry a prostitute—and have children.” Could a man really feel your pain? Would anyone get your point?

4 The LORD told Hosea, “Name him Jezreel. In a little while I will punish Jehu’s family for the people they slaughtered at Jezreel. Then I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 On that day I will break Israel’s bows and arrows in the valley of Jezreel.”

6 Gomer became pregnant again and had a daughter. The LORD told Hosea, “Name her Lo Ruhamah [Unloved]. I will no longer love the nation of Israel. I will no longer forgive them. 7 Yet, I will love the descendants of Judah. I will rescue them because I am the LORD their God. I won’t use bows, swords, wars, horses, or horsemen to rescue them.”

1:4–7   You named Hosea’s first child “Jezreel,” after a place of slaughter. You called the second “Unloved” and the third “Not My People.”

8 After Gomer had weaned Lo Ruhamah, she became pregnant again and had a son. 9 The LORD said, “Name him Lo Ammi [Not My People]. You are no longer my people, and I am no longer your God.[1], [2]

10 “Yet, the Israelites will become as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one will be able to measure them or count them. Wherever they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be told, ‘You are the children of the living God.’ 11 The people of Judah and Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint one leader for themselves, and they will grow in the land. The day of Jezreel will be a great day.

1:10–11   You’ll make your people number more than the sand on the shore. They’ll belong to you, the Living God. They’ll follow a solitary leader.

Israel Is the LORD’s Unfaithful Wife

2  [3]

1 “So call your brothers Ammi [My People],

and call your sisters Ruhamah [Loved].

2 “Plead with your mother; plead with her.

She no longer acts like my wife.

She no longer treats me like her husband.

Tell her to stop acting like a prostitute.

Tell her to remove the lovers from between her breasts.

3 If she refuses, I will strip her.

I will leave her as naked as the day she was born.

I will turn her into a dry and barren land,

and she will die of thirst.

4 I won’t love her children,

because they are children of a prostitute.

2:1–4   You long to call your children “My People” and “Loved.” But their mother no longer acts like your wife. She needs to clear out her lovers, or you’ll strip her and leave her to die.

5 Their mother acted like a prostitute.

The woman who became pregnant with them did shameful things.

She said, ‘I’ll chase after my lovers.

They will give me food and water,

wool and linen, olive oil and wine.’

6 “That is why I will block her way with thornbushes

and build a wall so that she can’t get through.

7 She will run after her lovers, but she won’t catch them.

She will search for them, but she won’t find them.

Then she will say, ‘I’ll go back to my first husband.

Things were better for me than they are now.’

2:6–7   Your wife’s lovers can’t give her what she wants. You won’t let her run fast enough to catch them. Maybe she’ll come back to you.

8 “She doesn’t believe that I gave her grain, new wine, and olive oil.

I gave her plenty of silver and gold,

but she used it to make statues of Baal.

9 That is why I will take back my grain when it has ripened

and my new wine when it’s in season.

I will take away the wool and the linen

that I gave her to cover her naked body.

10 I will show her naked body to her lovers,

and no one will rescue her from my power.

11 I will put an end to all her celebrations:

her annual festivals, her New Moon Festivals,

her weekly worship days—all her appointed festivals.

12 I will destroy her grapevines and fig trees.

She said that they were gifts from her lovers.

I will turn her vineyards into a forest, and wild animals will devour them.

13 I will punish her for all the times she burned incense

as an offering to other gods—the Baals.

She put on her rings and jewelry,

and she chased after her lovers.

She forgot me,” declares the LORD.

2:8–13   Your wife made idols from your gold. She thought the gifts you sent came from her lovers. She was too busy chasing others to remember you.

The LORD Continues to Love Israel

14 “That is why I’m going to win her back.

I will lead her into the desert.

I will speak tenderly to her.

15 I will give her vineyards there.

I will make the valley of Achor [Disaster] a door of hope.

Then she will respond as she did when she was young,

as she did when she came out of Egypt.

16 “On that day she will call me her husband,” declares the LORD.

“She will no longer call me her master.[4]

17 I won’t allow her to say the names of other gods called Baal.

She will never again call out their names.

18 “On that day I will make an arrangement with the wild animals,

the birds, and the animals that crawl on the ground.

I will destroy all the bows, swords, and weapons of war,

so people can live safely.

2:14–18   You have a plan to win back your wife. You’ll whisper tender words. You hope she’ll give you eager young love. You ache to hear her call you husband.

19 “Israel, I will make you my wife forever.

I will be honest and faithful to you.

I will show you my love and compassion.

20 I will be true to you, my wife.

Then you will know the LORD.

21 “On that day I will answer your ⌞prayers⌟,” declares the LORD.

“I will speak to the sky,

it will speak to the earth,

22 and the earth will produce grain, new wine, and olive oil.

You will produce many crops, Jezreel.

23 I will plant my people in the land.

Those who are not loved I will call my loved ones.

Those who are not my people I will call my people.

Then they will say, ‘You are our God!’”

2:19–23   You’ll marry your people forever. You’ll shower your bride with honesty, love, and compassion. You’ll prove your faithfulness, and she won’t wander away.

Hosea’s Adulterous Wife

3

1 Then the LORD told me, “Love your wife again, even though she is loved by others and has committed adultery. Love her as I, the LORD, love the Israelites, even though they have turned to other gods and love to eat raisin cakes.”

2 So I bought her for 23 ounces of silver and 10 bushels of barley. 3 Then I told her, “You must wait for me a long time. Don’t be a prostitute or offer yourself to any man. I will wait for you.”

4 In the same way, the Israelites will wait a long time without kings or officials, without sacrifices or sacred stones, and without ephods[5] or family idols. 5 After that, the Israelites will turn and look to the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD for his blessings in the last days.

3:1–5   Hosea loved a wife still wanted by other men. He waited for her heart and body to come home. Why did your people ever turn to other gods? Why did they flee your goodness?

The LORD’s Legal Case against Israel

4

1 Listen to the word of the LORD, you Israelites. The LORD has brought these charges against those who live in the land:

“There is no faith, no love, and no knowledge of God in the land.

2 There is cursing, lying, murdering, stealing, and adultery.

People break ⌞my laws⌟, and there is one murder after another.

3 That is why the land is drying up,

and everyone who lives in it is passing away.

Wild animals, birds, and fish are dying.

4 “No one should accuse other people or bring charges against them.

My case is against you priests.

5 During the day you stumble,

and during the night the prophets stumble with you.

So I will destroy your mother, ⌞the nation of Israel⌟.

6 I will destroy my people because they are ignorant.

You have refused to learn,

so I will refuse to let you be my priests.

You have forgotten the teachings of your God,

so I will forget your children.

7 The more priests there are,

the more they sin against me.

So I will turn their glory into shame.

8 They feed on the sins of my people,

and they want them to do wicked things.

9 So the priests will be punished like the people.

I will punish them for their wicked ways

and pay them back for what they have done.

4:1–9   My sins have brought death after death. You contemplate destroying me for my ignorance. I’ve forgotten your teachings and turned glory into shame.

10 “They will eat, but they’ll never be full.

They will have sex with prostitutes, but they’ll never have children.

They have abandoned the LORD.

11 Prostitutes, old wine, and new wine have robbed them of their senses.

12 My people ask their wooden idols for help.

A piece of wood tells them what to do.

A spirit of prostitution leads them astray.

They commit adultery

by giving themselves to other gods.

13 They offer sacrifices on mountaintops,

and they burn incense on the hills

under oaks, poplars, and other trees.

They think that these trees provide good shade.

“That is why your daughters become prostitutes,

and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

14 Yet, I will not punish your daughters when they become prostitutes

or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery.

The men go to prostitutes

and offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes.

These foolish people will be trampled.

15 “Israel, you act like a prostitute.

Don’t let Judah become guilty too.

Don’t go to Gilgal.

Don’t go to Beth Aven.

Don’t take the oath, ‘As the LORD lives. . . .’

4:10–15   I eat but I’m never full. I have sex but don’t have kids. I’m so drunk I let a piece of wood tell me what to do.

16 “The people of Israel are as stubborn as a bull.

How can the LORD feed them like lambs in an open pasture?

17 The people of Ephraim have chosen to worship idols. Leave them alone!

18 When they’re done drinking their wine,

they continue to have sex with the prostitutes.

Their rulers dearly love to act shamefully.

19 The wind will carry them away in its wings,

and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

4:16–19   I’m as stubborn as a bull. I make my bed with idols.

The LORD Announces the Verdict against Israel

5

1 “Listen to this, you priests!

Pay attention, nation of Israel!

Open your ears, royal family!

This is my decision about you.

You set traps at Mizpah

and spread out nets on Mount Tabor.

2 You are deeply involved in sin.

So I will punish all of you.[6]

3 I know Ephraim,

and Israel isn’t a stranger to me.

Now, Ephraim, you are acting like a prostitute,

and Israel is unclean.[7]

4 “The wicked things that the people have done

keep them from returning to their God.

They have a spirit of prostitution,

and they don’t know the LORD.

5 The people of Israel’s arrogance testifies against them.

Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their sins,

and Judah stumbles with them.

6 They go with their sheep and their cattle to search for the LORD,

but they can’t find him.

He has left them.

7 They have been unfaithful to the LORD,

because their children do not belong to him.

Now their New Moon ⌞Festivals⌟ will devour them and their fields.

5:1–7   My sin blocks the way back to you. My heart is so full of other gods I don’t know you anymore. I have no idea where to find you!

8 “Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah.

Blow the trumpet in Ramah.

Sound the alarm at Beth Aven, you descendants of Benjamin.

9 Ephraim will become a wasteland

when the time for punishment comes.

I will make the truth known among the tribes of Israel.

10 The leaders of Judah are like those who move boundary markers.

I will pour my fury on them like water.

11 Ephraim is oppressed—crushed by punishment,

because its people are determined to chase idols.[8]

12 I will destroy Ephraim as a moth destroys clothing.

I will destroy the nation of Judah as rot destroys wood.

13 “When Ephraim saw that he was sick

and when Judah saw his own wounds,

Ephraim went to Assyria to ask the great king for help.[9]

But the king couldn’t cure them or heal their wounds.

14 I will be like a lion to Ephraim

and like a young lion to the nation of Judah.

I will carry ⌞them⌟ off, and no one will rescue ⌞them⌟.

15 I will go back to my place until they admit that they are guilty.

Then they will search for me.

In their distress they will eagerly look for me.”

5:8–15   Sound an alarm when I’m stuck in sin. Save me before I give you any more reasons to destroy me. I admit my guilt. I’m trying hard to find you.

Israel Rejected the LORD’s Promise

6

1 Let’s return to the LORD.

Even though he has torn us to pieces,

he will heal us.

Even though he has wounded us,

he will bandage our wounds.

2 After two days he will revive us.

On the third day he will raise us

so that we may live in his presence.

6:1–2   I’ve wandered far away, but I’ll come back to you. You’ve torn me to pieces, but you’ll heal me. You’ll raise me up and let me live close to you.

3 Let’s learn about the LORD.

Let’s get to know the LORD.

He will come to us as sure as the morning comes.

He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains

that water the ground.

4 “What should I do with you, Ephraim?

What should I do with you, Judah?

Your love is like fog in the morning.

It disappears as quickly as the morning dew.

5 That is why I cut ⌞you⌟ down by sending the prophets.

I killed you with the words from my mouth.

My judgments shined on you like light.

6 I want your loyalty, not your sacrifices.

I want you to know me, not to give me burnt offerings.

7 “Like Adam, you rejected the promise.[10]

You were unfaithful to me.

8 Gilead is a city filled with troublemakers.

It is stained with bloody footprints.

9 The priests are like gangs of robbers who lie in ambush for a person.

They murder on the road to Shechem.

Certainly, they have committed a crime.

10 “I have seen horrible things in the nation of Israel.

Ephraim is acting like a prostitute,

and Israel is unclean.[11]

11 “Yet, Judah, I have set a harvest time for you

when I bring my people back from captivity.

6:3–11   I’ll learn about you and lean on you for your provision. My love won’t evaporate like morning dew. I’ll give you my heart, mind, and body.

7

1 “Whenever I want to heal Israel,

all I can see is Ephraim’s sin and Samaria’s wickedness.

People cheat each other.

They break into houses and steal.

They rob people in the streets.

2 They don’t realize that I remember

all the evil things they’ve done.

Now their sins surround them.

Their sins are in my presence.

3 “They make kings happy with the wicked things they do.

They make officials happy with the lies they tell.

4 They all commit adultery.

They are like a heated oven,

an oven so hot that a baker doesn’t have to fan its flames

when he makes bread.

5 On the day of the king’s celebration,

the officials become drunk from wine,

and the king joins mockers.

6 They become hot like an oven while they lie in ambush.

All night long their anger smolders,

but in the morning it burns like a raging fire.

7 They are all as hot as an oven.

They consume their judges ⌞like a fire⌟.

All their kings die in battle, and none of them calls to me.

7:1–7   You want to heal me, but all you see is sin. I’ve done evil right under your nose. I’m so overheated no one needs to fan my flames.

Israel Turns to Other Nations for Help

8 “Ephraim mixes with other nations.

Ephraim, you are like a half-baked loaf of bread.

9 Foreigners are using up your strength, but you don’t realize it.

You have become a gray-haired, old man, but you don’t realize it.

10 Israel, your arrogance testifies against you,

but even after all this, you don’t turn to the LORD your God

or look to him for help.

11 Ephraim, you are like a silly, senseless dove.

You call for Egypt and run to Assyria for help.

12 When you go, I will spread my net over you.

I will snatch you out of the air like a bird.

I will punish you for all the evil things you have done.

13 “How horrible it will be for these people.

They have run away from me.

They must be destroyed because they’ve rebelled against me.

I want to reclaim them, but they tell lies about me.

14 They don’t pray to me sincerely,

even though they cry in their beds

and make cuts on their bodies

while praying for grain and new wine.

They have turned against me.

15 I trained them and made them strong.

Yet, they plan evil against me.

16 They don’t return to the Most High.

They are like a defective bow.

Their officials will die in battle

because they curse.

The people in Egypt will ridicule them for this.

7:8–16   I’m as weak as an old man, but I still don’t look to you for help. Reclaim me and call me home. Can’t you tell that this time my cries are sincere?

The LORD Will Punish Israel for Its Rebellion

8

1 “Sound the alarm on the ram’s horn.

The enemy swoops down on the LORD’s temple like an eagle.

The people of Israel have rejected my promise

and rebelled against my teachings.

2 They cry out to me, ‘We acknowledge you as our God.’

3 However, they have rejected what is good.

The enemy will persecute them.

4 “They chose their own kings, kings I didn’t approve.

They chose their own princes, princes I didn’t know.

They chose to make idols with their own silver and gold.

Because of this, they will be destroyed.

5 Get rid of your calf-shaped idol, Samaria.

My anger burns against these people.

How long will they remain unclean?[12]

6 Samaria’s calf-shaped idol was made in Israel.

Skilled workers made it.

It is not a god.

It will be smashed to pieces.

8:1–6   I claim you’re my God, but I reject your goodness. You’re ready to smash the idols I’ve made.

7 “The people of Israel plant the wind, but they harvest a storm.

A field of grain that doesn’t ripen will never produce any grain.

Even if it did produce grain, foreigners would eat it all.

8 Israel will be swallowed up.

It has already mixed in with the other nations.

It has become worthless.

9 “The people of Israel went to Assyria.

They were like wild donkeys wandering off alone.

The people of Ephraim sold themselves to their lovers.

10 Even though they sold themselves among the nations,

I will gather them now.

They will suffer for a while under the burdens of kings and princes.

11 “The more altars that the people of Ephraim build

to make offerings to pay for their sins,

the more places they have for sinning.

12 I have written many things for them in my teachings,

but they consider these things strange and foreign.

13 They offer sacrifices to me and eat the meat of sacrifices,

but I, the LORD, do not accept these sacrifices.

Now I will remember their wickedness

and punish them because of their sins.

They will go back to Egypt.

14 The people of Israel have built palaces,

and they have forgotten their maker.

The people of Judah have built many fortified cities.

I will send a fire on their cities and burn down their palaces.”

8:7–14   I plant grain but harvest a storm. I keep finding new ways to do evil. Bring me back to your teachings!

9

1 Israel, don’t rejoice.

Don’t celebrate as other nations do.

You have been unfaithful to your God.

You have sold sex on every threshing floor.[13]

2 There won’t be enough grain to feed people.

There won’t be enough wine to go around.

3 The people of Ephraim won’t stay in the LORD’s land.

They will return to Egypt,

and they will eat unclean[14] food in Assyria.

4 They won’t pour wine offerings to the LORD,

and their sacrifices won’t please him.

Their sacrifices will be like the food that mourners eat.

All who eat this food will be unclean.

Their food will only satisfy their hunger.

It will not be brought ⌞as an offering⌟ to the LORD’s temple.

5 What will they do on the day of an appointed festival

or on the LORD’s festival days?

6 Even if they escape without being destroyed,

Egypt will capture them

and Memphis will bury them.

Weeds will grow over their silver treasures.

Thorns will grow over their tents.

9:1–6   I’ve sold myself to other gods. My sacrifices are meaningless. Starvation and thirst await me.

7 The time for them to be punished will come.

The time for them to pay for their sins will come.

⌞When this happens,⌟ Israel will know it.

⌞They think that⌟ prophets are fools

and that spiritual people are crazy.

They have sinned a lot, and they are very hostile.

8 Prophets are God’s watchmen over Ephraim.

Yet, traps are set on every prophet’s path,

and people are hostile in the temple of their God.

9 People have deeply corrupted themselves as they once did at Gibeah.

God will remember their wickedness

and punish them because of their sins.

9:7–9   Prophets are considered fools, and spiritual people seem crazy. I’m so messed up I can’t tell who’s right and who’s wrong.

Israel Is Like Rotten Grapes or Rotten Figs

10 ⌞The LORD said,⌟ “When I found Israel,

it was like finding grapes in the desert.

When I saw your ancestors,

it was like seeing the first figs of the harvest.

But they went to Baal Peor and worshiped shameful idols.

They became as disgusting as the things they worshiped.

11 “Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird.

There will be no more pregnancies, births, or babies.

12 Even if they bring up children,

I will take those children away before they grow up.

Yes, how horrible it will be for them when I leave them.

13 I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place.

But the people of Ephraim will bring out their children

to be killed.”

14 LORD, give them what they deserve.

Make the women miscarry,

or else make them unable to nurse their babies.

15 “All Ephraim’s wickedness began in Gilgal; I hated the people there.

I will force them out of my temple because of their wickedness,

and I won’t love them anymore.

All their officials are rebellious.

16 “The people of Ephraim are like sick plants.

Their roots are dried up.

They have no fruit.

Even if they were to have children,

I would kill their dear children.”

17 My God will reject them

because they refused to listen to him.

They will wander among the nations.

9:10–17   Don’t give me what I deserve. Don’t reject me because I refused to listen to you. Do everything it takes to draw me back to you. Don’t let me get away again!

Israel Is Like a Rotten Vine

10

1 The people of Israel are like vines that used to produce fruit.

The more fruit they produced,

the more altars they built.

The more their land produced,

the more stone markers they set up ⌞to honor other gods⌟.

2 They are hypocrites. Now they must take their punishment.

God will tear down their altars and destroy their stone markers.

3 So they’ll say,

“We have no king because we didn’t fear the LORD.

Even if we had a king, he couldn’t do anything for us.”

4 They say many things. They lie when they take oaths,

and they make promises they don’t intend to keep.

That’s why lawsuits spring up

like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

5 Those who live in Samaria fear the calf-shaped idol at Beth Aven.

The people will mourn over it.

The priests will cry loudly

because its glory will be taken away into captivity.

6 The thing itself will be carried to Assyria

as a present to the great king.[15]

Ephraim will be disgraced.

Israel will be ashamed because of its plans.

7 The king of Samaria will be carried away

like a piece of wood on water.

8 The illegal worship sites of Aven will be destroyed.

Israel sins there.

Thorns and weeds will grow over those altars.

People will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”

and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 Israel, you have sinned ever since the incident at Gibeah.

You never change.

War will overtake the wicked people in Gibeah.

10 “I will punish them when I’m ready.

Armies will gather to attack them.

They will be punished for their many sins.

10:1–10   The more you gave me, the more altars I built to other gods. I’m a hypocritical liar, a foolish fan of idols.

Israel Is Like a Cow That Threshed Grain

11 “Ephraim is like a trained calf that loves to thresh[16] grain.

I will put a yoke[17] on its beautiful neck.

I will harness Ephraim.

Judah must plow.

Jacob must break up the ground.

12 “Break new ground.

Plant righteousness,

and harvest the fruit that your loyalty will produce for me.”

It’s time to seek the LORD!

When he comes, he will rain righteousness on you.

13 You have planted wickedness and harvested evil.

You have eaten the fruit that your lies produced.

You have trusted your own power and your many warriors.

14 So your army will hear the noise of battle.

All your fortresses will be destroyed

like the time Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in battle.

Mothers and their children were smashed to death.

15 This is what will happen to you, Bethel,

because you have done many wicked things.

At daybreak, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

10:11–15   I’ll break up the rocky ground. I’ll plant righteousness and watch a harvest spring to life. Come and rain on me! I’m seeking you with all my soul!

Israel Is Like a Bad Son

11

1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and I called my son out of Egypt.

2 The more I called them,[18] the farther they went away.

They sacrificed to other gods—the Baals,

and they burned incense to idols.

3 I was the one who taught the people of Ephraim to walk.[19]

I took them by the hand.

But they didn’t realize that I had healed them.

4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ropes of love.

I removed the yokes[20] from their necks.

I bent down and fed them.

5 “They will not return to Egypt.

Instead, Assyria will rule them

because they have refused to return to me.

6 War will sweep through their cities,

demolish their city gates,

and put an end to their plans.

11:1–6   The more you called to me, the farther away I went. You taught me how to walk and led me with love. You continually kneel and feed me.

7 My people are determined to turn away from me.

Even if they call to the Most High,

he will not pardon them.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboim?

I have changed my mind.

I am deeply moved.

9 I will not act on my burning anger.

I will not destroy Ephraim again.

I am God, not a human.

I am the Holy One among you,

and I will not come to you in anger.

10 “My people will follow me when I roar like a lion.

When I roar, my children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt

and like doves from Assyria.

I will settle them in their own homes,”

declares the LORD.[21]

12 “Ephraim surrounds me with lies.

The nation of Israel surrounds me with deceit.”

Judah rebels against God, against the Holy One who is faithful.

11:7–12   How can you pardon me when my heart hasn’t come back to you? Each day I give you more reasons to punish me. But you won’t act on your burning anger. Instead you’ll draw me back to you.

The People of Israel Ignored What the LORD Had Done for Them

12  [22]

1 The people of Ephraim try to catch the wind

and try to chase the east wind all day.

They are very violent and destructive.

They make treaties with Assyria and take olive oil to Egypt.

2 The LORD brings charges against Judah and punishes Jacob

because of the way their people act.

He will pay them back for what they have done.

3 Their ancestor Jacob held on to his brother’s heel

while the two of them were in their mother’s womb.

When Jacob became a man, he struggled with God.

4 He struggled with the Messenger and won.

Jacob cried and pleaded with him.

Jacob found him at Bethel,

and he talked with him there.

5 The LORD is the God of Armies.

The LORD is the name by which he is remembered.

6 Return to your God.

Be loyal and fair, and always wait with hope for your God.

7 ⌞The LORD says,⌟ “The merchants use dishonest scales.

They love to cheat people.

8 The people of Ephraim say, ‘We’re rich. We’ve made a fortune.

With all this wealth, no one will find us guilty of any sin.’

12:1–8   My riches deceive me. I think I can get away with cheating others.

9 I am the LORD your God.

I brought you out of Egypt.

I will make you live in tents again

as you did during your appointed festivals.

10 I spoke to the prophets and gave them many visions.

I taught lessons through the prophets.”[23]

11 The people of Gilead are evil.

They are worthless.

They sacrifice bulls in Gilgal.

But their altars will become like piles of rubble

beside a plowed field.

12 Jacob fled to the country of Syria.

Israel worked to get a wife; he took care of sheep to pay for her.

13 The LORD used a prophet to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.

He used a prophet to take care of them.

14 The people of Ephraim made the LORD bitter.

He will hold them guilty of murder.

The Lord will pay them back for their insults.

12:9–14   You rescued me from slavery and taught me through your prophets. But I’ve made you bitter. You’ll pay back my insults.

The People of Israel Will Be Punished for Their Idolatry

13

1 When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, people trembled.

The people of Ephraim were important in Israel.

Then they became guilty of worshiping Baal,

so they must die.

2 They keep on sinning more and more.

They make idols from silver for themselves.

These idols are skillfully made.

All of them are the work of craftsmen.

People say this about the Israelites: “They offer human sacrifices

and kiss calf-shaped idols.”

3 That is why they will be like fog in the morning

and like morning dew that disappears quickly.

They will be like straw blown away from threshing floors.[24]

They will be like smoke rising from chimneys.

13:1–3   I confess that I craft false gods. I apply all my skills to make something worthy of worship. I’m so deceived.

4 “I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt.

You have known no god besides me.

There is no savior except me.

5 I took care of you[25] in the desert, in a dry land.

6 When I fed you, you were full.

When you were full, you became arrogant.

That is why you forgot me.

7 So I will be like a lion.

Like a leopard I will wait by the road to ambush you.

8 Like a bear that has lost her cubs, I will attack you.

I will rip you open.

Like a lion I will devour you.

Like a wild animal I will tear you apart.

9 You are destroying yourself, Israel.

You are against me, your helper.

13:4–9   You’re my one-and-only savior. You fed me until I was full. But my fatness made me arrogant. I forgot you, and now you’ll devour me.

10 “Where, now, is your king, the one who is supposed to save you?

Where in all your cities are your judges?

You said, ‘Give us kings and officials!’

11 I gave you a king when I was angry,

and I took him away when I was furious.

12 “Ephraim’s wickedness is on record.

The record of the people’s sins is safely stored away.

13 They have the opportunity to live again,

but they are not smart enough to take it.

They are like a baby who is about to be born

but won’t come out of its mother’s womb.

14 “I want to free them from the power of the grave.

I want to reclaim them from death.

Death, I want to be a plague to you.

Grave, I want to destroy you.[26]

I won’t even think of changing my plans.”

15 The people of Ephraim have become important among their relatives.

However, the LORD’s scorching wind will come from the east.

It will blow out of the desert.

Then their springs will run dry,

and their wells will dry up.

The wind will destroy every precious thing in their storehouses.[27]

16 The people of Samaria are guilty as charged

because they rebelled against their God.

They will be killed in war,

their children will be smashed to death,

and their pregnant women will be ripped open.

13:10–16   You offer me a fresh chance at life, but I’m too stupid to take it. I’m like a baby who won’t come out of my mother’s womb.

The LORD Offers to Forgive Israel

14  [28]

1 Israel, return to the LORD your God.

You have stumbled because of your sins.

2 Return to the LORD, and say these things to him:

“Forgive all our sins, and kindly receive us.

Then we’ll praise you with our lips.

3 Assyria cannot save us.

We won’t ride on horses anymore.

We will never again say

that the things our hands have made are our gods.

You love orphans.”

4 ⌞The LORD says,⌟ “I will cure them of their unfaithfulness.

I will love them freely.

I will no longer be angry with them.

5 I will be like dew to the people of Israel.

They will blossom like flowers.

They will be firmly rooted like cedars from Lebanon.

6 They will be like growing branches.

They will be beautiful like olive trees.

They will be fragrant like cedars from Lebanon.

7 They will live again in God’s shadow.

They will grow like grain.

They will blossom like grapevines.

They will be as famous as the wines from Lebanon.

8 “The people of Ephraim will have nothing more to do with idols.

I will answer them and take care of them.

I am like a growing pine tree.

Their fruit comes from me.”

14:1–8   Forgive my sins and kindly receive me. I’ve given up my idols. Cure me of my unfaithfulness. Love me freely, and I’ll live in your shadow.

9 Wise people will understand these things.

A person with insight will recognize them.

The LORD’s ways are right.

Righteous people live by them.

Rebellious people stumble over them.

14:9   Give me wisdom to understand you. Your righteous ways lead me to life.

JOEL

INTRODUCTION

Joel promises relief after destruction. This book recalls a vast swarm of locusts covering the land without warning. The invading insect army strips fields and fruit trees bare, leaving behind a bewildered, starving nation.

The prophet Joel says this unprecedented disaster points to an even more devastating future. God will arrive with judgment so thorough no one will survive. “Sound the alarm on my holy mountain,” he warns. “Everyone who lives in the land should tremble, because the day of the LORD is coming” (Joel 2:1).

Along with this ferocious warning, however, comes a tender invitation to return to God. Joel urges, “Return to the LORD your God. He is merciful and compassionate, patient, and always ready to forgive and to change his plans about disaster” (Joel 2:13). The Lord pities his people and promises fresh wine and food. He will give everyone plenty to eat and repay them for the years lost to the locusts. He will destroy the nations that sold Israel’s children into slavery. And he will pour his Spirit on everyone.

Praying the book of Joel compels you to reflect on episodes of destruction in your own life and to grow in faith that the Lord will heal and restore.

JOEL

1  | 2  | 3

The Prophet Joel

1

1 This is what the LORD said to Joel, son of Pethuel.

Judah Is Plagued with Locusts and Famine

2 Listen to this, you leaders!

Open your ears, all inhabitants of this land!

Nothing like this has ever happened in your lifetime

or in your ancestors’ lifetime.

3 Tell your children about it.

Have your children tell their children.

Have your grandchildren tell their children.

4 What young locusts leave, mature locusts will eat.

What mature locusts leave, adult locusts will eat.

What adult locusts leave, grasshoppers will eat.

5 Wake up and cry, you drunks!

Cry loudly, you wine drinkers!

New wine has been taken away from you.

6 A strong nation attacked my land.

It has too many soldiers to count.

They have teeth like lions.

They have fangs like grown lions.

7 They destroyed my grapevines.

They ruined my fig trees.

They stripped off what they could eat,

threw the rest away,

and left the branches bare.

8 Cry loudly like a young woman who is dressed in sackcloth,

mourning for the man she was going to marry.

9 Grain offerings and wine offerings

are no longer brought to the LORD’s temple.

The priests, the LORD’s servants, mourn.

10 Israel’s fields are ruined, and the ground is dried up.

The grain has been destroyed.

The new wine has dried up.

The olive oil has run out.

11 Be sad, you farmers!

Cry loudly, you grape growers!

Mourn for the wheat and the barley.

The harvest is destroyed in the field.

12 The grapevines are dried up.

The fig trees are withered.

The pomegranate, palm, and apricot trees,

as well as all the trees in the orchards, have died.

Yes, the joy of these people has died too.

13 Put on your sackcloth and mourn, you priests.

Cry loudly, you servants of the altar.

Spend the night in sackcloth, you servants of my God.

Grain offerings and wine offerings

are withheld from your God’s temple.

14 Schedule a time to fast!

Call for an assembly!

Gather the leaders and everyone who lives in the land.

Bring them to the temple of the LORD your God,

and cry to the LORD for help.

1:1–14   Locusts storm the land like an army. They attack like full-grown lions. Their fangs savage fig trees and fields. What a reason to mourn!

15 This will be a terrible day!

The day of the LORD is near,

and it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

16 Food disappears right before our eyes.

Happiness and rejoicing disappear from our God’s temple.

17 Seeds shrivel up in their shells.[1]

Storehouses are destroyed.

Barns are ruined.

The grain has dried up.

18 The animals groan.

Herds of cattle wander around confused.

There’s no pasture for them.

Even flocks of sheep are suffering.

19 O LORD, I cry to you for help!

Fire has burned up the open pastures.

Flames have burned up all the trees in the orchards.

20 Even wild animals long for you.

Streams run dry.

Fire has burned up the open pastures.

1:15–20   Food disappears on your day of destruction. Animals groan and people cry out. Streams run dry and fields are aflame.

The Day of the LORD

2

1 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.

Sound the alarm on my holy mountain.

Everyone who lives in the land should tremble,

because the day of the LORD is coming.

Certainly, it is near.

2 It is a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and overcast skies.

A large and mighty army

will spread over the mountains like the dawn.[2]

Nothing like this has ever happened.

Nothing like this will ever happen again.

3 In front of this army a fire burns.

Behind it flames are blazing.

In front of it the land is like the garden of Eden.

Behind it the land is like a barren desert.

Nothing escapes it!

4 The soldiers look like horses.

They run like war horses.

2:1–4   This is your day of gloom. No one has ever seen anything like it. Could it ever happen again?

5 As they leap on mountaintops,

they sound like rattling chariots,

like crackling fire burning up straw,

and like a mighty army prepared for battle.

6 People are terrified in their presence.

Every face turns pale.

7 They run like warriors.

They climb walls like soldiers.

They march straight ahead.

They do not leave their places.

8 They do not crowd one another.

They keep in their own lines.

Even when they break through the defenses,

they do not break their ranks.

9 They rush into the city.

They run along the wall.

They climb into houses.

They enter through windows like thieves.

10 The earth quakes in their presence,

and the sky shakes.

The sun and the moon turn dark,

and the stars no longer shine.

11 The LORD shouts out orders to his army.

His forces are very large.

The troops that carry out his commands are mighty.

The day of the LORD is extremely terrifying.

Who can endure it?

2:5–11   Invaders leap on mountains. Soldiers rush the city and climb through windows, taking their orders from you. This is beyond terrifying. Who can endure your day?

The LORD Invites the People to Return to Him

12 “But even now,” declares the LORD,

“return to me with all your heart—

with fasting, crying, and mourning.”

13 Tear your hearts, not your clothes.

Return to the LORD your God.

He is merciful and compassionate,

patient, and always ready to forgive

and to change his plans about disaster.

14 Who knows?

He may reconsider and change his plan

and leave a blessing for you.

Then you could give grain offerings and wine offerings

to the LORD your God.

15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.

Schedule a time to fast.

Call for an assembly.

16 Gather the people.

Prepare them for a holy meeting.

Assemble the leaders.

Gather the children, even the nursing infants.

Grooms leave their rooms.

Brides leave their chambers.

17 The priests who serve the LORD cry

between the altar and the entrance to the temple.

They say,

“Spare your people, O LORD.

Don’t let the people who belong to you become a disgrace.

Don’t let the nations ridicule them.

Why should people ask, ‘Where is their God?’”

2:12–17   I’ll fast and mourn. I’ll tear my heart and return to you. You’re merciful and compassionate, patient and ready to forgive. Maybe you’ll change your mind and not destroy me. Maybe I’ll see your blessings again.

The LORD Will Give Earthly Blessings to His People

18 Then the LORD became concerned about his land,

and he had pity on his people.

19 The LORD said to his people,

“I am going to send grain, new wine, and olive oil to you.

You will be satisfied with them.

I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.

20 “I will keep the northern ⌞army⌟ far from you,

and I will force it into a dry and barren land.

The soldiers in front will be forced into the eastern sea.

The soldiers in back will be forced into the western sea.

A foul odor will rise from the dead bodies.

They will stink.”

He has done great things!

21 Land, do not be afraid.

Be glad and rejoice.

The LORD has done great things!

22 Wild animals, do not be afraid.

The pastures in the wilderness have turned green.

The trees have produced their fruit.

There are plenty of figs and grapes.

2:18–22   You’ll send me satisfying foods and push my enemies far away. You’ll make my pastures green and fill my land with fruit.

23 People of Zion, be glad and find joy in the LORD your God.

The LORD has given you the Teacher of Righteousness.[3]

He has sent the autumn rain and the spring rain as before.

24 The threshing floors[4] will be filled with grain.

The vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

25 “Then I will repay you for the years

that the mature locusts, the adult locusts,

the grasshoppers, and the young locusts ate your crops.

(They are the large army that I sent against you.)

26 You will have plenty to eat, and you will be full.

You will praise the name of the LORD your God,

who has performed miracles for you.

My people will never be ashamed again.

27 You will know that I am in Israel.

I am the LORD your God, and there is no other.

My people will never be ashamed again.[5]

2:23–27   Teach me your righteousness. Repay the years taken from me. Feed me until I’m full. You’re my God, and I find my happiness in you.

The LORD Will Pour His Spirit on All People

28 “After this, I will pour my Spirit on everyone.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your old men will dream dreams.

Your young men will see visions.

29 In those days I will pour my Spirit on servants,

on both men and women.

30 I will work miracles in the sky and on the earth:

blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.

31 The sun will become dark,

and the moon will become as red as blood
before the terrifying day of the LORD comes.”

32 Then whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.

Those who escape will be on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.

Among the survivors will be those whom the LORD calls,

as the LORD has promised.

2:28–32   Pour your Spirit on me and everyone else. Make us dream dreams and see visions. Prepare us for your terrifying day. I’ll call on you, and you’ll save me.

The LORD Will Rescue His People

3  [6]

1 “In those days and at that time,

I will bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem.

2 I will gather all the nations.

I will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.[7]

I will judge them there.

They scattered the Israelites, the people who belong to me,

among the nations.

They divided my land.

3 They threw dice for my people.

They traded boys for prostitutes.

They sold girls so that they could buy wine to drink.

4 “Now what do you have against me, Tyre and Sidon

and all the regions of Philistia?

Are you paying me back for something I have done?

If you are paying me back,

I will quickly pay you back for what you have done.

5 You took my silver and my gold.

You brought my finest treasures to your temples.

6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks.

That way you could send them far away from their land.

7 I am going to make them leave the place where you sold them.

I will pay you back for what you have done.

8 I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah.

They will sell them to the people of Sheba,

a nation that is far away.”

The LORD has spoken.

3:1–8   Call back the captives. Gather the nations for judgment. Pay them back for what they’ve done. They split up your land and sold your children. They carted your silver and gold to their temples.

9 Announce this among the nations:

Prepare yourselves for war.

Wake up the warriors.

Have all the warriors come near and attack.

10 Hammer your plowblades into swords

and your pruning shears into spears.

Weaklings should say that they are warriors.

11 Hurry from every direction, and gather there, all you nations.

O LORD, bring your soldiers.

12 Wake up, you nations.

Come to the valley of Jehoshaphat.

There I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

13 Cut them down like grain.

The harvest is ripe.

Stomp on them as you would stomp on grapes.

The winepress is full.

The vats overflow.

The nations are very wicked.

3:9–13   The world should prepare for your attack. You’ll stomp on people like grapes. Your vats are full because the world is so wicked.

14 There are many, many people in the valley of decision.

The day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon will turn dark.

The stars will no longer shine.

16 The LORD will roar from Zion,

and his voice will thunder from Jerusalem.

The sky and the earth will shake.

The LORD will be a refuge for his people.

He will be a stronghold for the people of Israel.

17 “You will know that I am the LORD your God.

I live on my holy mountain, Zion.

Jerusalem will be holy.

Foreigners will never invade it again.

18 On that day new wine will cover the mountains.

Milk will flow on the hills.

Water will flow in all the brooks of Judah.

A spring will flow from the LORD’s temple.

It will water the valley of Shittim.

19 Egypt will become a wasteland.

Edom will become a barren desert.

This is because the nations were cruel to Judah.

They murdered innocent people in their land.

20 People will always live in Judah.

People will live in Jerusalem from now on.

21 I will punish those who murder.”[8]

The LORD lives in Zion!

3:14–21   In the valley of decision, I’ll choose you. You’ll darken the sun, moon, and stars when you roar. You’ll shake the sky and earth. Then everyone will know you’re the Lord.

AMOS

INTRODUCTION

Amos shouts for justice. Back in the days when Israel was a mob of escaped slaves, poised to enter the land promised to Abraham, the Lord warned of an unseen danger ahead. He worried his people would build a comfortable life and forget all about him (Deuteronomy 8:11–18). Hundreds of years later, the Lord’s worst fears had come true.

Amos never wanted to speak for God. He was herding sheep and tending fig trees when the Lord pushed him from his village near Jerusalem toward Israel in the north. Amos bypasses the crowds and speaks directly to the ruling class. He shouts that the nation has forgotten God’s laws. They follow false gods and their religious ceremonies have become a sham. The nation relies on weaponry rather than the Lord. And the wealthy have become rich by exploiting the poor. Amos cries out for fairness: “Let justice flow like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). Amos sees several visions of the nation’s punishment, and when the authorities reject him, he predicts imminent destruction.

Praying this book invites you to search your life for complacency, selfishness, and injustice. Ask God to put you to work bringing fairness to your world.

AMOS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9

1

1 These are the words of Amos, one of the sheep farmers from Tekoa. He saw ⌞a vision⌟ about Israel during the reigns of Judah’s King Uzziah and Israel’s King Jeroboam, son of Joash. This happened two years before the earthquake.

2 He said:

The LORD roars from Zion,

and his voice thunders from Jerusalem.

The pastures of the shepherds are turning brown,

and the top of ⌞Mount⌟ Carmel is dried up.

1:1–2   Your voice thunders from your holy city and turns pastures brown. You dry up the top of a mountain.

Damascus Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

3 This is what the LORD says:

Because Damascus has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,

I will not change my plans.

The Arameans have crushed ⌞the people of⌟ Gilead

with iron-spiked threshing[1] sledges.

4 I will send a fire on the house of Hazael

and burn down the palaces of Ben Hadad.

5 I will break the bars ⌞on the gates⌟ of Damascus.

I will cut off those living in Aven Valley

and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.

The people of Aram will go into captivity at Kir.

The LORD has said this.

Gaza Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

6 This is what the LORD says:

Because Gaza has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,

I will not change my plans.

The Philistines have taken all the people captive

in order to hand them over to the Edomites.

7 I will send a fire on the walls of Gaza

and burn down its palaces.

8 I will cut off those living in Ashdod

and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.

I will turn my power against Ekron.

The rest of the Philistines will die.

The Almighty LORD has said this.

Tyre Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

9 This is what the LORD says:

Because Tyre has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,

I will not change my plans.

The Tyrians have handed all the people over to the Edomites.

The Tyrians didn’t remember their treaty with their relatives.

10 I will send a fire on the walls of Tyre

and burn down its palaces.

Edom Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

11 This is what the LORD says:

Because Edom has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,

I will not change my plans.

The Edomites pursued their relatives with swords.

They refused to show any compassion to them.

Their anger was unstoppable.

They refused to control their fury.

12 I will send a fire on Teman

and burn down the palaces of Bozrah.

Ammon Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

13 This is what the LORD says:

Because Ammon has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,

I will not change my plans.

The Ammonites enlarged their territory

by ripping open pregnant women in Gilead.

14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah

and burn down its palaces

while troops are shouting on the day of battle

and winds are howling on the day of the storm.

15 Their king will go into captivity along with his officials.

The LORD has said this.

Moab Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

1:3–15   You’ll send fire on Aram for its crimes. You’ll cut off the Philistines and burn the palaces of Tyre, Edom, and Ammon. You’ve declared this, and you won’t change your mind.

2

1 This is what the LORD says:

Because Moab has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,

I will not change my plans.

The Moabites have cremated Edom’s king.

2 I will send a fire on Moab

and burn down the palaces of Kerioth.

Moab will die during the noise of battle

while troops are shouting and rams’ horns are blowing.

3 I will take their judges away from them.

I will kill all their officials at the same time.

The LORD has said this.

2:1–3   You’ll bring your battle to Moab and take away its judges. You’ve promised this.

Judah Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

4 This is what the LORD says:

Because Judah has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,

I will not change my plans.

The people of Judah have rejected the LORD’s Teachings

and haven’t kept his laws.

They have been led astray by false teachings,

the same ones their ancestors followed.

5 I will send a fire on Judah

and burn down the palaces of Jerusalem.

2:4–5   Judah rejected your law and went astray with false teachings. You’ll send fire on your kingdom.

Israel Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

6 This is what the LORD says:

Because Israel has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime,

I will not change my plans.

The people of Israel sell the righteous for money

and the needy for a pair of sandals.

7 They stomp the heads of the poor into the dust.

They push the humble out of the way.

Father and son sleep with the same woman.

They dishonor my holy name.

8 Beside every altar, they spread themselves out on clothes

taken as security.

In the temples of their gods, they drink the wine

that they bought with fines.

9 I destroyed the Amorites in front of them,

although the Amorites were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks.

I destroyed their fruit above the ground and their roots below it.

2:6–9   Israel sells the needy for a pair of cheap shoes and stomps the heads of the poor into the dust. Your people lay down before their gods and drink. They learn nothing from their neighbors’ destruction.

10 I brought you out of Egypt.

I led you through the desert for 40 years

so that you could take possession of the land of the Amorites.

11 I also sent you prophets from among your children

and Nazirites from among your youths.

Isn’t that so, people of Israel?

The LORD has declared this.

12 You made the Nazirites drink wine.

You commanded the prophets to stop prophesying.

13 I am going to crush you as an overloaded wagon crushes a person.

14 Runners will not be able to escape.

Strong men will find that their strength is useless.

Soldiers will not be able to save themselves.

15 Archers will not stand their ground.

Fast runners will not be able to escape.

Horsemen will not be able to save themselves.

16 Brave soldiers will run away naked that day.

The LORD has declared this.

2:10–16   You rescued slaves from Egypt and carried them on a long desert journey. But your people silence your prophets. You’ll roll over your people like an overloaded wagon.

The LORD Will Punish Israel for Its Immoral Behavior

3

1 Listen to this message which I, the LORD, have spoken against you Israelites, against your whole family that I brought out of Egypt.

2 Out of all the families on earth, I have known no one else but you.

That is why I am going to punish you for all your sins.

3 Do two people ever walk together without meeting first?

4 Does a lion roar in the forest if it has no prey?

Does a young lion growl in its den unless it has caught something?

5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there’s no bait in it?

Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has caught something?

6 If a ram’s horn sounds an alarm in a city, won’t the people be alarmed?

If there is a disaster in a city, hasn’t the LORD done it?

3:1–6   You chose the Israelites among all the families of earth. That’s why you can’t let them get away with sin. Why aren’t your people alarmed? Haven’t they witnessed your wrath?

7 Certainly, the Almighty LORD doesn’t do anything

unless he ⌞first⌟ reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.

8 The lion has roared. Who isn’t afraid?

The Almighty LORD has spoken. Who can keep from prophesying?

9 Announce in the palaces of Ashdod and in the palaces of Egypt,

“Gather together on the mountains of Samaria.

See the widespread confusion and oppression in Samaria.”

10 Those who collect profits in their palaces

through violent and destructive acts

don’t know how to do what is right, declares the LORD.

11 This is what the Almighty LORD says:

An enemy will surround your land,

strip you of your defenses,

and loot your palaces.

12 This is what the LORD says:

As a shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear out of a lion’s mouth,

so the Israelites living in Samaria will be rescued,

⌞having only⌟ a corner of a bed or a piece of a couch.[2]

13 Listen, and testify against the descendants of Jacob,

declares the Almighty LORD, the God of Armies.

14 On the day I punish Israel for its disobedience,

I will also destroy the altars at Bethel.

The horns of the altar will be cut off and will fall to the ground.

15 I will tear down winter houses as well as summer houses.

Houses ⌞decorated⌟ with ivory will be destroyed.

Mansions will be demolished, declares the LORD.

3:7–15   You never strike without warning. You describe what you’re about to do. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

The LORD Will Punish the Women of Samaria

4

1 Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who live on Mount Samaria.

You women oppress the poor and abuse the needy.

You say to your husbands, “Get some wine! Let’s drink!”

2 The Almighty LORD has taken an oath on his holiness:

Surely, the time is going to come

when you will be taken away on hooks,

and the rest of you on fishhooks.

3 Each of you will leave ⌞the city⌟

through breaks in the wall, one woman ahead of another.

You will be thrown into a garbage dump.

The LORD declares this.

4 Go to Bethel and sin.

Go to Gilgal and sin even more.

Bring your sacrifices every morning.

Bring a tenth of your income every three days.

5 Burn bread as a thank offering.

Brag and boast about your freewill offerings.

This is what you people of Israel love to do.

The Almighty LORD declares this.

4:1–5   The women of Samaria are like proud cows who abuse the needy. You’ll toss those cows onto a garbage heap. No sacrifice and tithe will convince you to stop.

6 I left you with nothing to eat in any of your cities.

I left you with no food in your entire land.

And you still didn’t return to me, declares the LORD.

7 I stopped the rain from falling

three months before the harvest.

I sent rain on one city and not on another.

One field had rain.

Another field had none and dried up.

8 So people from two or three cities staggered

as they walked to another city in order to get a drink of water.

But they couldn’t get enough.

And you still didn’t return to me, declares the LORD.

9 I struck your ⌞crops⌟ with blight and mildew.

Locusts repeatedly devoured your gardens, vineyards,

fig trees, and olive trees.

And you still didn’t return to me, declares the LORD.

10 I sent plagues on you as I did to Egypt.

With swords I killed your best young men along with your captured horses.

I made the stench from your camps fill your noses.

And you still didn’t return to me, declares the LORD.

4:6–10   Your people go hungry, but they won’t come home. You stop the skies from raining, but no one returns. You send plagues and kill the best young men with swords, still no one comes back.

11 I destroyed some of you as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

You were like a burning log snatched from a fire.

And you still didn’t return to me, declares the LORD.

12 This is what I will do to you, Israel.

Prepare to meet your God.

This is what I will do to you, Israel!

13 God forms the mountains and creates the wind.

He reveals his thoughts to humans.

He makes dawn and dusk ⌞appear⌟.

He walks on the high places of the earth.

His name is the LORD God of Armies.

4:11–13   Sinners should prepare to meet you. Your name is the Lord God of Armies.

A Funeral Song about Israel

5

1 Listen to this message, this funeral song that I sing about you, nation of Israel:

2 The people of Israel have fallen,

never to rise again.

They lie abandoned in their own land.

There is no one to help them.

3 This is what the Almighty LORD says:

The city that sends 1,000 troops off to war

will have ⌞only⌟ 100 left.

The one that sends 100 troops off to war

will have ⌞only⌟ 10 left for the nation of Israel.

5:1–3   Do you sing a funeral song about me? Have I fallen down, never to rise again? Have you abandoned me forever?

A Threefold Call to Turn Away from Sin

4 This is what the LORD says to the nation of Israel:

Search for me and live!

5 But don’t search ⌞for me⌟ at Bethel.

Don’t go to Gilgal.

Don’t travel to Beersheba.

Gilgal will certainly go into exile.

Bethel will come to nothing.

6 Search for the LORD and live!

If you don’t, he will spread like a fire through the house of Joseph

and burn it down.

Bethel will have no one to put it out.

7 You, Israel, turn justice into poison

and throw righteousness on the ground.

8 God made the ⌞constellations⌟ Pleiades and Orion.

He turns deep darkness into dawn.

He turns day into night.

He calls for water from the sea

to pour it over the face of the earth.

His name is the LORD.

9 He destroys strongholds and ruins fortresses.

5:4–9   I should know better than to wrong you. You made the Pleiades and Orion. You turn day into night. Your name is the Lord, destroyer of strongholds. I’ll find you and live!

10 Israel, you hate anyone who speaks out against injustice.

You are disgusted by anyone who speaks the truth.

11 You trample on the poor

and take their wheat from them for taxes.

That is why you build houses from hand-cut stones,

but you will not live in them.

You plant beautiful vineyards,

but you will not drink their wine.

12 I know that your crimes are numerous and your sins are many.

You oppress the righteous by taking bribes.

You deny the needy access to the courts.

13 That is why a wise person remains silent at such times,

because those times are so evil.

14 Search for good instead of evil so that you may live.

Then the LORD God of Armies will be with you, as you have said.

5:10–14   You hate when I ignore injustice. You see how I turn from the truth. I trample the poor and build lavish houses. I don’t let the needy have their day in court.

15 Hate evil and love good.

Then you will be able to have justice in your courts.

Maybe the LORD God of Armies

will have pity on the faithful few of Joseph.

16 This is what the LORD, the Almighty God of Armies, says:

There will be loud crying in every city square,

and people will say in every street, “Oh, no!”

They will call on farmers to mourn

and on professional mourners to cry loudly.

17 There will be loud crying in every vineyard,

because I will pass through your land ⌞with death⌟.

The LORD has said this.

5:15–17   I’ll hate evil and love good. I’ll pursue justice. Then you’ll be with me.

The Terrifying Day of the LORD

18 How horrible it will be for those who long for the day of the LORD!

Why do you long for that day?

The day of the LORD is one of darkness and not light.

19 It is like a person who flees from a lion

only to be attacked by a bear.

It is like a person who goes home and puts his hand on the wall

only to be bitten by a snake.

20 The day of the LORD brings darkness and not light.

It is pitch black, with no light.

5:18–20   Why do people long for your day? It’s the dawn of darkness, not light. People will flee one disaster and bump into another.

The LORD Rejects Israel’s Worship

21 I hate your festivals; I despise them.

I’m not pleased with your religious assemblies.

22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I won’t accept them.

I won’t even look at the fellowship offerings of your choicest animals.

23 Spare me the sound of your songs.

I won’t listen to the music of your harps.

24 But let justice flow like a river

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25 Did you bring me sacrifices and grain offerings

in the desert for 40 years, nation of Israel?

26 You carried along the statues of ⌞the god⌟ Sikkuth as your king

and the star Kiyyun,

the gods you made for yourselves.

27 I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,

says the LORD, whose name is the God of Armies.

5:21–27   You hate my religious rituals, and you’re weary of my offerings and songs. You want to see justice flow like a river! Let righteousness run down like a gushing stream!

The Fall of Samaria

6

1 How horrible it will be for those who are at ease in Zion,

for those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,

and for the heads of the leading nations,

to whom the nation of Israel comes.

2 Go to Calneh and look.

Go from there to the great city of Hamath.

Then go to Gath, the city of the Philistines.

Are you better than these kingdoms?

Is their territory larger than yours?

3 How horrible it will be for those who think that a day of disaster is far away.

They bring the reign of violence closer.

4 How horrible it will be for those who sleep on ivory beds.

They sprawl out on their couches

and eat lambs from their flocks and calves from their stalls.

5 How horrible it will be for those who make up songs as they strum a harp.

Like David, they write all kinds of songs for themselves.

6 How horrible it will be for those who drink wine by the jugful.

They rub the finest oils all over themselves

and are not sorry for the ruin ⌞of the descendants⌟ of Joseph.

7 That is why they will now be the first to go into exile.

The celebrating of those sprawled around the banquet table will stop.

6:1–7   No one who sins is secure. The reign of violence draws near, and the rich won’t escape. You’ll make captives of people who drink wine by the jugful and soak their bodies in fine oils.

8 The Almighty LORD has sworn an oath on himself.

The LORD God of Armies declares:

I am disgusted with Jacob’s pride,

and I hate his palaces.

So I will hand over the city and everything in it.

9 If ten people are left in one house, they will die.

10 If a relative or a mortician

comes to take the dead bodies out of the house

and asks someone who is inside the house,

“Is there anyone else with you?”

that person will answer, “No.”

“Hush,” he will add.

“We shouldn’t mention the name of the LORD!”

11 The LORD is going to give the command

to level big houses and flatten little houses.

12 Do horses run on rocks?

Does a farmer plow the sea with oxen?

Yet, you have turned justice into something deadly

and what is righteous into poison.

13 How horrible it will be for those who rejoice over Lo Debar

and who say, “We were strong enough to capture Karnaim by ourselves.”

14 I am going to lead a nation to attack you, nation of Israel,

declares the LORD God of the Armies of the Nations.

They will oppress you from the border of Hamath to the valley of Arabah.

6:8–14   You hate my pride and my prestigious home. You’ll flatten houses large and small. I’ve made justice deadly and righteousness into poison.

The LORD Threatens to Bring a Famine by Locusts

7

1 This is what the Almighty LORD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts when the second crop was being harvested. It was the harvest that followed the harvest for the king. 2 When the locusts had finished eating every plant in the land, I said, “Almighty LORD, please forgive us! How can ⌞the descendants of⌟ Jacob survive? There are so few of them.”

3 The LORD changed his plans about this. “This won’t happen,” the LORD said.

The LORD Threatens to Bring a Drought by Fire

4 This is what the Almighty LORD showed me: The Almighty LORD was calling for judgment by fire. The fire dried up the ocean and burned up the land. 5 Then I said, “Almighty LORD, please stop! How can ⌞the descendants of⌟ Jacob survive? There are so few of them.”

6 The LORD changed his plans about this. “This won’t happen either,” the Almighty LORD said.

7:1–6   You planned to send swarms of locusts, but you changed your mind. You thought about sending a fiery drought, but that wouldn’t happen either.

The LORD Refuses to Overlook Israel’s Sin

7 This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall built with the use of a plumb line, and he had a plumb line in his hand. 8 He asked me, “What do you see, Amos?”

I answered, “A plumb line.”

Then the Lord said, “I’m going to hold a plumb line in the middle of my people Israel. I will no longer overlook what they have done. 9 The worship sites of Isaac will be destroyed, and the holy places of Israel will be in ruins. I will attack Jeroboam’s heirs with my sword.”

7:7–9   Now you’ve decided to hold a plumb line to your people. You’ll no longer overlook evil. You’ll ruin holy places.

Amaziah Opposes Amos

10 Then Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, sent a message to King Jeroboam of Israel. It read, “Amos is plotting against you among the people of Israel. The country isn’t able to endure everything he is saying. 11 Amos says that Jeroboam will be killed with a sword and that Israel cannot avoid being taken from its land into exile.”

12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “You seer,[3] run away to Judah! Eat there, and prophesy there! 13 But don’t ⌞ever⌟ prophesy again in Bethel, because this is the king’s holy place and the king’s palace.”

14 Amos responded, “I’m not a prophet, and I’m not a disciple of the prophets. I am a rancher and a grower of figs. 15 But the LORD took me away from herding the flock and said to me, ‘Prophesy to my people Israel.’

16 “Now listen to the word of the LORD: You said, ‘Stop prophesying against Israel, and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’

17 “However, this is what the LORD says: Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will be killed with swords. Your land will be surveyed and divided up, and you will die in an unclean[4] land. Israel cannot avoid being taken from its land into exile.”

7:10–17   A priest told your prophet to flee. Amos protested that he never aspired to be a prophet. But you compelled him to speak up.

The End Has Come for Israel

8

1 This is what the Almighty LORD showed me: a basket of ripe summer fruit.

2 He asked, “What do you see, Amos?”

“A basket of ripe summer fruit,” I answered.

Then the LORD said to me, “My people Israel are now ripe. I will no longer overlook what they have done. 3 On that day the songs of the temple will become loud cries,” declares the Almighty LORD. “There will be dead bodies scattered everywhere. Hush!”

8:1–3   The sins of your people are ripe. You’ll no longer overlook what they’ve done.

4 Listen to this, those who trample on the needy

and ruin those who are oppressed in the world.

5 You say to yourselves,

“When will the New Moon Festival be over

so that we can sell more grain?

When will the day of worship be over

so that we can sell more wheat?

We can shrink the size of the bushel baskets,

increase the cost,

and cheat with dishonest scales.

6 We can buy the poor with money

and the needy for a pair of sandals.

We can sell the husks mixed in with the wheat.”

8:4–6   I’ll stop trampling the needy and destroying people who are already down. I’ll quit shrinking my product and upping my price. I’ll quit extending my goods with waste.

7 The LORD has sworn an oath by Jacob’s pride:

“I will never forget anything that they have done.”

8 The land will tremble because of this.

Everyone who lives in it will mourn.

The entire land will rise like the Nile,

be tossed about, and then sink like Egypt’s river.

9 On that day, declares the Almighty LORD,

I will make the sun go down at noon

and darken the earth in broad daylight.

10 I will turn your festivals into funerals

and all your songs into funeral songs.

I will put sackcloth around everyone’s waist

and shave everyone’s head.

I will make that day seem like a funeral for an only child,

and its end will be bitter.

8:7–10   Your land will mourn because you won’t forget. You’ll darken the earth at noon. You’ll force everyone to sing funeral songs.

11 The days are going to come, declares the Almighty LORD,

when I will send a famine throughout the land.

It won’t be an ordinary famine or drought.

Instead, there will be a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

12 People will wander from sea to sea

and roam from the north to the east,

searching for the word of the LORD.

But they won’t find it.

13 On that day beautiful young women and strong young men

will faint because of their thirst.

14 ⌞How horrible it will be for⌟ those who swear by Ashimah,[5]

the idol of Samaria, and say,

“I solemnly swear, Dan, as your god lives. . . .”

“I solemnly swear as long as there is a road to Beersheba. . . .”

Those who say this will fall and never get up again.

8:11–14   You’ll send a famine across the land—a scarcity of your real words. People will listen for your voice but won’t hear it. Will I faint of thirst—or will I find you again?

The LORD Will Sift Israel out of All the Nations

9

1 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said:

Strike the tops of the pillars so that the foundations shake.

Cut off everyone’s head.

I will kill with a sword all who are left.

None of them will be able to get away.

None of them will be able to escape.

2 Even if they dig their way into Sheol,

my hand will take them from there.

Even if they go up to heaven,

I will bring them down from there.

3 Even if they hide on top of Mount Carmel,

I will look for them and take them from there.

Even if they hide from me at the bottom of the sea,

I will command a sea snake to bite them.

4 Even if they go into exile ahead of their enemies,

I will command a sword to kill them.

I will keep my eyes on them

so that I can bring disaster on them and not help them.

9:1–4   You lop off everyone’s head. No one gets away. You’ll track them down, even if they dig their way to the land of the dead.

5 The Almighty LORD of Armies touches the earth.

It quakes, and all who live on it mourn.

All of it rises like the Nile

and sinks like Egypt’s river.

6 The one who builds stairs up to heaven

and sets their foundation on the earth,

the one who calls for the water in the sea

and pours it over the face of the earth—

His name is the LORD.

7 You people of Israel are like the people from Sudan, says the LORD.

Didn’t I bring Israel from Egypt?

Didn’t I bring the Philistines from Crete and the Arameans from Kir?

8 I, the Almighty LORD, have my eyes on this sinful kingdom.

I will wipe it off the face of the earth.

But I won’t totally destroy the descendants of Jacob, declares the LORD.

9 I’m going to give the order.

I will sift the nation of Israel out of all the nations

as if I were using a sieve.

Not one pebble will fall to the ground.

10 All the sinners among my people are thinking,

“Destruction will not catch up to us or run into us.”

In spite of this, they will be killed with swords.

9:5–10   Lord of Armies, your mere touch makes the earth quake. Your eyes are focused on your sinful kingdom. You’ll wipe it from the earth.

The LORD Will Restore His People

11 On that day I will set up David’s fallen tent.

I will repair the holes in it.

I will restore its ruined places.

I will rebuild them as they were a long time ago.

12 They will capture the few survivors of Edom

and all the other nations that were under my authority,

declares the LORD, who will do these things.

13 The days are going to come, declares the LORD,

when the one who plows will catch up to the one who harvests,

and the one who stomps on grapes will catch up to the one who plants.

New wine will drip from the mountains

and flow from all the hills.

14 I will restore my people Israel.

They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.

They will plant vineyards and drink the wine from them.

They will plant gardens and eat their fruit.

15 I will plant the people of Israel in their land,

and they won’t be uprooted again from the land that I gave them,

says the LORD your God.

9:11–15   But the days are coming when you’ll restore your people. Give me new cities and plump vineyards. Don’t ever uproot me from the holy place where you live.

OBADIAH

INTRODUCTION

Obadiah condemns hostility toward God’s people. Rivalry between Israel and Edom traced to struggles between two ancient brothers. Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright, grabbing the larger portion of the family inheritance that legally belonged to the older brother (Genesis 25:12–28:9).

Although the two brothers settled their issues (Genesis 33:1–17), the feud became more bitter as their descendants grew into neighboring nations. The nations should have been partners, but Edom sided with Israel’s enemies, surrendering Judean refugees to the victorious Babylonian army. The prophet Obadiah rails against Edom for generations of mistreating Israel. He predicts their secure mountaintop fortress will be overthrown and their nation destroyed.

Praying the book of Obadiah invites you to examine your own family relationships and ask forgiveness when you gloat over your enemies’ pain.

OBADIAH

1

Edom’s Fall—Jeremiah 49:14–16

1 This is the vision of Obadiah.

This is what the Almighty LORD says about Edom:

We have heard a message from the LORD.

A messenger was sent among the nations to say,

“Get ready! Let’s go to war against Edom.”

2 “Edom, I will make you the smallest of nations.

Others will despise you.

3 Your arrogance has deceived you.

You live on rocky cliffs.

You make your home up high.

You say to yourself,

‘No one can bring me down to earth.’

4 Even though you fly high like an eagle

and build your nest among the stars,

I will bring you down from there,” declares the LORD.

1–4   You ready the world for war. Edom thinks it’s safe perched high on its rocky cliffs. But you’ll hurl it down to earth.

5 “If thieves or looters come to you during the night,

won’t they steal only until they’ve had enough?

You will be ruined!

If people come to pick your grapes,

won’t they leave a few grapes behind?

6 But you, Esau,[1] will lose everything.

Even your hidden treasures will be looted.

7 All your allies will force you to leave your land.

The people who are at peace with you will deceive you.

Those who eat food with you will set traps for you,

and you won’t even know about it.

8 “On that day I will destroy the wise people in Edom

and take wisdom away from Esau’s mountain,” declares the LORD.

9 “Teman, your warriors will be terrified.

Everyone on Esau’s mountain will be slaughtered.

5–9   Edom will lose everything. They’ll be ruined. You’ll even empty the nation of its wisdom.

Why Edom Will Be Destroyed

10 “Because of the violence you did to Jacob, your relative,

you will be covered with shame.

You will be destroyed forever.

11 While you stood there doing nothing,

strangers carried off Jacob’s wealth.

Foreigners entered his gates and threw dice for Jerusalem.

You acted like one of them.

12 Don’t gloat over your relative’s misfortune

or be happy when the people of Judah are destroyed.

Don’t brag so much when they’re in distress.

13 Don’t march through the gates of my people when disaster strikes

or gloat over their misery when disaster strikes.

Don’t take their wealth when disaster strikes.

14 Don’t stand at the crossroads to kill their refugees.

Don’t hand over their survivors when they’re in distress.

10–14   Forgive me for gloating over my relatives’ misfortunes. I gleefully watch family members fail. I secretly smile when disaster strikes.

The Day of the LORD

15 “The day of the LORD is near for all nations.

Edom, you will be treated as you have treated others.

You will get back what you have given.

16 As you, Israel, drank on my holy mountain,

so all nations will drink in turn.

They will drink and guzzle down everything in it.

They will be like those who have never existed.

17 “But refugees will live on Mount Zion.

It will be holy.

The descendants of Jacob will get back their possessions.

18 The descendants of Jacob will be like a fire.

The descendants of Joseph will be like a flame.

But the descendants of Esau will be like straw.

They will be burned and destroyed.

There will be no one left among the descendants of Esau.”

The LORD has spoken.

19 “People from the Negev will take possession of Esau’s mountain.

People from the foothills will take possession of Philistia.

They will take possession of the lands of Ephraim and Samaria,

and ⌞the descendants of⌟ Benjamin will take possession of Gilead.

20 Exiles from Israel will take possession of Canaan.

They will possess land as far as Zarephath.

Exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad

will take possession of the cities in the Negev.

21 Those who are victorious will come from Mount Zion

to rule Esau’s mountain.

The kingdom will belong to the LORD.”

15–21   The world will get back what its given. But your people will live on your holy mountain. The kingdom will belong to you.

JONAH

INTRODUCTION

Jonah proves God wants the world to come back to him. When the Lord instructs Jonah to take his message to a hated enemy city, the prophet promptly flees as far as he can in the opposite direction, boarding a ship to the far western reaches of the Mediterranean.

God stirs up a storm that ceases only when Jonah’s shipmates toss him overboard. As Jonah thrashes in the sea, the Lord sends a giant fish to rescue and reprimand him. After three days and nights in the belly of the fish, Jonah agrees to go to Nineveh. The fish spits the prophet on dry land, and Jonah travels hundreds of miles to the capital of the Assyrian empire. As soon as he warns of imminent destruction, the inhabitants believe him. They put on sackcloth and show genuine sorrow for sin, and the Lord abandons his plans to destroy the city.

Jonah fumes that God would forgive a savage enemy. The book doesn’t say if Jonah ever got over his anger, but it proves the Lord’s unstoppable determination to show mercy to people cut off from him. Praying this book calls you to explore whether you share the Lord’s compassion for a broken world.

JONAH

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Jonah Tries to Run Away from the LORD

1

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said, 2 “Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people that I can no longer overlook the wicked things they have done.”

3 Jonah immediately tried to run away from the LORD by going to Tarshish. He went to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid for the trip and went on board. He wanted to go to Tarshish to get away from the LORD.

1:1–3   Jonah fumed that you sent him to warn a city packed with enemies. He boarded a ship bound for the far side of the world. He wanted to lose you.

4 The LORD sent a violent wind over the sea. The storm was so powerful that the ship was in danger of breaking up. 5 The sailors were afraid, and they cried to their gods for help. They began to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship’s load.

Now, Jonah had gone below deck and was lying there sound asleep. 6 The captain of the ship went to him and asked, “How can you sleep? Get up, and pray to your God. Maybe he will notice us, and we won’t die.”

7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Let’s throw dice to find out who is responsible for bringing this disaster on us.” So they threw dice, and the dice indicated that Jonah was responsible.

8 They asked him, “Tell us, why has this disaster happened to us? What do you do for a living? Where do you come from? What country are you from? What nationality are you?”

9 Jonah answered them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship the LORD, the God of heaven. He is the God who made the sea and the land.”

10 Then the men were terrified. They knew that he was running away from the LORD, because he had told them. They asked Jonah, “Why have you done this?”

1:4–10   You stirred up a violent storm. The sailors caught Jonah sound asleep in his sin. They were terrified by his stupidity.

11 The storm was getting worse. So they asked Jonah, “What should we do with you to calm the sea?”

12 He told them, “Throw me overboard. Then the sea will become calm. I know that I’m responsible for this violent storm.”

13 Instead, the men tried to row harder to get the ship back to shore, but they couldn’t do it. The storm was getting worse.

14 So they cried to the LORD for help: “Please, LORD, don’t let us die for taking this man’s life. Don’t hold us responsible for the death of an innocent man, because you, LORD, do whatever you want.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the sea became calm. 16 The men were terrified of the LORD. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the LORD.[1]

17 The LORD sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

1:11–17   Jonah’s shipmates begged for mercy before they tossed him into the sea. You sent a big fish—not to savor Jonah but to save him.

Jonah’s Prayer inside the Fish

2  [2]

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.

2 Jonah prayed:

“I called to the LORD in my distress,

and he answered me.

From the depths of my ⌞watery⌟ grave I cried for help,

and you heard my cry.

3 You threw me into the deep, into the depths of the sea,

and water surrounded me.

All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me.

2:1–3   I called to you in my distress, and you answered me. I was halfway to the grave when you heard my cry. Your whitecaps swept over me.

4 “Then I thought,

‘I have been banished from your sight.

Will I ever see your holy temple again?’

5 “Water surrounded me, threatening my life.

The deep ⌞sea⌟ covered me completely.

Seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 I sank to the foot of the mountains.

I sank to the bottom,

where bars held me forever.

But you brought me back from the pit, O LORD, my God.

7 “As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD.

My prayer came to you in your holy temple.

8 Those who hold on to worthless idols abandon their loyalty ⌞to you⌟.

9 But I will sacrifice to you with songs of thanksgiving.

I will keep my vow.

Victory belongs to the LORD!”

10 Then the LORD spoke to the fish, and it spit Jonah out onto the shore.

2:4–10   Will I ever see you again? Save me before I hit bottom. I’ll never swear loyalty to a false god, and now I’ll do whatever you say.

Nineveh Turns from Its Wicked Ways

3

1 Then the LORD spoke his word to Jonah a second time. He said, 2 “Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people the message I have given you.”

3 Jonah immediately went to Nineveh as the LORD told him. Nineveh was a very large city. It took three days to walk through[3] it. 4 Jonah entered the city and walked for about a day. Then he said, “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed.”

5 The people of Nineveh believed God. They decided to fast, and everyone, from the most important to the least important, dressed in sackcloth.

3:1–5   I promise you instant obedience. I’ll share your words and share your gladness when people take them to heart. It’s good when people quit doing evil.

6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 Then he made this announcement and sent it throughout the city:

“This is an order from the king and his nobles: No one is to eat or drink anything. This includes all people, animals, cattle, and sheep. 8 Every person and animal must put on sackcloth. Cry loudly to God for help. Turn from your wicked ways and your acts of violence. 9 Who knows? God may reconsider his plans and turn from his burning anger so that we won’t die.”

10 God saw what they did. He saw that they turned from their wicked ways. So God reconsidered his threat to destroy them, and he didn’t do it.

3:6–10   Nineveh’s king got rid of his royal robes and put on sackcloth. He commanded his subjects to rid their city of evil and violence. So you let go of your burning anger against Nineveh.

The LORD Has to Remind Jonah about His Mercy

4

1 Jonah was very upset about this, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the LORD, “LORD, isn’t this what I said would happen when I was still in my own country? That’s why I tried to run to Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, patient, and always ready to forgive and to reconsider your threats of destruction. 3 So now, LORD, take my life. I’d rather be dead than alive.”

4:1–3   Jonah didn’t feel your joy. He wanted his enemies to die. He thought you should be unfeeling, impatient, and quick to condemn.

4 The LORD asked, “What right do you have to be angry?”

5 Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made himself a shelter there. He sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 The LORD God made a plant grow up beside Jonah to give him shade and make him more comfortable. Jonah was very happy with the plant.

7 At dawn the next day, God sent a worm to attack the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God made a hot east wind blow. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he was about to faint. He wanted to die. So he said, “I’d rather be dead than alive.”

9 Then God asked Jonah, “What right do you have to be angry over this plant?”

Jonah answered, “I have every right to be angry—so angry that I want to die.”

10 The LORD replied, “This plant grew up overnight and died overnight. You didn’t plant it or make it grow. Yet, you feel sorry for this plant. 11 Shouldn’t I feel sorry for this important city, Nineveh? It has more than 120,000 people in it as well as many animals. These people couldn’t tell their right hand from their left.”

4:4–11   I have no right to be angry when you spare my enemies. I have no reason to whine about my insignificant disasters. Teach me what’s truly important to you.

MICAH

INTRODUCTION

Micah calls people to authentic faith. When the prophet Micah came on the scene, the Assyrian army was about to crush the northern kingdom of Israel. Within a few years, the enemy captured that nation’s capital, Samaria, and carried its citizens into exile, forever destroying the northern kingdom (2 Kings 18:9–12). Only a handful of people ever returned.

Micah warns that the Assyrians will move south, and soon King Sennacherib’s forces sweep through Judah and lay siege against Jerusalem. Israel’s King Hezekiah pleads for the Lord’s help, and the invaders all die in their camp (2 Kings 18:13–19:37).

Throughout this fearful era, Micah speaks both warning and mercy. He condemns the nation’s rampant injustice and superficial religion, its endless burnt offerings with no sign of real-life obedience. He tells everyone what real spirituality looks like: “This is what the LORD requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). The prophet also predicts a coming Savior will be born in the sleepy town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

Praying the book of Micah urges you to abandon injustice and shallow spirituality and let God lead you in practical, obvious obedience.

MICAH

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The Prophet Micah

1

1 The LORD spoke his word to Micah, who was from Moresheth, when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. This is the vision that Micah saw about Samaria and Jerusalem.

The Capital Cities of Israel and Judah Destroyed

2 Listen, all you people!

Pay attention, earth and all who are on it.

The Almighty LORD will be a witness against you.

The Lord will be a witness from his holy temple.

3 The LORD is going to come from his place.

He is going to come down and step on the worship places of the earth.

4 Mountains will melt under him like wax near a fire.

Valleys will split apart like water pouring down a steep hill.

5 All this is because of Jacob’s crime and Israel’s sin.

What is Jacob’s crime? Isn’t it Samaria?

What is Judah’s worship place? Isn’t it Jerusalem?

1:1–5   You’re about to step out of heaven and stomp on the earth. Your people’s sins make you rise from your throne.

6 So I will turn Samaria into a pile of rubble,

a place for planting vineyards.

I will roll its stones down into a valley and expose its foundations.

7 All its idols will be smashed to pieces.

All its wages for being a prostitute will be burned.

All its statues will be turned into a pile of rubble.

Samaria collected its wages for being a prostitute.

That money will again pay for prostitutes.

8 I will mourn and cry because of this.

I will walk around barefoot and naked.

I will cry like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.

9 Samaria’s wounds are incurable.

⌞The news about Samaria⌟ will come to Judah.

It will reach the gates of my people in Jerusalem.

1:6–9   You’ll smash idols. You’ll burn up the money your people made selling themselves to other gods. When will you heal your people’s wounds?

10 Don’t report it in Gath. Don’t cry there.

Roll in the dust of Beth Leaphrah.[1]

11 Pass by, naked and ashamed, inhabitants of Shaphir.

Don’t come out, inhabitants of Zaanan.

Beth Ezel is in mourning.

It will take its support away from you.

12 Wait anxiously for good, inhabitants of Maroth.

From the LORD disaster will come on the gates of Jerusalem.

13 Harness the horses to the chariots, inhabitants of Lachish.

You were the first to lead the people of Zion into sin.

The rebellious acts of Israel are found in you.

14 That is why you will give farewell gifts to Moresheth Gath.

The town of Achzib will betray the kings of Israel.

15 I will again bring a conqueror against the inhabitants of Mareshah.

The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

16 Shave your head in mourning for the children you love.

Make yourselves as bald as vultures

because your children will be taken from you into exile.

1:10–16   Will disaster strike every part of my life? Will it reach every spot where I live? My sins are killing me. They send my children into slavery.

Israel’s Sins Are Condemned

2

1 How horrible it will be for those who invent trouble

and work out plans for disaster while in bed.

When the morning dawns, they carry out their plans

because they are able to.

2 They desire ⌞other people’s⌟ fields, so they seize them.

They desire ⌞people’s⌟ houses, so they take them.

They cheat a man and his family,

a man and his inheritance.

3 So this is what the LORD says:

I’m planning a disaster to punish your family.

You won’t be able to rescue yourselves.

You will no longer be able to walk proudly.

This will be a time of disaster.

4 When that day comes, people will make fun of you.

They will sing this sad song about you:

“We are completely ruined.

The LORD gives our people’s possessions ⌞to others⌟.

He takes them from us.

He divides our fields among our captors.”

5 That is why none of you in the LORD’s assembly will draw lots

to divide your property.

2:1–5   You see me hatch schemes by night and carry them out the next day. You’ll pay me back for cheating my neighbor. I’ll be ruined when no one is able to rescue me.

6 Your prophets say, “Don’t prophesy!

Don’t prophesy such things!

Disgrace will never overtake us.”

7 Should the descendants of Jacob be asked:

Has the Spirit of the LORD become impatient with you?

Has he done these things?

Are his words good for those who live honestly?

8 Recently, my people have turned into enemies.

You take coats from those who pass by without a care

as they return from war.

9 You force the women among my people out of their pleasant homes

and take my glory away from their children forever.

10 Get up, and go away!

This is not a place to rest!

It will be destroyed, completely destroyed,

because it offends me.

11 Liars and frauds may go around and say,

“We will preach to you about wine and liquor.”

They would be just the type of preacher you want.

2:6–11   Prophets try to silence bad news. They never talk about your impatience. Instead they tell people exactly what they want to hear. They praise free-flowing liquor.

Israel Will Be Gathered Again by the LORD

12 I will surely gather all of you, Jacob.

I will surely bring together the few people left in Israel.

I will gather them together like sheep in a pen,

like a flock in its pasture.

They will make a lot of noise

because there will be so many people.

13 ⌞The LORD⌟ will open the way and lead them.

They will break out, go through the gate, and leave.

Their king will travel in front of them.

The LORD will lead the people.

2:12–13   Gather me with your flock. Pen us up so we make lots of noise. Then get in front of us and lead us as our king.

Israel’s Sinful Leaders—Rulers, Prophets, and Priests

3

1 Then I said:

Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel.

You should know justice.

2 You hate good and love evil.

You strip the skin off my people and the flesh off their bones.

3 You eat my people’s flesh.

You strip off their skin.

You break their bones to pieces.

You chop them up like meat for a pot, like stew meat for a kettle.

4 Then you will cry to the LORD,

but he will not answer you.

He will hide his face from you at that time

because you have done evil things.

3:1–4   Rulers should know justice. They should love good and hate evil. Instead they eat your people’s flesh. Are they really surprised when you hide from them?

5 This is what the LORD says about the prophets who mislead my people:

When they have something to eat, they say, “All is well!”

But they declare a holy war against those who don’t feed them.

6 That is why you will have nights without visions.

You will have darkness without revelations.

The sun will set on the prophets,

and the day will turn dark for them.

7 Seers[2] will be put to shame.

Those who practice witchcraft will be disgraced.

All of them will cover their faces, because God won’t answer them.

3:5–7   Prophets should know everything isn’t alright. You’ll disgrace everyone who practices dark arts. Are they actually surprised when you don’t answer?

8 But I am filled with the power of the LORD’s Spirit,

with justice, and with strength.

So I will tell ⌞the descendants of⌟ Jacob about their crimes

and ⌞the nation of⌟ Israel about its sins.

9 Listen to this, you leaders of the descendants of Jacob,

you rulers of the nation of Israel.

You despise justice and pervert everything that is right.

10 You build Zion on bloodshed and Jerusalem on wickedness.

11 Your leaders exchange justice for bribes.

Your priests teach for a price.

Your prophets tell the future for money.

But they rely on the LORD when they say,

“After all, the LORD is with us.

Nothing bad will happen to us.”

12 Because of you,

Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a pile of rubble,

and the temple mountain will become a worship site

covered with trees.

3:8–12   Fill true prophets with your Spirit’s power. Load them up with justice and strength so they’re able to address the nation’s crimes.

The LORD Will Teach the Nations—Isaiah 2:2–4

4

1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s house

will be established as the highest of the mountains

and raised above the hills.

People will stream to it.

2 Then many nations will come and say,

“Let’s go to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them.”

The teachings will go out from Zion.

The word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem.

4:1–2   In the last days, nations will come to worship you. They’ll want to discover your ways so they can live by them.

3 Then he will judge disputes between many people

and settle arguments between many nations far and wide.

They will hammer their swords into plowblades

and their spears into pruning shears.

Nations will never fight against each other,

and they will never train for war again.

4 They will sit under their grapevines and their fig trees,

and no one will make them afraid.

The LORD of Armies has spoken.

5 All the nations live by the names of their gods,

but we will live by the name of the LORD our God forever.

4:3–5   Judge between us and settle our disputes. Then we’ll hammer swords and spears into peaceful tools. We’ll stop training for war and live by your name.

6 “When that day comes,” declares the LORD,

“I will gather those who are lame.

I will bring together those who are scattered

and those whom I have injured.

7 I will change those who are lame into a faithful people.

I will change those who are forced away into a strong nation.”

The LORD will rule them on Mount Zion now and forever.

8 You, Jerusalem, watchtower of the flock,

stronghold of the people of Zion,

your former government will come back to you.

The kingdom will return to the people of Jerusalem.

9 Now why are you crying so loudly?

Don’t you have a king?

Has your counselor died?

Pain grips you like a woman in labor.

10 Daughter of Zion, writhe in pain and groan like a woman in labor.

Now you will leave the city,

live in the open fields,

and go to Babylon.

There you will be rescued.

There the LORD will reclaim you from your enemies.

11 But now many nations gather against you.

They say, “Let’s dishonor Zion and gloat over it.”

12 They don’t know the thoughts of the LORD or understand his plan.

He will bring them together

like cut grain on the threshing floor.[3]

13 Get up and thresh,[4] people of Zion.

I will make your horns as hard as iron

and your hoofs as hard as bronze.

You will smash many nations into small pieces.

You will claim their loot for the LORD,

their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.

4:6–13   Make broken people whole. Bring home the scattered. Teach us your thoughts and help us understand your plans.

5  [5]

1 Now, gather your troops, you city of troops.

We are under attack.

Enemies will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a stick.

The LORD’s Leader for Israel

2 You, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

are too small to be included among Judah’s cities.

Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me.

His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago.

3 That is why the LORD will abandon Israel

until the time a mother has a child.

Then the rest of the LORD’s people will return to the people of Israel.

4 The child will become the shepherd of his flock.

⌞He will lead them⌟ with the strength of the LORD,

with the majestic name of the LORD his God.

They will live in safety

because his greatness will reach the ends of the earth.

5 This man will be their peace.

When the Assyrians invade our land and trample our palaces,

we will attack them with seven shepherds and eight leaders.

5:2–5   You’ll bring a ruler from insignificant Bethlehem. His origins go back before the beginning of time. He will shepherd your flock with your strength. His far-reaching greatness will ensure your people’s safety.

6 They will rule Assyria with their swords

and the country of Nimrod with drawn swords.

They will rescue us from the Assyrians

when they come into our land

and walk within our territory.

7 Then the few people left from Jacob will be among many people

like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass.

They do not put their hope in humans or wait for mortals.

8 The few people left from Jacob will be among the nations,

among many people.

They will be like a lion among animals in the forest,

like a young lion among flocks of sheep.

When a lion hunts,

it tramples ⌞its victims⌟ and tears ⌞them⌟ to pieces,

and there is no one to rescue them.

9 You will use your power against your opponents,

and all your enemies will be destroyed.

10 “When that day comes,” declares the LORD,

“I will destroy your horses

and demolish your chariots.

11 I will destroy the cities in your land

and tear down all your fortresses.

12 I will destroy your sorcerers,

and you will have no more fortunetellers.

13 I will destroy your idols and your sacred monuments.

You will no longer worship what your hands have made.

14 I will pull out your poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

I will wipe out your cities.

15 I will take revenge with great anger

on the nations that do not obey me.”

5:6–15   The Assyrians will invade, but you’ll rescue. You’ll scatter your people to the nations, but they’ll survive. Preserve me when enemies strike.

The LORD’s Lawsuit against His People

6

1 Now listen to what the LORD is saying,

“Stand up! Plead your case in front of the mountains,

and let the hills listen to your request.

2 Listen to the LORD’s lawsuit, you mountains.

Listen, you strong foundations of the earth.

The LORD has filed a lawsuit against his people.

He is arguing his case against Israel.

3 “My people, what have I done to you?

How have I tried your patience? Answer me!

4 I brought you out of Egypt and freed you from slavery.

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.

5 My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned ⌞to do to you⌟

and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him.

Remember ⌞your journey⌟ from Shittim to Gilgal[6]

so that you may know the victories of the LORD.”

6:1–5   You’ve never wronged me. You’ve never tried my patience. You freed me from slavery and allowed me to serve you.

6 What should I bring when I come into the LORD’s presence,

when I bow in front of the God of heaven?

Should I bring him year-old calves as burnt offerings?

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams

or with endless streams of olive oil?

Should I give him my firstborn child because of my rebellious acts?

Should I give him my young child for my sin?

8 You mortals, the LORD has told you what is good.

This is what the LORD requires from you:

to do what is right,

to love mercy,

and to live humbly with your God.

6:6–8   You don’t want more offerings and sacrifices. My child’s death can’t pay for my sins. But you’ve shown me what’s good—to do right, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.

9 The voice of the LORD calls out to the city.

(The fear of your name is wisdom.)

“Listen, you tribe assembled in the city.[7]

10 I have cursed all the wicked people who use their money for evil

and use inaccurate weights and measures.

11 I cannot tolerate dishonest scales

and bags filled with inaccurate weights.

12 The rich people in the city are violent.

Those who live in the city speak lies,

and their tongues speak deceitfully.

13 I have begun to strike you with heavy blows

and to ruin you because of your sins.

14 You will eat, but you won’t be full.

So you will always be hungry.

You will put things away, but you won’t save them.

Anything you save I will destroy.

15 You will plant, but you won’t harvest.

You will crush olives, but you won’t rub the oil on your skin.

You will make new wine, but you won’t drink it.

16 You have kept Omri’s laws

and all the practices of the descendants of Ahab,

and you have followed their advice.

That is why I will ruin you.

Your people will be ridiculed.

You will bear the disgrace of my people.”

6:9–16   You hate dishonest businesspeople and the violence and lies of the rich. You’ll ruin them for following the example of bad kings.

The LORD’s People Confess Their Sin

7

1 Poor me!

I am like those gathering summer fruit,

like those picking grapes.

But there aren’t any grapes to eat

or any ripened figs that I crave.

2 Faithful people are gone from the earth,

and no one is decent.

All people lie in ambush to commit murder.

They trap each other with nets.

3 Their hands are skilled in doing evil.

Officials ask for gifts.

Judges accept bribes.

Powerful people dictate what they want.

So they scheme together.[8]

4 The best of them is like a briar.

The most decent person is sharper than thornbushes.

The day you thought you would be punished has come.

Now is the time you will be confused.

5 Don’t trust your neighbors.

Don’t have confidence in ⌞your⌟ friends.

Keep your mouth shut even when a woman is lying in your arms.

6 A son treats his father with contempt.

A daughter rebels against her mother.

A daughter-in-law rebels against her mother-in-law.

People’s enemies are the members of their own families.

7:1–6   I look for fruit but there are no grapes to eat. I can’t find anyone faithful to you. I don’t trust my friends or share secrets with my spouse.

7 I will look to the LORD.

I will wait for God to save me.

I will wait for my God to listen to me.

8 Don’t laugh at me, my enemies.

Although I’ve fallen, I will get up.

Although I sit in the dark, the LORD is my light.

9 I have sinned against the LORD.

So I will endure his fury

until he takes up my cause and wins my case.

He will bring me into the light,

and I will see his victory.

10 Then my enemies will see this, and they will be covered with shame,

because they asked me, “Where is the LORD your God?”

Now I look at them.

They are trampled like mud in the streets.

7:7–10   I’m counting on you to save me. I’m waiting for you to hear me. I’ll endure your fury, but you’ll win my case. My enemies will have to stop mocking you and me both.

11 The day for rebuilding your walls

and extending your borders is coming.

12 When that day comes, your people will come to you

from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,

from Egypt to the Euphrates River,

from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.

13 The earth will become a wasteland for those who live on it

because of what the people living there have done.

14 With your shepherd’s staff, take care of your people,

the sheep that belong to you.

They live alone in the woods, in fertile pastures.

Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead like before.

15 Let us see miracles

like the time you came out of Egypt.

16 Nations will see this and be ashamed in spite of all their strength.

They will put their hands over their mouths.

Their ears will become deaf.

17 They will lick dust like snakes,

like animals that crawl on the ground.

They will come out of their hiding places trembling.

They will turn away from your presence in fear, O LORD our God.

They will be afraid of you.

7:11–17   The world will become a wasteland because of its inhabitants’ wicked deeds. But care for your people. Do miracles like you did before.

18 Who is a God like you?

You forgive sin

and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people.

You will not be angry forever,

because you would rather show mercy.

19 You will again have compassion on us.

You will overcome our wrongdoing.

You will throw all our sins into the deep sea.

20 You will be faithful to Jacob.

You will have mercy on Abraham

as you swore by an oath to our ancestors long ago.

7:18–20   Who is like you? You forgive me and overlook my rebellion. You would rather show mercy than anger. Act on the promises you made long ago!

NAHUM

INTRODUCTION

Nahum shows time running out. A hundred years before the prophet Nahum spoke up for God, the Lord sent Jonah to the same people to urge them to quit sinning. The residents of Nineveh, capital of Assyria, believed the Lord’s message and turned to him (Jonah 3:1–10).

In the meantime, that nation famed for its cruel tactics in war had obliterated the northern kingdom of Israel, sending its people into captivity in a distant land. They then turned toward the southern capital of Jerusalem, a danger the Lord miraculously stopped (2 Kings 19:35–37).

God had used the Assyrians to discipline his people, but he now stands against them. His threats against the empire come to pass when the Babylonians conquer the Assyrians a few years later.

The Lord once compassionately reached out to the Ninevites, but they went back to doing evil. Praying this book compels you to consider parts of your life where you reject God’s mercy and go on doing wrong.

NAHUM

1  | 2  | 3

Nahum’s Vision

1

1 This is a revelation from the LORD about Nineveh. This book contains the vision of Nahum from Elkosh.

Who Can Withstand the Lord’s Anger?

2 God does not tolerate rivals. The LORD takes revenge.

The LORD takes revenge and is full of anger.

The LORD takes revenge against his enemies

and holds a grudge against his foes.

3 The LORD is patient and has great strength.

The LORD will never let the guilty go unpunished.

Raging winds and storms mark his path,

and clouds are the dust from his feet.

1:1–3   You take revenge on your rivals. You’re infinitely patient, but you never let the guilty go free.

4 He yells at the sea and makes it dry.

He dries up all the rivers.

Bashan and Carmel wither.

The flowers of Lebanon wither.

5 The mountains quake because of him.

The hills melt.

The earth draws back in his presence.

The world and all who live in it draw back as well.

6 Who can stand in the presence of his rage?

Who can oppose his burning anger?

He pours out his rage like fire

and smashes the rocky cliffs.

1:4–6   You yell at the sea and it dries up. You shake mountains and melt hills. Who can stand in the presence of your rage?

Why Does Nineveh Oppose the LORD?

7 The LORD is good.

⌞He is⌟ a fortress in the day of trouble.

He knows those who seek shelter in him.

8 He will put an end to Nineveh

with a devastating flood.

He will pursue his enemies with darkness.

9 What do you think about the LORD?

He is the one who will bring Nineveh to an end.

This trouble will never happen again.

10 ⌞The people of Nineveh will be⌟ like tangled thorns

and like people drunk on their own drink.

They will be completely burned up like very dry straw.

11 From you, Nineveh, a person who plans evil against the LORD sets out.

His advice is wicked.

1:7–11   You’re beyond good. You’re my fortress on a troubling day. You recognize me when I seek shelter in you. But you never fail to bring evil to an end.

Nineveh Will Fall

12 This is what the LORD says:

Though the people of Nineveh are physically fit and many in number,

they will be cut down and die.

Though I have humbled you, Judah,

I will not humble you again.

13 But now I will break Nineveh’s yoke[1] off of you

and tear its chains from you.

14 The LORD has given this command about you, Nineveh:

You will no longer have descendants to carry on your name.

I will remove the wooden and metal idols from the temple of your gods.

I will prepare your grave because you are worthless.[2]

An Army Will Conquer Nineveh

15 There on the mountains are the feet of a messenger

who announces the good news: “All is well!”

Celebrate your festivals, Judah! Keep your vows!

This wickedness will never pass your way again.

It will be completely removed.

1:12–15   Physical fitness won’t save Nineveh. Strength in numbers won’t help it survive. You once spared the city. Now you’ll roll it into a grave.

2  [3]

1 The one who will scatter you is coming to attack you.

Guard your fortress!

Keep a lookout on the road!

Prepare for battle!

Be very courageous!

2 The LORD will restore Jacob’s glory like Israel’s glory,

although enemies have looted it

and have destroyed its vines.

3 The shields of his warriors are painted red.

His soldiers have red uniforms.

The metal on his chariots flashes fiery red,

so do the spears when they are waved

on the day he prepares for battle.

4 Chariots are racing madly through the streets,

rushing this way and that in the city squares.

They look like torches, like lightning, as they dart about.

5 He remembers his best fighting men.

They stumble over themselves as they march.

They hurry to Nineveh’s wall.

The shield has been set up for the battering ram.

6 The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace melts away.

2:1–6   Your warriors are primed for battle. Their chariots race madly through the streets. Your troops are ready to batter Nineveh.

Nineveh’s Treasures Will Be Taken

7 The LORD has determined:

“It will be stripped.

It will be carried away.

Its young women will be mourning like doves

as they beat their breasts.”

8 Nineveh was like a pool of water from its first day on.

But now its people are fleeing.

“Stop! Stop!”

But no one turns around.

9 Steal the silver! Steal the gold!

There is no end to what is stored here—

everything a person could ever want.

10 Nineveh is destroyed, deserted, demolished.

Hearts are melting.

Knees are knocking.

Every stomach becomes upset.

Every face turns pale.

Nineveh Will Be Destroyed

11 Where is the lions’ den,

that feeding place for young lions?

Where are the lion, the lioness, and the lion cub who moved about

with no one to terrify them?

12 The lion tore its prey to pieces to feed its cubs.

It strangled ⌞the prey⌟ for its mates.

It used to fill its caves with torn carcasses

and its dens with torn flesh.

13 “I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the LORD of Armies.

“I will send your chariots up in smoke,

and a sword will kill your young lions.

I will remove your prey from the earth,

and no one will ever hear the voice of your messengers again.”

2:7–13   Sin strips me of everything I own. Your discipline carries me away. My heart melts, my knees knock, and my stomach churns. I’m deserted and demolished.

Nineveh’s Punishment for Sin

3

1 How horrible it will be for that city of bloody violence!

It is completely full of lies and stolen goods—never without victims.

2 The sound of the whip!

The sound of rattling wheels!

Horses gallop!

Chariots bounce along!

3 Horses charge!

Swords flash!

Spears glitter!

Many are killed!

Dead bodies pile up!

There is no end to the corpses!

People trip over corpses

4 because of Nineveh’s constant prostitution,

this very charming mistress of evil magic.

She used to sell

nations her prostitution

and people her evil magic.

5 “I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the LORD of Armies.

“I will lift up your dress over your face.

I will show nations your naked body and kingdoms your disgrace.

6 I will throw filth on you.

I will make you look like a fool.

I will make you a sight to be seen.

7 Everyone who sees you will run from you, saying,

‘Nineveh has been violently destroyed!

Who will feel sorry for her?’

Where can I find anyone to comfort you?”

3:1–7   How horrible it is for sinners! The crack of the whip! The rattle of chariot wheels! How can anyone count so many dead bodies? Is sin worth enduring your wrath?

Nineveh Will Not Escape Punishment

8 Are you better than No-amon,[4] which sits by the streams of the Nile

with water surrounding her?

The sea was ⌞her⌟ defense.

The water was her wall.

9 Sudan and Egypt were her endless strength.

Put and the Lybians were her help.

10 Even she went into captivity and was exiled.

Even her little children were smashed to death at every street corner.

Soldiers tossed dice for her important men,

and all her best men were bound in chains.

11 Even you, Nineveh, will stagger like a drunk.

You will disappear.

Even you will look for a fortress ⌞to escape⌟ from the enemy.

12 All your defenses will be like fig trees with the earliest figs.

When shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

13 Look at your soldiers; they’re women!

The gates of your country are wide open to your enemies.

Fire has destroyed the bars of your gates.

3:8–13   Your own people were led into exile. Their children were smashed to death on street corners. Their best were bound in chains. What price will I pay to keep sinning?

Nineveh’s Strength Will Not Save Her

14 Store water for the siege!

Strengthen your defenses!

Step into the claypits and trample the clay!

Grab the brick mold!

15 Fire will consume you there.

A sword will cut you down.

It will consume you like locusts.

Multiply like locusts!

Multiply like hungry locusts!

16 You have produced more businessmen than there are stars in the sky.

⌞They are⌟ like locusts that attack and then fly away.

17 Your officers are like locusts,

and your scribes are like swarms of locusts

that settle on the fences when it is cold.

The sun rises, and they scatter in every direction.

No one knows where they’ve gone.

18 Your shepherds, king of Assyria, have fallen into a deep sleep.

Your best fighting men are at rest.

Your people are scattered on the mountains,

and there is no one to gather them.

19 There is no relief for your collapse.

Your wound is fatal.

All who hear the news about you will clap their hands.

Who hasn’t suffered from your endless evil?

3:14–19   There’s no relief from judgment. Your siege won’t end well for sinful people. Their wound is fatal.

HABAKKUK

INTRODUCTION

Habakkuk promises that God will prevail. The prophet Habakkuk couldn’t help but think evil people were winning. King Josiah of Judah had died (2 Kings 21:23–23:30), ending bold reforms aimed at bringing the nation back to God. Babylon was winning its battles with the Assyrian empire, and Judah would soon be conquered as well. Habakkuk witnesses these events and wonders how God could let bad people thrive.

The Lord doesn’t brush aside Habakkuk’s agonizing questions. He explains that he still stands for good and will ultimately punish evil. Even when he uses an evil nation to punish others, that nation will receive its due. But the Lord doesn’t always act when people expect. His help comes “at the appointed time.” His promised relief “hurries toward its goal. It won’t be a lie. If it’s delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won’t be late” (Habakkuk 2:3).

Habakkuk hears the Lord’s words and waits, trembling in anticipation of a troubling day for his enemies. Even if the fields are empty and the flocks barren, he will still trust God (Habakkuk 3:16–19). Praying this book invites you to trust even when you feel lost and the Lord’s answers seem distant.

HABAKKUK

1  | 2  | 3

Habakkuk’s Vision

1

1 The divine revelation that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

Habakkuk’s Question

2 How long, O LORD, am I to cry for help,

but you will not listen?

I cry out to you, “There’s violence!”

yet you will not come to the rescue.

3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing?

And why do you watch wickedness?

Destruction and violence are in front of me.

Quarrels and disputes arise.

4 That is why your teaching is numbed,

and justice is never carried out.

Wicked people surround righteous people

so that when justice is carried out, it’s perverted.

1:1–4   How long do I need to cry before you hear me? Don’t you see the violence all around me? Everyone is numb to your teaching. Good deeds are constantly thwarted.

The LORD’s Answer

5 Look among the nations and watch.

Be amazed and astonished.

I am going to do something in your days

that you would not believe even if it were reported to you.

6 I am going to send the Babylonians,

that fierce and reckless nation.

They will march throughout the earth

to take possession of lands that don’t belong to them.

7 They will be terrifying and fearsome.

They will carry out their own kind of justice and honor.

8 Their horses will be faster than leopards

and quicker than wolves in the evening.

Their riders will gallop along proudly.

Their riders will come from far away.

They will fly like an eagle that swoops down for its prey.

9 They will all come for violence.

Every face will be directed forward.

They will gather prisoners like sand.

10 They will make fun of kings and treat rulers as a joke.

They will laugh at every fortified city

and build a dirt ramp to capture it.

11 They will move quickly and pass through like the wind.

So they will be guilty,

because their own strength is their god.

1:5–11   You have a plan to end evil. You’ll send a fierce nation against your own. It laughs at opposition. It captures whatever it wants.

Authentic Prayer

Habakkuk 1:12–17

Confusion

Your eyes are too pure to look at evil. You can’t watch wickedness. Why do you keep watching treacherous people? Why are you silent when wicked people swallow those who are more righteous than they are? Habakkuk 1:13

God is ready for your questions. The prophet Habakkuk felt bewildered. He had long cried out to the Lord about the violence he saw at every turn. He was tired of wanton destruction. The crowds snubbed God’s teaching, and real believers felt trapped.

God responds by promising to send the Babylonian army to sweep across the land and punish evil. They will quickly cut down the violent and take control of the land. Yet that prediction leaves Habakkuk even more confused. Why would a pure God use such an evil nation as his tool? How can the Lord stand to look at such brutal people? Then God responds again. He will punish the punishers. In the end, everyone evil will pay.

The Lord stands ready to hear your toughest questions. He won’t silence your pleas for understanding. His answers aren’t always easy to accept, yet he can teach you to trust him even in a swirling world. As Habakkuk prayed, “I will be happy with the LORD. I will truly find joy in God, who saves me” (Habakkuk 3:18).

Pray the Scriptures Confusion: Psalm 55:1–7, Proverbs 1:1–7, Galatians 1:6–10, Philippians 4:8–9

Habakkuk’s Question

12 Didn’t you exist before time began, O LORD, my God, my Holy One?

We will not die!

O LORD, you have appointed the Babylonians to bring judgment.

O Rock, you have destined them to correct us.

13 Your eyes are too pure to look at evil.

You can’t watch wickedness.

Why do you keep watching treacherous people?

Why are you silent when wicked people swallow those

who are more righteous than they are?

14 You make all people like the fish in the sea,

like schools of sea life that have no ruler.

15 The Babylonians pull them all up with fishhooks,

drag them away in nets,

and gather them in dragnets.

So they rejoice and are happy.

16 That is why they sacrifice to their nets and burn incense to their dragnets.

They are rich and well fed because of them.

17 Will they keep on emptying their nets

and always kill nations without mercy?

1:12–17   You’ve been around since before time began, O Holy One. And your eyes are too pure to look at evil. So how can you use bad people to carry out your judgment?

Habakkuk Waits for the LORD’s Answer

2

1 I will stand at my guard post.

I will station myself on the wall.

I will watch to see what he will say to me

and what answer I will get to my complaint.

2:1   I wait for your answer. I know you’ll respond to my complaint.

The LORD’s Answer

2 Then the LORD answered me,

“Write the vision.

Make it clear on tablets

so that anyone can read it quickly.

3 The vision will still happen at the appointed time.

It hurries toward its goal.

It won’t be a lie.

If it’s delayed, wait for it.

It will certainly happen.

It won’t be late.

4 “Look at the proud person. He is not right in himself.

But the righteous person will live because of his faithfulness.[1]

2:2–4   You have a clear answer. Anyone can figure it out. Proud people can never be right with you. Righteous people will live by faith.

5 Also because wine is treacherous

he is arrogant and never rests.

He has a large appetite like the grave.

He is like death—never satisfied.

He gathers all the nations to himself.

He collects all the people to himself.

6 Won’t all of them ridicule him,

directing clever sayings and riddles at him, like:

“‘How horrible it will be for the one who makes himself rich

with what is not his own

and makes himself wealthy on loans.

How long will this go on?’

7 Won’t your creditors suddenly rise up

and those who are going to shake you wake up?

Then you will become their prize.

8 You have looted many nations.

All the rest of the people will loot you

because of the slaughter and violence done

to lands, cities, and all their inhabitants.

9 “‘How horrible it will be for the one who uses violence

to get things for his own household

in order to set his nest up high

and save himself from disaster.’

10 You have planned disgrace for your household

by cutting off many people and forfeiting your own life.

11 A stone in the wall will cry out.

A beam in the roof will answer it.

12 “‘How horrible it will be for the one who builds a city by slaughter

and founds a town by crime.’

13 Isn’t it from the LORD of Armies

that people grow tired only to feed the flames

and nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

14 But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD’s glory

like the water covers the sea.

15 “‘How horrible it will be for the one who makes his neighbor drink

from the bowl of God’s rage,

making him drunk in order to stare at his nakedness.’

16 You are filled with disgrace rather than glory.

Drink! Yes you! And expose yourself as godless.

The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you,

and disgrace will cover your glory.

17 The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,

and the destruction done to the animals will terrify you

because of the slaughter and violence done

to lands, cities, and all their inhabitants.

2:5–17   You’ll pay back everyone who does evil—even nations that carry out your judgment. They’ll all drink of your rage.

18 “What benefit is there in a carved idol

when its maker has carved it?

What benefit is there in a molded statue, a teacher of lies,

when its maker has molded it?

The one who formed it trusts himself

to make worthless idols that cannot speak.

19 ‘How horrible it will be for the one

who says to a piece of wood, “Wake up!”

and to a stone that cannot talk, “Get up!” ’

Can that thing teach ⌞anyone⌟?

Just look at it!

It’s covered with gold and silver,

but there’s absolutely no life in it.”

20 The LORD is in his holy temple.

All the earth should be silent in his presence.

2:18–20   There’s no benefit in worshiping an idol. It’s just a thing crafted by human hands. It can’t teach anything. It won’t bring life.

A Psalm

3

1 A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk; according to shigionoth.[2]

2 LORD, I have heard the report about you.

LORD, I fear your work.

In the course of the years, renew it.

In the course of the years, reveal it.

In all this chaos, remember to be merciful.

3:1–2   I understand what you’re saying. I’m awestruck by all your work. As I deal with this chaos, remember to show mercy.

3 God comes from Teman.

The Holy One comes from Mount Paran. Selah

His splendor covers the heavens.

His praise fills the earth.

4 His brightness is like the sunlight.

Rays of light ⌞stream⌟ from his hand.

That is where his power is hidden.

5 Diseases go ahead of him.

Plagues follow after him.

6 He stands and shakes the earth.

He casts a glance and startles the nations.

The oldest mountains break apart.

The ancient hills sink.

The ancient paths belong to him.

7 I see trouble in the tents of Cushan.

I see trembling in the tents of Midian.

8 The LORD is not angry with the rivers, is he?

If you are angry with the rivers,

if you are furious with the sea,

⌞why⌟ do you ride your horses,

your chariots of salvation?

9 You get your bow ready for action,

for the arrows ⌞you⌟ promised. Selah

You split the land with rivers.

10 The mountains look at you. They writhe in pain.

Floodwaters pass by.

The deep ocean roars. Its waves rise up high.

11 The sun and the moon stand still.

They scatter at the light of your arrows,

at the bright lightning of your spear.

12 You march through the earth with fury.

You trample the nations in anger.

13 You go out to save your people,

to save your anointed.[3]

You crush the leader of the wicked household,

stripping him bare from head to toe. Selah

14 You pierce the leader of his gang with his own arrows.

His soldiers come like a violent storm to scatter me.

They are arrogant like those who secretly eat up the poor.

15 You march with your horses into the sea,

into the mighty raging waters.

16 I have heard, so there’s trembling within me.

At the report my lips quivered.

A rotten feeling has entered me.

I tremble where I stand.

I wait for the day of trouble

to come to the people who will attack us.

3:3–16   Holy One, your splendor covers the heavens. Your brightness shines like the sun. You’re not angry with the planet, just fed up with its inhabitants. Come and rescue your people.

17 Even if the fig tree does not bloom

and the vines have no grapes,

even if the olive tree fails to produce

and the fields yield no food,

even if the sheep pen is empty

and the stalls have no cattle—

18 even then,

I will be happy with the LORD.

I will truly find joy in God, who saves me.

3:17–18   I tremble at what you’ve told me. I expect trouble to strike at any time. But even if I go hungry, I’ll be happy with you. I’ll find joy in you, the one who saves me.

19 The LORD Almighty is my strength.

He makes my feet like those of a deer.

He makes me walk on the mountains.

For the choir director; on stringed instruments.

3:19   You’re my strength. You make my feet skip like a deer. You let me bound on mountaintops.

ZEPHANIAH

INTRODUCTION

Zephaniah says a faithful few will follow God. The prophet Zephaniah’s great-great-grandfather King Hezekiah led God’s people of Judah back to obedience (2 Kings 18:1–20:21), but after nearly sixty years of evil kings, the nation was once again desperate for spiritual reform.

Through Zephaniah the Lord speaks judgment on the entire earth, vowing to put an end to humans and all their sins. He threatens to wield his power against citizens of Judah who mix their worship of him with service to false gods like Baal and Milcom. The prophet declares that “the frightening day of the LORD is near. It is near and coming very quickly” (Zephaniah 1:14). Yet he also calls the nation to come back to God before this decree is carried out. “Search for the LORD,” he says. “Search for what is right. Search for humility” (Zephaniah 2:3).

Zephaniah foresees a time when people will again worship the Lord, and a faithful few will seek refuge in him. They will celebrate the Lord as the hero who saves them, and the Lord will renew them with his love. Praying this book invites you to humble yourself before God and proclaim your intent to follow him faithfully.

ZEPHANIAH

1  | 2  | 3

Zephaniah’s Prophecy

1

1 This is the word that the LORD spoke to Zephaniah, who was the son of Cushi, the grandson of Gedaliah, and the great-grandson of Amariah, son of Hezekiah. The LORD spoke his word in the days of Judah’s King Josiah, son of Amon.

The LORD Will Judge the Earth

2 “I will gather everything on the face of the earth

and put an end to it,” declares the LORD.

3 “I will put an end to humans and animals.

I will put an end to

the birds in the sky,

the fish in the sea,

and the sins that make people fall, together with the sinners.

I will remove all people from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

1:1–3   You’ll gather everything on earth and put an end to it all. You’ll remove every person and animal, every bird and fish.

The LORD Will Judge Judah

4 “I will use my power against Judah

and against those who live in Jerusalem.

I will remove the faithful few of Baal from this place

and the names of the pagan priests along with my priests.

5 I will remove those who worship all the stars in the sky on their rooftops

and those who worship by swearing loyalty to the LORD

while also swearing loyalty to the god Milcom.[1]

6 I will remove those who have turned away from following the LORD

and those who no longer seek the LORD or ask him for help.”

1:4–6   You’ll remove Baal’s faithful, people who bow to the stars, and any who pray to Milcom in addition to you.

7 Be silent in the presence of the Almighty LORD,

because the day of the LORD is near.

The LORD has prepared a sacrifice.

He has invited his special guests.

8 “On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials,

the king’s sons, and all who dress in foreign clothing.[2]

9 On that day I will punish all who jump over the doorway

and all who fill their master’s house with violence and deception.

10 On that day a loud cry will come from Fish Gate,

a howling from the Second Part of the city,

and a loud crashing sound from the hills,” declares the LORD.

11 “Howl, inhabitants of the Mortar,[3]

because all the merchants will be destroyed

and all who handle money will be killed.

12 “At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those

who are satisfied with their hardened lifestyle,

who think that the LORD won’t do anything—good or bad.

1:7–12   I’ll be silent in your presence because your day is near. On that day you’ll punish people satisfied with their cynicism. They think you never do anything—good or bad.

13 Their wealth will be looted.

Their homes will be demolished.

They will build houses, but they won’t live in them.

They will plant vineyards, but they won’t drink their wine.”

The Day of the LORD

14 The frightening day of the LORD is near.

It is near and coming very quickly.

Listen! Warriors will cry out bitterly on the day of the LORD.

15 That day will be a day of overflowing fury,

a day of trouble and distress,

a day of devastation and desolation,

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and overcast skies,

16 a day of rams’ horns and battle cries

against the fortified cities

and against the high corner towers.

17 “I will bring such distress on humans that they will walk like they are blind,

because they have sinned against the LORD.”

Their blood will be poured out like dust

and their intestines like manure.

18 Their silver and their gold will not be able to rescue them

on the day of the LORD’s overflowing fury.

The whole earth will be consumed by his fiery anger,

because he will put an end, a frightening end,

to those who live on earth.

1:14–18   Your frightening day draws near—a day of overflowing fury, darkness and gloom. Your fiery anger will put a frightening end to everyone on earth.

A Call for Judah to Turn Away from Sin

2

1 Gather yourselves together!

Yes, gather together, you shameless nation,

2 before the decree is carried out

⌞and⌟ the day passes like windblown husks,

before the LORD’s burning anger comes to you,

before the day of the LORD’s anger comes to you.

3 Search for the LORD, all you humble people in the land

who carry out his justice.

Search for what is right.

Search for humility.

Maybe you will find shelter on the day of the LORD’s anger.

2:1–3   I’ll get my act together before you carry out your decree. I’ll search out justice and humility before your anger comes.

The LORD Will Judge His People’s Enemies

4 Gaza will be deserted,

and Ashkelon will be destroyed.

Ashdod will be driven out at noon,

and Ekron will be torn out by the roots.

5 How horrible it will be for those who live on the seacoast,

for the nation from Crete.

The word of the LORD is against you, Canaan, the land of the Philistines:

“I will destroy you so that no one will be living there.”

6 The seacoast will become pastureland

with meadows for shepherds

and fenced-off places for sheep.

7 The coast will belong to the faithful few from the nation of Judah.

There they will graze their sheep.

In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon.

The LORD their God will take care of them

and will restore their fortunes.

2:4–7   You’ll judge all your people’s enemies from Crete to Canaan. Care for us and restore our fortunes.

8 “I have heard the insults from Moab and the mockery from Ammon.

They insulted my people and bragged about their territory.

9 Therefore, I solemnly swear, as I live,”

declares the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel,

“Moab will become like Sodom, and Ammon will become like Gomorrah:

a place of weeds, salt pits, and ruins forever.

The faithful few of my people will loot them,

and those who are left in my nation will take possession of them.”

10 This is what they will get for their sinful pride,

because they insulted the people who belong to the LORD of Armies

and made themselves greater than them.

11 The LORD will terrify them,

because he will make all the gods of the earth waste away.

So every person from every coast and nation will bow to him.

12 “Even you, the people from Sudan,

you will also die by my sword.”

13 The LORD will use his power against the north and destroy Assyria.

He will turn Nineveh into a deserted ruin,

a dried up wasteland like the desert.

14 Flocks will lie down in it along with animals of every kind.

Even pelicans and herons will nest on top of its columns.

Listen! A bird will sing in a window.

The doorway will be in ruins,

because the LORD will expose the cedar beams.

15 Is this the arrogant city?

Is this the city that used to live securely,

the city that used to think to itself,

“I’m the only one, and no one else exists but me”?

What a wasteland it is now, a resting place for wild animals!

All who pass by it will hiss and make an obscene gesture.

2:8–15   Put an end to arrogance and bragging. Do away with sinful pride. Straighten out people who act like they’re the only ones on earth.

Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed

3

1 How horrible it will be for that rebellious

and corrupt place, the city of violence.

2 It obeys no one.

It does not accept correction.

It does not trust the LORD.

It does not draw close to its God.

3 Its officials are ⌞like⌟ roaring lions.

Its judges are ⌞like⌟ wolves in the evening.

They leave nothing to gnaw on for the morning.

4 Its prophets are reckless and unfaithful.

Its priests contaminate what is holy.

They violate the teachings.

5 The righteous LORD is in that city.

He does no wrong.

He brings his judgment to light every morning.

He does not fail.

But those who are perverted are shameless.

3:1–5   You’ll discipline your holy city—the one that doesn’t like your correction, doesn’t trust you, doesn’t draw close to you. You live in that city, and everyone can see you do no wrong.

6 “I will cut off the nations.

Their towers will be destroyed.

I will demolish their streets.

No one will walk through them.

Their cities will be completely destroyed.

Not a single person will be left.

No one will be living there.

7 I said ⌞to my people⌟,

‘You will fear me.

You will accept correction!’

Then their homeland would not be wiped out

even though I have punished them.

Still, they continued to be corrupt in everything they did.”

8 The LORD declares, “Just wait!

One day I will stand up as a witness.

I have decided to gather nations,

to bring kingdoms together,

and to pour my rage, my burning anger, on them.

The whole land will be consumed by my fiery fury.

3:6–8   Teach me to live in awe of you. Train me to accept your correction.

Israel Will Turn Away from Sin

9 “Then I will give all people pure lips

to worship the LORD

and to serve him with one purpose.

10 From beyond the rivers of Sudan

my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring my offering.

11 On that day you will no longer be ashamed

of all your rebellious acts against me.

Then I will remove your arrogance

and never again will you act proud on my holy mountain.

12 So with you I will leave a faithful few, a humble and poor people.

They will seek refuge in the name of the LORD.

13 The faithful few in Israel will not do wrong, tell lies,

or use their tongues to deceive others.

They will graze their sheep and lie down,

and there will be no one to terrify them.”

3:9–13   Give me pure lips for worship and take your throne as my sole purpose for living. Gather your people back from the places we’ve strayed. You’ll be our refuge, and we’ll quit doing wrong.

Israel’s Joyful Song

14 Sing happily, people of Zion!

Shout loudly, Israel!

Celebrate and rejoice with all your heart, people of Jerusalem.

15 The LORD has reversed the judgments against you.

He has forced out your enemies.

The king of Israel, the LORD, is with you.

You will never fear disaster again.

16 On that day Jerusalem will be told,

“Do not be afraid, Zion!

Do not lose courage!”

17 The LORD your God is with you.

He is a hero who saves you.

He happily rejoices over you,

renews you with his love,

and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.

3:14–17   You’re my happy song! You forced out my enemies and gave me courage. You’re the hero who saves me. So rejoice over me. Renew me with your love. Celebrate over me with shouting.

Israel Will Return Home

18 “I will gather those among you who are troubled because of the festivals.

They bear a burden of disgrace.

19 At that time

I will deal with all who have overpowered you.

I will rescue those who are lame.

I will gather those who have been scattered.

I will make them praised and famous in all the world,

though they had been ashamed.

20 At that time I will bring you ⌞home⌟.

Yes, at that time I will gather you together.

I will make you famous and praised among all the people of the earth

when I restore your fortunes right before your eyes,” says the LORD.

3:18–20   Bring your people home. Rescue the lame and gather the scattered. Spread the news of your glory around the world!

HAGGAI

INTRODUCTION

Haggai urges people to put God first. Decades after the Babylonians conquered Judah and swept its people into captivity, the Babylonians were in turn defeated by the Persians. King Cyrus of Persia decreed that the exiled Jews could freely return home to resettle their land and construct a temple to their God (Ezra 1:1–4). Tens of thousands of exiles enthusiastically return. They build an altar for burnt sacrifices and lay the temple foundation. But when opposition arises, they quit working for nearly twenty years (Ezra 4:24).

With the original temple still a heap of rubble, the Lord speaks through Haggai the prophet. He asks, “Is it time for you to live in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins?” (Haggai 1:4). God sends his people into the mountains for timber to finish his house, but the few who had seen the first temple weep at the smallness and simplicity of the new construction. Yet God promises to make this house even more glorious than the first.

Haggai preached for a few months to confront God’s people when they put their own concerns before the Lord. Praying this book urges you to talk to God about your priorities and consider how to put him first.

HAGGAI

1  | 2

A Call to Rebuild the LORD’s House

1

1 On the first day of the sixth month in Darius’ second year as king, the LORD spoke his word through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah) and to the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak). He said, 2 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: These people say it’s not the right time to rebuild the house of the LORD.”

3 Then the LORD spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said, 4 “Is it time for you to live in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, this is what the LORD of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways! 6 You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you’re never full. You drink, but you’re still thirsty.[1] You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it. 7 This is what the LORD of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways!

1:1–7   What am I thinking? Why do I arrange my life for comfort yet show you no honor? I plant lots but harvest little. I eat but never feel full. I spend money as fast as I get it. I need to rethink my life!

8 “Go to the mountains, get lumber, and build the house. I will be pleased with it, and I will be honored,” declares the LORD.

9 “You expected a lot, but you received a little. When you bring something home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the LORD of Armies. “It’s because my house lies in ruins while each of you is busy working on your own house. 10 It is because of you that the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 I called for a drought on the land, the hills, and on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and whatever the ground produces, on humans and animals, and on all your hard work.”

1:8–11   I’ll get what I need to honor you. I’ll drop what I’m doing and pay attention to you.

The Work on the House Resumes

12 Then Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon obeyed the LORD their God. They also obeyed the words of the prophet Haggai because the LORD their God had sent him and because the people feared the LORD.

13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD who had received the LORD’s message, said to the people, “I am with you, declares the LORD.”

14 The LORD inspired them ⌞to rebuild his house⌟. So Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon began working on the house of the LORD of Armies, their God. 15 They began on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in Darius’ second year as king.

1:12–15   You inspired your people to rebuild your house. They obeyed your prophet’s words and lived in awe of you. The faithful few got to work.

The New House Will Be Greater Than the Old One

2

1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the LORD spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said, 2 “Now, speak to Zerubbabel (who is the son of Shealtiel and is governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (who is the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon. 3 Ask them, ‘Is there anyone among the faithful few who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem like nothing to you?’

4 “But now, Zerubbabel, be strong,” declares the LORD. “Chief Priest Joshua (son of Jehozadak), be strong. Everyone in the land, be strong,” declares the LORD. “Work, because I am with you,” declares the LORD of Armies. 5 “This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains with you. Don’t be afraid.

6 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: Once again, in a little while,[2] I am going to shake the sky and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the one whom all the nations desire will come. Then I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Armies. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of Armies. 9 This new house will be more glorious than the former, declares the LORD of Armies. And in this place I will give ⌞them⌟ peace, declares the LORD of Armies.”

2:1–9   I won’t settle for the same old same old. I want to see more of your glory than ever before. I’ll work because you’re with me. I won’t be afraid because your Spirit stays close.

Though the People Are Sinful, the LORD Will Bless Them

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in Darius’ second year as king, the LORD spoke his word to the prophet Haggai. He said, 11 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: Ask the priests for a decision. 12 Suppose a person carries meat set aside for a holy purpose and he folds it up in his clothes. If his clothes touch bread, boiled food, wine, oil, or any kind of food, does that make the food holy?”

The priests answered, “No.”

13 Haggai asked, “Suppose a person becomes unclean[3] by touching a corpse. If he touches any of these things, does that make them unclean?”

The priests answered, “That makes them unclean.”

14 Then Haggai answered, “In the same way, I have decided that these people are unclean, and so is this nation, declares the LORD. So is everything they do. Whatever offering they bring is unclean.

15 “And from now on, carefully consider this. Consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the temple of the LORD. 16 When anyone came to a pile of grain ⌞to get⌟ 20 measures, there would be only 10. And when anyone came to a wine vat to draw out 50 measures, there would be only 20 in it. 17 I infested all your work with blight and mildew and struck it with hail. But you didn’t come back to me, declares the LORD. 18 Carefully consider from now on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Carefully consider: 19 Is there any seed left in the barn? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still haven’t produced. But from now on I will bless you.”

2:10–19   Your house might be beautiful, but that doesn’t guarantee my heart is right. I’ll search for your way to be clean and bring true sacrifices to you. Restore your blessings to me.

A Promise to Zerubbabel

20 The LORD spoke his word to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month. He said, 21 “Say to Zerubbabel (governor of Judah), ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of nations. I will overthrow chariots and their riders, and the horses will fall along with their riders. They will kill one another with swords. 23 On that day, declares the LORD of Armies, I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), declares the LORD. I will make you like a signet ring, because I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Armies.’”

2:20–23   You’ll shake the heavens and earth. You’ll overthrow kingdoms and nations. Then your chosen one will reign!

ZECHARIAH

INTRODUCTION

Zechariah welcomes a Savior. The book of Zechariah contains a greater concentration of prophecies about a Savior sent by God than any other Old Testament book—eight references in fourteen chapters.

Yet that isn’t the starting point of the book. The prophet Zechariah began his ministry as a young man just a couple of months after Haggai finished preaching (Zechariah 1:1). He urges everyone to return to God. Like Haggai, he calls God’s people to the vital task of finishing the temple. The book delivers seven visions of a future temple that encourage everyone that their hard work will bring God near. Zechariah also informs the former exiles they are building the temple to prepare the holy city of Jerusalem for a coming Messiah.

Scattered throughout this book are specific predictions about this Savior, including his role as both king and priest (Zechariah 6:12–13) and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a lowly donkey (Zechariah 9:9). It foreshadows the Savior’s betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13).

Zechariah delivered God’s words to give people hope of a potent yet humble Savior. Praying this book reminds you to serve God wholeheartedly and welcome the Savior into your life.

ZECHARIAH

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12  | 13  | 14

Turn from Your Evil Ways

1

1 In the eighth month of Darius’ second year as king, the LORD spoke his word to the prophet Zechariah, who was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo. He said, 2 “The LORD was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: Return to me, declares the LORD of Armies, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Armies.’ 4 Don’t be like your ancestors, who heard the earlier prophets preach to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.’ But they didn’t listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. 5 Your ancestors—where are they now? And the prophets—are they still alive? 6 Didn’t my warnings and my laws, which I’ve commanded my servants the prophets ⌞to preach⌟, finally catch up with your ancestors? Then your ancestors turned away from their sins and said, ‘The LORD of Armies has done to us what he had planned to do. He has dealt with us as our ways and deeds deserve.’”

1:1–6   You say, “Return to me, and I’ll return to you!” I’ve made up my mind not to ignore your prophets. Your warnings always catch up with me when I disobey your commands.

The LORD Will Comfort Zion

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (the month of Shebat) in Darius’ second year as king, the LORD spoke his word to the prophet Zechariah, who was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo.

8 During that night I saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, chestnut, and white horses.

9 “What do these horses mean, sir?” I asked.

The angel who was speaking with me answered, “I will show you what they mean.”

10 The man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They’re the horses the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” 11 Then they reported to the Messenger of the LORD standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth. The whole world is at rest and in peace.”

12 Then the Messenger of the LORD said, “LORD of Armies, how much longer until you show compassion to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You’ve been angry with them for 70 years.” 13 The LORD responded to the angel who was speaking with me, using kind and comforting words.

14 The angel who was speaking with me said, “Announce: This is what the LORD of Armies says: I’m very jealous about Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I’m very angry with the nations who think they are at ease. I was only a little angry, but they made things worse. 16 This is what the LORD of Armies says: I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion. My house will be rebuilt in it, declares the LORD of Armies. A measuring line will be used to rebuild Jerusalem.

17 “Announce again: This is what the LORD of Armies says: My cities will overflow with prosperity once more. The LORD will again comfort Zion and will again choose Jerusalem.”[1]

Punishment for the Nations That Scattered Judah

18 I looked up and saw four animal horns. 19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What do these horns mean?”

He said to me, “These are the horns ⌞of the nations⌟ that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are they going to do?”

He answered, “Those horns scattered Judah so widely that no one could lift up his head. But the craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations. The nations raised their horns to scatter the land of Judah.”

1:7–21   The world seems at ease, but nothing is as it seems. Soon you’ll show compassion to your people. Your holy city will rise again. You’ll punish the nations that scattered your chosen ones.

The LORD Will Choose Jerusalem

2  [2]

1 I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked him, “Where are you going?”

He answered, “I am going to measure Jerusalem to see how wide and how long it is.”

3 Then the angel who was speaking with me left. Another angel came out to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited like an unwalled village because it will have so many people and animals in it. 5 I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD. I will be the glory within it.’

6 “Hurry, hurry! Flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD. I’ve scattered you to the four winds of heaven. 7 Hurry, Zion! Escape, you inhabitants of Babylon! 8 This is what the LORD of Armies says: Afterwards, the Glory sent me to the nations who looted you. Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 I’m going to shake my fist at the nations, and their own slaves will loot them. Then you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me. 10 Sing for joy and rejoice, people of Zion. I’m going to come and live among you, declares the LORD. 11 On that day many nations will join the LORD and become my people. I will live among you. Then you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will claim Judah as his own in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

13 “Everyone be silent in the presence of the LORD. He is waking up and setting out from his holy dwelling place.”

2:1–13   You’ll gather so many people they’ll spill over your city’s edge. But you’ll form a wall of fire around it. You’ll be the glory inside it. Your people are the apple of your eye.

The LORD Will Send His Servant, the Branch

3

1 Then he showed me Joshua, the chief priest, standing in front of the Messenger of the LORD. Satan the Accuser was standing at Joshua’s right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, “I, the LORD, silence you, Satan! I, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, silence you! Isn’t this man like a burning log snatched from a fire?”

3 Joshua was wearing filthy clothes and was standing in front of the Messenger. 4 The Messenger said to those who were standing in front of him, “Remove Joshua’s filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken your sin away from you, and I will dress you in fine clothing.”

5 So I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” They put a clean turban on his head and dressed him while the Messenger of the LORD was standing there.

6 The Messenger of the LORD advised Joshua, 7 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: If you live according to my ways and follow my requirements, you will govern my temple and watch over my courtyards. Then I will give you free access to walk among those standing here.

8 “Listen, Chief Priest Joshua and your friends sitting with you. These men are a sign of things to come: I’m going to bring my servant, the Branch.

9 “Look at the stone I have set in front of Joshua. That one stone has seven eyes.[3] I am engraving an inscription on it,” declares the LORD of Armies. “I will remove this land’s sin in a single day. 10 On that day,” declares the LORD of Armies, “each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree.”

3:1–10   You took away Joshua’s sin and dressed him in fine clothes, making him ready to serve you. He’s a sign of what’s to come—your servant, the Branch.

The LORD’s House Will Be Rebuilt

4

1 The angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me up as one might wake up someone who is sleeping. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl on top and seven lamps on it. There are seven spouts for each lamp that is on top of it. 3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

4 I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What do these things mean, sir?”

5 Then the angel asked me, “Don’t you know what they mean?”

“No, sir,” I answered.

6 Then he replied, “This is the word the LORD spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t ⌞succeed⌟ by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Armies. 7 What a high mountain you are! In front of Zerubbabel you will become a plain. He will bring out the topmost stone with shouts of ‘Blessings, blessings on it!’”

8 Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 9 “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you. 10 Who despised the day when little things began to happen? They will be delighted when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (These seven eyes of the LORD roam over all the earth.)”

11 I asked the angel, “What do these two olive trees at the right and the left of the lamp stand mean?” 12 Again I asked him, “What is the meaning of the two branches from the olive trees next to the two golden pipes that are pouring out gold?”

13 He asked me, “Don’t you know what these things mean?”

“No, sir,” I answered.

14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of the whole earth.”

4:1–14   I won’t succeed by might or by power but by your Spirit. I won’t despise the days when little things start. I’ll delight to see your work done!

Sinners Will Be Separated from the LORD’s People

5

1 I looked up again and saw a flying scroll.

2 The angel asked me, “What do you see?”

“I see a flying scroll,” I answered. “It’s 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.”

3 Then he said to me, “This is a curse that will go out all over the earth. The one side of the scroll says that every thief will be forced away. The other side of the scroll says that everyone who takes an oath will be forced away. 4 I will send out a curse, declares the LORD of Armies, and it will enter the houses of thieves and the houses of those who take oaths in my name. It will stay in their houses and destroy the timber and stone.”

5:1–4   You send a curse all over the earth. You’ll force away thieves and liars.

Wickedness Will Be Removed from the Land

5 The angel who was speaking with me came forward. He said, “Look up, and see what’s coming.”

6 “What is it?” I asked.

“A basket is coming,” he said. Then he added, “This is what the people’s sins look like all over the earth.”[4] 7 A lead cover ⌞on the basket⌟ was raised, and a woman was sitting in the basket. 8 The angel said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and forced the lead cover down on top of it.

9 I looked up and saw two women coming forward with wind in their wings. They had wings like those of a stork. They carried the basket into the sky.

10 I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the basket?”

11 He answered me, “They are going to build a house for it in Shinar [Babylonia]. When the house is ready, they will set the basket there on a stand.”

5:5–11   Sin is everywhere on earth. You trap wickedness and send it to its proper place.

The Lord’s Victory Throughout the Earth

6

1 I looked up again and saw four chariots going out from between the two mountains. They were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses. The second had black horses. 3 The third had white horses. And the fourth had strong, spotted horses. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What do these horses mean, sir?”

5 The angel answered, “They are the four spirits of heaven. They are going out after standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses is going toward the north, and the white horses are following them. The spotted ones are going toward the south.”

7 When these strong horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth.

He said, “Go, patrol the earth!” And they patrolled the earth.

8 Then he called out to me, “Look! Those who went to the north have made my Spirit rest in the north.”

6:1–8   Your angels spread over the whole earth. They leave your presence to patrol the world.

Priest and King

9 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 10 “Take an offering from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. This same day go to the house of Josiah, son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold, make a crown, and put it on the head of Chief Priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak. 12 Then say to him, ‘This is what the LORD of Armies says: Here is the man whose name is Branch. He will branch out from where he is, and he will rebuild the LORD’s temple. 13 He will rebuild the LORD’s temple and receive royal honor. He will sit and rule from his throne. He will be a priest on his throne. There will be a peaceful understanding between them. 14 The crown will be a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen (son of Zephaniah) in the LORD’s temple. 15 Those who are far away will come and rebuild the LORD’s temple. Then you will know the LORD of Armies has sent me to you. This will happen if you obey the LORD your God completely.’”

6:9–15   Your Branch is both priest and king. He’ll rebuild your house and receive royal honor. From one throne he’ll rule as king and serve as priest.

You Should Have Obeyed the LORD’s Prophets

7

1 On the fourth day of the ninth month (the month of Chislev) in Darius’ fourth year as king, the LORD spoke his word to Zechariah. 2 Now, ⌞the people from⌟ Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem Melech with their men[5] to ask the LORD for a blessing. 3 They asked the priests from the house of the LORD of Armies as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done for so many years?”

4 Then the LORD of Armies spoke his word to me. He said, 5 “Tell all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these past 70 years, did you really do it for me? 6 When you ate and drank, didn’t you do it to benefit yourselves? 7 Aren’t these the same words that the LORD announced through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and its surrounding cities were inhabited and undisturbed and the Negev and the foothills were still inhabited?’”

7:1–7   You see through my half-hearted devotion. I do everything to benefit myself. For a long time you’ve called out my insincerity, but I keep ignoring your word.

8 Then the LORD spoke his word to Zechariah. He said, 9 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: Administer real justice, and be compassionate and kind to each other. 10 Don’t oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And don’t even think of doing evil to each other.

7:8–10   Teach me to show real justice and to live a compassionate and kind life. Break my heart for widows and orphans, foreigners and the poor.

11 “But people refused to pay attention. They shrugged their shoulders at me and shut their ears so that they couldn’t hear. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint so that they couldn’t hear the LORD’s teachings, the words that the LORD of Armies had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD of Armies became very angry.

13 “When I called, they wouldn’t listen. So now when they call, I won’t listen, says the LORD of Armies. 14 I used a windstorm to scatter them among all the nations, nations they hadn’t even heard of. They left behind a land so ruined that no one is able to travel through it. They have turned a pleasant land into a wasteland.”

7:11–14   I won’t shrug you off. I’ll open my heart to your teachings.

What the LORD Will Do for Zion

8

1 The LORD of Armies spoke his word.

2 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

I am very jealous about Zion.

I am fiercely possessive of it.

3 This is what the LORD says:

I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth.

The mountain of the LORD of Armies will be called the holy mountain.

4 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.

Each will have a cane in hand because of old age.

5 The city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets.

6 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

It may seem impossible to the few remaining people in those days,

but will it seem impossible to me? declares the LORD of Armies.

7 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

I am going to save my people

from the land where the sun rises

and from the land where the sun sets.

8 I will bring them back, and they will live in Jerusalem.

They will be my people, and I will be their God, who is faithful and just.

8:1–8   You’ll make Jerusalem the City of Truth. Old people will smile as children play in its streets. You’ll multiply your people and be their faithful and just God.

9 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

Be strong so that the temple might be rebuilt,

you people who are presently listening

to the words from the mouths of the prophets

who spoke when the foundation

for the house of the LORD of Armies was laid.

10 Before that time there was no money to hire any person or animal.

No one who traveled was safe from the enemy.

I turned every person against his neighbor.

11 But now I won’t deal with the few remaining people

as I did in earlier times, declares the LORD of Armies.

12 Seeds will thrive in peacetime.

Vines will produce their grapes.

The land will yield its crops.

The sky will produce its dew.

I will give the few remaining people

all these things as an inheritance.

13 Just as you, people of Judah and people of Israel,

have been a curse among the nations,

so I will now save you,

and you will become a blessing.

Don’t be afraid. Let your hands work hard.

8:9–13   You’ll make the land yield crops and the sky produce dew. This is your inheritance to your people. Once they were a curse, but you’ll make them a blessing.

14 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

When your ancestors made me angry,

I made plans to destroy you, declares the LORD of Armies,

and I didn’t change my plans.

15 So now I have again made plans, but this time to do good

to Jerusalem and the people of Judah.

Don’t be afraid.

16 You must do these things:

Speak the truth to each other.

Give correct and fair verdicts for peace in your courts.

17 Don’t even think of doing evil to each other.

Don’t enjoy false testimony.

I hate all these things, declares the LORD.

8:15–17   This time your plans for your people are good. They won’t even think of doing evil to each other.

Many Nations Will Come to the LORD’s People

18 The LORD of Armies spoke his word to me again.

19 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

The fast in the fourth month, the fast in the fifth month,

the fast in the seventh month, and the fast in the tenth month

will become joyful and glad occasions

as well as happy festivals for the nation of Judah.

So love truth and peace.

20 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

People and citizens from many cities are going to come.

21 The citizens of one city will come to another city, saying,

“Let’s make a habit of going to ask the LORD for a blessing

and to seek the LORD of Armies.

I’m also going.”

22 Many people and powerful nations will come

to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem

and to ask the LORD for a blessing.

23 This is what the LORD of Armies says:

In those days ten people from every language found among the nations

will take hold of the clothes of a Jew. They will say,

“Let us go with you

because we have heard that God is with you.”

8:18–23   Fasts and festivals will once again be glad occasions. Your people will love truth and peace. They’ll make a habit of seeking your blessing. Others will join them when they hear you dwell with your people.

The LORD Protects His House

9

1 This is the divine revelation.

The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach

and will rest on Damascus

2 and also Hamath, which borders on it,

and Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

(The eyes of humanity and of all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD.)[6]

3 Tyre built itself a fortress.

It piled up silver like dust

and gold like mud in the streets.

4 The Lord will take away its possessions.

He will throw its wealth into the sea

and burn the city down.

5 Ashkelon will see ⌞this⌟ and be afraid.

Gaza will also be in great pain,

also Ekron, because its hope will fade.

Gaza will lose its king.

Ashkelon will no longer be lived in.

6 A mixed race will live in Ashdod,

and I will cut off the Philistines’ arrogance.

7 I will remove the blood from their mouths

and the disgusting things from between their teeth.

Then only a few of them will be left for our God

like a tribe in Judah,

and Ekron will be like a Jebusite.

8 I will camp in front of my house

as a guard against those who come and go.

No oppressors will pass through them,

because I have seen it with my own eyes.[7]

9:1–8   Camp in front of your own. Don’t let tormenters come near them. Defend the devoted against enemies who want to do them in.

The LORD Sends His King

9 Rejoice with all your heart, people of Zion!

Shout in triumph, people of Jerusalem!

Look! Your King is coming to you:

He is righteous and victorious.

He is humble and rides on a donkey,

on a colt, a young pack animal.

10 He[8] will make sure there are no chariots in Ephraim

or war horses in Jerusalem.

There will be no battle bows.

He will announce peace to the nations.

He will rule from sea to sea

and from the ⌞Euphrates⌟ River to the ends of the earth.

11 I will set your captives free from the waterless pit

because of the blood that sealed my promise[9] to you.

12 Return to your fortress, you captives who have hope.

Today I tell you that I will return to you double ⌞blessings⌟.

13 I will bend Judah as my bow

and draw my bow with Ephraim ⌞as its arrow⌟.

I will stir up your people, Zion, against your people, Greece,

and I will use you like a warrior’s sword.

14 The LORD will appear over them,

and his arrow will go out like lightning.

The Almighty LORD will blow the ram’s horn

and will march in the storms from the south.

15 The LORD of Armies will defend them.

They will destroy and trample the stones used in slings.

They will drink and shout as if they were drunk.

They will be filled like a sacrificial bowl

⌞used for sprinkling⌟ the corners of the altar.

16 On that day the LORD their God will rescue them

as the flock of his people.

They will certainly sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.

17 They will be beautiful and lovely.[10]

Young men will prosper on grain,

and young women will prosper on new wine.

9:9–17   I’ll shout in triumph! My King is here! He’s the righteous victor, the humble Lord. He sets captives free and brings double blessings.

The LORD’s People Will Be Victorious

10

1 Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime.

The LORD makes thunderstorms.

He gives everyone rain showers for the plants in the field.

2 The idols speak lies.

The fortunetellers see false visions.

They speak about false dreams.

They give useless comfort.

That is why people wander around like sheep.

They are troubled because there is no shepherd.

3 “My burning anger is directed against the shepherds.

I will punish the male goats.

The LORD of Armies takes care of his flock, the people of Judah.

He makes them like his splendid war horse.”

4 From them will come a cornerstone,

from them a tent peg,

from them a battle bow,

from them every leader.

5 Together they will be like warriors

who trample the enemy in the mud on the streets.

They will fight because the LORD is with them.

They will put to shame those who ride on horses.

10:1–5   Bring rain in the spring to make plants grow—a favor fake gods can’t fulfill. They speak lies and give useless comfort. That’s why everyone is so confused.

6 “I will strengthen the people of Judah.

I will rescue Joseph’s people.

I will bring them back, because I have compassion for them.

It will be as though I had never rejected them,

because I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them.

7 The people of Ephraim will be like mighty warriors.

Their hearts will be glad as if they had some wine ⌞to drink⌟.

Their sons will see it and be glad.

Their hearts will find joy in the LORD.

8 I will signal them with a whistle

and gather them because I have reclaimed them.

They will be as numerous as they have ever been.

9 Although I have scattered them among the nations,

they will remember me even in faraway places.

They will live with their children and then return.

10 I will bring them back from Egypt.

I will gather them from Assyria.

I will bring them to Gilead and to Lebanon,

and there won’t be enough room for them.”

11 The LORD will pass through a sea of distress,

strike the waves in the sea,

and dry up all the deep places of the Nile River.

The pride of Assyria will be humiliated,

and the scepter of Egypt will depart.

12 “I will strengthen them in the LORD.

They will live in his name,” declares the LORD.

10:6–12   Bring me back as if you never sent me away. You’re my one-and-only God, so answer me. In you my heart finds joy, deeper gladness than wine can ever give me.

Zechariah Is Told to Take Care of the Sheep

11

1 Open your doors, Lebanon,

so that fire will be able to burn down your cedars.

2 Cry, cypress trees,

because the cedars have fallen

and the stately trees have been destroyed.

Cry, oak trees of Bashan,

because your dense forest has fallen down.

3 Listen! The shepherds are crying,

because their rich pastures are destroyed.

Listen! The young lions are roaring,

because the lush banks of the Jordan are destroyed.

4 This is what the LORD my God says: Take care of the sheep that are about to be slaughtered. 5 Those who buy them will kill them and go unpunished. Those who sell them will say, “Praise the LORD! I’ve become rich!” Even their own shepherds will have no pity on them.

6 The LORD declares, “I will no longer have pity on those who live in the land. I am going to hand the people over to their neighbors and their king, who will crush the land. And I won’t rescue any of them from their power.”

11:1–6   Shepherds weep as they watch rich pastures destroyed. Your sheep are about to go up for sale to cruel buyers.

7 So I became the shepherd of the sheep that were to be slaughtered and also of the oppressed sheep. I took two shepherd staffs and named one Favor and the other Unity. And I took care of the sheep. 8 I got rid of three shepherds in one month. I became impatient with the sheep, and they also became disgusted with me. 9 So I said, “I won’t be your shepherd. Let those that are dying die. Let those that are missing stay missing. And let those that are left devour each other.”

10 Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it in pieces, to break the promise[11] that I had made to all the nations. 11 So it was broken on that day, and the oppressed among the sheep who were watching me realized that it was the word of the LORD.

12 Then I said to them, “If it’s alright with you, pay me my wages. But if it’s not, don’t.” And they paid me my wages—30 pieces of silver.

13 The LORD told me, “Give it to the potter.” So I took the 30 pieces of silver. Such a magnificent price was set by them! I gave the pieces of silver to the potter at the house of the LORD.

14 Then I broke my second staff, called Unity, in pieces, to break off the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

15 Then the LORD said to me, “Use the equipment of a foolish shepherd again. 16 I’m about to place a shepherd in the land. He will not take care of those that are dying. He will not search for the young. He will not heal those that have broken their legs or support those that can still stand. But he will eat the meat of the fat animals and tear off their hoofs.

17 “How horrible it will be for the foolish shepherd who abandoned the sheep.

A sword will strike his arm and his right eye.

His arm will be completely withered.

His right eye will be completely blind.”

11:7–17   Get rid of shepherds who send your sheep to slaughter. Get rid of shepherds who don’t care. Don’t give your sheep back to fools.

The LORD Will Save Jerusalem

12

1 This is the prophetic revelation, the word of the LORD about Israel. The LORD—who spread out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit in a person—says, 2 “I’m going to make Jerusalem like a cup ⌞of wine⌟ that makes all the surrounding people stagger. They will attack Judah along with Jerusalem. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a stone too heavy for all the nations to lift. All who try to lift it will be severely injured. All the nations in the world will gather ⌞to fight⌟ against Jerusalem.”

12:1   You spread out the heavens and built the earth. You’re the one who forms the spirit in each person.

4 The LORD declares, “On that day I will strike every horse with panic and every rider with madness. I will watch over the people of Judah, but I will strike all the horses of the nations blind. 5 Then the leaders of Judah will think to themselves, ‘The people who live in Jerusalem are strong because of the LORD of Armies, their God.’

6 “On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a fire on a pile of wood and like a burning torch among freshly cut straw. They will burn up all the surrounding nations to the right and to the left. But the people of Jerusalem will remain safe in Jerusalem.

7 “The LORD will save Judah’s tents first so that the honor of David’s family and the honor of those who live in Jerusalem will not be greater than the honor of Judah. 8 On that day the LORD will defend those who live in Jerusalem so that even those who stumble will be like David, and David’s family will be like God, like the Messenger of the LORD ahead of them.

9 “On that day I will seek to destroy all the nations who attack Jerusalem.

12:2–9   You’ll make Jerusalem a cup that makes its neighbors stagger. You’ll strike a world of enemies with madness. Save your people and show that you’re God!

The People of Jerusalem Will Look at the One They Stabbed

10 “I will pour out the Spirit of blessing and mercy on David’s family and on those who live in Jerusalem. They will look at me, whom they have stabbed. Then they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they will cry bitterly for him as one cries for a firstborn son. 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as intense as the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land will mourn, each family by itself: the family of David by itself, and the wives by themselves; the family of Nathan by itself, and the wives by themselves; 13 the family of Levi by itself, and the wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and the wives by themselves. 14 All the families that are left ⌞will mourn⌟, each by itself, and the wives by themselves.”

13

1 ⌞The LORD declares,⌟ “On that day a fountain will be opened for David’s family and for those who live in Jerusalem to wash away ⌞their⌟ sin and stain.

12:10–13:1   Pour your Spirit of blessing and mercy on your people. We’ll look on the one we’ve stabbed and mourn for him as an only son. You’ll open a fountain to wash away our sin and stain.

False Prophets Will Be Judged

2 “On that day,” declares the LORD of Armies, “I will wipe away the names of the idols from the land. They will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the ⌞false⌟ prophets and the unclean[12] spirit from the land.

3 “If a man still prophesies, his father and his mother, who gave birth to him, will say, ‘You don’t deserve to live because you speak lies in the name of the LORD.’ Then his father and his mother, who gave birth to him, will stab him when he prophesies.

4 “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He won’t deceive people by dressing ⌞like a prophet⌟ in a coat made of hair. 5 He will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I’m a farmer. I’ve owned this land since I was a child.’

6 “When someone asks him, ‘What are these scars on your chest?’ he will answer, ‘I was hurt at my friend’s house.’

13:2–6   Wipe away every false god. Remove every false prophet. Don’t let anyone speak lies in your name.

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

7 “Arise, sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who is my friend,” declares the LORD of Armies.

“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.

Then I will turn my hand against the little ones.”

8 The LORD declares,

“Throughout the land two-thirds will be cut off and die.

Yet, one-third will be left in it.

9 I will bring this third ⌞of the people⌟ through the fire.

I will refine them as silver is refined.

I will test them as gold is tested.

They will call on me, and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people.’

They will reply, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

13:7–9   When the shepherd is struck, the sheep scatter. Bring your people through the fire. Refine and test them. Let them call you “the LORD our God.”

The LORD Will Fight the Nations

14

1 A day is going to come for the LORD when the loot you have taken will be divided among you. 2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem for battle. The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half of the people in the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people won’t be taken from the city.

3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as he does when he fights a battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, just east of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives will be split in two, forming a very large valley from east to west. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half will move toward the south. 5 Then you will flee to the valley of my mountains, because this valley between the mountains will go as far as Azel.[13] You will flee as you did from the earthquake at the time of King Uzziah of Judah. The LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones will be with him.

6 On that day there will be neither heat nor freezing cold.[14] 7 There will be one day—a day known to the LORD—with no difference between day and night. It will be light even in the evening.

14:1–7   A day is coming when you’ll battle the world on the Mount of Olives. You’ll arrive and bring all your holy ones with you!

Living Water from Jerusalem

8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it to the Dead Sea and the other half to the Mediterranean Sea. It will continue in summer and in winter.

9 The LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be the only Lord and his name the only name.

10 The whole earth will become like the plains from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will rise and remain on its site, from Benjamin Gate to the place of First Gate, Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses. 11 People will live there, and it will never be threatened with destruction. Jerusalem will live securely.

14:8–11   On that day you’ll be king of the world. You’ll be the only Lord, the only name that exists. Your people will enjoy safety.

12 This will be the plague the LORD will use to strike all the people from the nations that have gone to war against Jerusalem. Their flesh will rot while they are standing on their feet. Their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

13 On that day a large-scale panic from the LORD will spread among them. One person will grab the hand of another, and one will attack the other. 14 Judah will also fight in Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected, a very large amount of gold, silver, and clothes. 15 A similar plague will also affect horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all other animals in those camps.

16 Everyone who is left from all the nations that attacked Jerusalem will come every year to worship the king, the LORD of Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Booths. 17 If any of the families on the earth won’t go to Jerusalem to worship the king, the LORD of Armies, then rain won’t fall on them. 18 If the people of Egypt won’t go or enter Jerusalem, then ⌞rain won’t fall⌟ on them. The plague the LORD uses to strike the nations will affect those who won’t come to celebrate the Festival of Booths. 19 This will be ⌞the punishment⌟ for Egypt’s sin and for the sin of all the nations that won’t go to celebrate the Festival of Booths.

20 On that day “Holy to the LORD” will be written on the bells of the horses. And the cooking pots in the house of the LORD will be like the bowls in front of the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of Armies. All who come to sacrifice will take some of them and cook in them. On that day there will no longer be any Canaanite[15] in the house of the LORD of Armies.

14:12–21   You’ll send a plague from one end of the earth to another. You’ll put panic in every heart and mind. You’ll send drought on anyone who doesn’t worship you. Everything in Jerusalem will be yours.

MALACHI

INTRODUCTION

Malachi reprimands and revives hope. The prophet Malachi spoke to God’s people almost a hundred years after the exiles returned from captivity in Babylon. For all their hard work, the country was still poor. The people’s spiritual intensity had faded long ago.

Through the prophet Malachi, God urges the people to once again believe his love. The Lord has cared for his own since the days of Jacob. Yet they despise him with their blemished sacrifices. Priests don’t teach true knowledge of God. Ordinary people break their marriage vows. And everyone cheats God by not bringing him the full offerings he commands.

Malachi’s listeners think it’s pointless to serve God. But the Lord notices people who gather to reverence him, and a book was written to memorialize their names (Malachi 3:16). As the Old Testament draws to a close and the prophets fall silent, the Lord makes an amazing promise. He says, “The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall” (Malachi 4:2). Praying the book of Malachi invites you to live reverently and to wait expectantly for the Lord to act.

MALACHI

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“I Loved Jacob, but Esau I Hated”

1

1 This is a divine revelation. The LORD spoke his word to Israel through Malachi.

2 “I loved you,” says the LORD.

“But you ask, ‘How did you love us?’

“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “I loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I hated. I turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the jackals in the desert.

4 “The descendants of Esau may say, ‘We have been beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins.’

“Yet, this is what the LORD of Armies says: They may rebuild, but I will tear it down. They will be called ‘the Wicked Land’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is always angry.’ 5 You will see these things with your own eyes and say, ‘Even outside the borders of Israel the LORD is great.’

1:1–5   You loved Jacob and hated Esau. When his family tries to rebuild its ruins, you knock them down. You reign far beyond Israel.

The Priests Offer Unacceptable Sacrifices to the LORD

6 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. So if I am a father, where is my honor? If I am a master, where is my respect? You priests despise my name.

“But you ask, ‘How have we despised your name?’

7 “You offer contaminated food on my altar.

“But you ask, ‘Then how have we contaminated you?’

“When you say that the LORD’s table may be despised. 8 When you bring a blind animal to sacrifice, isn’t that wrong? When you bring a lame or a sick animal, isn’t that wrong? Try offering it to your governor. Would he accept it from you? Would he welcome you?” asks the LORD of Armies.

9 “Now try asking God to be kind to you. This is what you are doing! Will he welcome you?” asks the LORD of Armies.

10 “I wish one of you would shut the doors ⌞to my house⌟ so that you could not light fires on my altar for no reason. I’m not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Armies, “and I won’t accept your offerings.

1:6–10   Your priests despise you. They bring you contaminated food—blind, lame, and sick animals for sacrifice. What kind of offering is that?

11 “From the nations where the sun rises to the nations where the sun sets, my name will be great. Incense and pure offerings will be offered everywhere in my name, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Armies. 12 “But you dishonor it when you say that the Lord’s table may be contaminated and that its food may be despised.

13 “You say, ‘Oh what a nuisance it is,’ and you sniff at it in disgust,” says the LORD of Armies. “You bring stolen, lame, and sick animals. When you bring such offerings, should I accept them from you?” asks the LORD.

14 “Cheaters are under a curse. They have male animals in their flocks that they vow to give ⌞as a sacrifice⌟. But they sacrifice second-rate ones to the Lord instead. I am a great king,” says the LORD of Armies. “Among the nations my name is respected.

1:11–14   I’ll bring you the offerings you want. Your name rises like the sun all over the earth, and everyone knows its greatness. It’s not a nuisance to obey you.

The Priests Do Not Teach the LORD’s Word Correctly

2

1 “And now, you priests, this warning is for you. 2 If you won’t listen and if you won’t consider giving honor to my name,” says the LORD of Armies, “then I’ll send a curse on you, and I’ll curse the blessings you give. Yes, I’ve already cursed them because you don’t carefully consider this.

3 “I’m going to punish your descendants. I’m going to spread excrement on your faces, the excrement from your festival sacrifices. You will be discarded with it. 4 Then you will know that I sent you this warning so that my promise[1] to Levi will continue,” says the LORD of Armies. 5 “I promised Levi life and peace. I gave them to him so that he would respect me. He respected me and stood in awe of my name. 6 The teaching that came from his mouth was true. Nothing unjust was found on his lips. He lived with me in peace and honesty and turned many people away from sin.

7 “A priest’s lips should preserve knowledge. Then, because he is the messenger for the LORD of Armies, people will seek instruction from his mouth.

8 “But you have turned from the ⌞correct⌟ path and caused many to stumble over my teachings. You have corrupted the promise made to Levi,” says the LORD of Armies. 9 “So I have made you disgusting, and I have humiliated you in front of all the people, because you have not followed my ways. You have been unfair when ⌞applying⌟ my teachings.”

2:1–9   Give me the life and peace you promise your servants. I’m awestruck by your name. I’ll speak truth to your people and serve you with integrity. I’ll turn many from sin.

The People Break Their Marriage Vows

10 Don’t all of us have the same father? Hasn’t the same God created us? Why are we unfaithful to each other? And why do we dishonor the promise given to our ancestors? 11 Judah has been unfaithful! A disgusting thing has been done in Israel and Jerusalem. Judah has dishonored the holy place that the LORD loves and has married a woman who worships a foreign god. 12 May the LORD exclude anyone who does this, whoever he may be. May he exclude them from Jacob’s tents and from bringing offerings to the LORD of Armies.

13 Here is another thing you do: You cover the LORD’s altar with tears. You moan and groan because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them from you.

2:10–13   Why are we unfaithful to each other? Why do we dishonor your promise? We marry spouses who worship false gods.

14 But you ask, “Why ⌞aren’t our offerings accepted⌟?” It is because the LORD is a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been unfaithful. Yet, she is your companion, the wife of your marriage vows. 15 Didn’t ⌞God⌟ make you one? Your flesh and spirit belong to him. And what does the same ⌞God⌟ look for but godly descendants? So be careful not to be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.[2]

16 “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel. “I hate the person who covers himself with violence,” says the LORD of Armies. “Be careful not to be unfaithful.”

17 You have tried the patience of the LORD with your words.

But you ask, “How have we tried his patience?”

When you say, “Everyone who does evil is considered good by the LORD. He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”

2:14–17   I’ll be resolutely faithful to the one I married in my youth. My spouse is my deepest companion, my best friend, my mate for life. You hate divorce!

The Coming of the Messenger of the Promise

3

1 “I’m going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the promise[3] will come. He is the one you want,” says the LORD of Armies.

2 But who will be able to endure the day he comes? Who will be able to survive on the day he appears? He is like a purifying fire and like a cleansing soap. 3 He will act like a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify Levi’s sons and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will bring acceptable offerings to the LORD. 4 The offerings from Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the past, as in years long ago.

5 “I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me,” says the LORD of Armies.

3:1–5   You’ll send a messenger to clear the way for your arrival. No one will be able to endure the day he comes. He’ll purify the world with fire.

The People Are Cheating God

6 “I, the LORD, never change. That is why you descendants of Jacob haven’t been destroyed yet. 7 Since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my laws and have not followed them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Armies.

“But you ask, ‘How can we return?’

8 “Can a person cheat God? Yet, you are cheating me!

“But you ask, ‘How are we cheating you?’

“When ⌞you don’t bring⌟ a tenth of your income and other contributions. 9 So a curse is on you because the whole nation is cheating me!

10 “Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the LORD of Armies. “See if I won’t open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings. 11 Then, for your sake, I will stop insects from eating ⌞your crops⌟. They will not destroy the produce of your land. The vines in your fields will not lose their unripened grapes,” says the LORD of Armies. 12 “All nations will call you blessed because you will be a delightful land,” says the LORD of Armies.

3:6–12   I’m cheating when I don’t bring what belongs to you. So I’ll test you and see if you really open the windows of heaven. Will you actually flood me with blessings?

13 “You have used harsh words against me,” says the LORD.

“You ask, ‘How have we spoken against you?’

14 “You have said, ‘It’s pointless to serve God. What do we gain if we meet his standards or if we walk around feeling sorry for what we’ve done? 15 So now we call arrogant people blessed. Not only are evildoers encouraged, they even test God and get away with it.’”

3:13–15   I’ll never say it’s pointless to serve you. I’ll live up to your commands and confess when I fail. No arrogant person ever obtains your blessing.

16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD paid attention and listened. A book was written in his presence to be a reminder to those who feared the LORD and respected his name.

17 “They will be mine,” says the LORD of Armies. “On that day I will make them my special possession. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then you will again see the difference between righteous people and wicked people, between the one who serves God and the one who doesn’t serve him.

3:16–18   I’ll stand with others who respect you. We belong only to you.

The Day of the LORD Brings Judgment

4  [4]

1 “Certainly the day is coming! It will burn like a furnace. All arrogant people and all evildoers will be ⌞like⌟ straw. The day that is coming will burn them up completely,” says the LORD of Armies. “It won’t leave a single root or branch.

2 “The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall. 3 You will trample on wicked people, because on the day I act they will be ashes under the soles of your feet,” says the LORD of Armies.

Remember What God Has Done and Will Do

4 “Remember the teachings of my servant Moses, the rules and regulations that I gave to him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 “I’m going to send you the prophet Elijah before that very terrifying day of the LORD comes. 6 He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children and children’s attitudes toward their parents. If not, I will come and reclaim my land by destroying you.”

4:1–6   Your day is coming! The Sun of Righteousness will rise and heal everyone who fears you. We’ll leap like calves let loose from the stall. And you’ll send Elijah before your terrible day.

MATTHEW

INTRODUCTION

Matthew introduces the King. Positioned at the start of the New Testament as a bridge between the old story and the new, this book announces the arrival of Jesus the King.

The book of Matthew shows how Jesus’ mission and teaching grow out of the Old Testament. It begins with a family tree tracing Jesus’ ancestry through King David all the way back to Abraham. It offers diverse evidence of Jesus’ fulfillment of ancient prophecies, starting with his birth and its completion of Isaiah’s words that a virgin would give birth to a son (Isaiah 7:14), stating that “all this happened so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true” (Matthew 1:22). It connects Jesus’ teaching to Old Testament laws concerning the Sabbath, the temple, and ritual cleanliness. The author doesn’t want anyone to miss the Lord’s royal status. Even as Jesus dies on the cross, a written accusation hangs above his head: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37).

Jesus arrives as a one-of-a-kind King. Born in a backward village, he learns carpentry from his working-class father. Yet as a boy he astounds religious leaders with his wisdom, and when he begins preaching he announces the arrival of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 4:17). Before he ascends to his heavenly throne, he claims authority over all heaven and earth and sends his friends to make followers in every nation (Matthew 28:18–20). Praying the book of Matthew invites you to converse with the King, recognizing his claim on your life from beginning to end.

MATTHEW

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The Family Line of Jesus Christ

1

1 This is the list of ancestors of Jesus Christ, descendant of David and Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

3 Judah and Tamar were the father and mother of Perez and Zerah.

Perez was the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

4 Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon.

5 Salmon and Rahab were the father and mother of Boaz.

Boaz and Ruth were the father and mother of Obed.

Obed was the father of Jesse,

1:1–5   You’re the end goal of an ancient promise to Abraham—that he would father a mighty nation.

6 Jesse the father of King David.

David and Uriah’s wife ⌞Bathsheba⌟ were the father and mother of Solomon.

7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asa,

8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,

Joram the father of Uzziah,

9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah.

1:6–10   You’re the fulfillment of a long-standing pledge to King David—that a descendant would always rule from his throne.

11 Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers.

They lived at the time when the people were exiled to Babylon.

12 After the exile to Babylon,

Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel.

Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel,

13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,

Abiud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

14 Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Achim,

Achim the father of Eliud,

15 Eliud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob.

16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, who was the husband of Mary.

Mary was the mother of Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 So there were

14 generations from Abraham to David,

14 generations from David until the exile to Babylon,

14 generations from the exile until the Messiah.

1:11–17   You’re the hope birthed in Josiah’s revival—that your people would never stop obeying you.

The Virgin Birth of Jesus

18 The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. His mother Mary had been promised to Joseph in marriage. But before they were married, Mary realized that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph was an honorable man and did not want to disgrace her publicly. So he decided to break the marriage agreement with her secretly.

20 Joseph had this in mind when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said to him, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus [He Saves], because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this happened so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true: 23 “The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

1:18–23   A holy woman and an honorable man made a home for you in this world. They named you “He Saves,” because you came to rescue people from sin.

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him to do. He took Mary to be his wife. 25 He did not have marital relations with her before she gave birth to a son. Joseph named the child Jesus.

1:24–25   Teach me Mary and Joseph’s eager obedience. Train me to be faithful to your commands.

The Wise Men Visit

2

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea when Herod was king. After Jesus’ birth wise men[1] from the east arrived in Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the one who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star rising and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod and all Jerusalem heard about this, they became disturbed. 4 He called together all the chief priests and the experts in the Scriptures and tried to find out from them where the Messiah was supposed to be born.

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this:

6 Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah.

A leader will come from you.

He will shepherd my people Israel.”

2:1–6   Wise men spotted your star and searched you out. Their arrival disturbed evil Herod, who hunted down the place of your birth. Humankind was waiting for their shepherd.

7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men and found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 As he sent them to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you have found him, report to me so that I may go and worship him too.”

9 After they had heard the king, they started out. The star they had seen rising led them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 They were overwhelmed with joy to see the star. 11 When they entered the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary. So they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.[2]

12 God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they left for their country by another road.

2:7–12   The wise men were jubilant to follow your star and find you with your mother. I wish I’d been there to worship and welcome you.

The Escape to Egypt

13 After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel said to him, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and kill him.”

14 Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left for Egypt that night. 15 He stayed there until Herod died. What the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true: “I have called my son out of Egypt.”

16 When Herod saw that the wise men had tricked him, he became furious. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys two years old and younger in or near Bethlehem. This matched the exact time he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah came true:

18 “A sound was heard in Ramah,

the sound of crying in bitter grief.

Rachel was crying for her children.

She refused to be comforted

because they were dead.”

2:13–18   Your family fled Herod’s wrath, keeping a prophet’s word. The king killed every young boy near Bethlehem. You predicted the end from the beginning.

From Egypt to Nazareth

19 After Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20 The angel said to him, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to Israel. Those who tried to kill the child are dead.”

21 Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, Joseph was afraid to go there. Warned in a dream, he left for Galilee 23 and made his home in a city called Nazareth. So what the prophets had said came true: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

2:19–23   You came home to Israel. It was written you would be called a Nazarene.

John Prepares the Way—Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–18; John 1:19–28

3

1 Later, John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea. His message was, 2 “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3 Isaiah the prophet spoke about this man when he said,

“A voice cries out in the desert:

‘Prepare the way for the Lord!

Make his paths straight!’”

4 John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.

5 Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him. 6 As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

3:1–6   I’ll change how I think and act. I’ll come with others willing to confess their sins. Your kingdom is here!

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God’s coming anger? 8 Do those things that prove you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. 9 Don’t think you can say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I can guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. 10 The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire. 11 I baptize you with water so that you will change the way you think and act. But the one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing[3] shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor.[4] He will gather his wheat into a barn, but he will burn the husks in a fire that can never be put out.”

3:7–10   You cut down trees that don’t produce good fruit. You toss them into a fire. I want to prove I’ve turned to you.

3:11–12   Baptize me with all the intensity of your Spirit. Burn up the chaff you find in my heart, mind, and body.

John Baptizes Jesus—Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22

13 Then Jesus appeared. He came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you. Why are you coming to me?”

15 Jesus answered him, “This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us.”

Then John gave in to him. 16 After Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove to him. 17 Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love—my Son with whom I am pleased.”

3:13–17   You had nothing to prove by getting baptized by John. But you always know and choose the right thing. You’re God’s Son.

The Temptation of Jesus—Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13

4

1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 Jesus did not eat anything for 40 days and 40 nights. At the end of that time, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.’”

4:1–4   The evil one tempted you to fill your empty stomach with your miraculous power. Teach me to feed on your every word.

5 Then the devil took him into the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. 6 He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump! Scripture says, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again, Scripture says, ‘Never tempt the Lord your God.’”[5]

4:5–7   The devil dared you to test your Father’s protection. He twisted Scripture, but you straightened him out. Train me to use your word correctly.

8 Once more the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms in the world and their glory. 9 The devil said to him, “I will give you all this if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! Scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came to take care of him.

4:8–11   The devil offered you the entire world in exchange for your worship. You submitted yourself to your Father. I’ll serve you and no one else.

A Light Has Risen

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went back to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This was in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

on the way to the sea,

across the Jordan River,

Galilee, where foreigners live!

16 The people who lived in darkness

have seen a bright light.

A light has risen

for those who live in a land overshadowed by death.”

17 From then on, Jesus began to tell people, “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!”

4:12–17   People dwelling in the dark see your bright light. You’re shining on people hidden in death’s shadow. I’ll change how I think and act. Your kingdom is here!

Calling of the First Disciples—Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11

18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen. 19 Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed him.

21 As Jesus went on, he saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee preparing their nets to go fishing. He called them, 22 and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.

4:18–22   Show me how to catch people for you. I’ll obey you immediately—as soon as you speak your command.

Spreading the Good News in Galilee—Mark 1:35–39; Luke 4:42–44

23 Jesus went all over Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and spread the Good News of the kingdom. He also cured every disease and sickness among the people.

24 The news about Jesus spread throughout Syria. People brought him everyone who was sick, those who suffered from any kind of disease or pain. They also brought epileptics, those who were paralyzed, and people possessed by demons, and he cured them all. 25 Large crowds followed him. They came from Galilee, the Ten Cities,[6] Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.

4:23–25   You spread the Good News of your kingdom, curing the sick and driving out demons. Wander over my way. Fix my afflictions.

The Sermon on a Mountain

The Beatitudes

5

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them:

3 “Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

4 Blessed are those who mourn.

They will be comforted.

5 Blessed are those who are gentle.

They will inherit the earth.

5:1–6   How can I be happy when I’m spiritually helpless? Is it possible to comfort me when I mourn? Why do people take advantage of my gentleness?

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval.

They will be satisfied.

7 Blessed are those who show mercy.

They will be treated mercifully.

5:6–7   Let me experience your approval. Show me the mercy I try to show others.

8 Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure.

They will see God.

9 Blessed are those who make peace.

They will be called God’s children.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,

persecute you,

lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven!

The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.

5:8–12   Let me see more of you in this unholy world. Comfort me when my enemies don’t want peace. I’ll search for your blessing when I’m bruised for doing what you want.

God’s People Make a Difference in the World—Mark 4:21–23; Luke 11:33

13 “You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.

14 “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. 16 In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.

5:13–16   I refuse to lose my “saltiness” to my surroundings. Put my light in the right place to shine for you. I won’t hide.

Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures

17 “Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses’ Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to make them come true. 18 I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from the Scriptures before everything has come true. 19 So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches what the commands say will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God’s approval and do it more faithfully than the experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

5:17–20   You’re not here to get rid of right and wrong. You came to make the words of Moses and the Prophets come true. Help me live up to all your commands.

Jesus Talks about Anger

21 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.’ 22 But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer[7] will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire.

5:21–22   You’ll haul me to your court and make me answer for my anger. You’ll convict me of calling someone a fool.

23 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you, 24 leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift.

25 “Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. 26 I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine.

5:23–26   I won’t pretend to worship you when I’m at war with another. I’ll go and make peace before I ask for your mercy.

About Sexual Sin

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Never commit adultery.’ 28 But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart.

29 “So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into hell.

31 “It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice.’ 32 But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery.

5:27–32   Staying out of the wrong bed isn’t enough. You expect a pure heart. I’ll stick with my spouse and cut off anything that leads me to sin.

About Oaths

33 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.’ 34 But I tell you don’t swear an oath at all. Don’t swear an oath by heaven, which is God’s throne, 35 or by the earth, which is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, which is the city of the great King. 36 And don’t swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white. 37 Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.

5:33–37   My yes means yes, and my no means no. More words are evil.

Love Your Enemies—Luke 6:27–36

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well. 40 If someone wants to sue you in order to take your shirt, let him have your coat too. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him. 42 Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don’t turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. 45 In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. 46 If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! 47 Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! 48 That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

5:38–48   Even flagrant sinners treat friends well. You want me to love my worst enemies. Toughen my will so I can turn the other cheek. Soften my heart so I can love like you.

The Sermon on a Mountain Continues

Don’t Do Good Works to Be Praised by People

6

1 “Be careful not to do your good works in public in order to attract attention. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you. 2 So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. 3 When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

6:1–4   I won’t draw attention to my good works or announce my gifts to the poor. You see what I do when no one is looking.

The LORD’s Prayer—Luke 11:1–4

5 “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. 6 When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

7 “When you pray, don’t ramble like heathens who think they’ll be heard if they talk a lot. 8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

6:5–8   I won’t parade my prayers. You hear me when I pray alone. You know my needs when I’m brief.

9 “This is how you should pray:

Authentic Prayer

Matthew 6:5–15

Simplicity

When you pray, don’t ramble like heathens who think they’ll be heard if they talk a lot. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you should pray. . . . Matthew 6:7–9

Keep it simple. The religious hypocrites of Jesus’ day thought God heard them better when their prayers were loud and long. They stood to pray in the synagogues and raised their hands on street corners. They rambled along with empty words. Jesus said, “Don’t do that.” Then he said, “Pray like this.”

Jesus taught a simple pattern of prayer. His followers should worship God and declare his holiness. They invite him to reign in their lives and everywhere on earth. They trust him with every real need. They voice forgiveness of others, the same mercy the Lord has shown them. They plead not to be lured into evil.

Nothing says you should or shouldn’t recite Jesus’ words verbatim, but his intent is that your prayers not slide into the sameness of empty repetition. Let go of your own ideas of prayer, and banish from your mind all the overblown words you have ever heard. Let your prayers become what the Lord says they should be. Reverent. Obedient. Dependent. Merciful. Pure. Simple.

Pray the Scriptures Simplicity: Ecclesiastes 5:1–7, Micah 6:6–8, Philippians 4:10–14, 1 Thessalonians 4:9–12

Our Father in heaven,

let your name be kept holy.

10 Let your kingdom come.

Let your will be done on earth

as it is done in heaven.

11 Give us our daily bread today.

12 Forgive us as we forgive others.

13 Don’t allow us to be tempted.

Instead, rescue us from the evil one.[8]

14 “If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failures.

6:9–15   May everyone on earth show you the honor you receive in heaven. Please give me daily food. Forgive me as I forgive others. Save me from the evil one.

Fasting

16 “When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they’re fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. 17 When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair. 18 Then your fasting won’t be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

6:16–18   I don’t need applause when I fast. You know I’m fasting even when it’s not obvious to others.

True Riches

19 “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. 20 Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 Your heart will be where your treasure is.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be!

24 “No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.

6:19–24   Nothing I own will outlast moths, rust, and thieves. I set my heart on things in heaven, and things on earth no longer rule my heart. You’re my one-and-only master.

Stop Worrying—Luke 12:22–34

25 “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes?

26 “Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?

27 “Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying?

28 “And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. 29 But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 30 That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?

31 “Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. 33 But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.

6:25–31   I have no worries, because you know and meet my needs. I’m confident of your provision.

34 “So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

6:32–34   Your kingdom and doing what you approve is my highest concern. You’ll provide me with everything I need—today and always.

The Sermon on a Mountain Continues

Stop Judging—Luke 6:37–42

7

1 “Stop judging so that you will not be judged. 2 Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you. 3 So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? 4 How can you say to another believer, ‘Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you have a beam in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye.

7:1–5   I won’t judge, because I don’t want to face your judgment. I’ll get the beam out of my own eye before I dig for specks in someone else’s.

Don’t Throw Pearls to Pigs

6 “Don’t give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then tear you to pieces.

The Power of Prayer—Luke 11:5–13

7 “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “If your child asks you for bread, would any of you give him a stone? 10 Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? 11 Even though you’re evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?

7:7–11   If I ask, I’ll receive. If I search, I’ll find. If I knock, you’ll open the door. Your gifts are always good.

The Golden Rule—Luke 6:31

12 “Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is ⌞the meaning of⌟ Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets.

7:12   I’ll treat others the way I want them to treat me. That’s your rule.

The Narrow Gate

13 “Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate. 14 But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate.

7:13–14   Show me the narrow gate that leads to life. I don’t want to get swept up with the masses choosing the easy way.

False Prophets—Luke 6:43–45

15 “Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves. 16 You will know them by what they produce.

“People don’t pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? 17 In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. 19 Any tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire. 20 So you will know them by what they produce.

7:15–20   I can discern real prophets by the good they produce. Help me see through bad disguises.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?’ 23 Then I will tell them publicly, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.’

7:21–23   Doing good doesn’t get me into heaven. You’re the only one able to let me in.

Build on the Rock—Luke 6:47–49

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on rock. 25 Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock.

26 “Everyone who hears what I say but doesn’t obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on sand. 27 Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, and the result was a total disaster.”

28 When Jesus finished this speech, the crowds were amazed at his teachings. 29 Unlike their experts in Moses’ Teachings, he taught them with authority.

7:24–29   I’m foolish if I don’t obey your words. So I choose to listen and act on what you say. I’ll be like the person who builds on rock. When a storm hits, I’ll stand.

Jesus Cures a Man with a Skin Disease—Mark 1:40–45; Luke 5:12–16

8

1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.

2 A man with a serious skin disease came and bowed down in front of him. The man said to Jesus, “Sir, if you’re willing, you can make me clean.”[9]

3 Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, “I’m willing. So be clean!” Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.

4 Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.”

8:1–4   Even when I bow to you, I wonder if you’re actually willing to heal me. You are! Make me clean. I’ll show others proof of your work.

A Believing Army Officer—Luke 7:1–10

5 When Jesus went to Capernaum, a Roman army officer came to beg him for help. 6 The officer said, “Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

7 Jesus said to him, “I’ll come to heal him.”

8 The officer responded, “Sir, I don’t deserve to have you come into my house. But just give a command, and my servant will be healed. 9 As you know, I’m in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I tell my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

10 Jesus was amazed when he heard this. He said to those who were following him, “I can guarantee this truth: I haven’t found faith as great as this in anyone in Israel. 11 I can guarantee that many will come from all over the world. They will eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 The citizens of that kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.

13 Jesus told the officer, “Go! What you believed will be done for you.” And at that moment the servant was healed.

8:5–13   You do what you promise, no matter how wide the distance or overwhelming the problem. You give the word, and your will is done. Teach me trust.

Jesus Cures Peter’s Mother-in-Law and Many Others—Mark 1:29–34; Luke 4:38–41

14 When Jesus went to Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. 15 Jesus touched her hand, and the fever went away. So she got up and prepared a meal for him.

16 In the evening the people brought him many who were possessed by demons. He forced the ⌞evil⌟ spirits out of people with a command and cured everyone who was sick. 17 So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true: “He took away our weaknesses and removed our diseases.”

18 Now, when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he ordered ⌞his disciples⌟ to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

8:14–18   You take away my weaknesses and heal my diseases. Touch me and I’ll be cured. I’ll get up and serve you.

What It Takes to Be a Disciple—Luke 9:57–62

19 An expert in Moses’ Teachings came to him and said, “Teacher, I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

20 Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep.”

21 Another disciple said to him, “Sir, first let me go to bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

8:19–22   Expose my excuses that keep me from following you.

Jesus Calms the Sea—Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25

23 Jesus’ disciples went with him as he left in a boat. 24 Suddenly, a severe storm came across the sea. The waves were covering the boat. Yet, Jesus was sleeping.

25 So they woke him up, saying, “Lord! Save us! We’re going to die!”

26 Jesus said to them, “Why do you cowards have so little faith?” Then he got up, gave an order to the wind and the sea, and the sea became very calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

8:23–27   You know when I don’t trust you. You’re not afraid to call me a coward. Your simplest words can save me.

Jesus Cures Two Demon-Possessed Men—Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39

28 When he arrived in the territory of the Gadarenes on the other side ⌞of the Sea of Galilee⌟, two men met him. They were possessed by demons and had come out of the tombs. No one could travel along that road because the men were so dangerous.

29 They shouted, “Why are you bothering us now, Son of God? Did you come here to torture us before it is time?”

30 A large herd of pigs was feeding in the distance. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you’re going to force us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”

32 Jesus said to them, “Go!” The demons came out and went into the pigs. Suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water. 33 Those who took care of the pigs ran into the city. There they reported everything, especially about the men possessed by demons.

34 Everyone from the city went to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their territory.

8:28–34   Demons object when they hear you coming. Your word forces them out. I’m awed by your enormous power. If I weren’t on your side, I’d fear you.

Jesus Forgives Sins—Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26

9

1 Jesus got into a boat, crossed the sea, and came to his own city. 2 Some people brought him a paralyzed man on a stretcher.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Cheer up, friend! Your sins are forgiven.”

3 Then some of the experts in Moses’ Teachings thought, “He’s dishonoring God.”

4 Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked them, “Why are you thinking evil things? 5 Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

7 So the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such authority to humans.

9:1–8   Your forgiveness cheers the most desperate person. You heal body and soul. Thanks for your forgiveness.

Jesus Chooses Matthew to Be a Disciple—Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32

9 When Jesus was leaving that place, he saw a man sitting in a tax office. The man’s name was Matthew. Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” So Matthew got up and followed him.

10 Later Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 The Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 When Jesus heard that, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do. 13 Learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices.’ I’ve come to call sinners, not people who think they have God’s approval.”

9:9–13   Healthy people don’t need a doctor. Sick people do. I know I need you. I’m one of those sinners you came to call.

Jesus Is Questioned about Fasting—Mark 2:18–22; Luke 5:33–39

14 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus. They said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often but your disciples never do?”

15 Jesus replied, “Can wedding guests be sad while the groom is still with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.

16 “No one patches an old coat with a new piece of cloth that will shrink. When the patch shrinks, it will rip away from the coat, and the tear will become worse. 17 Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, people pour new wine into fresh skins, and both are saved.”

9:14–17   You’re doing a new thing. You’re putting new wine in the fresh skin of my life. I won’t let my expectations be limited by my experience.

A Synagogue Leader’s Daughter and the Woman with Chronic Bleeding—Mark 5:21–43; Luke 8:40–56

18 A ⌞synagogue⌟ leader came to Jesus while he was talking to John’s disciples. He bowed down in front of Jesus and said, “My daughter just died. Come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

19 Jesus and his disciples got up and followed the man.

20 Then a woman came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. She had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. 21 She thought, “If I only touch his clothes, I’ll get well.”

22 When Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Cheer up, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” At that very moment the woman became well.

23 Jesus came to the ⌞synagogue⌟ leader’s house. He saw flute players and a noisy crowd. 24 He said to them, “Leave! The girl is not dead. She’s sleeping.” But they laughed at him.

25 When the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in, took her hand, and the girl came back to life.

26 The news about this spread throughout that region.

9:18–26   You heal the sick and raise the dead. No one does what you can. Show the crowds your awesome abilities. Let news about you spread near and far.

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

27 When Jesus left that place, two blind men followed him. They shouted, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”

28 Jesus went into a house, and the blind men followed him. He said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they answered.

29 He touched their eyes and said, “What you have believed will be done for you!” 30 Then they could see.

He warned them, “Don’t let anyone know about this!” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that region.

9:27–31   I need your mercy even more than I know. I believe you can help me. Prompt me to expect big things of you.

Jesus Forces a Demon out of a Man Who Couldn’t Talk

32 As they were leaving, some people brought a man to Jesus. The man was unable to talk because he was possessed by a demon. 33 But as soon as the demon was forced out, the man began to speak.

The crowds were amazed and said, “We have never seen anything like this in Israel!”

34 But the Pharisees said, “He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons.”

9:32–34   I’ve never seen anything like you. You order demons around.

Jesus’ Compassion for People

35 Jesus went to all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues and spread the Good News of the kingdom. He also cured every disease and sickness.

36 When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were troubled and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is large, but the workers are few. 38 So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops.”

9:35–38   You feel sorry for your helpless people. They’re like sheep without a shepherd. Send workers to help!

Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles—Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16

10

1 Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to force evil spirits out of people and to cure every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first and foremost, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James (son of Alphaeus), and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.

10:1–4   You sent out your closest followers to force out evil spirits and cure every disease. Send me out with your power to prove who you are.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve—Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6

5 Jesus sent these twelve out with the following instructions: “Don’t go among people who are not Jewish or into any Samaritan city. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel. 7 As you go, spread this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Cure the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse those with skin diseases, and force demons out of people. Give these things without charging, since you received them without paying.

10:5–8   Your kingdom is near. You care for the sick of every kind. You bring the dead back to life.

9 “Don’t take any gold, silver, or even copper coins in your pockets. 10 Don’t take a traveling bag for the trip, a change of clothes, sandals, or a walking stick. After all, the worker deserves to have his needs met.

11 “When you go into a city or village, look for people who will listen to you there. Stay with them until you leave ⌞that place⌟. 12 When you go into a house, greet the family. 13 If it is a family that listens to you, allow your greeting to stand. But if it is not receptive, take back your greeting. 14 If anyone doesn’t welcome you or listen to what you say, leave that house or city, and shake its dust off your feet. 15 I can guarantee this truth: Judgment day will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city.

10:9–14   I trust you to meet my needs as I serve you. Make people eager to hear your message.

16 “I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves. 17 Watch out for people who will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. 18 Because of me you will even be brought in front of governors and kings to testify to them and to everyone in the world. 19 When they hand you over ⌞to the authorities⌟, don’t worry about what to say or how to say it. When the time comes, you will be given what to say. 20 Indeed, you’re not the ones who will be speaking. The Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.

10:15–20   Not everyone likes me talking about you. When I’m put to the test, give me words to speak.

21 “Brother will hand over brother to death; a father will hand over his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them. 22 Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who patiently endures to the end will be saved. 23 So when they persecute you in one city, flee to another. I can guarantee this truth: Before you have gone through every city in Israel, the Son of Man will come.

24 “A student is not better than his teacher. Nor is a slave better than his owner. 25 It is enough for a student to become like his teacher and a slave like his owner. If they have called the owner of the house Beelzebul,[10] they will certainly call the family members the same name. 26 So don’t be afraid of them. Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known. 27 Tell in the daylight what I say to you in the dark. Shout from the housetops what you hear whispered. 28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

10:21–28   People hate me because they hate you. But I won’t be afraid of bullies. I’ll respect the one who can destroy my body and soul.

29 “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. 30 Every hair on your head has been counted. 31 Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.

10:29–31   You count the hairs on my head. You care for me more than I can imagine.

32 “So I will acknowledge in front of my Father in heaven that person who acknowledges me in front of others. 33 But I will tell my Father in heaven that I don’t know the person who tells others that he doesn’t know me.

34 “Don’t think that I came to bring peace to earth. I didn’t come to bring peace but conflict. 35 I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A person’s enemies will be the members of his own family.

37 “The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. 38 Whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me doesn’t deserve to be my disciple. 39 The person who tries to preserve his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it.

10:32–37   Your presence won’t always bring peace. Make me bold enough to admit I know you.

10:38–39   Give me strength to pick up my cross. Give me resolve to follow you wherever you go. I’m done trying to save my own skin.

40 “The person who welcomes you welcomes me, and the person who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 The person who welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. The person who welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward.”

10:40–11:1   I welcome anyone who shows me how to know you better. I’ll refresh them however I can.

11

1 After Jesus finished giving his twelve disciples these instructions, he moved on from there to teach his message in their cities.

John Sends Two Disciples—Luke 7:18–23

2 When John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ had done. So he sent his disciples 3 to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?”

4 Jesus answered John’s disciples, “Go back, and tell John what you hear and see: 5 Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News. 6 Whoever doesn’t lose his faith in me is indeed blessed.”

11:2–6   The blind see, the lame walk, and people ravaged by disease become clean. The deaf hear, the dead rise, and the poor find hope. You’re the one Scriptures said would come.

Jesus Speaks about John—Luke 7:24–35

7 As they were leaving, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind? 8 Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear fine clothes are in royal palaces.

9 “Really, what did you go to see? A prophet? Let me tell you that he is far more than a prophet. 10 John is the one about whom Scripture says,

‘I’m sending my messenger ahead of you

to prepare the way in front of you.’

11 “I can guarantee this truth: Of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptizer. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. 12 From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it. 13 All the Prophets and Moses’ Teachings prophesied up to the time of John. 14 If you are willing to accept their message, John is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Let the person who has ears listen!

11:7–15   John the Baptizer forced your kingdom ahead, and the powerful opposed him. John prepared the world for your arrival. I’m willing to listen to what he and the prophets say.

16 “How can I describe the people who are living now? They are like children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to other children,

17 ‘We played music for you,

but you didn’t dance.

We sang a funeral song,

but you didn’t show any sadness.’

18 “John came neither eating nor drinking, and people say, ‘There’s a demon in him!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! He’s a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

“Yet, wisdom is proved right by its actions.”

11:16–19   The fickle crowds can’t be pleased. I’ll live by wisdom proved right by its actions.

Jesus Warns Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum

20 Then Jesus denounced the cities where he had worked most of his miracles because they had not changed the way they thought and acted. 21 “How horrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How horrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in you had been worked in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed the way they thought and acted long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 I can guarantee that judgment day will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to heaven? No, you will go down to hell! If the miracles that had been worked in you had been worked in Sodom, it would still be there today. 24 I can guarantee that judgment day will be better for Sodom than for you.”

11:20–24   Whole cities saw you do miracle after miracle, but they refused to change. How horrible it is for people who resist you!

Jesus Praises the Father and Invites Disciples to Come to Him

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.

27 “My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows the Son. And no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Place my yoke[11] over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves 30 because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

11:25–30   I come to you carrying a heavy load. Give me rest. Lay your yoke on my shoulders and teach me. You’re gentle and humble. Your load is light and easy.

Jesus Has Authority over the Day of Worship—Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5

12

1 Then on a day of worship Jesus walked through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain to eat.

2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing something that is not right to do on the day of worship.”

3 Jesus asked them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his men were hungry? 4 Haven’t you read how he went into the house of God and ate[12] the bread of the presence? He and his men had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right. 5 Or haven’t you read in Moses’ Teachings that on the day of worship the priests in the temple do things they shouldn’t on the day of worship yet remain innocent? 6 I can guarantee that something[13] greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices’ means, you would not have condemned innocent people.

8 “The Son of Man has authority over the day of worship.”

12:1–8   You’re more important than religious rules. You want practical mercy, not endless sacrifices. Rid my life of my meaningless traditions.

Jesus Heals on the Day of Worship—Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11

9 Jesus moved on from there and went into a synagogue. 10 A man with a paralyzed hand was there. The people asked Jesus whether it was right to heal on a day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.

11 Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a sheep. If it falls into a pit on a day of worship, wouldn’t you take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Certainly, a human is more valuable than a sheep! So it is right to do good on the day of worship.”

13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held it out, and it became normal again, as healthy as the other.

14 The Pharisees left and plotted to kill Jesus. 15 He knew about this, so he left that place.

12:9–14   How coldhearted can they be? The Pharisees plotted your death for healing on the day of worship. It’s always the right time to do good.

Jesus Is God’s Servant

Many people followed him, and he cured all of them. 16 He also ordered them not to tell people who he was. 17 So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true:

18 “Here is my servant

whom I have chosen,

whom I love,

and in whom I delight.

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will announce justice to the nations.

19 He will not quarrel or shout,

and no one will hear his voice in the streets.

20 He will not break off a damaged cattail.

He will not even put out a smoking wick

until he has made justice victorious.

21 The nations will have hope because of him.”

12:15–21   You’re the servant sent from heaven. You’re chosen and loved. You never quarrel or shout. Fragile things are safe in your hands. You give the nations hope.

Jesus Is Accused of Working with Beelzebul—Mark 3:20–30; Luke 11:14–23

22 Then some people brought Jesus a man possessed by a demon. The demon made the man blind and unable to talk. Jesus cured him so that he could talk and see.

23 The crowds were all amazed and said, “Can this man be the Son of David?” 24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man can force demons out of people only with the help of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.”

25 Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. And every city or household divided against itself will not last. 26 If Satan forces Satan out, he is divided against himself. How, then, can his kingdom last? 27 If I force demons out of people with the help of Beelzebul, who helps your followers force them out? That’s why they will be your judges. 28 But if I force demons out with the help of God’s Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 How can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property? First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through his house and steal his property.

12:22–29   Satan doesn’t battle himself, and his evil power won’t help you do good. Your Spirit forces demons out.

30 “Whoever isn’t with me is against me. Whoever doesn’t gather with me scatters. 31 So I can guarantee that people will be forgiven for any sin or cursing. However, cursing the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this world or the next.

33 “Make a tree good, and then its fruit will be good. Or make a tree rotten, and then its fruit will be rotten. A person can recognize a tree by its fruit. 34 You poisonous snakes! How can you evil people say anything good? Your mouth says what comes from inside you. 35 Good people do the good things that are in them. But evil people do the evil things that are in them.

36 “I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say. 37 By your words you will be declared innocent, or by your words you will be declared guilty.”

12:30–37   I recognize a tree by its fruit. I spot evil people by their words and actions.

The Sign of Jonah—Luke 11:29–32, 24–26

38 Then some experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign.”

39 He responded, “The people of an evil and unfaithful era look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of a huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up with you at the time of judgment and will condemn you, because they turned to God and changed the way they thought and acted when Jonah spoke his message. But look, someone greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen from the south will stand up at the time of judgment with you. She will condemn you, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom. But look, someone greater than Solomon is here!

12:39–42   Like Jonah was in the belly of a fish, you would be in the grave three days and three nights. That’s the only sign you give people just pretending to pay attention.

43 “When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. 44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the home I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and in order. 45 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter and take up permanent residence there. In the end the condition of that person is worse than it was before. That is what will happen to the evil people of this day.”

12:43–45   Send evil away from me forever. Don’t let it invade my life ever again.

The True Family of Jesus—Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside. They wanted to talk to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside. They want to talk to you.”

48 He replied to the man speaking to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing with his hand at his disciples, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. 50 Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother and sister and mother.”

12:46–50   Doing your will is more important than being your kin. Whoever does what you command is your real family.

A Story about a Farmer—Mark 4:1–20; Luke 8:4–15

13

1 That same day Jesus left the house and sat down by the Sea of Galilee. 2 The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat. He sat in the boat while the entire crowd stood on the shore. 3 Then he used stories as illustrations to tell them many things.

He said, “Listen! A farmer went to plant seed. 4 Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up, they were scorched. They withered because their roots weren’t deep enough. 7 Other seeds were planted among thornbushes, and the thornbushes grew up and choked them. 8 But other seeds were planted on good ground and produced grain. They produced one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted. 9 Let the person who has ears listen!”

13:1–9   I’m listening close for your point. Teach me with stories, but help me grasp your message. I want to understand.

10 The disciples asked him, “Why do you use stories as illustrations when you speak to people?”

11 Jesus answered, “Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd. 12 Those who understand ⌞these mysteries⌟ will be given ⌞more knowledge⌟, and they will excel ⌞in understanding them⌟. However, some people don’t understand ⌞these mysteries⌟. Even what they understand will be taken away from them. 13 This is why I speak to them this way. They see, but they’re blind. They hear, but they don’t listen. They don’t even try to understand. 14 So they make Isaiah’s prophecy come true:

‘You will hear clearly but never understand.

You will see clearly but never comprehend.

15 These people have become close-minded

and hard of hearing.

They have shut their eyes

so that their eyes never see.

Their ears never hear.

Their minds never understand.

And they never return to me for healing!’

16 “Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. 17 I can guarantee this truth: Many prophets and many of God’s people longed to see what you see but didn’t see it, to hear what you hear but didn’t hear it.

13:11–17   Reveal your mysteries to me. I’m not closed to your truth. I open my eyes and ears. I struggle to understand.

18 “Listen to what the story about the farmer means. 19 Someone hears the word about the kingdom but doesn’t understand it. The evil one comes at once and snatches away what was planted in him. This is what the seed planted along the road illustrates. 20 The seed planted on rocky ground ⌞is the person who⌟ hears the word and accepts it at once with joy. 21 Since he doesn’t have any root, he lasts only a little while. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls ⌞from faith⌟. 22 The seed planted among thornbushes ⌞is another person who⌟ hears the word. But the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of riches choke the word so that it can’t produce anything. 23 But the seed planted on good ground ⌞is the person who⌟ hears and understands the word. This type produces crops. They produce one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted.”

13:18–23   Don’t let Satan snatch away the little understanding I have. I need roots to make my faith last. I won’t let anything choke your word. Produce a harvest in me!

A Story about Weeds in the Wheat

24 Jesus used another illustration. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field. 25 But while people were asleep, his enemy planted weeds in the wheat field and went away. 26 When the wheat came up and formed kernels, weeds appeared.

27 “The owner’s workers came to him and asked, ‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’

28 “He told them, ‘An enemy did this.’

“His workers asked him, ‘Do you want us to pull out the weeds?’

29 “He replied, ‘No. If you pull out the weeds, you may pull out the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. When the grain is cut, I will tell the workers to gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned. But I’ll have them bring the wheat into my barn.’”

13:24–30   A man plants wheat. An enemy scatters weeds in the field. One day you’ll separate the weeds from wheat. That’s what your kingdom is like.

Stories about a Mustard Seed and Yeast—Mark 4:30–34; Luke 13:18–21

31 Jesus used another illustration. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone planted in a field. 32 It’s one of the smallest seeds. However, when it has grown, it is taller than the garden plants. It becomes a tree that is large enough for birds to nest in its branches.”

33 He used another illustration. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough.”

34 Jesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things. He did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story. 35 So what the prophet had said came true:

“I will open my mouth to illustrate points.

I will tell what has been hidden since the world was made.”

13:31–34   Your kingdom starts small but grows impossibly large. It spreads and can’t be stopped. Let your kingdom come in and through me!

The Meaning of the Weeds in the Wheat

36 When Jesus had sent the people away, he went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain what the illustration of the weeds in the field means.”

37 He answered, “The one who plants the good seeds is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world. The good seeds are those who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are those who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The workers are angels. 40 Just as weeds are gathered and burned, so it will be at the end of time. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels. They will gather everything in his kingdom that causes people to sin and everyone who does evil. 42 The angels will throw them into a blazing furnace. People will cry and be in extreme pain there. 43 Then the people who have God’s approval will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let the person who has ears listen!

13:36–43   I belong to your kingdom, but I’m surrounded by people still in the grip of the evil one. Rescue the people headed for fire. There’s still time!

Stories about a Treasure, a Merchant, and a Net

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field. When a man discovered it, he buried it again. He was so delighted with it that he went away, sold everything he had, and bought that field.

45 “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who was searching for fine pearls. 46 When he found a valuable pearl, he went away, sold everything he had, and bought it.

13:44–46   Your kingdom is so good I’ll sell everything to get it. I’ll never regret it.

47 “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea. It gathered all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, they pulled it to the shore. Then they sat down, gathered the good fish into containers, and threw the bad ones away. 49 The same thing will happen at the end of time. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from people who have God’s approval. 50 Then the angels will throw the evil people into a blazing furnace. They will cry and be in extreme pain there.

51 “Have you understood all of this?”

“Yes,” they answered.

52 So Jesus said to them, “That is why every student of the Scriptures who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure chest.”

53 When Jesus had finished these illustrations, he left that place.

13:47–53   Your kingdom divides evildoers from people you approve. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

Nazareth Rejects Jesus—Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:14–30

54 Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in the synagogue in a way that amazed them. People were asking, “Where did this man get this wisdom and the power to do these miracles? 55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary? Aren’t his brothers’ names James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And aren’t all his sisters here with us? Where, then, did this man get all this?” 57 So they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “The only place a prophet isn’t honored is in his hometown and in his own house.”

58 He didn’t work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

13:54–58   Your neighbors noticed your wisdom and power, but they couldn’t bring themselves to honor a hometown prophet. I promise you the respect you deserve.

Recalling John’s Death—Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9

14

1 At that time Herod, ruler of Galilee, heard the news about Jesus. 2 He said to his officials, “This is John the Baptizer! He has come back to life. That’s why he has the power to perform these miracles.”

3 Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did this for Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4 John had been telling Herod, “It’s not right for you to be married to her.” 5 So Herod wanted to kill John. However, he was afraid of the people because they thought John was a prophet.

6 When Herod celebrated his birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced for his guests. Herod was so delighted with her that 7 he swore he would give her anything she wanted.

8 Urged by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”

9 The king regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted. 10 He had John’s head cut off in prison. 11 So the head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

12 John’s disciples came for the body and buried it. Then they went to tell Jesus.

14:1–12   Sinful people hate your blunt talk. Protect me when people don’t like what I say. Teach me to speak your hard words regardless.

Jesus Feeds More Than Five Thousand—Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14

13 When Jesus heard about John, he left in a boat and went to a place where he could be alone. The crowds heard about this and followed him on foot from the cities. 14 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them and cured their sick people.

15 In the evening the disciples came to him. They said, “No one lives around here, and it’s already late. Send the crowds to the villages to buy food for themselves.”

16 Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 They told him, “All we have here are five loaves of bread and two fish.”

18 Jesus said, “Bring them to me.”

19 Then he ordered the people to sit down on the grass. After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart, gave them to the disciples, and they gave them to the people. 20 All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.

21 About five thousand men had eaten. (This number does not include the women and children who had eaten.)

14:13–21   I’m too hungry to walk away from you. I have no idea where to find food. I need a miracle to fill my famished heart. You won’t send me away starving. You’ll give me plenty to eat.

Jesus Walks on the Sea—Mark 6:45–56; John 6:15–21

22 Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him while he sent the people away. 23 After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone.

24 The boat, now hundreds of yards from shore, was being thrown around by the waves because it was going against the wind.

25 Between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They said, “It’s a ghost!” and began to scream because they were afraid.

27 Immediately, Jesus said, “Calm down! It’s me. Don’t be afraid!”

14:22–27   You went walking to your friends on a wave-tossed sea. They screamed in fear, but you said, “Calm down. It’s me. Don’t be afraid!”

28 Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”

29 Jesus said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”

14:28–31   Invite me to step out on the water with you. Save me when I start to sink. Catch hold of me and free me from doubt.

32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing. 33 The men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus and said, “You are truly the Son of God.”

34 They crossed the sea and landed at Gennesaret. 35 The men there recognized Jesus and sent messengers all around the countryside. The people brought him everyone who was sick. 36 They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.

14:32–34   You stop fierce winds. I’ll bow to you. You’re truly the Son of God!

Jesus Challenges the Pharisees’ Traditions—Mark 7:1–23

15

1 Then some Pharisees and experts in Moses’ Teachings came from Jerusalem to Jesus. They asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

3 He answered them, “Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions? 4 For example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.’ 5 But you say that whoever tells his father or mother, ‘I have given to God whatever support you might have received from me,’ 6 does not have to honor his father. Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God’s word. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

15:1–7   Shake me when my traditions get in the way of keeping your commands. I want to uphold the authority of your words.

8 ‘These people honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

9 Their worship of me is pointless,

because their teachings are rules made by humans.’”

10 Then he called the crowd and said to them, “Listen and try to understand! 11 What goes into a person’s mouth doesn’t make him unclean.[14] It’s what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean.”

15:8–11   It’s possible to praise you with my lips but not mean it in my heart. My worship is pointless when it’s based on human rules.

12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you realize that when the Pharisees heard your statement they were offended?”

13 He answered, “Any plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. 14 Leave them alone! They are blind leaders. When one blind person leads another, both will fall into the same pit.”

15 Peter said to him, “Explain this illustration to us.”

16 Jesus said, “Don’t you understand yet? 17 Don’t you know that whatever goes into the mouth goes into the stomach and then into a toilet? 18 But whatever goes out of the mouth comes from within, and that’s what makes a person unclean. 19 Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, ⌞other⌟ sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing come from within. 20 These are the things that make a person unclean. But eating without washing one’s hands doesn’t make a person unclean.”

15:12–20   I’m glad when you offend the self-righteous. Help me know when you’re talking to me. Wash away the sins that make me unclean.

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman—Mark 7:24–30

21 Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

22 A Canaanite woman from that territory came ⌞to him⌟ and began to shout, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”

23 But he did not answer her at all. Then his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away. She keeps shouting behind us.”

24 Jesus responded, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.”

25 She came to him, bowed down, and said, “Lord, help me!”

26 Jesus replied, “It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

27 She said, “You’re right, Lord. But even the dogs eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.”

28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, you have strong faith! What you wanted will be done for you.” At that moment her daughter was cured.

15:21–28   Even dogs feast on scraps from their masters’ tables. I beg for your help when I don’t deserve an answer. Have mercy on me. I need you!

29 Jesus moved on from there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain and sat there.

30 A large crowd came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, disabled, those unable to talk, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he cured them. 31 The crowd was amazed to see mute people talking, the disabled cured, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. So they praised the God of Israel.

15:29–31   You healed a crowd of every kind of malady. I’m amazed by your work. I praise you!

Jesus Feeds More Than Four Thousand—Mark 8:1–10

32 Jesus called his disciples and said, “I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they may become exhausted on their way home.”

33 His disciples asked him, “Where could we get enough bread to feed such a crowd in this place where no one lives?”

34 Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”

They answered, “Seven, and a few small fish.”

35 He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, and they gave the bread and fish to the people.

37 All of them ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets. 38 Four thousand men had eaten. (This number does not include the women and children who had eaten.)

39 After he sent the people on their way, Jesus stepped into the boat and came to the territory of Magadan.

15:32–39   You look at the hungry crowds and feel pity. You don’t want to send them away without food. You don’t want them to fall down exhausted. I live in awe of your kindness.

The Pharisees Ask for a Sign from Heaven—Mark 8:11–13a

16

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. So they asked him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.

2 He responded to them, “In the evening you say that the weather will be fine because the sky is red. 3 And in the morning you say that there will be a storm today because the sky is red and overcast. You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

4 “Evil and unfaithful people look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will be given is that of Jonah.”

Then he left them standing there and went away.

16:1–4   You won’t give a sign to people who clamor for miracles. Correct me when I put you to the test.

The Yeast of the Pharisees—Mark 8:13b–21

5 The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along when they went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

6 Jesus said to them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

7 The disciples had been discussing among themselves that they had not taken any bread along.

8 Jesus knew about their conversation and asked, “Why are you discussing among yourselves that you don’t have any bread? You have so little faith! 9 Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you filled? 10 Don’t you remember the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you filled? 11 Why don’t you understand that I wasn’t talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

12 Then they understood that he didn’t say to watch out for the yeast in bread, but to watch out for the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

16:5–12   Arrogant people are like yeast, their false teachings an unseen force. Guard me from basing my religion on rules.

Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus—Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”

17 Jesus replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you. 18 You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock[15] I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.”

20 Then he strictly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

16:13–20   Who do I say you are? You’re the Messiah, the Son of the living God! Your Father in heaven showed me the truth. Nothing can overpower that reality.

Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:22

21 From that time on Jesus began to inform his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There he would have to suffer a lot because of the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be brought back to life.

22 Peter took him aside and objected to this. He said, “Heaven forbid, Lord! This must never happen to you!”

23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get out of my way, Satan! You are tempting me to sin. You aren’t thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think.”

16:21–23   I hate what you just said—that you would have to suffer a lot and be killed. I’m not sure what you mean when you say you’ll be “brought back to life.”

What It Means to Follow Jesus—Mark 8:34–9:1; Luke 9:23–27

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. 25 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them. 26 What good will it do for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for life? 27 The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done. 28 I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

16:24   I’ll say no to the things I want. I’ll pick up my cross. And I’ll follow.

16:25–28   Trying to save my life makes it slip from my grasp. The only way I’ll find life is by giving it up to you.

Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus—Mark 9:2–13; Luke 9:28–36

17

1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.

2 Jesus’ appearance changed in front of them. His face became as bright as the sun and his clothes as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and were talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll put up three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love and with whom I am pleased. Listen to him!”

6 The disciples were terrified when they heard this and fell facedown on the ground. 7 But Jesus touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid!” 8 As they raised their heads, they saw no one but Jesus.

17:1–8   How can I not be afraid? You shine as bright as the sun. Then Moses and Elijah show up to talk. And I hear a voice from heaven.

9 On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen. Wait until the Son of Man has been brought back to life.”

10 So the disciples asked him, “Why do the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus answered, “Elijah is coming and will put everything in order again. 12 Actually, I can guarantee that Elijah has already come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased because they didn’t recognize him. In the same way they’re going to make the Son of Man suffer.”

13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking about John the Baptizer.

17:9–13   Don’t worry about me telling anyone what I saw. I don’t have words. And what do you mean about coming back to life? I’m not tracking with you at all.

Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy—Mark 9:14–29; Luke 9:37–43a

14 When they came to a crowd, a man came up to Jesus, knelt in front of him, 15 and said, “Sir, have mercy on my son. He suffers from seizures. Often he falls into fire or water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t cure him.”

17 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!”

18 Jesus ordered the demon to come out of the boy. At that moment the boy was cured.

17:14–18   How long will you put up with my lack of understanding? Can you show me again how to wield your power? Be patient with me.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we force the demon out of the boy?”

20 He told them, “Because you have so little faith. I can guarantee this truth: If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”[16]

17:19–20   You say I can move mountains if I have any faith at all. Teach me how.

Jesus Again Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Mark 9:30–32; Luke 9:43b–45

22 While they were traveling together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. 23 They will kill him, but on the third day he will be brought back to life.” Then the disciples became very sad.

17:22–23   Your words make me sad. I’m starting to understand. You’ll be betrayed and handed over to death. Did you say something about being brought back to life?

Paying the Temple Tax

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Certainly,” he answered.

Peter went into the house. Before he could speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the world collect fees or taxes? Is it from their family members or from other people?”

26 “From other people,” Peter answered.

Jesus said to him, “Then the family members are exempt. 27 However, so that we don’t create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me.”

17:24–27   I’ll give the authorities what I owe them. But I’ll give you all of me, along with everything I own.

Greatness in the Kingdom—Mark 9:33–37; Luke 9:46–48

18

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.

18:1–5   No one is great who is obsessed with being great. I’ll make myself like a child to enter your kingdom.

Causing Others to Lose Faith—Mark 9:42–50; Luke 17:1–4

6 “These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck. 7 How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!

18:6–7   Little ones believe in you. How horrible it will be for anyone who causes them to lose their faith.

8 “If your hand or your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life disabled or injured than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. 9 If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.

10 “Be careful not to despise these little ones. I can guarantee that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father, who is in heaven.[17]

18:8–10   How awful it would be for me to abandon you. I’ll get rid of anything that causes me to lose faith.

The Lost Sheep—Luke 15:1–7

12 “What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. Won’t he leave the 99 sheep in the hills to look for the one that has strayed? 13 I can guarantee this truth: If he finds it, he is happier about it than about the 99 that have not strayed. 14 In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.

18:12–14   You search for the single lamb that has strayed. You won’t stop until you bring it home. You don’t want any of your little ones to be lost.

Dealing with Believers When They Do Wrong

15 “If a believer does something wrong,[18] go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses. 17 If he ignores these witnesses, tell it to the community of believers. If he also ignores the community, deal with him as you would a heathen or a tax collector. 18 I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.

19 “I can guarantee again that if two of you agree on anything here on earth, my Father in heaven will accept it. 20 Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.”

18:15–20   Help me solve my broken relationships. I’ll start by talking face-to-face. I’ll run for help when I get stuck.

Personally Forgiving Others

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, “Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?”

22 Jesus answered him, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven.

18:21–22   It’s not enough to forgive someone seven times. You call me to offer infinite mercy.

23 “That is why the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to do this, a servant who owed him millions of dollars was brought to him. 25 Because he could not pay off the debt, the master ordered him, his wife, his children, and all that he had to be sold to pay off the account. 26 Then the servant fell at his master’s feet and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay everything!’

27 “The master felt sorry for his servant, freed him, and canceled his debt. 28 But when that servant went away, he found a servant who owed him hundreds of dollars. He grabbed the servant he found and began to choke him. ‘Pay what you owe!’ he said.

29 “Then that other servant fell at his feet and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he turned away and had that servant put into prison until he would repay what he owed.

31 “The other servants who worked with him saw what had happened and felt very sad. They told their master the whole story.

32 “Then his master sent for him and said to him, ‘You evil servant! I canceled your entire debt, because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you have treated the other servant as mercifully as I treated you?’

34 “His master was so angry that he handed him over to the torturers until he would repay everything that he owed. 35 That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if each of you does not sincerely forgive other believers.”

18:23–35   How dare I not forgive others when you’ve so freely forgiven me? Teach me to let go of small wrongs and cancel large debts beyond calculation.

A Discussion about Divorce and Celibacy—Mark 10:1–12

19

1 When Jesus finished speaking, he left Galilee and traveled along the other side of the Jordan River to the territory of Judea. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3 Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, “Can a man divorce his wife for any reason?”

4 Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that the Creator made them male and female in the beginning 5 and that he said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, and the two will be one’? 6 So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, don’t let anyone separate what God has joined together.”

19:1–6   I’ve read your word. You make husband and wife one. I won’t let anyone separate what you joined together.

7 The Pharisees asked him, “Why, then, did Moses order a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her?”

8 Jesus answered them, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you’re heartless. It was never this way in the beginning. 9 I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman.”

10 The disciples said to him, “If that is the only reason a man can use to divorce his wife, it’s better not to get married.”

11 He answered them, “Not everyone can do what you suggest. Only those who have that gift can. 12 For example, some men are celibate because they were born that way. Others are celibate because they were castrated. Still others have decided to be celibate because of the kingdom of heaven. If anyone can do what you’ve suggested, then he should do it.”

19:7–12   Your kingdom comes first, whether you call me to marriage or singleness. I need strength to live up to your command.

Jesus Blesses Children—Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17

13 Then some people brought little children to Jesus to have him bless them and pray for them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.

14 Jesus said, “Don’t stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of the kingdom of God.” 15 After Jesus blessed them, he went away from there.

19:13–15   I won’t overlook children or downplay their place in your kingdom. They fill the center of your heart.

Eternal Life in the Kingdom—Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30

16 Then a man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed should I do to gain eternal life?”

17 Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, obey the commandments.”

18 “Which commandments?” the man asked.

Jesus said, “Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

20 The young man replied, “I have obeyed all these commandments. What else do I need to do?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, sell what you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad because he owned a lot of property.

19:16–22   I’ll never be good enough for heaven. I can spend my life keeping easy commandments without giving you the last piece of my heart.

23 Jesus said to his disciples, “I can guarantee this truth: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 I can guarantee again that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 He amazed his disciples more than ever when they heard this. “Then who can be saved?” they asked.

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “It is impossible for people ⌞to save themselves⌟, but everything is possible for God.”

19:23–26   My wealth makes it hard to enter heaven. Do the impossible in me!

27 Then Peter replied to him, “Look, we’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?”

28 Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: When the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the world to come, you, my followers, will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who gave up homes, brothers or sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30 However, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

19:27–30   You know what I give up to follow you. I trust you to watch out for me now and forever.

A Story about Vineyard Workers

20

1 “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing to pay the workers the usual day’s wages, he sent them to work in his vineyard. 3 About 9 a.m. he saw others standing in the marketplace without work. 4 He said to them, ‘Work in my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ So they went.

5 “He went out again about noon and 3 p.m. and did the same thing. 6 About 5 p.m. he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day long without work?’

7 “‘No one has hired us,’ they answered him.

“He said to them, ‘Work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told the supervisor, ‘Call the workers, and give them their wages. Start with the last, and end with the first.’

9 “Those who started working about 5 p.m. came, and each received a day’s wages. 10 When those who had been hired first came, they expected to receive more. But each of them received a day’s wages. 11 Although they took it, they began to protest to the owner. 12 They said, ‘These last workers have worked only one hour. Yet, you’ve treated us all the same, even though we worked hard all day under a blazing sun.’

13 “The owner said to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me on a day’s wages? 14 Take your money and go! I want to give this last worker as much as I gave you. 15 Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Or do you resent my generosity towards others?’

16 “In this way the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

20:1–16   You’re more fair than I comprehend. You’re more kind than I begin to imagine. I won’t resent your generosity. You put the first last, and the last first.

For the Third Time Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Mark 10:32–34; Luke 18:31–34

17 When Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve apostles aside and said to them privately, 18 “We’re going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. They will condemn him to death 19 and hand him over to foreigners. They will make fun of him, whip him, and crucify him. But on the third day he will be brought back to life.”

20:17–19   You keep speaking of your condemnation and death. Is this really happening?

A Mother Makes a Request—Mark 10:35–45

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her two sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favor.

21 “What do you want?” he asked her.

She said to him, “Promise that one of my sons will sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

22 Jesus replied, “You don’t realize what you’re asking. Can you drink the cup that I’m going to drink?”

“We can,” they told him.

23 Jesus said to them, “You will drink my cup. But I don’t have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. My Father has already prepared these positions for certain people.”

20:20–23   There’s a favor you can’t grant. It’s not your job to give away the best seats in heaven. But it’s my calling to drink from your cup of suffering.

24 When the other ten apostles heard about this, they were irritated with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called the apostles and said, “You know that the rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. 26 But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. 27 Whoever wants to be most important among you will be your slave. 28 It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”

20:24–28   Your kingdom doesn’t run on worldly power. If I aim to be great, I must be everyone’s slave. You came to serve and to surrender your life as a ransom for many.

Jesus Gives Two Blind Men Their Sight—Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43

29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Jesus. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 The crowd told them to be quiet. But they shouted even louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

33 They told him, “Lord, we want you to give us our eyesight back.”

34 Jesus felt sorry for them, so he touched their eyes. Their sight was restored at once, and they followed him.

20:29–34   Does my situation move you? Should I shout more than once? Please give me what I need.

The King Comes to Jerusalem—Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:29–44; John 12:12–19

21

1 When they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead of him. 2 He said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you. You will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them, and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them. That person will send them at once.”

4 This happened so that what the prophet had said came true:

5 “Tell the people of Zion,

‘Your king is coming to you.

He’s gentle,

riding on a donkey,

on a colt, a young pack animal.’”

21:1–5   You kept the prophet’s word. You’re the peaceful king, the gentle ruler. I’ll lay down a royal path.

6 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put their coats on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 Most of the people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowd that went ahead of him and that followed him was shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus came into Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar. People were asking, “Who is this?”

11 The crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

21:9–11   You put the city in an uproar. Some onlookers still didn’t know who you are. You’re the Son! Save us!

Jesus Throws Out the Moneychangers—Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–48

12 Jesus went into the temple courtyard and threw out everyone who was buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers’ tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons. 13 He told them, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you’re turning it into a gathering place for thieves!”

21:12–13   Overturn my life when I mock your house. Throw me out when my motives pollute your worship.

14 Blind and lame people came to him in the temple courtyard, and he healed them.

15 When the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings saw the amazing miracles he performed and the children shouting in the temple courtyard, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were irritated. 16 They said to him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

Jesus replied, “Yes, I do. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of little children and infants, you have created praise’?”

17 He left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.

21:14–17   Your genuine compassion and power irritates people lost in religious ritual. The true praise of children annoys them too.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree—Mark 11:12–14, 20–25

18 In the morning, as Jesus returned to the city, he became hungry. 19 When he saw a fig tree by the road, he went up to the tree and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree, “May fruit never grow on you again!” At once the fig tree dried up.

20 The disciples were surprised to see this. They asked, “How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?”

21 Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 Have faith that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

21:18–22   If I have faith and don’t doubt, I’ll move mountains. I’ll receive what I ask for in prayer.

Jesus’ Authority Challenged—Mark 11:27–33; Luke 20:1–8

23 Then Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”

24 Jesus answered them, “I, too, have a question for you. If you answer it for me, I’ll tell you why I have the right to do these things. 25 Did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?”

They discussed this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘from humans,’ we’re afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you why I have the right to do these things.

21:23–27   Your authority is far more than human. Your right to act comes from heaven. You rule because you’re God.

A Story about Two Sons

28 “What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go to work in the vineyard today.’

29 “His son replied, ‘I don’t want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went.

30 “The father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I will, sir,’ but he didn’t go.

31 “Which of the two sons did what the father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 John came to you and showed you the way that God wants you to live, but you didn’t believe him. The tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. But even after you had seen that, you didn’t change your minds and believe him.

21:28–32   It’s better to rebel and then do right than to never do right at all. Let me be a sinner who turns from wrong and enters your kingdom.

A Story about a Vineyard—Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19

33 “Listen to another illustration. A landowner planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, made a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to vineyard workers and went on a trip.

34 “When the grapes were getting ripe, he sent his servants to the workers to collect his share of the produce. 35 The workers took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned a third to death. 36 So the landowner sent more servants. But the workers treated them the same way.

37 “Finally, he sent his son to them. He thought, ‘They will respect my son.’

38 “When the workers saw his son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him and get his inheritance.’ 39 So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40 “Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those workers?”

41 They answered, “He will destroy those evil people. Then he will lease the vineyard to other workers who will give him his share of the produce when it is ready.”

21:33–41   How many servants do you have to send before I’m willing to hear your message? Will I respect the son—or will I toss him aside as well?

42 Jesus asked them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

The Lord is responsible for this,

and it is amazing for us to see’?

43 That is why I can guarantee that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce what God wants. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken. If the stone falls on anyone, it will crush that person.”[19]

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his illustrations, they knew that he was talking about them. 46 They wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowds, who thought he was a prophet.

21:42–45   You take your kingdom away from people who reject you. You search for a warm welcome.

A Story about a Wedding Reception

22

1 Again Jesus used stories as illustrations when he spoke to them. He said, 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who planned a wedding for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the wedding, but they refused to come. 4 He sent other servants to tell the people who had been invited, ‘I’ve prepared dinner. My bulls and fattened calves have been butchered. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding!’

5 “But they paid no attention and went away. Some went to work in their own fields, and others went to their businesses. 6 The rest grabbed the king’s servants, mistreated them, and then killed them.

7 “The king became angry. He sent his soldiers, killed those murderers, and burned their city.

22:1–7   Forgive me for ignoring your invitation. I’m lost in my own interests. I mistreat your messengers.

8 “Then the king said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited don’t deserve the honor. 9 Go where the roads leave the city. Invite everyone you find to the wedding.’ 10 The servants went into the streets and brought in all the good people and all the evil people they found. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “When the king came to see the guests, he saw a person who was not dressed in the wedding clothes ⌞provided for the guests⌟. 12 He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without proper wedding clothes?’

“The man had nothing to say. 13 Then the king told his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.’

14 “Therefore, many are invited, but few of those are chosen to stay.”

22:8–14   Invite everyone to your wedding. Fill the hall with unexpected guests. Dress us up in good clothes. Choose us to stay.

A Question about Taxes—Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26

15 Then the Pharisees went away and planned to trap Jesus into saying the wrong thing. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with Herod’s followers. They said to him, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth and that you teach the truth about the way of God. You don’t favor individuals because of who they are. 17 So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not?”

18 Jesus recognized their evil plan, so he asked, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me a coin used to pay taxes.”

They brought him a coin. 20 He said to them, “Whose face and name is this?”

21 They replied, “The emperor’s.”

Then he said to them, “Very well, give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God.”

22 They were surprised to hear this. Then they left him alone and went away.

22:15–22   The question might not be hard, but I still need help with the answer. Teach me what I owe others. Show me what only belongs to you.

The Dead Come Back to Life—Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40

23 On that day some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him, 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies childless, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.’ 25 There were seven brothers among us. The first married and died. Since he had no children, he left his widow to his brother. 26 The second brother also died, as well as the third, and the rest of the seven brothers. 27 At last the woman died. 28 Now, when the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? All seven brothers had been married to her.”

29 Jesus answered, “You’re mistaken because you don’t know the Scriptures or God’s power. 30 When people come back to life, they don’t marry. Rather, they are like the angels in heaven. 31 Haven’t you read what God told you about the dead coming back to life? He said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ He’s not the God of the dead but of the living.”

33 He amazed the crowds who heard his teaching.

22:23–32   Call me out when I ask insincere questions. Teach me the truth about who you are and how you work.

Love God and Your Neighbor—Mark 12:28–34

34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 One of them, an expert in Moses’ Teachings, tested Jesus by asking, 36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in Moses’ Teachings?”

37 Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ 40 All of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

22:34–40   I’ll love you with every bit of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I’ll love others at least as much as I love myself. You expect nothing more or less.

How Can David’s Son Be David’s Lord?—Mark 12:35–37a; Luke 20:41–44

41 While the Pharisees were still gathered, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They answered him, “David’s.”

43 He said to them, “Then how can David, guided by the Spirit, call him Lord? David says,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Take the highest position in heaven

until I put your enemies under your control.” ’

45 If David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?”

46 No one could answer him, and from that time on no one dared to ask him another question.

22:41–46   The religious leaders had no idea they were talking to the Messiah. But you reign from the highest place of heaven. Silence my disrespect.

Jesus Disapproves of the Example Set by the Jewish Leaders—Mark 12:37b–40; Luke 20:45–47

23

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees teach with Moses’ authority. 3 So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don’t follow their example, because they don’t practice what they preach. 4 They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

23:1–4   Save me from my self-righteousness. I want my actions to match my words.

5 “They do everything to attract people’s attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long. 6 They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues. 7 They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have people call them Rabbi. 8 But don’t make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers. 9 And don’t call anyone on earth your father, because you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Don’t make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11 The person who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored.

23:5–12   I’m done with trying to attract attention, grabbing the best seat and expecting constant praise. You’re the one teacher. I bow myself to you.

The Hypocrisy of the Jewish Leaders

13 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You don’t enter it yourselves, and you don’t permit others to enter when they try.[20]

15 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You cross land and sea to recruit a single follower, and when you do, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are.

16 “How horrible it will be for you, you blind guides! You say, ‘To swear an oath by the temple doesn’t mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gold in the temple means a person must keep his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! What is more important, the gold or the temple that made the gold holy? 18 Again you say, ‘To swear an oath by the altar doesn’t mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gift on the altar means a person must keep his oath.’ 19 You blind men! What is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? 20 To swear an oath by the altar is to swear by it and by everything on it. 21 To swear an oath by the temple is to swear by it and by the one who lives there. 22 And to swear an oath by heaven is to swear by God’s throne and the one who sits on it.

23 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give ⌞God⌟ one-tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the most important things in Moses’ Teachings. You should have done these things without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain gnats ⌞out of your wine⌟, but you swallow camels.

23:13–24   How horrible when my religion ruins lives and shuts people out of your kingdom. How horrible when I obsess over rules and forget you. How horrible when I carefully measure out my money but neglect to show mercy.

25 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside they are full of greed and uncontrolled desires. 26 You blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cups and dishes so that the outside may also be clean.

27 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed graves that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28 So on the outside you look as though you have God’s approval, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

23:25–28   I’m full of greed and uncontrolled desires. Once I deal with that inner evil, my actions will be pure as well.

29 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of those who had God’s approval. 30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived at the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped to murder the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, finish what your ancestors started!

23:29–32   Forgive me for chasing away your messengers. Speak to me once again. This time I’ll listen!

33 “You snakes! You poisonous snakes! How can you escape being condemned to hell? 34 I’m sending you prophets, wise men, and teachers of the Scriptures. You will kill and crucify some of them. Others you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. 35 As a result, you will be held accountable for all the innocent blood of those murdered on earth, from the murder of righteous Abel to that of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I can guarantee this truth: The people living now will be held accountable for all these things.

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing! 38 Your house will be abandoned, deserted. 39 I can guarantee that you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

23:33–39   My toxic venom condemns me to hell. You’ll hold me accountable for resisting you. But pull me close. This time I’m willing!

Jesus Teaches His Disciples on the Mount of Olives—Mark 13:1–31; Luke 21:5–33

24

1 As Jesus left the temple courtyard and was walking away, his disciples came to him. They proudly pointed out to him the temple buildings. 2 Jesus said to them, “You see all these buildings, don’t you? I can guarantee this truth: Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?”

4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful not to let anyone deceive you. 5 Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people.

6 “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t mean that the end has come. 7 Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All of these are only the beginning pains ⌞of the end⌟.

24:1–8   Many will come with convincing claims to be the Messiah. War and famine will spread. The ground will shake. These are all signs the end is beginning.

9 “Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me. 10 Then many will lose faith. They will betray and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 And because there will be more and more lawlessness, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

24:9–13   Hatred of your people will culminate in torture and murder. Many will lose faith, many will be deceived, and the love of most will grow cold. But I’ll be saved if I endure.

14 “This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come.

15 “The prophet Daniel said that the disgusting thing that will cause destruction will stand in the holy place. When you see this (let the reader take note), 16 those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. 17 Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses. 18 Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats.

19 “How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. 20 Pray that it will not be winter or a day of worship when you flee. 21 There will be a lot of misery at that time, a kind of misery that has not happened from the beginning of the world until now and will certainly never happen again. 22 If God does not reduce the number of those days, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.

24:14–22   The end will come once your Good News spreads around the world. A disgusting thing will stand in the holy place. Misery will overtake the earth.

23 “At that time don’t believe anyone who tells you, ‘Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ 24 False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work spectacular, miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, even those whom God has chosen. 25 Listen! I’ve told you this before it happens. 26 So if someone tells you, ‘He’s in the desert!’ don’t go out ⌞looking for him⌟. And don’t believe anyone who says, ‘He’s in a secret place!’ 27 The Son of Man will come again just as lightning flashes from east to west. 28 Vultures will gather wherever there is a dead body.

29 “Immediately after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.

24:23–29   I’ve met the true Messiah, so I won’t follow fakes. You’ll come like a lightning flash and shake stars.

30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. All the people on earth will cry in agony when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.

32 “Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the door.

34 “I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 35 The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

24:30–35   You’ll appear in the sky and the earth will cry in agony. You’ll come with power and awestriking glory. Gather me as one of your chosen!

No One Knows When the Son of Man Will Return

36 “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows.

37 “When the Son of Man comes again, it will be exactly like the days of Noah. 38 In the days before the flood, people were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship. 39 They were not aware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again.

40 “At that time two men will be working in the field. One will be taken, and the other one will be left. 41 Two women will be working at a mill. One will be taken, and the other one will be left.

42 “Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will return. 43 You realize that if a homeowner had known at what time of the night a thief was coming, he would have stayed awake. He would not have let the thief break into his house. 44 Therefore, you, too, must be ready because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him.

24:36–44   Only the Father knows the time you’ll arrive. People will go about their lives as if nothing is wrong. I’ll stay alert, because you’ll return when I least expect you.

45 “Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? The master will put that person in charge of giving the other servants their food at the right time. 46 That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing this job when he comes. 47 I can guarantee this truth: He will put that servant in charge of all his property. 48 On the other hand, that servant, if he is wicked, may think that it will be a long time before his master comes. 49 The servant may begin to beat the other servants and eat and drink with the drunks. 50 His master will return unexpectedly. 51 Then his master will severely punish him and assign him a place with the hypocrites. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.

24:45–51   When you arrive, I’ll be doing the job you give me. I won’t let wickedness tell me to relax.

A Story about Ten Bridesmaids

25

1 “When the end comes, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids. They took their oil lamps and went to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The foolish bridesmaids took their lamps, but they didn’t take any extra oil. 4 The wise bridesmaids, however, took along extra oil for their lamps. 5 Since the groom was late, all the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight someone shouted, ‘The groom is here! Come to meet him!’ 7 Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.

8 “The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.’

9 “But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘We can’t do that. There won’t be enough for both of us. Go! Find someone to sell you some oil.’

10 “While they were buying oil, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went with him into the wedding hall, and the door was shut.

11 “Later the other bridesmaids arrived and said, ‘Sir, sir, open the door for us!’

12 “But he answered them, ‘I don’t even know who you are!’

13 “So stay awake, because you don’t know the day or the hour.

25:1–13   I intend to be wise. I’ll prepare myself and keep alert for your arrival. I’ll stay awake because I don’t know your day or hour.

A Story about Three Servants

14 “The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and entrusted some money to them. 15 He gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Each was given money based on his ability. Then the man went on his trip.

16 “The one who received ten thousand dollars invested the money at once and doubled his money. 17 The one who had four thousand dollars did the same and also doubled his money. 18 But the one who received two thousand dollars went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

25:14–18   You entrust me with amazing things. You expect me to put your resources to work, not toss them in a hole.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who received ten thousand dollars brought the additional ten thousand. He said, ‘Sir, you gave me ten thousand dollars. I’ve doubled the amount.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.’

22 “The one who received four thousand dollars came and said, ‘Sir, you gave me four thousand dollars. I’ve doubled the amount.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.’

24 “Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven’t planted and gather where you haven’t scattered any seeds. 25 I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here’s your money!’

25:19–25   When you return and settle accounts, I want you to discover I’ve been faithful. I’ll make the most of whatever you give me.

26 “His master responded, ‘You evil and lazy servant! If you knew that I harvest where I haven’t planted and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Take the two thousand dollars away from him! Give it to the one who has the ten thousand! 29 To all who have, more will be given, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much. 30 Throw this useless servant outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.’

25:26–30   Convict me when I’m too evil and lazy to do your work. Correct me now before it’s too late.

Jesus Will Judge the World

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.

25:31–33   You’ll come in glory surrounded by angels. You’ll sit on your glorious throne and gather the nations. You’ll separate people like a shepherd sorts sheep from goats.

34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. 36 I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then the people who have God’s approval will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant ⌞they seemed⌟, you did for me.’

25:34–40   Those on your right you’ll welcome into the kingdom you’ve been preparing since creation. They cared for your needs with no thought of reward. They didn’t even know it was you they were serving.

41 “Then the king will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me! God has cursed you! Go into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me into your homes. I needed clothes, and you didn’t give me anything to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t take care of me.’

44 “They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or in need of clothes or sick or in prison and didn’t help you?’

45 “He will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant ⌞they seemed⌟, you failed to do for me.’

46 “These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God’s approval will go into eternal life.”

25:41–46   Those on your left you’ll cast into everlasting fire. Shake me now when I turn my back on people in need.

The Plot to Kill Jesus—Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–6; John 11:45–57

26

1 When Jesus finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, 2 “You know that the Passover will take place in two days. At that time the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

3 Then the chief priests and the leaders of the people gathered in the palace of the chief priest Caiaphas. 4 They made plans to arrest Jesus in an underhanded way and to kill him. 5 But they said, “We shouldn’t arrest him during the festival, or else there may be a riot among the people.”

26:1–5   You knew exactly what was coming. Your opponents plotted your arrest.

A Woman Prepares Jesus’ Body for the Tomb—Mark 14:3–9; John 12:1–8

6 Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. 7 While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him with a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head.

8 The disciples were irritated when they saw this. They asked, “Why did she waste it like this? 9 It could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor.”

10 Since Jesus knew what was going on, he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11 You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you. 12 She poured this perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb. 13 I can guarantee this truth: Wherever this Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

26:6–13   No expense is too great to do a beautiful thing for you. You understood you were being prepared for the tomb.

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus—Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6

14 Then one of the twelve apostles, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests. 15 He asked, “What will you pay me if I hand him over to you?”

They offered him 30 silver coins. 16 From then on, he looked for a chance to betray Jesus.

Preparations for the Passover—Mark 14:12–17; Luke 22:7–17

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples went to Jesus. They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

18 He said, “Go to a certain man in the city, and tell him that the teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”

19 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was at the table with the twelve apostles.

Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him—Mark 14:18–21; Luke 22:21–23; John 13:21–30

21 While they were eating, he said, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me.”

22 Feeling deeply hurt, they asked him one by one, “You don’t mean me, do you, Lord?”

23 Jesus answered, “Someone who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man. It would have been better for that person if he had never been born.”

25 Then Judas, who betrayed him, asked, “You don’t mean me, do you, Rabbi?”

“Yes, I do,” Jesus replied.

26:14–25   What would it take for me to betray you? How cheap would I sell you out? You know my weaknesses. Help me guard my heart.

The Lord’s Supper—Mark 14:22–26; Luke 22:19–20

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take this, and eat it. This is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood, the blood of the promise.[21] It is poured out for many people so that sins are forgiven.

29 “I can guarantee that I won’t drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 After they sang a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives.

26:26–30   You broke your body. You poured out your blood. It was a promise. Sins are forgiven.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial—Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38

31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will abandon me tonight. Scripture says,

‘I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep in the flock will be scattered.’

32 “But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”

33 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I never will.”

34 Jesus replied to Peter, “I can guarantee this truth: Before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”

35 Peter told him, “Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never say that I don’t know you!” All the other disciples said the same thing.

26:31–35   What would it take for me to deny you? How little pressure would force me to say I don’t know you?

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane—Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46

36 Then Jesus went with the disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.”

37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons with him. He was beginning to feel deep anguish. 38 Then he said to them, “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake with me.”

39 After walking a little farther, he quickly bowed with his face to the ground and prayed, “Father, if it’s possible, let this cup ⌞of suffering⌟ be taken away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.”

40 When he went back to the disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? 41 Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.”

42 Then he went away a second time and prayed, “Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, let your will be done.”

43 He found them asleep again because they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

44 After leaving them again, he went away and prayed the same prayer a third time. 45 Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, “You might as well sleep now. The time is near for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 46 Get up! Let’s go! The one who is betraying me is near.”

26:36–46   Anguish crushed to the point of death. You struggled to drink the cup of suffering, but you submitted to your Father’s will. I long to do what’s right, but I’m weak. Help me stay awake.

Jesus Is Arrested—Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–54a; John 18:1–14

47 Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A large crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests and leaders of the people. 48 Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, “The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him!”

49 Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?”

Then some men came forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51 Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest’s servant. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword away! All who use a sword will be killed by a sword. 53 Don’t you think that I could call on my Father to send more than twelve legions of angels to help me now? 54 How, then, are the Scriptures to be fulfilled that say this must happen?”

55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? I used to sit teaching in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn’t arrest me then. 56 All of this has happened so that what the prophets have written would come true.”

Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.

26:47–56   You could have called down armies of angels to save you. But you fulfilled the Scriptures instead. A crowd took you away as if you were a criminal.

The Trial in Front of the Jewish Council—Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:63–71

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the chief priest, where the experts in Moses’ Teachings and the leaders had gathered together. 58 Peter followed at a distance until he came to the chief priest’s courtyard. He went inside and sat with the guards to see how this would turn out.

59 The chief priests and the whole council were searching for false testimony to use against Jesus in order to execute him. 60 But they did not find any, although many came forward with false testimony. At last two men came forward. 61 They stated, “This man said, ‘I can tear down God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’”

26:57–61   Your accusers searched for anything to use against you. They unknowingly echoed your own promise—you would be killed and rise.

62 The chief priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men testify against you?”

63 But Jesus was silent.

Then the chief priest said to him, “Swear an oath in front of the living God and tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”

64 Jesus answered him, “Yes, I am. But I can guarantee that from now on you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the chief priest tore his robes in horror and said, “He has dishonored God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You’ve just heard him dishonor God! 66 What’s your verdict?”

They answered, “He deserves the death penalty!”

67 Then they spit in his face, hit him with their fists, and some of them slapped him. 68 They said, “You Christ, if you’re a prophet, tell us who hit you.”

26:63–68   You swore you’re the Messiah, the Son of God, and soon you would be seen in heaven’s highest position. Your accusers said your words were worthy of death!

Peter Denies Jesus—Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54b–62; John 18:15–18, 25–27

69 Peter was sitting in the courtyard. A female servant came to him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean.”

70 But Peter denied it in front of them all by saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

71 As he went to the entrance, another female servant saw him. She told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus from Nazareth.”

72 Again Peter denied it and swore with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”

73 After a little while the men standing there approached Peter and said, “It’s obvious you’re also one of them. Your accent gives you away!”

74 Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Just then a rooster crowed. 75 Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.

26:69–75   Who am I to sneer at Peter? I’m just as easily scared. Forgive me for all the times I’ve acted like I don’t know you.

The Death of Judas

27

1 Early in the morning all the chief priests and the leaders of the people decided to execute Jesus. 2 They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

3 Then Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, regretted what had happened when he saw that Jesus was condemned. He brought the 30 silver coins back to the chief priests and leaders. 4 He said, “I’ve sinned by betraying an innocent man.”

They replied, “What do we care? That’s your problem.”

5 So he threw the money into the temple, went away, and hanged himself.

6 The chief priests took the money and said, “It’s not right to put it into the temple treasury, because it’s blood money.” 7 So they decided to use it to buy a potter’s field for the burial of strangers. 8 That’s why that field has been called the Field of Blood ever since. 9 Then what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true, “They took the 30 silver coins, the price the people of Israel had placed on him, 10 and used the coins to buy a potter’s field, as the Lord had directed me.”

27:1–10   Leaders made up their mind to execute you. They tied you up and led you away. Judas couldn’t undo the evil he’d done. His death fulfilled the prophet’s words.

Pilate Questions Jesus—Mark 15:1–5; Luke 23:1–4; John 18:28–38

11 Jesus stood in front of the governor, ⌞Pilate⌟. The governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Yes, I am,” Jesus answered.

12 While the chief priests and leaders were accusing him, he said nothing. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they’re bringing against you?”

14 But Jesus said absolutely nothing to him in reply, so the governor was very surprised.

27:11–14   You admitted you’re the king of the Jews. You didn’t defend yourself against all the charges against you.

The Crowd Rejects Jesus—Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:18–25; John 18:39, 40

15 At every Passover festival the governor would free one prisoner whom the crowd wanted. 16 At that time there was a well-known prisoner by the name of Barabbas. 17 So when the people gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which man do you want me to free for you? Do you want me to free Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ?” 18 Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.

19 While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, “Leave that innocent man alone. I’ve been very upset today because of a dream I had about him.”

20 But the chief priests and leaders persuaded the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.

21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to free for you?”

They said, “Barabbas.”

22 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?”

“He should be crucified!” they all said.

23 Pilate asked, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they began to shout loudly, “He should be crucified!”

27:15–23   Pilate knew jealousy had handed you over. His wife told him to leave you alone. He pandered to the crowd even though he knew you had done nothing wrong.

24 Pilate saw that he was not getting anywhere. Instead, a riot was breaking out. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, “I won’t be guilty of killing this man. Do what you want!”

25 All the people answered, “The responsibility for killing him will rest on us and our children.”

26 Then Pilate freed Barabbas for the people. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

27:24–26   A riot was breaking out. Would I have shouted for your death? Would I have taken responsibility for killing you?

The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus—Mark 15:16–19; John 19:1–3

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the palace and gathered the whole troop around him. 28 They took off his clothes and put a bright red cape on him. 29 They twisted some thorns into a crown, placed it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. They knelt in front of him and made fun of him by saying, “Long live the king of the Jews!” 30 After they had spit on him, they took the stick and kept hitting him on the head with it.

27:27–30   Soldiers stripped you. Mocked you. Spit on you. Struck you.

The Crucifixion—Mark 15:20–32; Luke 23:33–38; John 19:16b–24

31 After the soldiers finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

32 On the way they found a man named Simon. He was from the city of Cyrene. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.

33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 They gave him a drink of wine mixed with a drug called gall. When he tasted it, he refused to drink it. 35 After they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. 36 Then they sat there and kept watch over him. 37 They placed a written accusation above his head. It read, “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”

27:31–37   What were you thinking about as soldiers led you to the place of the skull? Did you wonder about calling down angels?

38 At that time they crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and the other on his left.

39 Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads 40 and said, “You were going to tear down God’s temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 The chief priests together with the experts in Moses’ Teachings and the leaders made fun of him in the same way. They said, 42 “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. So he’s Israel’s king! Let him come down from the cross now, and we’ll believe him. 43 He trusted God. Let God rescue him now if he wants. After all, this man said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 Even the criminals crucified with him were insulting him the same way.

27:38–44   Would I have mocked you? Would I have considered myself better than you? Would I have dared God to save you?

Jesus Dies on the Cross—Mark 15:33–41; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30

45 At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 47 When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 One of the men ran at once, took a sponge, and soaked it in some vinegar. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink. 49 The others said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 Then Jesus loudly cried out once again and gave up his life.

27:45–50   You cried in utter loneliness. Then you died.

51 Suddenly, the curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split open. 52 The tombs were opened, and the bodies of many holy people who had died came back to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after he had come back to life, and they went into the holy city where they appeared to many people.

54 An army officer and those watching Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things happening. They were terrified and said, “Certainly, this was the Son of God!”

55 Many women were there watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee and had always supported him. 56 Among them were Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

27:51–56   The temple veil split from heaven to earth. The ground shook, tombs opened, and holy people came back to life. Surely you are the Son of God!

Jesus Is Placed in a Tomb—Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42

57 In the evening a rich man named Joseph arrived. He was from the city of Arimathea and had become a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. 60 Then he laid it in his own new tomb, which had been cut in a rock. After rolling a large stone against the door of the tomb, he went away. 61 Mary from Magdala and the other Mary were sitting there, facing the tomb.

27:57–61   A disciple claimed your body. He wrapped you in clean linen and laid you in his own tomb. He sealed you inside as women watched. Where would I have been?

The Chief Priests and Pharisees Secure Jesus’ Tomb

62 The next day, which was the day of worship, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together and went to Pilate. 63 They said, “Sir, we remember how that deceiver said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be brought back to life.’ 64 Therefore, give the order to make the tomb secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may steal him and say to the people, ‘He has been brought back to life.’ Then the last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 Pilate told them, “You have the soldiers you want for guard duty. Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

66 So they went to secure the tomb. They placed a seal on the stone and posted the soldiers on guard duty.

27:62–66   The religious leaders secured your tomb and set a guard. They wanted you stuck in the grave.

Jesus Comes Back to Life—Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–10

28

1 After the day of worship, as the sun rose Sunday morning, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it. 3 He was as bright as lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. 4 The guards were so deathly afraid of him that they shook.

5 The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you’re looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He’s not here. He has been brought back to life as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying. 7 Then go quickly, and tell his disciples that he has been brought back to life. He’s going ahead of them into Galilee. There they will see him. Take note that I have told you.”

28:1–7   The guards shook when they saw an angel perched on the open grave. Your messenger told amazing news. You’re alive!

8 They hurried away from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.

9 Suddenly, Jesus met them and greeted them. They went up to him, bowed down to worship him, and took hold of his feet.

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go, tell my followers to go to Galilee. There they will see me.”

28:8–10   The women hurried off with fear and joy. Suddenly you met them. They bowed to worship, but you sent them away with a message.

The Guards Report to the Chief Priests

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened.

12 The chief priests gathered together with the leaders and agreed on a plan. They gave the soldiers a large amount of money 13 and told them to say that Jesus’ disciples had come at night and had stolen his body while they were sleeping. 14 ⌞They added,⌟ “If the governor hears about it, we’ll take care of it, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

15 The soldiers took the money and did as they were told. Their story has been spread among the Jewish people to this day.

28:11–15   Money silenced the soldiers. They spread a lie that your followers had stolen your body while they slept.

Jesus Gives Instructions to the Disciples

16 The eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they bowed down in worship, though some had doubts.

18 When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to do everything I have commanded you.

“And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”

28:16–20   You have all authority. You send me to make disciples. I’ll teach them to do everything you command. You’re with me until the end of time!

MARK

INTRODUCTION

Mark presents the facts about Jesus. If you want a rapid-fire account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, this is it. Presumed by most scholars to be the earliest account of Jesus, the book of Mark presents the recollections of the apostle Peter, who along with James and John formed Jesus’ inner circle.

The action in Mark moves quickly, with the words “then” and “immediately” used more than forty times. The book omits any story of Jesus’ birth and launches into “the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1), giving bare descriptions of his baptism, temptation, and gathering of his first followers. The book highlights his miracles, healings, and episodes of freeing people from oppressive evil spirits. Giving less coverage of the content of Jesus’ teaching than Matthew, Luke, or John, the book concludes with details of the last week of his life that fill almost 40 percent of its length.

Mark most likely wrote for readers in Rome, a sophisticated non-Jewish audience who knew little of the Old Testament. Their immediate concern was persecution and martyrdom at the hands of emperor Nero, and Mark’s short account helps them understand that their Lord had likewise faced opposition and death yet emerged victorious.

Praying this book brings you face-to-face with the Son of God, who came to free this world from bondage, prompting you to talk with the one who lived, died, and rose on your behalf.

MARK

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16

John Prepares the Way—Matthew 3:1–12; Luke 3:1–18

1

1 This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 The prophet Isaiah wrote,

“I am sending my messenger ahead of you

to prepare the way for you.”

3 “A voice cries out in the desert:

‘Prepare the way for the Lord!

Make his paths straight!’”

1:1–3   This is where Good News starts. I’m getting ready for your arrival. I’m clearing you a path to my heart!

4 John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance[1] for the forgiveness of sins. 5 All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

6 John was dressed in clothes made from camel’s hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

7 He announced, “The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

1:4–8   I admit my sins. I name them one by one. Shake my self-satisfaction so I eagerly seek your forgiveness. Wash me with your Spirit.

John Baptizes Jesus—Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 3:21–22

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove. 11 A voice from heaven said, “You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you.”

Satan Tempts Jesus—Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13

12 At once the Spirit brought him into the desert, 13 where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was there with the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.

1:9–13   I long to please you. Help me stand up to relentless temptation.

Calling of the First Disciples—Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 5:1–11

14 After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God. 15 He said, “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News.”

16 As he was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed him.

19 As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets ⌞to go fishing⌟. 20 He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus.

1:14–20   Your kingdom is here. I’m changing the way I think and act. I’m believing your Good News and following without hesitation. I’m bringing others along.

Jesus Forces an Evil Spirit out of a Man—Luke 4:31–37

21 Then they went to Capernaum. On the next day of worship, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their experts in Moses’ Teachings, he taught them with authority.

23 At that time there was a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit. He shouted, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

25 Jesus ordered the spirit, “Keep quiet, and come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out of him with a loud shriek.

27 Everyone was stunned. They said to each other, “What is this? This is a new teaching that has authority behind it! He gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him.”

28 The news about him spread quickly throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

1:21–28   Your authoritative words amaze me. So teach me today. Take charge of the evil that dominates me. Make it leave me and never come back.

Jesus Cures Simon’s Mother-in-Law and Many Others—Matthew 8:14–18; Luke 4:38–41

29 After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. The first thing they did was to tell Jesus about her. 31 Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her get up. The fever went away, and she prepared a meal for them.

32 In the evening, when the sun had set, people brought to him everyone who was sick and those possessed by demons. 33 The whole city had gathered at his door. 34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases and forced many demons out of people. However, he would not allow the demons to speak. After all, they knew who he was.

1:29–34   You heal every disease and chase away demons. Take my hand and get me up to serve you. I’ll tell the world what you’ve done.

Spreading the Good News in Galilee—Matthew 4:23–25; Luke 4:42–44

35 In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray. 36 Simon and his friends searched for him. 37 When they found him, they told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

38 Jesus said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the small towns that are nearby. I have to spread ⌞the Good News⌟ in them also. This is why I have come.”

39 So he went to spread ⌞the Good News⌟ in the synagogues all over Galilee, and he forced demons out of people.

1:35–39   I’ll make time to give you my sole attention. I won’t let anything distract me from talking with you.

Jesus Cures a Man with a Skin Disease—Matthew 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–14

40 Then a man with a serious skin disease came to him. The man fell to his knees and begged Jesus, “If you’re willing, you can make me clean.”[2]

41 Jesus felt sorry for him, reached out, touched him, and said, “I’m willing. So be clean!”

42 Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.

43 Jesus sent him away at once and warned him, 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifices which Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.”

45 When the man left, he began to talk freely. He spread his story so widely that Jesus could no longer enter any city openly. Instead, he stayed in places where he could be alone. But people still kept coming to him from everywhere.

1:40–45   There’s no question you’re willing to heal me. So why are parts of me still unclean and unsound? Wash me. Fix me. Send me to tell my story.

Jesus Forgives Sins—Matthew 9:1–8; Luke 5:17–26

2

1 Several days later Jesus came back to Capernaum. The report went out that he was home. 2 Many people had gathered. There was no room left, even in front of the door. Jesus was speaking ⌞God’s⌟ word to them.

3 Four men came to him carrying a paralyzed man. 4 Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Some experts in Moses’ Teachings were sitting there. They thought, 7 “Why does he talk this way? He’s dishonoring God. Who besides God can forgive sins?”

8 At once, Jesus knew inwardly what they were thinking. He asked them, “Why do you have these thoughts? 9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your cot, and walk’? 10 I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I’m telling you to get up, pick up your cot, and go home!”

12 The man got up, immediately picked up his cot, and walked away while everyone watched. Everyone was amazed and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

2:1–12   Why forgive a paralyzed man? Wouldn’t he prefer to walk? What gift would you rather give me—and why? Heal every one of my broken places.

Jesus Chooses Levi [Matthew] to Be a Disciple—Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 5:27–32

13 Jesus went to the seashore again. Large crowds came to him, and he taught them.

14 When Jesus was leaving, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” So Levi got up and followed him.

15 Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house. Many tax collectors and sinners who were followers of Jesus were eating with him and his disciples. 16 When the experts in Moses’ Teachings who were Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard that, he said to them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do. I’ve come to call sinners, not people who think they have God’s approval.”

2:14–17   You startle me with your loving attention. You come looking for people like me. I’m certain I don’t have your approval. I need a doctor. I’m not well.

Jesus Is Questioned about Fasting—Matthew 9:14–17; Luke 5:33–39

18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came to Jesus and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples don’t?”

19 Jesus replied, “Can wedding guests fast while the groom is still with them? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.

21 “No one patches an old coat with a new piece of cloth that will shrink. Otherwise, the new patch will shrink and rip away some of the old cloth, and the tear will become worse. 22 People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins.”

2:18–22   Challenge my religious habits. Surprise me by doing something fresh in my life.

Jesus Has Authority over the Day of Worship—Matthew 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5

23 Once on a day of worship Jesus was going through the grainfields. As the disciples walked along, they began to pick the heads of grain.

24 The Pharisees asked him, “Look! Why are your disciples doing something that is not permitted on the day of worship?”

25 Jesus asked them, “Haven’t you ever read what David did when he and his men were in need and were hungry? 26 Haven’t you ever read how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was chief priest and ate the bread of the presence? He had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right. Haven’t you ever read how he also gave some of it to his men?”

27 Then he added, “The day of worship was made for people, not people for the day of worship. 28 For this reason the Son of Man has authority over the day of worship.”

2:23–28   You’re more important than my religious rules. I don’t want to lose you in a clutter of spiritual tradition.

Jesus Heals on the Day of Worship—Matthew 12:9–15a; Luke 6:6–11

3

1 Jesus went into a synagogue again. A man who had a paralyzed hand was there. 2 The people were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.

3 So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand in the center ⌞of the synagogue⌟.” 4 Then he asked them, “Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship, to give a person back his health or to let him die?”

But they were silent. 5 Jesus was angry as he looked around at them. He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed. Then he told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held it out, and his hand became normal again.

6 The Pharisees left, and with Herod’s followers they immediately plotted to kill Jesus.

3:1–6   You’re angry with my silent insensitivity. You’re hurt when my neglect lets others suffer or die. Teach me compassion!

Many People Are Cured—Luke 6:17–19

7 Jesus left with his disciples for the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd from Galilee, Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, and from across the Jordan River, and from around Tyre and Sidon followed him. They came to him because they had heard about everything he was doing. 9 Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready so that the crowd would not crush him. 10 He had cured so many that everyone with a disease rushed up to him in order to touch him. 11 Whenever people with evil spirits saw him, they would fall down in front of him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12 He gave them orders not to tell people who he was.

3:7–12   The crowds notice you’re different. The sick rush to you. The demons shout your identity. Don’t let me take you for granted.

Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles—Matthew 10:1–4; Luke 6:13–16

13 Jesus went up a mountain, called those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve whom he called apostles.[3] They were to accompany him and to be sent out by him to spread ⌞the Good News⌟. 15 They also had the authority to force demons out of people.

16 He appointed these twelve: Simon (whom Jesus named Peter), 17 James and his brother John (Zebedee’s sons whom Jesus named Boanerges, which means “Thunderbolts”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus).

3:13–19   Invite me to walk with you. Send me out to spread the Good News.

Jesus Is Accused of Working with Beelzebul—Matthew 12:22–32; Luke 11:14–23

20 Then Jesus went home. Another crowd gathered so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat. 21 When his family heard about it, they went to get him. They said, “He’s out of his mind!”

22 The experts in Moses’ Teachings who had come from Jerusalem said, “Beelzebul is in him,” and “He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons.”

23 Jesus called them together and used this illustration: “How can Satan force out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. 25 And if a household is divided against itself, that household will not last. 26 So if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot last. That will be the end of him.

27 “No one can go into a strong man’s house and steal his property. First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through the strong man’s house and steal his property.

28 “I can guarantee this truth: People will be forgiven for any sin or curse. 29 But whoever curses the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He is guilty of an everlasting sin.” 30 Jesus said this because the experts in Moses’ Teachings had said that he had an evil spirit.

3:20–30   Your family thought you had gone mad. Scribes thought you had teamed up with the devil. Woe to me if I speak against your work.

The True Family of Jesus—Matthew 12:46–50; Luke 8:19–21

31 Then his mother and his brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent someone to ask him to come out. 32 The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 He replied to them, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 34 Then looking at those who sat in a circle around him, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. 35 Whoever does what God wants is my brother and sister and mother.”

3:31–35   Did your family come to retrieve their crazy son—their brother gone insane? I’d rather do your will than be understood by my family.

A Story about a Farmer—Matthew 13:1–23; Luke 8:4–15

4

1 Jesus began to teach again by the Sea of Galilee. A very large crowd gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat in it. The boat was in the water while the entire crowd lined the shore. 2 He used stories as illustrations to teach them many things.

While he was teaching them, he said, 3 “Listen! A farmer went to plant seed. 4 Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn’t deep. 6 When the sun came up, they were scorched. They didn’t have any roots, so they withered. 7 Other seeds were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up and choked them, and they didn’t produce anything. 8 But other seeds were planted on good ground, sprouted, and produced thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted.” 9 He added, “Let the person who has ears listen!”

10 When he was alone with his followers and the twelve apostles, they asked him about the stories.

11 Jesus replied to them, “The mystery about the kingdom of God has been given ⌞directly⌟ to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories:

12 ‘They see clearly but don’t perceive.

They hear clearly but don’t understand.

They never return to me

and are never forgiven.’”

4:10–12   Teach me your kingdom mysteries. Speak clearly. I’m not always quick to understand.

13 Jesus asked them, “Don’t you understand this story? How, then, will you understand any of the stories I use as illustrations?

14 “The farmer plants the word. 15 Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. Whenever they hear the word, Satan comes at once and takes away the word that was planted in them. 16 Other people are like seeds that were planted on rocky ground. Whenever they hear the word, they accept it at once with joy. 17 But they don’t develop any roots. They last for a short time. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, they immediately fall ⌞from faith⌟. 18 Other people are like seeds planted among thornbushes. They hear the word, 19 but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of riches, and the desires for other things take over. They choke the word so that it can’t produce anything. 20 Others are like seeds planted on good ground. They hear the word, accept it, and produce crops—thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted.”

4:13–20   I want to be good ground—to hear your word, trust it, and produce an abundant harvest. Keep Satan from stealing your word. Warn me when my faith has no depth. Point out anything that overpowers your voice.

A Story about a Lamp

21 Jesus said to them, “Does anyone bring a lamp into a room to put it under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a lamp stand? 22 There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light. 23 Let the person who has ears listen!”

24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you’re listening to! ⌞Knowledge⌟ will be measured out to you by the measure ⌞of attention⌟ you give. This is the way knowledge increases. 25 Those who understand ⌞these mysteries⌟ will be given ⌞more knowledge⌟. However, some people don’t understand ⌞these mysteries⌟. Even what they understand will be taken away from them.”

4:21–25   I’m paying attention. The closer I listen, the more you teach me and the more I understand.

A Story about Seeds That Grow

26 Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground. 27 He sleeps at night and is awake during the day. The seeds sprout and grow, although the man doesn’t know how. 28 The ground produces grain by itself. First the green blade appears, then the head, then the head full of grain. 29 As soon as the grain is ready, he cuts it with a sickle, because harvest time has come.”

A Story about a Mustard Seed—Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19

30 Jesus asked, “How can we show what the kingdom of God is like? To what can we compare it? 31 It’s like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth. 32 However, when planted, it comes up and becomes taller than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that birds can nest in its shade.”

33 Jesus spoke ⌞God’s⌟ word to them using many illustrations like these. In this way people could understand what he taught. 34 He did not speak to them without using an illustration. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

4:26–34   Your kingdom looks like a mustard seed. What seems trivial at the start matures into an enormous tree.

Jesus Calms the Sea—Matthew 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25

35 That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side.”

36 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus along in a boat just as he was. Other boats were with him.

37 A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up. 38 But he was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat.

So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to die?”

4:35–38   Sometimes I wonder if you sleep through my storms. But I know you don’t want me to die.

39 Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, “Be still, absolutely still!” The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.

40 He asked them, “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith yet?”

41 They were overcome with fear and asked each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

4:39–41   Calm the waves that threaten to swamp me. Tell them to be absolutely still. I’m not a coward. I’m learning to trust you.

Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Man—Matthew 8:28–34; Luke 8:26–39

5

1 They arrived in the territory of the Gerasenes on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. 2 As Jesus stepped out of the boat, a man came out of the tombs and met him. The man was controlled by an evil spirit 3 and lived among the tombs. No one could restrain him any longer, not even with a chain. 4 He had often been chained hand and foot. However, he snapped the chains off his hands and broke the chains from his feet. No one could control him. 5 Night and day he was among the tombs and on the mountainsides screaming and cutting himself with stones.

6 The man saw Jesus at a distance. So he ran ⌞to Jesus⌟, bowed down in front of him, 7 and shouted, “Why are you bothering me now, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me.” 8 He shouted this because Jesus said, “You evil spirit, come out of the man.”

9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

He told Jesus, “My name is Legion [Six Thousand], because there are many of us.” 10 He begged Jesus not to send them out of the territory.

5:1–10   An evil spirit recognized you as soon as you spoke. Legion was beyond human restraint. His screams echoed among the tombs.

11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on a mountainside nearby. 12 The demons begged him, “Send us into the pigs! Let us enter them!”

13 Jesus let them do this. The evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and drowned.

14 Those who took care of the pigs ran away. In the city and countryside they reported everything that had happened. So the people came to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. The man was sitting there dressed and in his right mind. The people were frightened. 16 Those who saw this told what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17 Then the people began to beg Jesus to leave their territory.

18 As Jesus stepped into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him, “Let me stay with you.” 19 But Jesus would not allow it. Instead, he told the man, “Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been to you.”

20 So the man left. He began to tell how much Jesus had done for him in the Ten Cities.[4] Everyone was amazed.

5:11–20   Two thousand pigs hurried off a cliff. But you gave back the mind of a man once possessed. I’ll tell amazing stories of your merciful and awesome deeds.

Jairus’ Daughter and a Woman with Chronic Bleeding—Matthew 9:18–26; Luke 8:40–56

21 Jesus again crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a boat. A large crowd gathered around him by the seashore.

22 A synagogue leader named Jairus also arrived. When he saw Jesus, he quickly bowed down in front of him. 23 He begged Jesus, “My little daughter is dying. Come, lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live.”

5:21–23   Do you always draw a crowd? Does everyone bring you life-and-death needs? Do you have time for my everyday troubles?

24 Jesus went with the man. A huge crowd followed Jesus and pressed him on every side.

25 In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. 26 Although she had been under the care of many doctors and had spent all her money, she had not been helped at all. Actually, she had become worse. 27 Since she had heard about Jesus, she came from behind in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28 She said, “If I can just touch his clothes, I’ll get well.” 29 Her bleeding stopped immediately. She felt cured from her illness.

30 At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 His disciples said to him, “How can you ask, ‘Who touched me,’ when you see the crowd pressing you on all sides?”

32 But he kept looking around to see the woman who had done this. 33 The woman trembled with fear. She knew what had happened to her. So she quickly bowed in front of him and told him the whole truth.

34 Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness.”

35 While Jesus was still speaking to her, some people came from the synagogue leader’s home. They told the synagogue leader, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher anymore?”

5:24–35   Everyone wants a piece of you, but I bow when I feel your power. Cure me. Send me away in peace.

36 When Jesus overheard what they said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid! Just believe.”

37 Jesus allowed no one to go with him except Peter and the two brothers James and John. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a noisy crowd there. People were crying and sobbing loudly. 39 When he came into the house, he asked them, “Why are you making so much noise and crying? The child isn’t dead. She’s just sleeping.”

40 They laughed at him. So he made all of them go outside. Then he took the child’s father, mother, and his three disciples and went to the child. 41 Jesus took the child’s hand and said to her, “Talitha, koum!” which means, “Little girl, I’m telling you to get up!”

42 The girl got up at once and started to walk. (She was twelve years old.) They were astonished.

43 Jesus ordered them not to let anyone know about this. He also told them to give the little girl something to eat.

5:36–43   I trust you when you say I shouldn’t fear. I’m convinced you possess power over death. You’ve astonished me too many times to question your might.

Nazareth Rejects Jesus—Matthew 13:54–58; Luke 4:14–30

6

1 Jesus left that place and went to his hometown. His disciples followed him. 2 When the day of worship came, he began to teach in the synagogue. He amazed many who heard him. They asked, “Where did this man get these ideas? Who gave him this kind of wisdom and the ability to do such great miracles? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they took offense at him.

4 But Jesus told them, “The only place a prophet isn’t honored is in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” 5 He couldn’t work any miracles there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and cure them. 6 Their unbelief amazed him.

6:1–6   Your old neighbors’ unbelief was amazing. The more I know you, the more I grasp the reality of your ideas, wisdom, and ability.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve—Matthew 10:5–42; Luke 9:1–6

Then Jesus went around to the villages and taught.

7 He called the twelve apostles, sent them out two by two, and gave them authority over evil spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick. They were not to take any food, a traveling bag, or money in their pockets. 9 They could wear sandals but could not take along a change of clothes.

10 He told them, “Whenever you go into a home, stay there until you’re ready to leave that place. 11 Wherever people don’t welcome you or listen to you, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them.”

12 So the apostles went and told people that they should turn to God and change the way they think and act. 13 They also forced many demons out of people and poured oil on many who were sick to cure them.

6:7–13   I won’t give you reason to shake the dust off your feat. I’ll come back to you. I’ll change how I think and act.

Recalling John’s Death—Matthew 14:1–12; Luke 9:7–9

14 King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus’ name had become well-known. Some people were saying, “John the Baptizer has come back to life. That’s why he has the power to perform these miracles.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” Still others said, “He is a prophet like one of the other prophets.” 16 But when Herod heard about it, he said, “I had John’s head cut off, and he has come back to life!”

17 Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip’s wife.) 18 John had been telling Herod, “It’s not right for you to be married to your brother’s wife.”

19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she wasn’t allowed to do it 20 because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

6:17–20   Help me deal with the disturbing words of holy people who call out my sin. Help me take them to heart.

21 An opportunity finally came on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee. 22 His daughter, that is, Herodias’ daughter, came in and danced. Herod and his guests were delighted with her. The king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 He swore an oath to her: “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.”

24 So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”

Her mother said, “Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.”

25 So the girl hurried back to the king with her request. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter at once.”

26 The king deeply regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. 27 Immediately, the king sent a guard and ordered him to bring John’s head. The guard cut off John’s head in prison. 28 Then he brought the head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came for his body and laid it in a tomb.

6:21–29   Warn me when I’m about to act stupid and cruel. I need to stop protecting my pride and quit worrying what others think.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand—Matthew 14:13–21; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus. They reported to him everything they had done and taught. 31 So he said to them, “Let’s go to a place where we can be alone to rest for a while.” Many people were coming and going, and Jesus and the apostles didn’t even have a chance to eat.

32 So they went away in a boat to a place where they could be alone. 33 But many people saw them leave and recognized them. The people ran from all the cities and arrived ahead of them. 34 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd and felt sorry for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So he spent a lot of time teaching them.

6:30–34   You spent time with your closest followers, resting and eating. You spent time teaching the crowds, shepherding lost sheep.

35 When it was late, his disciples came to him. They said, “No one lives around here, and it’s already late. 36 Send the people to the closest farms and villages to buy themselves something to eat.”

37 Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “Should we go and spend about a year’s wages on bread to feed them?”

38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

When they found out, they told him, “Five loaves of bread and two fish.”

39 Then he ordered all of them to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

41 After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the people. He also gave pieces of the two fish to everyone. 42 All of them ate as much as they wanted. 43 When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets with bread and fish. 44 There were 5,000 men who had eaten the bread.

6:35–44   I come to you hungry. I have nowhere else to eat. I don’t underestimate your power. I know you can do a lot with a little to meet my urgent needs.

Jesus Walks on the Sea—Matthew 14:22–36; John 6:15–21

45 Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away. 46 After saying goodbye to them, he went up a mountain to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.

48 Jesus saw that they were in a lot of trouble as they rowed, because they were going against the wind. Between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them. 49 When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought, “It’s a ghost!” and they began to scream. 50 All of them saw him and were terrified.

Immediately, he said, “Calm down! It’s me. Don’t be afraid!” 51 He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were astounded. 52 (They didn’t understand what had happened with the loaves of bread. Instead, their minds were closed.)

53 They crossed the sea, came to shore at Gennesaret, and anchored there.

54 As soon as they stepped out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran all over the countryside and began to carry the sick on cots to any place where they heard he was. 56 Whenever he would go into villages, cities, or farms, people would put their sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.

6:45–55   You come to me when I’m in trouble, but your appearance still surprises me—startles me—even terrifies me. Calm me down. Remind me not to fear. Make the wind stop. Help me understand.

Jesus Challenges the Pharisees’ Traditions—Matthew 15:1–20

7

1 The Pharisees and some experts in Moses’ Teachings who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. 2 They saw that some of his disciples were unclean[5] because they ate without washing their hands.

3 (The Pharisees, like all other Jewish people, don’t eat unless they have properly washed their hands. They follow the traditions of their ancestors. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they don’t eat unless they have washed first. They have been taught to follow many other rules. For example, they must also wash their cups, jars, brass pots, and dinner tables.[6])

5 The Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples follow the traditions taught by our ancestors? They are unclean because they don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

7:1–5   I’m stuck in my own petty religion. I make up my own rules without consulting you. I criticize anyone who isn’t like me.

6 Jesus told them, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites in Scripture:

‘These people honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

7 Their worship of me is pointless,

because their teachings are rules made by humans.’

8 “You abandon the commandments of God to follow human traditions.” 9 He added, “You have no trouble rejecting the commandments of God in order to keep your own traditions! 10 For example, Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a person tells his father or mother that whatever he might have used to help them is corban (that is, an offering to God), 12 he no longer has to do anything for his father or mother.’ 13 Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God’s word. And you do many other things like that.”

7:6–13   Call out my hypocrisy. Tell me when I honor you with my lips and nothing more. Show me how my rules destroy the authority of your word.

14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand! 15 Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It’s what comes out of a person that makes him unclean. 16 Let the person who has ears listen!”[7]

17 When he had left the people and gone home, his disciples asked him about this illustration.

18 Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand? Don’t you know that whatever goes into a person from the outside can’t make him unclean? 19 It doesn’t go into his thoughts but into his stomach and then into a toilet.” (By saying this, Jesus declared all foods acceptable.) 20 He continued, “It’s what comes out of a person that makes him unclean. 21 Evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, cursing, arrogance, and foolishness come from within a person. 23 All these evils come from within and make a person unclean.”

7:14–23   I’m obsessed with my religious habits, but you’re worried about my real sins. Evil abounds inside me. It shows in my actions. Make me clean!

The Faith of a Greek Woman—Matthew 15:21–31

24 Jesus left that place and went to the territory of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he was staying in a house there. However, it couldn’t be kept a secret.

25 A woman whose little daughter had an evil spirit heard about Jesus. She went to him and bowed down. 26 The woman happened to be Greek, born in Phoenicia in Syria. She asked him to force the demon out of her daughter.

27 Jesus said to her, “First, let the children eat all they want. It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

28 She answered him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat some of the children’s scraps.”

29 Jesus said to her, “Because you have said this, go! The demon has left your daughter.”

30 The woman went home and found the little child lying on her bed, and the demon was gone.

7:24–30   Welcome me when I show up at inconvenient moments. Answer me even when I have no right to your help. Test me and see that my faith is true.

Jesus Cures a Deaf Man

31 Jesus then left the neighborhood of Tyre. He went through Sidon and the territory of the Ten Cities[8] to the Sea of Galilee.

32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and who also had a speech defect. They begged Jesus to lay his hand on him. 33 Jesus took him away from the crowd to be alone with him. He put his fingers into the man’s ears, and after spitting, he touched the man’s tongue. 34 Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and said to the man, “Ephphatha!” which means, “Be opened!” 35 At once the man could hear and talk normally.

36 Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them, the more they spread the news. 37 Jesus completely amazed the people. They said, “He has done everything well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute talk.”

7:31–37   You make the deaf hear and the mute talk. Open my ears so I can hear you!

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand—Matthew 15:32–39

8

1 About that time there was once again a large crowd with nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them, 2 “I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home before they’ve eaten, they will become exhausted on the road. Some of them have come a long distance.”

4 His disciples asked him, “Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people in this place where no one lives?”

5 Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”

They answered, “Seven.”

6 He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples to serve to the people. 7 They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be served to the people. 8 The people ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets. 9 About four thousand people were there. Then he sent the people on their way.

10 After that, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat and went into the region of Dalmanutha.

8:1–10   You feel sorry for hungry crowds. They come a long way to meet you. Astound me with your power. Feed me until I’m full.

The Pharisees Ask for a Sign from Heaven—Matthew 16:1–4

11 The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven.

12 With a deep sigh he asked, “Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!”

13 Then he left them there.

The Yeast of the Pharisees—Matthew 16:5–12

He got into a boat again and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. 14 The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

15 Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”

16 They had been discussing with one another that they didn’t have any bread.

17 Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you catch on? Are your minds closed? 18 Are you blind and deaf? Don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?”

They told him, “Twelve.”

20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?”

They answered him, “Seven.”

21 He asked them, “Don’t you catch on yet?”

8:11–21   How can I be so thickheaded? Why am I so slow to catch on? You care for my needs. You warn me when evil people try to mess with me.

Jesus Gives Sight to a Blind Man

22 As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus. They begged Jesus to touch him. 23 Jesus took the blind man’s hand and led him out of the village. He spit into the man’s eyes and placed his hands on him. Jesus asked him, “Can you see anything?”

24 The man looked up and said, “I see people. They look like trees walking around.”

25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, and the man saw clearly. His sight was normal again. He could see everything clearly even at a distance. 26 Jesus told him when he sent him home, “Don’t go into the village.”

8:22–26   You make the blind see. Open my eyes so I can see you!

Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus—Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 9:18–21

27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They answered him, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.”

29 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah!”

30 He ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

8:27–30   People wonder who you really are. But I’m convinced you’re the Messiah.

Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Matthew 16:21–23; Luke 9:22

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He taught them that he would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but after three days he would come back to life. 32 He told them very clearly what he meant.

Peter took him aside and objected to this. 33 Jesus turned, looked at his disciples, and objected to what Peter said. Jesus said, “Get out of my way, Satan! You aren’t thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think.”

8:31–33   Do you really have to be rejected—and die? I don’t like knowing your secret. I don’t like it at all.

What It Means to Follow Jesus—Matthew 16:24–28; Luke 9:23–27

34 Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, “Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. 35 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me and for the Good News will save them. 36 What good does it do for people to win the whole world yet lose their lives? 37 Or what should a person give in exchange for life? 38 If people are ashamed of me and what I say in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes with the holy angels in his Father’s glory.”

8:34–38   What things do you want me to say no to? What crosses do I need to carry? I’ll do whatever it takes to follow you. My life isn’t mine to keep. It’s yours.

9

1 He said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”

Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus—Matthew 17:1–8; Luke 9:28–36

2 After six days Jesus took only Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.

Jesus’ appearance changed in front of them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them and were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 (Peter didn’t know how to respond. He and the others were terrified.)

7 Then a cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

8 Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Jesus.

9:2–8   I’m terrified by your dazzling brightness. I don’t know how to respond. I can’t find words to express my awe. But you want me to see your glory.

9 On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life. 10 They kept in mind what he said but argued among themselves what he meant by “come back to life.” 11 So they asked him, “Don’t the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”

12 Jesus said to them, “Elijah is coming first and will put everything in order again. But in what sense was it written that the Son of Man must suffer a lot and be treated shamefully? 13 Indeed, I can guarantee that Elijah has come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased, as Scripture says about him.”

9:9–13   Come back to life? I’m still stuck on the news that you’re going to be killed. I missed the point of John the Baptizer. Why must you suffer so much?

Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy—Matthew 17:14–20; Luke 9:37–43a

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. Some experts in Moses’ Teachings were arguing with them. 15 All the people were very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him.

16 Jesus asked the experts in Moses’ Teachings, “What are you arguing about with them?”

17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 Whenever the spirit brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn’t have the power to do it.”

19 Jesus said to them, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”

9:14–19   No matter how hard I try, I can’t help like you can. Sometimes you barely recognize me as a believer. Show me how to get hold of your power.

Authentic Prayer

Mark 9:14–29

Oppression

When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we force the spirit out of the boy?” He told them, “This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer.” Mark 9:28–29

Prayer battles evil. After Jesus lit up with a dazzling heavenly glory, he climbed down from a high mountain with the witnesses to his transfiguration—Peter, James, and John (Mark 9:2–13). They came across his other disciples at the center of a crowd that included some scribes, experts in Jewish law.

Jesus wants to know what the argument is all about. A man says he had asked the disciples to drive out a spirit tormenting his son, but the disciples lacked power to do it. At a simple command from Jesus, the spirit screams and leaves the boy. It’s a spirit that can be forced out only by prayer.

Scripture reports that Jesus gave his disciples power over evil spirits, and they successfully drove out many demons (Mark 6:7, 13). His comment suggests that they had tried to expel the demon in their own power rather than by relying on God.

Prayer isn’t power in and of itself. Your words succeed only when they invite God to act against the most unyielding forces of evil. Your only real power comes from Jesus who shines with heavenly glory.

Pray the Scriptures Oppression: Matthew 4:1–11, Ephesians 6:10–17, James 4:7–10, 1 Peter 5:8–11

20 They brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has he been like this?”

The father replied, “He has been this way since he was a child. 22 The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it’s possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!”

23 Jesus said to him, “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes.”

24 The child’s father cried out at once, “I believe! Help my lack of faith.”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he gave an order to the evil spirit. He said, “You spirit that won’t let him talk, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, “He’s dead!”

27 Jesus took his hand and helped him to stand up.

28 When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we force the spirit out of the boy?”

29 He told them, “This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer.”[9]

9:20–29   Everything is possible if I believe. So I believe—as best as I know how, as much as I can, never as much as I want. Help my lack of faith!

Jesus Again Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Matthew 17:22–23; Luke 9:43b–45

30 They left that place and were passing through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He taught them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. They will kill him, but on the third day he will come back to life.”

32 The disciples didn’t understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him.

9:30–32   You take me aside and teach me, but I still don’t get what you’re saying at times. I’m afraid to ask you to explain your point again.

Greatness in the Kingdom—Matthew 18:1–5; Luke 9:46–48

33 Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 They were silent. On the road they had argued about who was the greatest.

35 He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, “Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else.” 36 Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He put his arms around the child and said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

9:33–37   Most days I think I’m more important than other people. I’m ashamed to admit that, but you already know. I’ll start taking the last spot. I’ll learn to be a servant like you.

Using the Name of Jesus—Luke 9:49–50

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.”

39 Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! No one who works a miracle in my name can turn around and speak evil of me. 40 Whoever isn’t against us is for us. 41 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

9:38–41   No name is more potent than yours. I’m not the only one who knows it. You know who uses your name rightly.

Causing Others to Lose Faith—Matthew 18:6–10; Luke 17:1–4

42 “These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.

43 “So if your hand causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life disabled than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out.[10] 45 If your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. 48 In hell worms that eat the body never die, and the fire is never put out. 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? Have salt within you, and live in peace with one another.”

9:42–50   I don’t ever want to be the reason others quit trusting you. Help me rid my life of anything that destroys me or anyone else.

A Discussion about Divorce—Matthew 19:1–12

10

1 Jesus left there and went into the territory of Judea along the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered around him again, and he taught them as he usually did.

2 Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, “Can a husband divorce his wife?”

3 Jesus answered them, “What command did Moses give you?”

4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her.”

5 Jesus said to them, “He wrote this command for you because you’re heartless. 6 But God made them male and female in the beginning, at creation. 7 That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, 8 and the two will be one. So they are no longer two but one. 9 Therefore, don’t let anyone separate what God has joined together.”

10:1–9   There’s nothing to like about divorce. You join man and woman as one. You don’t intend them to separate.

10 When they were in a house, the disciples asked him about this. 11 He answered them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery. 12 If a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.”

10:10–12   Make my marriage indestructible. Let your love keep us together.

Jesus Blesses Children—Matthew 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17

13 Some people brought little children to Jesus to have him hold them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.

14 When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of the kingdom of God. 15 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it.”

16 Jesus put his arms around the children and blessed them by placing his hands on them.

10:13–16   You’re never irritated with little ones. They point the way to your kingdom. Show me how to receive you like a child.

Eternal Life in the Kingdom—Matthew 19:16–30; Luke 18:18–30

17 As Jesus was coming out to the road, a man came running to him and knelt in front of him. He asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your father and mother.”

20 The man replied, “Teacher, I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. He told him, “You’re still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”

22 When the man heard that, he looked unhappy and went away sad, because he owned a lot of property.

10:17–22   I claim to obey you in everything. But parts of me still don’t belong to you. Show me. Make me entirely yours.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were stunned by his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 This amazed his disciples more than ever. They asked each other, “Who, then, can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “It’s impossible for people ⌞to save themselves⌟, but it’s not impossible for God to save them. Everything is possible for God.”

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We’ve given up everything to follow you.”

29 Jesus said, “I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News 30 will certainly receive a hundred times as much here in this life. They will certainly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

For the Third Time Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Matthew 20:17–19; Luke 18:31–34

32 Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them. His disciples were shocked ⌞that he was going to Jerusalem⌟. The others who followed were afraid. Once again he took the twelve apostles aside. He began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We’re going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to foreigners. 34 They will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will come back to life.”

10:23–34   I can’t save myself. But you can rescue me from sin and selfishness. Change me and amaze the world.

James and John Make a Request—Matthew 20:20–28

35 James and John, sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus. They said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do us a favor.”

36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

37 They said to him, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

38 Jesus said, “You don’t realize what you’re asking. Can you drink the cup that I’m going to drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism that I’m going to receive?”

39 “We can,” they told him.

Jesus told them, “You will drink the cup that I’m going to drink. You will be baptized with the baptism that I’m going to receive. 40 But I don’t have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. Those positions have already been prepared for certain people.”

41 When the other ten apostles heard about it, they were irritated with James and John. 42 Jesus called the apostles and said, “You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. 43 But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. 44 Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone. 45 It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”

10:35–45   You came to serve and to sacrifice. How can I think you’re interested in making me powerful? I’m not completely sure how to be a slave. But teach me to live and die like you.

Jesus Gives Sight to Bartimaeus—Matthew 20:29–34; Luke 18:35–43

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and many people were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth ⌞was passing by⌟, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 The people told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him!” They called the blind man and told him, “Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling you.” 50 The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.

51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see again.”

52 Jesus told him, “Go, your faith has made you well.”

At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.

10:46–52   Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me! I smile when you beckon me. I leap when you come my way. Offer me your help!

The King Comes to Jerusalem—Matthew 21:1–11; Luke 19:29–44; John 12:12–19

11

1 When they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him. 2 He said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it, and bring it. 3 If anyone asks you what you are doing, say that the Lord needs it. That person will send it here at once.”

4 The disciples found the young donkey in the street. It was tied to the door of a house. As they were untying it, 5 some men standing there asked them, “Why are you untying that donkey?” 6 The disciples answered them as Jesus had told them. So the men let them go.

7 They brought the donkey to Jesus, put their coats on it, and he sat on it. 8 Many spread their coats on the road. Others cut leafy branches in the fields and spread them on the road. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed him were shouting,

“Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

10 Blessed is our ancestor David’s kingdom that is coming!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

11 Jesus came into Jerusalem and went into the temple courtyard, where he looked around at everything. Since it was already late, he went out with the twelve apostles to Bethany.

11:1–11   You rode into your holy city with royal humility. You deserve every honor I can give you. Hosanna! Save me! Reign now and forever!

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree—Matthew 21:18–19

12 The next day, when they left Bethany, Jesus became hungry. 13 In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn’t the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this.

Jesus Throws Out the Moneychangers—Matthew 21:12–17; Luke 19:45–48

15 When they came to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers’ tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons. 16 He would not let anyone carry anything across the temple courtyard.

17 Then he taught them by saying, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves.”

18 When the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings heard him, they looked for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him because he amazed all the crowds with his teaching.

19 (Every evening Jesus and his disciples would leave the city.)

11:12–19   Your house has been overrun by thieves. Rid it of everything that makes your anger burn. Make it a place for every nation to pray.

The Fig Tree Dries Up—Matthew 21:20–22

20 While Jesus and his disciples were walking early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up. 21 Peter remembered ⌞what Jesus had said⌟, so he said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.”

22 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God! 23 I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. 24 That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours. 25 Whenever you pray, forgive anything you have against anyone. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures.”[11]

11:20–25   You’ve already granted me what I asked for. I’m just waiting for it to arrive. I trust you to give me help and forgiveness!

Jesus’ Authority Challenged—Matthew 21:23–27; Luke 20:1–8

27 Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple courtyard, the chief priests, the experts in Moses’ Teachings, and the leaders came to him. 28 They asked him, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”

29 Jesus said to them, “I’ll ask you a question. Answer me, and then I’ll tell you why I have the right to do these things. 30 Did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans? Answer me!”

31 They discussed this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘from humans,’ ⌞then what will happen⌟?” They were afraid of the people. All the people thought of John as a true prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you why I have the right to do these things.”

11:27–33   Your authority is far more than human. Your right to act comes from heaven. You rule because you’re God.

A Story about a Vineyard—Matthew 21:33–46; Luke 20:9–19

12

1 Then, using this illustration, Jesus spoke to them. He said, “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, made a vat for the winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to vineyard workers and went on a trip.

2 “At the right time he sent a servant to the workers to collect from them a share of the grapes from the vineyard. 3 The workers took the servant, beat him, and sent him back with nothing. 4 So the man sent another servant to them. They hit the servant on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 The man sent another, and they killed that servant. Then he sent many other servants. Some of these they beat, and others they killed.

6 “He had one more person to send. That person was his son, whom he loved. Finally, he sent his son to them. He thought, ‘They will respect my son.’

7 “But those workers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 “What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the workers and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you never read the Scripture passage:

‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

11 The Lord has done this,

and it is amazing for us to see’?”

12 They wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowd. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them. So they left him alone and went away.

12:1–12   I beat up your messengers. I chased them away. Forgive me for sending you to your death. I don’t reject you now. I won’t reject you ever again.

A Question about Taxes—Matthew 22:15–22; Luke 20:20–26

13 The leaders sent some of the Pharisees and some of Herod’s followers to Jesus. They wanted to trap him into saying the wrong thing. 14 When they came to him, they said, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth. You don’t favor individuals because of who they are. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not? Should we pay taxes or not?”

15 Jesus recognized their hypocrisy, so he asked them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a coin so that I can look at it.”

16 They brought a coin. He said to them, “Whose face and name is this?”

They told him, “The emperor’s.”

17 Jesus said to them, “Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God.”

They were surprised at his reply.

12:13–17   I’m trying hard to give you everything I owe you. Teach me total devotion to you. Give me wisdom to live in my real world.

The Dead Come Back to Life—Matthew 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40

18 Some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.’ 20 There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children. 21 The second married her and died without having children. So did the third. 22 None of the seven brothers had any children. Last of all, the woman died. 23 When the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? The seven brothers had married her.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken because you don’t know the Scriptures or God’s power? 25 When the dead come back to life, they don’t marry. Rather, they are like the angels in heaven. 26 Haven’t you read in the book of Moses that the dead come back to life? It’s in the passage about the bush, where God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ 27 He’s not the God of the dead but of the living. You’re badly mistaken!”

12:18–27   You raise the dead back to life. I long for the day you’ll bring me home to heaven. I serve the God of the living.

Love God and Your Neighbor—Matthew 22:34–40

28 One of the experts in Moses’ Teachings went to Jesus during the argument with the Sadducees. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of them all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. 30 So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

32 The expert in Moses’ Teachings said to Jesus, “Teacher, that was well said! You’ve told the truth that there is only one God and no other besides him! 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus heard how wisely the man answered, he told the man, “You’re not too far from the kingdom of God.”

After that, no one dared to ask him another question.

12:28–34   Your greatest command is to put you first and love you with everything in me. And I’ll love my neighbor as I love myself.

How Can David’s Son Be David’s Lord?—Matthew 22:41–46; Luke 20:41–44

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he asked, “How can the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that the Messiah is David’s son? 36 David, guided by the Holy Spirit, said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord:

“Take the highest position in heaven

until I put your enemies under your control.” ’

37 David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?”

Jesus Disapproves of the Example Set by the Experts in Moses’ Teachings—Matthew 23:1–12; Luke 20:45–47

The large crowd enjoyed listening to him. 38 As he taught, he said, “Watch out for the experts in Moses’ Teachings! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the front seats in synagogues and the places of honor at dinners. 40 They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The experts in Moses’ Teachings will receive the most severe punishment.”

12:35–40   You’re truly the Messiah. Only you have a right to the highest position in heaven. I’m done with trying to rule in your place.

A Widow’s Contribution—Luke 21:1–4

41 As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, he watched how ⌞much⌟ money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent.

43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. 44 All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”

12:41–44   Shake me when I toss you my extras. Challenge me to give my essentials.

Jesus Teaches Disciples on the Mount of Olives—Matthew 24:1–35; Luke 21:5–33

13

1 As Jesus was going out of the temple courtyard, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these huge stones and these beautiful buildings!”

2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these large buildings? Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the temple buildings, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will come to an end?”

5 Jesus answered them, “Be careful not to let anyone deceive you. 6 Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many people.

7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t mean that the end has come. 8 Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These are only the beginning pains ⌞of the end⌟.

13:1–8   The world will see wars and more wars. Earthquakes and famines won’t stop. It’s a sign the end is starting.

9 “Be on your guard! People will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. You will stand in front of governors and kings to testify to them because of me. 10 But first, the Good News must be spread to all nations. 11 When they take you away to hand you over to the authorities, don’t worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you to say when the time comes. Indeed, you are not the one who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit will.

12 “Brother will hand over brother to death; a father will hand over his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them. 13 Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

13:9–13   I want to be part of taking your Good News to the nations. Put your words in my mouth so I say the right thing.

14 “When you see the disgusting thing that will cause destruction standing where it should not (let the reader take note), those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. 15 Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses. 16 Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats.

17 “How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. 18 Pray that it will not be in winter. 19 It will be a time of misery that has not happened from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and will certainly never happen again. 20 If the Lord does not reduce that time, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.

13:14–20   How terrible the chaos will be! Don’t let it go on forever. Shorten the time or no one will be saved.

21 “At that time don’t believe anyone who tells you, ‘Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ 22 False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, those whom God has chosen. 23 Be on your guard! I have told you everything before it happens.

24 “Now, after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light, 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.

26 “Then people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 He will send out his angels, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.

28 “Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happen, you know that he is near, at the door.

30 “I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 31 The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

13:21–31   I’m on my guard against fake saviors and prophets. And I won’t mistake your arrival. When the world goes dark, your power and glory will light the sky. You’ll lift me up to you!

No One Knows When the Earth and the Heavens Will Disappear

32 “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows. 33 Be careful! Watch! You don’t know the exact time. 34 It is like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge. He assigned work to each one and ordered the guard to be alert. 35 Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know when the owner of the house will return. It could be in the evening or at midnight or at dawn or in the morning. 36 Make sure he doesn’t come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 I’m telling everyone what I’m telling you: ‘Be alert!’”

13:32–37   I don’t know the exact time you’re coming. But I’ll watch. I’ll stay alert until you come again.

The Plot to Kill Jesus—Matthew 26:1–5; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57

14

1 It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings were looking for some underhanded way to arrest Jesus and to kill him. 2 However, they said, “We shouldn’t arrest him during the festival, or else there will be a riot among the people.”

A Woman Prepares Jesus’ Body for the Tomb—Matthew 26:6–13; John 12:1–8

3 Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him. She had a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She opened the bottle and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some who were there were irritated and said to one another, “Why was the perfume wasted like this? 5 This perfume could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor.” So they said some very unkind things to her.

6 Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7 You will always have the poor with you and can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have me with you. 8 She did what she could. She came to pour perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb. 9 I can guarantee this truth: Wherever the Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus—Matthew 26:14–16; Luke 22:3–6

10 Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus. 11 They were pleased to hear what Judas had to say and promised to give him money. So he kept looking for a chance to betray Jesus.

14:1–11   Your enemies planned an underhanded killing. A woman prepared you for the tomb. One of your own plotted to betray you. You understood it all.

Preparations for the Passover—Matthew 26:17–20; Luke 22:7–17

12 Killing the Passover lamb was customary on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The disciples asked Jesus, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

13 He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city. You will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. 14 When he goes into a house, tell the owner that the teacher asks, ‘Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 He will take you upstairs and show you a large room. The room will be completely furnished. Get everything ready for us there.”

16 The disciples left. They went into the city and found everything as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve apostles.

14:12–17   The Passover lamb had to die. You made sure everything was ready.

Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him—Matthew 26:21–25; Luke 22:21–23; John 13:21–30

18 While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me!”

19 Feeling hurt, they asked him one by one, “You don’t mean me, do you?”

20 He said to them, “It’s one of you twelve, someone dipping his hand into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that person if he had never been born.”

The Lord’s Supper—Matthew 26:26–30; Luke 22:19–20

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “Take this. This is my body.”

23 Then he took a cup, spoke a prayer of thanksgiving, and gave the cup to them. They all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the promise.[12] It is poured out for many people.

25 “I can guarantee this truth: I won’t drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine in the kingdom of God.”

26 After they sang a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives.

14:18–26   How could one of your own give you up? How could he hand you over to die? Yet you broke your body for every human being. You poured out your blood for all people.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial—Matthew 26:31–35; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38

27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will abandon me. Scripture says,

‘I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered.’

28 “But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”

29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I won’t.”

30 Jesus said to Peter, “I can guarantee this truth: Tonight, before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”

31 But Peter said very strongly, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don’t know you.” All the other disciples said the same thing.

14:27–31   Your disciples promised to die with you. What would I have said? What would I have done? You know, and so do I.

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane—Matthew 26:36–46; Luke 22:39–46

32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Stay here while I pray.”

33 He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to feel distressed and anguished. 34 He said to them, “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake.”

35 After walking a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him. 36 He said, “Abba![13] Father! You can do anything. Take this cup ⌞of suffering⌟ away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.”

37 He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour? 38 Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.”

39 He went away again and prayed the same prayer as before. 40 He found them asleep because they couldn’t keep their eyes open. They didn’t even know what they should say to him.

41 He came back a third time and said to them, “You might as well sleep now. It’s all over.[14] The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 42 Get up! Let’s go! The one who is betraying me is near.”

14:32–42   You felt like death had already arrived. You fell to the ground, but your best friends fell asleep. Your Father kept the cup to your lips.

Jesus Is Arrested—Matthew 26:47–56; Luke 22:47–54a; John 18:1–14

43 Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests, the experts in Moses’ Teachings, and the leaders of the people. 44 Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, “The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him, and guard him closely as you take him away.”

45 Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.

46 Some men took hold of Jesus and arrested him. 47 One of those standing there pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest’s servant.

48 Jesus asked them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? 49 I used to teach in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn’t arrest me then. But what the Scriptures say must come true.”

50 Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.

51 A certain young man was following Jesus. He had nothing on but a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him, 52 but he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked.

14:43–52   They came after you as if you were a criminal. A kiss from a friend gave you away. Your other friends fled.

The Trial in Front of the Jewish Council—Matthew 26:57–68; Luke 22:63–71

53 The men took Jesus to the chief priest. All the chief priests, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings had gathered together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest’s courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Jesus in order to execute him. But they couldn’t find any. 56 Many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree.

57 Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him. They said, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I’ll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I’ll build another temple, one not made by human hands.’” 59 But their testimony did not agree even on this point.

60 So the chief priest stood up in the center and asked Jesus, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men testify against you?”

61 But he was silent.

The chief priest asked him again, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 Jesus answered, “Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63 The chief priest tore his clothes in horror and said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64 You’ve heard him dishonor God! What’s your verdict?”

All of them condemned him with the death sentence. 65 Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, “Prophesy!” Even the guards took him and slapped him.

14:53–65   Your enemies piled on false statements. They didn’t make sense, but you spoke truth. You’re the Messiah. The Son of God. The one who sits in heaven’s highest place. They sentenced you to death.

Peter Denies Jesus—Matthew 26:69–75; Luke 22:54b–62; John 18:15–18, 25–27

66 Peter was in the courtyard. One of the chief priest’s female servants 67 saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth!”

68 But Peter denied it by saying, “I don’t know him, and I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

He went to the entrance. Then a rooster crowed.[15]

69 The servant saw him. Once again she said to those who were standing around, “This man is one of them!” 70 Peter again denied it.

After a little while the men standing there said to Peter again, “It’s obvious you’re one of them. You’re a Galilean!”

71 Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” 72 Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus said to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter began to cry very hard.

14:66–72   You didn’t expect Peter to stand with you. And he didn’t. What would I have said? What would I have done? You know, and so do I.

Pilate Questions Jesus—Matthew 27:11–14; Luke 23:1–4; John 18:28–38

15

1 Early in the morning the chief priests immediately came to a decision with the leaders and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. The whole Jewish council decided to tie Jesus up, lead him away, and hand him over to Pilate.

2 Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Yes, I am,” Jesus answered him.

3 The chief priests were accusing him of many things.

4 So Pilate asked him again, “Don’t you have any answer? Look how many accusations they’re bringing against you!”

5 But Jesus no longer answered anything, so Pilate was surprised.

15:1–5   You’re more than the king of the Jews. Your accusers couldn’t see it. You stopped answering their questions.

The Crowd Rejects Jesus—Matthew 27:15–26; Luke 23:18–25; John 18:39–40

6 At every Passover festival, Pilate would free one prisoner whom the people asked for. 7 There was a man named Barabbas in prison. He was with some rebels who had committed murder during a riot. 8 The crowd asked Pilate to do for them what he always did. 9 Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to free the king of the Jews for you?” 10 Pilate knew that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.

11 The chief priests stirred up the crowd so that Pilate would free Barabbas for them instead.

12 So Pilate again asked them, “Then what should I do with the king of the Jews?”

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted back.

14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Pilate wanted to satisfy the people, so he freed Barabbas for them. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

15:6–15   Even Pilate admitted you had done nothing wrong. You deserved to go free. But when the people cried for Barabbas, you were whipped and handed over to die.

The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus—Matthew 27:27–30; John 19:1–3

16 The soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the palace and called together the whole troop. 17 They dressed him in purple, twisted some thorns into a crown, and placed it on his head. 18 Then they began to greet him, “Long live the king of the Jews!” 19 They kept hitting him on the head with a stick, spitting on him, and kneeling in front of him with false humility.

15:16–19   Soldiers adorned you with a purple cape and pushed a thorny crown on your head. They struck you and spit. They pretended to kneel.

The Crucifixion—Matthew 27:31–44; Luke 23:33–38; John 19:16b–24

20 After the soldiers finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the purple cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. 21 A man named Simon from the city of Cyrene was coming ⌞into Jerusalem⌟ from his home in the country. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. As he was about to pass by, the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.

22 They took Jesus to Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 They tried to give him wine mixed with a drug called myrrh, but he wouldn’t take it. 24 Next they crucified him. Then they divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice to see what each one would get. 25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 There was a written notice of the accusation against him. It read, “The king of the Jews.”

27 They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and the other on his left.[16]

29 Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads and said, “What a joke! You were going to tear down God’s temple and build it again in three days. 30 Come down from the cross, and save yourself!” 31 The chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings made fun of him among themselves in the same way. They said, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. 32 Let the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with him were insulting him.

15:20–32   They crucified you for claiming to be king. They called you a joke and dared you to climb down from the cross. But you didn’t save yourself. You didn’t strike back at your mockers.

Jesus Dies on the Cross—Matthew 27:45–56; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30

33 At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 At three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

35 When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, “Listen! He’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink. The man said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

37 Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died. 38 The curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom.

39 When the officer who stood facing Jesus saw how he gave up his spirit, he said, “Certainly, this man was the Son of God!”

40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of young James and Joseph), and Salome. 41 They had followed him and supported him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come to Jerusalem with him were there too.

15:33–41   You felt utterly cut off. You cried out, then died alone. Surely you’re the Son of God!

Jesus Is Placed in a Tomb—Matthew 27:57–61; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42

42 It was Friday evening, before the day of worship, 43 when Joseph arrived. He was from the city of Arimathea and was an important member of the Jewish council. He, too, was waiting for the kingdom of God. Joseph boldly went to Pilate’s quarters to ask for the body of Jesus.

44 Pilate wondered if Jesus had already died. So he summoned the officer to ask him if Jesus was, in fact, dead. 45 When the officer had assured him that Jesus was dead, Pilate let Joseph have the corpse.

46 Joseph had purchased some linen cloth. He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in the cloth. Then he laid the body in a tomb, which had been cut out of rock, and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary from Magdala and Mary (the mother of Joses) watched where Jesus was laid.

15:42–47   Pilate gave your corpse to a man waiting for your kingdom. Joseph took you down from the cross and laid you in a tomb cut from rock, then sealed you inside.

Jesus Comes Back to Life—Matthew 28:1–10; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–10

16

1 When the day of worship was over, Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of James), and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus.

2 On Sunday they were going to the tomb very early when the sun had just come up. 3 They said to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. It was a very large stone. 5 As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man. He was dressed in a white robe and sat on the right side. They were panic-stricken.

6 The young man said to them, “Don’t panic! You’re looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been brought back to life. He’s not here. Look at the place where they laid him. 7 Go and tell his disciples and Peter that he’s going ahead of them to Galilee. There they will see him, just as he told them.”

8 They went out of the tomb and ran away. Shock and trembling had overwhelmed them. They didn’t say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.[17]

16:1–8   The tomb is unsealed. The grave is empty. I search for you but can’t find you. How can I not panic? How could you come back to life? I’m shocked and trembling.

Jesus Appears to His Followers

9 After Jesus came back to life early on Sunday, he appeared first to Mary from Magdala, from whom he had forced out seven demons. 10 She went and told his friends, who were grieving and crying. 11 They didn’t believe her when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him.

12 Later Jesus appeared to two disciples as they were walking to their home in the country. He did not look as he usually did. 13 They went back and told the others, who did not believe them either. 14 Still later Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles while they were eating. He put them to shame for their unbelief and because they were too stubborn to believe those who had seen him alive.

15 Then Jesus said to them, “So wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

17 “These are the miraculous signs that will accompany believers: They will use the power and authority of my name to force demons out of people. They will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up snakes, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them. They will place their hands on the sick and cure them.”

19 After talking with the apostles, the Lord was taken to heaven, where God gave him the highest position.

20 The disciples spread ⌞the Good News⌟ everywhere. The Lord worked with them. He confirmed his word by the miraculous signs that accompanied it.

16:9–20   You silence my unbelief and stubbornness. You turn my grief to miraculous joy. I know you’re risen! Work with me to spread your Good News!

LUKE

INTRODUCTION

Luke presents Jesus come to save the lost. Bits of information scattered throughout the New Testament show Luke as a beloved physician (Colossians 4:14) and a mission partner to the apostle Paul (Acts 20:5–21:18). After gathering eyewitness facts about Jesus, Luke writes to Theophilus (Luke 1:3), a “lover of God,” giving an orderly account of what Jesus said and did.

Luke begins with unique details of Jesus’ arrival on earth, including his unusual birth, joyful angels, and awestruck shepherds. He moves on to describe a wide range of Jesus’ words and actions, offering thorough accounts of miracles and teachings.

Much of the material in chapters 9–19 appears only in this book, including several distinctive parables, pithy stories that reveal spiritual truth. Jesus tells of a kind shepherd who leaves his flock to search for a lost lamb . . . a father who watches anxiously for his wandering son . . . a despised enemy who cares for a man beaten by thugs. Jesus is the Savior of all, a rebel who reaches to the fringes of society, befriending women, the poor, and religious outcasts. He is the Son of Man come “to seek and to save people who are lost” (Luke 19:10).

Luke concludes with Jesus instructing his followers to await power from heaven to reach the world. Praying this book invites you to come close to Jesus no matter who you are or what you have done. You will meet the one who goes to any length to rescue you.

LUKE

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Luke Writes to Theophilus

1

1 Many have attempted to write about what had taken place among us. 2 They received their information from those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of God’s word from the beginning, and they passed it on to us. 3 I, too, have followed everything closely from the beginning. So I thought it would be a good idea to write an orderly account for Your Excellency, Theophilus. 4 In this way you will know that what you’ve been told is true.

1:1–4   I’m searching out the truth of your story. I’m eager to hear the eyewitness reports.

The Angel Gabriel Appears to Zechariah

5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of priests named after Abijah. Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth had God’s approval. They followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly. 7 Yet, they never had any children because Elizabeth couldn’t become pregnant. Both of them were too old to have children.

8 Zechariah was on duty with his division of priests. As he served in God’s presence, 9 he was chosen by priestly custom to go into the Lord’s temple to burn incense. 10 All the people were praying outside while he was burning incense.

11 Then, to the right of the incense altar, an angel of the Lord appeared to him. 12 Zechariah was troubled and overcome with fear.

1:5–13   You made Zechariah and Elizabeth an impossible promise. But you’re always doing amazing things.

13 The angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John. 14 He will be your pride and joy, and many people will be glad that he was born. 15 As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring many people in Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord.”

1:14–15   You destined John to be his parents’ pride and joy—and a reason for people to be glad. John would be full of your Spirit before birth.

1:16–17   John was coming to take back your people. He’d change the disobedient so they would accept your wisdom.

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “What proof is there for this? I’m an old man, and my wife is beyond her childbearing years.”

19 The angel answered him, “I’m Gabriel! I stand in God’s presence. God sent me to tell you this good news. 20 But because you didn’t believe what I said, you will be unable to talk until the day this happens. Everything will come true at the right time.”

1:18–20   What proof did Zechariah want? Hadn’t you just spoken? Help me show you the trust you deserve.

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were amazed that he was staying in the temple so long. 22 When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. So they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. He motioned to them but remained unable to talk.

23 When the days of his service were over, he went home. 24 Later, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and didn’t go out in public for five months. She said, 25 “The Lord has done this for me now. He has removed my public disgrace.”

1:21–25   You gave an old man a vision. It was you who took away Elizabeth’s sorrow.

The Angel Gabriel Comes to Mary

26 Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. 27 The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.”

29 She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant.

1:26–29   You sent word to a young virgin—that you were with her. Your message shocked Mary.

30 The angel told her,

“Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor[1] with God.

31 You will become pregnant, give birth to a son,

and name him Jesus.

32 He will be a great man

and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give him

the throne of his ancestor David.

33 Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever,

and his kingdom will never end.”

1:30–33   You favored young Mary. You chose her to give birth to a son, Jesus, whose kingdom will never end.

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I’ve never had sexual intercourse.”

35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.

36 “Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn’t have a child. 37 But nothing is impossible for God.”

38 Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”

Then the angel left her.

1:34–38   Your Spirit would overshadow Mary. Her child would be called the Son of the Most High. Nothing is impossible for you!

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Soon afterward, Mary hurried to a city in the mountain region of Judah. 40 She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard the greeting, she felt the baby kick. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child that you will have. 43 I feel blessed that the mother of my Lord is visiting me. 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, I felt the baby jump for joy. 45 You are blessed for believing that the Lord would keep his promise to you.”

1:39–45   I want to live in your blessing. Teach me to believe all your promises.

Mary Praises God

46 Mary said,

“My soul praises the Lord’s greatness!

47 My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior,

48 because he has looked favorably on me, his humble servant.

“From now on, all people will call me blessed

49 because the Almighty has done great things to me.

His name is holy.

50 For those who fear him,

his mercy lasts throughout every generation.

1:46–50   I praise your greatness, and my spirit finds joy in my Savior. You show endless mercy to people who live in awe of you.

51 “He displayed his mighty power.

He scattered those who think too highly of themselves.

52 He pulled strong rulers from their thrones.

He honored humble people.

53 He fed hungry people with good food.

He sent rich people away with nothing.

54 “He remembered to help his servant Israel forever.

55 This is the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and his descendants.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.

1:51–56   You show off your might and scatter the proud. You tip rulers off thrones and honor the humble. You feed the hungry and send the rich away.

John Is Born

57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very kind to her, and they shared her joy.

59 When the child was eight days old, they went ⌞to the temple⌟ to circumcise him. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60 But his mother spoke up, “Absolutely not! His name will be John.”

61 Their friends said to her, “But you don’t have any relatives with that name.”

62 So they motioned to the baby’s father to see what he wanted to name the child. 63 Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed.

64 Suddenly, Zechariah was able to speak, and he began to praise God.

1:57–64   Show me your kindness. Train me to be determined to follow your commands. Show me your mercy and I’ll praise you.

65 All their neighbors were filled with awe. Throughout the mountain region of Judea, people talked about everything that had happened. 66 Everyone who heard about it seriously thought it over and asked, “What does the future hold for this child?” It was clear that the Lord was with him.

1:65–66   Fill my neighbors with awe. Let them wonder at your work.

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

68 “Praise the Lord God of Israel!

He has come to take care of his people

and to set them free.

69 He has raised up a mighty Savior for us

in the family of his servant David.

70 He made this promise through his holy prophets long ago.

71 He promised to save us from our enemies

and from the power of all who hate us.

72 He has shown his mercy to our ancestors

and remembered his holy promise,[2]

73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.

74 He promised to rescue us from our enemies’ power

so that we could serve him without fear

75 by being holy and honorable as long as we live.

1:67–75   You come to care for your people and set us free. You rescue us so we can serve you in true holiness. You’re fulfilling promises you made long ago. You’re our mighty Savior!

76 “You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.

You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way.

77 You will make his people know that they can be saved

through the forgiveness of their sins.

78 A new day will dawn on us from above

because our God is loving and merciful.

79 He will give light to those who live in the dark

and in death’s shadow.

He will guide us into the way of peace.”

80 The child John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the day he appeared to the people of Israel.

1:76–80   You sent John to prepare the way—to tell people they can be saved through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of your love and mercy, a new day is dawning!

Jesus Is Born

2

1 At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All the people went to register in the cities where their ancestors had lived.

4 So Joseph went from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a Judean city called Bethlehem. Joseph, a descendant of King David, went to Bethlehem because David had been born there. 5 Joseph went there to register with Mary. She had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.

6 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there wasn’t any room for them in the inn.

2:1–7   You gave Mary and Joseph a reason to travel to Bethlehem. While they were in David’s city, Mary bore a son. She wrapped him up and laid him in a manger.

Angels Announce the Birth of Jesus

8 Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. 9 An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. 11 Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David’s city. 12 This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

2:8–12   Your glory filled the sky nearby, and an angel announced your son’s arrival. I won’t be afraid! This is good news! My Savior has been born!

13 Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those who have his good will!”

2:13–14   A swarm of angels filled the sky to praise you. Glory to you! Peace to everyone who has your good will!

15 The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.”

16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in a manger. 17 When they saw the child, they repeated what they had been told about him. 18 Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was amazed.

19 Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them.

20 As the shepherds returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. Everything happened the way the angel had told them.

2:15–20   Shepherds found Mary and Joseph with the baby. I share their amazement. I think often about these things. I praise you for everything I’ve seen.

Jesus’ Parents Obey Moses’ Teachings

21 Eight days after his birth, the child was circumcised and named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.

22 After the days required by Moses’ Teachings to make a mother clean[3] had passed, Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem. They took Jesus to present him to the Lord. 23 They did exactly what was written in the Lord’s Teachings: “Every firstborn boy is to be set apart as holy to the Lord.” 24 They also offered a sacrifice as required by the Lord’s Teachings: “a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons.”

2:21–24   They named you Jesus, the name the angel gave to your mother. Your earthly parents set you apart as holy.

Simeon’s Prophecy

25 A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon 26 and had told him that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah, whom the Lord would send.

27 Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courtyard. Mary and Joseph were bringing the child Jesus into the courtyard at the same time. They brought him so that they could do for him what Moses’ Teachings required. 28 Then Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God by saying,

29 “Now, Lord, you are allowing your servant to leave in peace

as you promised.

30 My eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared for all people to see.

32 He is a light that will reveal ⌞salvation⌟ to the nations

and bring glory to your people Israel.”

2:25–32   Simeon had waited to see the Messiah. He took you in his arms and praised your Father. His eyes had seen God’s salvation, a light for all the nations.

33 Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is the reason that many people in Israel will be condemned and many others will be saved. He will be a sign that will expose 35 the thoughts of those who reject him. And a sword will pierce your heart.”

2:33–35   Your parents were amazed by Simeon’s words. You’re the reason people are condemned or saved.

Anna’s Prophecy

36 Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married, 37 and she had been a widow for 84 years. Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying. 38 At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free.

39 After doing everything the Lord’s Teachings required, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. 40 The child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor[4] was with him.

2:36–40   Anna worshiped you day and night. Like her, I’ll wait for your world to be set free.

Mary and Joseph Find Jesus with the Teachers in the Temple Courtyard

41 Every year Jesus’ parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When he was 12 years old, they went as usual.

43 When the festival was over, they left for home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. 44 They thought that he was with the others who were traveling with them. After traveling for a day, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

46 Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 His understanding and his answers stunned everyone who heard him.

48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!”

49 Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you realize that I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

2:41–50   You stunned your spiritual elders. Your parents felt worry, then shock. But why didn’t they look for you in your Father’s house?

51 Then he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them.

His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and maturity. He gained favor from God and people.

2:51–52   You grew in wisdom and maturity. God and people both favored you.

John Prepares the Way—Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; John 1:19–28

3

1 It was the fifteenth year in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod ruled Galilee, and his brother Philip ruled Iturea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. 2 It was at the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests that God spoke to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. 3 John traveled throughout the region around the Jordan River. He told people about a baptism of repentance[5] for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As the prophet Isaiah wrote in his book,

“A voice cries out in the desert:

‘Prepare the way for the Lord!

Make his paths straight!

5 Every valley will be filled.

Every mountain and hill will be leveled.

The crooked ways will be made straight.

The rough roads will be made smooth.

6 All people will see the salvation that God gives.’”

3:1–6   I’ll prepare my heart for you! I’ll clear you a path to my soul! I’ll see the salvation you give!

7 Crowds of people were coming to be baptized by John. He would say to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God’s coming anger? 8 Do those things that prove that you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. Don’t say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. 9 The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.”

3:7–9   You’re not impressed by my spiritual connections. You want me to change how I think and act. You cut down any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit.

10 The crowds asked him, “What should we do?”

11 He answered them, “Whoever has two shirts should share with the person who doesn’t have any. Whoever has food should share it too.”

12 Some tax collectors came to be baptized. They asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13 He told them, “Don’t collect more money than you are ordered to collect.”

14 Some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He told them, “Be satisfied with your pay, and never use threats or blackmail to get money from anyone.”

3:10–14   What should I do? You don’t tell anyone they need more religion. You expect to see practical change.

15 People’s hopes were rising as they all wondered whether John was the Messiah. 16 John replied to all of them, “I baptize you with water. But the one who is more powerful than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie his sandal straps. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing[6] shovel is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor.[7] He will gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn the husks in a fire that can never be put out.”

18 With many other encouraging words, he told the Good News to the people.

19 John spoke out against the ruler Herod because Herod had married his own sister-in-law, Herodias. He also spoke out against Herod for all the evil things he had done. 20 So Herod added one more evil to all the others; he locked John in prison.

3:15–20   You’re already on your way. You’ll baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Speak your encouraging words to me. Tell me the Good News.

The Baptism of Jesus—Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11

21 When all the people were baptized, Jesus, too, was baptized. While he was praying, heaven opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit came down to him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you.”

23 Jesus was about 30 years old when he began ⌞his ministry⌟.

3:21–23   John baptized you along with everyone else. You’re God’s Son, the one he loves. He’s pleased with you.

The Ancestors of Jesus

Jesus, so people thought, was the son of Joseph, son of Eli,

24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,

25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,

26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,

27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,

28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,

29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,

30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,

31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,

32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,

33 son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah,

34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,

35 son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,

36 son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,

37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,

38 son of Enos, son of Seth,

son of Adam,

son of God.

3:24–38   You existed before the beginning. But you were born to a choice human line: Joseph . . . David . . . Abraham . . . Adam.

The Devil Tempts Jesus—Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13

4

1 Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit as he left the Jordan River. The Spirit led him while he was in the desert, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for 40 days. During those days Jesus ate nothing, so when they were over, he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

4 Jesus answered him, “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone.’”[8]

4:1–4   You must have been starving after forty days without food. Were you tempted to turn stones to bread?

5 The devil took him to a high place and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all the power and glory of these kingdoms. All of it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 So if you will worship me, all this will be yours.”

8 Jesus answered him, “Scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

4:5–8   You could have been king of the world and skipped the agony of the cross. Were you tempted to avoid your Father’s plan?

9 Then the devil took him into Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump from here! 10 Scripture says, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you to watch over you carefully. 11 They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.’”

12 Jesus answered him, “It has been said, ‘Never tempt the Lord your God.’”[9]

13 After the devil had finished tempting Jesus in every possible way, the devil left him until another time.

4:9–13   You must have been furious when the devil mocked your identity. Were you tempted to prove you’re the Son of God?

Nazareth Rejects Jesus—Matthew 13:54–58; Mark 6:1–6

14 Jesus returned to Galilee. The power of the Spirit was with him, and the news about him spread throughout the surrounding country. 15 He taught in the synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual he went into the synagogue on the day of worship. He stood up to read the lesson. 17 The attendant gave him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened it and found the place where it read:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is with me.

He has anointed me

to tell the Good News to the poor.

He has sent me[10]

to announce forgiveness to the prisoners of sin

and the restoring of sight to the blind,

to forgive those who have been shattered by sin,

19 to announce the year of the Lord’s favor.”

4:14–19   You came to tell Good News to the poor. You grant forgiveness to prisoners and restore sight to the blind. You pardon everyone shattered by sin.

20 Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue watched him closely. 21 Then he said to them, “This passage came true today when you heard me read it.”

22 All the people spoke well of him. They were amazed to hear the gracious words flowing from his lips. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

23 So he said to them, “You’ll probably quote this proverb to me, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ and then say to me, ‘Do all the things in your hometown that we’ve heard you’ve done in Capernaum.’” 24 Then Jesus added, “I can guarantee this truth: A prophet isn’t accepted in his hometown.

25 “I can guarantee this truth: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time. It had not rained for three-and-a-half years, and the famine was severe everywhere in the country. 26 But God didn’t send Elijah to anyone except a widow at Zarephath in the territory of Sidon. 27 There were also many people with skin diseases in Israel in the prophet Elisha’s time. But God cured no one except Naaman from Syria.”

28 Everyone in the synagogue became furious when they heard this. 29 Their city was built on a hill with a cliff. So they got up, forced Jesus out of the city, and led him to the cliff. They intended to throw him off of it. 30 But Jesus walked right by them and went away.

4:20–30   I’ve heard all about you. I’m looking at you up close, and I’m amazed by your gracious words. You might be everything you claim to be, but I hate feeling you’re better than me.

Jesus Forces an Evil Spirit out of a Man—Mark 1:21–28

31 Jesus went to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and taught them on a day of worship. 32 The people were amazed at his teachings because he spoke with authority.

33 In the synagogue was a man possessed by a spirit, an evil demon. He shouted very loudly, 34 “Oh, no! What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

35 Jesus ordered the spirit, “Keep quiet, and come out of him!” The demon threw the man down in the middle of the synagogue and came out without hurting him.

36 Everyone was stunned. They said to one another, “What kind of command is this? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits, and they come out.”

37 So news about him spread to every place throughout the surrounding region.

4:31–37   You’re a deadly threat to demons. When you order them around, they have to obey. It’s obvious you’re nothing like other teachers. You have real authority.

Jesus Cures Simon’s Mother-in-Law and Many Others—Matthew 8:14–18; Mark 1:29–34

38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever. They asked Jesus to help her. 39 He bent over her, ordered the fever to leave, and it went away. She got up immediately and prepared a meal for them.

40 When the sun was setting, everyone who had friends suffering from various diseases brought them to him. He placed his hands on each of them and cured them. 41 Demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus ordered them not to speak. After all, they knew he was the Messiah.

4:38–41   You send away fevers. You heal in an instant. When will you lift me off my deathbed? When can I serve you?

Spreading the Good News—Matthew 4:23–25; Mark 1:35–39

42 In the morning he went to a place where he could be alone. The crowds searched for him. When they came to him, they tried to keep him from leaving. 43 But he said to them, “I have to tell the Good News about the kingdom of God in other cities also. That’s what I was sent to do.”

44 So he spread his message in the synagogues of Judea.[11]

4:42–44   I want you to stay here with me. But everyone needs your Good News.

Calling of the First Disciples—Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:14–20

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1 One day Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee. The people crowded around him as they listened to God’s word. 2 Jesus saw two boats on the shore. The fishermen had stepped out of them and were washing their nets. 3 So Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon and asked him to push off a little from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowd from the boat.

4 When he finished speaking, he told Simon, “Take the boat into deep water, and lower your nets to catch some fish.”

5 Simon answered, “Teacher, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll lower the nets.”

5:1–5   You’re good at teaching the crowd, but what could you know about fishing? Why do you get in my business? What do you really know about my life?

6 After the men had done this, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. Their partners came and filled both boats until the boats nearly sank.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he knelt in front of Jesus and said, “Leave me, Lord! I’m a sinful person!” 9 Simon and everyone who was with him were amazed to see the large number of fish they had caught. 10 James and John, who were Zebedee’s sons and Simon’s partners, were also amazed.

Jesus told Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will catch people instead of fish.”

11 Simon and his partners brought the boats to shore, left everything, and followed Jesus.

5:6–11   My nets rip whenever I obey your commands. Your powerful acts remind me I’m a sinner.

Jesus Cures a Man with a Skin Disease—Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:40–44

12 One day Jesus was in a city where there was a man covered with a serious skin disease. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground. He begged Jesus, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.”[12]

13 Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, “I want to. So be clean!” Immediately, his skin disease went away.

14 Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone. Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice as Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.”

15 The news about Jesus spread even more. Large crowds gathered to hear him and have their diseases cured. 16 But he would go away to places where he could be alone for prayer.

5:12–16   You want to make me clean. One touch and you instantly heal me. Why can’t I tell anyone?

Jesus Forgives Sins—Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12

17 One day when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and experts in Moses’ Teachings were present. They had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. Jesus had the power of the Lord to heal.

18 Some men brought a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They tried to take him into the house and put him in front of Jesus. 19 But they could not find a way to get him into the house because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof. They made an opening in the tiles and let the man down on his stretcher among the people. (They lowered him in front of Jesus.)

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Sir, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees thought, “Who is this man? He’s dishonoring God! Who besides God can forgive sins?”

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “What are you thinking? 23 Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

25 The man immediately stood up in front of them and picked up the stretcher he had been lying on. Praising God, he went home.

26 Everyone was amazed and praised God. They were filled with awe and said, “We’ve seen things today we can hardly believe!”

5:17–26   I’ve seen things I can hardly believe. You have power to heal, and you dare to forgive sins. Speak your word to me. I’ll stand up. I’ll never stop praising you.

Jesus Chooses Levi [Matthew] to Be a Disciple—Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17

27 After that, Jesus left. He saw a tax collector named Levi sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

29 Levi held a large reception at his home for Jesus. A huge crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

30 The Pharisees and their experts in Moses’ Teachings complained to Jesus’ disciples. They asked, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do. 32 I’ve come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God’s approval.”

5:27–31   I can’t believe you’re okay being seen with me, a sinner. Speak your invitation. I’ll leave everything and follow.

Jesus Is Questioned about Fasting—Matthew 9:14–17; Mark 2:18–22

33 They said to him, “John’s disciples frequently fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. But your disciples eat and drink.”

34 Jesus asked them, “Can you force wedding guests to fast while the groom is still with them? 35 The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. At that time they will fast.”

36 He also used these illustrations: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new coat to patch an old coat. Otherwise, the new cloth will tear the old. Besides, the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the new wine will make the skins burst. The wine will run out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins.

39 “No one who has been drinking old wine wants new wine. He says, ‘The old wine is better!’”

5:32–39   You’re doing a new thing. You’re putting new wine in the fresh skin of my life.

Jesus Has Authority over the Day of Worship—Matthew 12:1–8; Mark 2:23–28

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1 Once, on a day of worship, Jesus was walking through some grainfields. His disciples were picking the heads of grain, removing the husks, and eating the grain.

2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are your disciples doing something that is not right to do on the day of worship?”

3 Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his men were hungry? 4 Haven’t you read how he went into the house of God, ate the bread of the presence, and gave some of it to the men who were with him? He had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right.”

5 Then he added, “The Son of Man has authority over the day of worship.”

6:1–5   You’re more important than my religious rules. I don’t want to lose you in a clutter of spiritual tradition.

Jesus Heals on the Day of Worship—Matthew 12:9–15a; Mark 3:1–6

6 On another day of worship, Jesus went into a synagogue to teach. A man whose right hand was paralyzed was there. 7 The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could find a way to accuse him of doing something wrong.

8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Get up, and stand in the center ⌞of the synagogue⌟!” The man got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you—what is the right thing to do on a day of worship: to do good or evil, to give a person his health or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at all of them and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did so, and his hand became normal again.

11 The experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees were furious and began to discuss with each other what they could do to Jesus.

6:6–11   I know the right answer. But shake me when my religious habits get in the way of my doing a good thing.

Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles—Matthew 10:1–4; Mark 3:13–19

12 At that time Jesus went to a mountain to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

13 When it was day, he called his disciples. He chose twelve of them and called them apostles. 14 They were Simon (whom Jesus named Peter) and Simon’s brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the Zealot), 16 Judas (son of James), and Judas Iscariot (who became a traitor).

6:12–16   Pray to your Father and reach a decision. Call me to the purpose you choose for me.

Many People Are Cured—Mark 3:7–12

17 Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples and many other people were there. They had come from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They wanted to hear him and be cured of their diseases. Those who were tormented by evil spirits were cured. 19 The entire crowd was trying to touch him because power was coming from him and curing all of them.

6:17–19   I want to touch you and access your power. Speak to me and cure me.

Jesus Teaches His Disciples

20 Jesus looked at his disciples and said,

“Blessed are those who are poor.

The kingdom of God is theirs.

21 Blessed are those who are hungry.

They will be satisfied.

Blessed are those who are crying.

They will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you, avoid you,

insult you, and slander you

because you are committed to the Son of Man.

23 Rejoice then, and be very happy!

You have a great reward in heaven.

That’s the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

6:20–23   Can you really turn the world upside down? Bless the poor and the hungry and crying. Let people rejoice when they’re rejected because of you.

24 “But how horrible it will be for those who are rich.

They have had their comfort.

25 How horrible it will be for those who are well-fed.

They will be hungry.

How horrible it will be for those who are laughing.

They will mourn and cry.

26 How horrible it will be for you

when everyone says nice things about you.

That’s the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.

6:24–26   I’ve tasted comfort and laughed a few times. But I receive those as your gifts. My entire life belongs to you.

Love Your Enemies—Matthew 5:38–48

27 “But I tell everyone who is listening: Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who insult you. 29 If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t stop him from taking your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks you for something. If someone takes what is yours, don’t insist on getting it back.

31 “Do for other people everything you want them to do for you.

32 “If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you help those who help you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners do that too. 34 If you lend anything to those from whom you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners also lend to sinners to get back what they lend. 35 Rather, love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward. You will be the children of the Most High God. After all, he is kind to unthankful and evil people. 36 Be merciful as your Father is merciful.

6:27–36   Your words sound backwards to me. But I’ll try life your way. I’ll love my enemies and be kind to people who dish out hatred. I’ll share things I really want to keep for myself. I’ll show mercy because you show mercy to me.

Stop Judging—Matthew 7:1–5

37 “Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you.”

39 Jesus also gave them this illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t both fall into the same pit? 40 A student is no better than his teacher. But everyone who is well-trained will be like his teacher.

41 “Why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? 42 How can you say to another believer, ‘Friend, let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you don’t see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye.

6:37–42   I’ll quit judging and start forgiving. I’ll measure other people by the standards I want applied to me. I won’t try to fix others when I’m overwhelmed by problems of my own.

Evil People—Matthew 7:15–23

43 “A good tree doesn’t produce rotten fruit, and a rotten tree doesn’t produce good fruit. 44 Each tree is known by its fruit. You don’t pick figs from thorny plants or grapes from a thornbush. 45 Good people do the good that is in them. But evil people do the evil that is in them. The things people say come from inside them.

6:43–45   Make me good on the inside so I produce good fruit.

Build on the Rock—Matthew 7:24–29

46 “Why do you call me Lord but don’t do what I tell you?

47 “I will show you what everyone who comes to me, hears what I say, and obeys it is like. 48 He is like a person who dug down to bedrock to lay the foundation of his home. When a flood came, the floodwaters pushed against that house. But the house couldn’t be washed away because it had a good foundation. 49 The person who hears ⌞what I say⌟ but doesn’t obey it is like someone who built a house on the ground without any foundation. The floodwaters pushed against it, and that house quickly collapsed and was destroyed.”

6:46–49   You know when I call you Master with no intention of doing what you say. But from now on I’ll dig down to bedrock to lay the foundation of my life.

A Believing Army Officer—Matthew 8:5–13

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1 When Jesus had finished everything he wanted to say to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 There a Roman army officer’s valuable slave was sick and near death. 3 The officer had heard about Jesus and sent some Jewish leaders to him. They were to ask Jesus to come and save the servant’s life. 4 They came to Jesus and begged, “He deserves your help. 5 He loves our people and built our synagogue at his own expense.”

6 Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell Jesus, “Sir, don’t bother. I don’t deserve to have you come into my house. 7 That’s why I didn’t come to you. But just give a command, and let my servant be cured. 8 As you know, I’m in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I tell my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

9 Jesus was amazed at the officer when he heard these words. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I can guarantee that I haven’t found faith as great as this in Israel.”

10 When the men who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant healthy again.

7:1–10   I don’t deserve to have you near me. But I know you can fix my problems. Speak the word and give me the help I need!

Jesus Brings a Widow’s Son Back to Life

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12 As he came near the entrance to the city, he met a funeral procession. The dead man was a widow’s only child. A large crowd from the city was with her.

13 When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. He said to her, “Don’t cry.”

14 He went up to the open coffin, took hold of it, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, “Young man, I’m telling you to come back to life!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 Everyone was struck with fear and praised God. They said, “A great prophet has appeared among us,” and “God has taken care of his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region.

7:11–17   Take me by the hand when I’m laid out flat. Raise me up because others depend on me. I know you take care of your people.

John Sends Two Disciples—Matthew 11:2–6

18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Then John called two of his disciples 19 and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?”

20 The men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?’”

21 At that time Jesus was curing many people who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits. Also, he was giving back sight to many who were blind.

22 Jesus answered John’s disciples, “Go back, and tell John what you have seen and heard: Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean,[13] deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News. 23 Whoever doesn’t lose his faith in me is indeed blessed.”

7:18–23   The blind see, the lame walk, and people ravaged by disease become clean. The deaf hear, the dead rise, and the poor find hope. You’re the one Scriptures said would come.

Jesus Speaks about John—Matthew 11:7–19

24 When John’s messengers had left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind? 25 Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear splendid clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 Really, what did you go to see? A prophet? Let me tell you that he is far more than a prophet. 27 John is the one about whom Scripture says,

‘I am sending my messenger ahead of you

to prepare the way in front of you.’

28 I can guarantee that of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.

7:24–28   John didn’t come wrapped in splendid clothes or live in luxury. His sole purpose was to prepare the way for you.

29 “All the people, including tax collectors, heard John. They admitted that God was right by letting John baptize them. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings rejected God’s plan for them. They refused to be baptized.

31 “How can I describe the people who are living now? What are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other,

‘We played music for you,

but you didn’t dance.

We sang a funeral song,

but you didn’t cry.’

33 John the Baptizer has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘There’s a demon in him!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! He’s a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

35 “Yet, wisdom is proved right by all its results.”

7:29–35   I’m pierced by John’s sharp words. I’m a sinner and need to be scrubbed clean. I won’t refuse your plan for me.

A Sinful Woman Receives Forgiveness

36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went to the Pharisee’s house and was eating at the table.

37 A woman who lived a sinful life in that city found out that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she took a bottle of perfume 38 and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them.

39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner.”

7:36–39   I know what people think when they see me. They see what sort of person I am. But that’s why I kneel at your feet. That’s why I’m weeping.

40 Jesus spoke up, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

Simon replied, “Teacher, you’re free to speak.”

41 ⌞So Jesus said,⌟ “Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 When they couldn’t pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?”

43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.”

Jesus said to him, “You’re right!” 44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “You see this woman, don’t you? I came into your house. You didn’t wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t give me a kiss. But ever since I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 That’s why I’m telling you that her many sins have been forgiven. Her great love proves that. But whoever receives little forgiveness loves very little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 The other guests thought, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace!”

7:40–50   I love you much because you’ve forgiven my many sins. You save me. I have your peace.

Women Who Supported Jesus

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1 After this, Jesus traveled from one city and village to another. He spread the Good News about God’s kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him. 2 Also, some women were with him. They had been cured from evil spirits and various illnesses. These women were Mary, also called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 Joanna, whose husband Chusa was Herod’s administrator; Susanna; and many other women. They provided financial support for Jesus and his disciples.

8:1–3   Give honor to the women who follow you wholeheartedly. Spread the news of their sacrifice.

A Story about a Farmer—Matthew 13:1–23; Mark 4:1–20

4 When a large crowd had gathered and people had come to Jesus from every city, he used this story as an illustration: 5 “A farmer went to plant his seeds. Some seeds were planted along the road, were trampled, and were devoured by birds. 6 Others were planted on rocky soil. When the plants came up, they withered because they had no moisture. 7 Others were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up with them and choked them. 8 Others were planted on good ground. When they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted.”

After he had said this, he called out, “Let the person who has ears listen!”

9 His disciples asked him what this story meant. 10 Jesus answered, “Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given ⌞directly⌟ to you. But it is given to others in stories. When they look, they don’t see, and when they hear, they don’t understand.

8:4–10   I’m listening close for your point. Teach me with stories, but help me grasp your message. I want to understand.

11 “This is what the story illustrates: The seed is God’s word. 12 Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. They hear the word, but then the devil comes. He takes the word away from them so that they don’t believe and become saved. 13 Some people are like seeds on rocky soil. They welcome the word with joy whenever they hear it, but they don’t develop any roots. They believe for a while, but when their faith is tested, they abandon it. 14 The seeds that were planted among thornbushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don’t produce anything good. 15 The seeds that were planted on good ground are people who also hear the word. But they keep it in their good and honest hearts and produce what is good despite what life may bring.

8:11–14   Where am I open to the devil’s attack? In what ways is my faith shallow and vulnerable? What do I need to cut from my life so your word isn’t wasted?

16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light. 17 There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light.

18 “So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand ⌞these mysteries⌟ will be given ⌞more knowledge⌟. However, some people don’t understand ⌞these mysteries⌟. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”

8:15–18   How can I listen more closely to you? Teach me to welcome your word into my heart. I want to produce good no matter what life brings.

The True Family of Jesus—Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35

19 His mother and his brothers came to see him. But they couldn’t meet with him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside. They want to see you.”

21 He answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do what God’s word says.”

8:19–21   Train me to hear and do what your word says.

Jesus Calms the Sea—Matthew 8:23–27; Mark 4:35–41

22 One day Jesus and his disciples got into a boat. He said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they started out. 23 As they were sailing along, Jesus fell asleep.

A violent storm came across the lake. The boat was taking on water, and they were in danger. 24 They went to him, woke him up, and said, “Master! Master! We’re going to die!”

Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to stop. The wind stopped, and the sea became calm. 25 He asked them, “Where is your faith?”

Frightened and amazed, they asked each other, “Who is this man? He gives orders to the wind and the water, and they obey him!”

8:22–25   I need you to calm the violent storms of my life. But even after you help me I’m scared. I realize you’re Lord of everything, including my life.

Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Man—Matthew 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–20

26 They landed in the region of the Gerasenes across from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped out on the shore, a certain man from the city met him. The man was possessed by demons and had not worn clothes for a long time. He would not stay in a house but lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he shouted, fell in front of him, and said in a loud voice, “Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torture me!” 29 Jesus ordered the evil spirit to come out of the man. (The evil spirit had controlled the man for a long time. People had kept him under guard. He was chained hand and foot. But he would break the chains. Then the demon would force him to go into the desert.)

30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

He answered, “Legion [Six Thousand].” (Many demons had entered him.) 31 The demons begged Jesus not to order them to go into the bottomless pit.

8:26–31   The name of evil is Legion. Countless demons forced a man to live naked among tombs. Evil sees you and immediately perceives you as a threat.

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding on a mountainside. The demons begged Jesus to let them enter those pigs. So he let them do this. 33 The demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.

34 When those who had taken care of the pigs saw what had happened, they ran away. They reported everything in the city and countryside. 35 The people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out. Dressed and in his right mind, he was sitting at Jesus’ feet. The people were frightened. 36 Those who had seen this told the people how Jesus had restored the demon-possessed man to health.

37 Then all the people from the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave because they were terrified.

Jesus got into a boat and started back. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged him, “Let me go with you.”

But Jesus sent the man away and told him, 39 “Go home to your family, and tell them how much God has done for you.” So the man left. He went through the whole city and told people how much Jesus had done for him.

8:32–39   You clothed a demon-possessed man and gave him back his mind. You restore the oppressed to health.

Jairus’ Daughter and a Woman with Chronic Bleeding—Matthew 9:18–26; Mark 5:21–43

40 When Jesus came back, a crowd welcomed him. Everyone was expecting him.

41 A man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, arrived and quickly bowed down in front of Jesus. He begged Jesus to come to his home. 42 His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went, the people were crowding around him.

43 A woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years was in the crowd. No one could cure her. 44 She came up behind Jesus, touched the edge of his clothes, and her bleeding stopped at once.

45 Jesus asked, “Who touched me?”

After everyone denied touching him, Peter said, “Teacher, the people are crowding you and pressing against you.”

46 Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know power has gone out of me.”

47 The woman saw that she couldn’t hide. Trembling, she quickly bowed in front of him. There, in front of all the people, she told why she touched him and how she was cured at once.

48 Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace!”

8:40–48   Heal me when I reach out to you. You know my need even when I say nothing. You’re able to cure me at once.

49 While Jesus was still speaking to her, someone came from the synagogue leader’s home. He said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

50 When Jesus heard this, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid! Just believe, and she will get well.”

51 Jesus went into the house. He allowed no one to go with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s parents. 52 Everyone was crying and showing how sad they were. Jesus said, “Don’t cry! She’s not dead. She’s just sleeping.”

53 They laughed at him because they knew she was dead. 54 But Jesus took her hand and called out, “Child, get up!” 55 She came back to life and got up at once. He ordered her parents to give her something to eat. 56 They were amazed. Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

8:49–56   You raised a dead girl to life. Is anything beyond your power? Do you still raise the dead?

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve—Matthew 10:5–42; Mark 6:7–13

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1 Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over every demon and power and authority to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to spread the message about the kingdom of God and to cure the sick.

3 He told them, “Don’t take anything along on the trip. Don’t take a walking stick, traveling bag, any food, money, or a change of clothes. 4 When you go into a home, stay there until you’re ready to leave. 5 If people don’t welcome you, leave that city, and shake its dust off your feet as a warning to them.”

6 The apostles went from village to village, told the Good News, and cured the sick everywhere.

9:1–6   You send me to spread the message about the kingdom of God. Do you still give me that kind of power and authority?

Rumors about Jesus—Matthew 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–29

7 Herod the ruler heard about everything that was happening. He didn’t know what to make of it. Some people were saying that John had come back to life. 8 Others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others said that one of the prophets from long ago had come back to life.

9 Herod said, “I had John’s head cut off. Who is this person I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod wanted to see Jesus.

9:7–9   You puzzled evil Herod. He wanted to see you. Do you still attract the hardhearted?

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand—Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; John 6:1–14

10 The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him to a city called Bethsaida so that they could be alone. 11 But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them, talked to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who were sick.

12 Toward the end of the day, the twelve apostles came to him. They said to him, “Send the crowd to the closest villages and farms so that they can find some food and a place to stay. No one lives around here.”

13 Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish. Unless we go to buy food for all these people, that’s all we have.” 14 (There were about five thousand men.)

Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit in groups of about fifty.” 15 So they did this.

16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the crowd. 17 All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.

9:10–17   You broke five loaves and two fish. You looked to heaven and blessed the food. You fed the crowd until they were full. You have power I can’t begin to comprehend.

Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus—Matthew 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30

18 Once when Jesus was praying privately and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

19 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, and still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back to life.”

20 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, whom God has sent.”

21 He ordered them not to tell this to anyone.

9:18–21   Peter said you were the Messiah, the one sent by God. So do I.

Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Matthew 16:21–23; Mark 8:31–33

22 Jesus said that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would come back to life.

9:22   Your looming death wasn’t a mystery. How did you know?

What It Means to Follow Jesus—Matthew 16:24–28; Mark 8:34–9:1

23 He said to all of them, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses every day, and follow me. 24 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will save them. 25 What good does it do for people to win the whole world but lose their lives by destroying them? 26 If people are ashamed of me and what I say, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes in the glory that he shares with the Father and the holy angels.

27 “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God.”

9:23–27   Every part of me wants to follow you. Teach me to let go of anything not fit for the journey. Point out the excess baggage I drag along.

Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus—Matthew 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–13

28 About eight days after he had said this, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a mountain to pray. 29 While Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, both Moses and Elijah were talking with him. 31 They appeared in heavenly glory and were discussing Jesus’ approaching death and what he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.

32 Peter and the men with him were sleeping soundly. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As Moses and Elijah were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter didn’t know what he was saying.

34 While he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them. They were frightened as they went into the cloud. 35 A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!”

36 After the voice had spoken, they saw that Jesus was alone. The disciples said nothing, and for some time they told no one about what they had seen.

9:28–36   Nothing can contain your dazzling brightness. I can’t force you to hang around on my terms. I’m not sure I understand you at all.

Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy—Matthew 17:14–20; Mark 9:14–29

37 The next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son. He’s my only child. 39 Whenever a spirit takes control of him, he shrieks, goes into convulsions, and foams at the mouth. After a struggle, the spirit goes away, leaving the child worn out. 40 I begged your disciples to force the spirit out of him, but they couldn’t do it.”

41 Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!”

42 While he was coming ⌞to Jesus⌟, the demon knocked the boy to the ground and threw him into convulsions.

Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave. He cured the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 Everyone was amazed to see God’s wonderful power.

9:37–43   I’m amazed to see your wonderful power. Forgive my unbelief.

The Son of Man Again Foretells His Betrayal—Matthew 17:22–23; Mark 9:30–32

Everyone was amazed at all the things that Jesus was doing. So he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I say. The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people.”

45 They didn’t know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they didn’t understand it. Besides, they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.

9:44–45   Sometimes I don’t understand you. Sometimes I’m afraid to ask you a simple question.

Greatness in the Kingdom—Matthew 18:1–5; Mark 9:33–37

46 A discussion started among them about who would be the greatest. 47 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest.”

9:46–48   Children fill the center of your heart. You give them an honored place in your kingdom.

Using the Name of Jesus—Mark 9:38–41

49 John replied, “Master, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Don’t stop him! Whoever isn’t against you is for you.”

People from a Samaritan Village Reject Jesus

51 The time was coming closer for Jesus to be taken to heaven. So he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a Samaritan village to arrange a place for him to stay. 53 But the people didn’t welcome him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 James and John, his disciples, saw this. They asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?”

55 But he turned and corrected them.[14] 56 So they went to another village.

9:49–55   Who is for you? Who opposes your work? I always want to be on your side.

What It Takes to Be a Disciple—Matthew 8:19–22

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to Jesus, “I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep.”

59 He told another man, “Follow me!”

But the man said, “Sir, first let me go to bury my father.”

60 But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You must go everywhere and tell about the kingdom of God.”

61 Another said, “I’ll follow you, sir, but first let me tell my family goodbye.”

62 Jesus said to him, “Whoever starts to plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”

9:56–62   What gets in the way of me following you without hesitation? What would you point out in my life?

Jesus Sends Disciples to Do Mission Work

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1 After this, the Lord appointed 70[15] other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.

2 He told them, “The harvest is large, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops. 3 Go! I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don’t stop to greet anyone on the way. 5 Whenever you go into a house, greet the family right away with the words, ‘May there be peace in this house.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting will be accepted. But if that’s not the case, your greeting will be rejected. 7 Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another. 8 Whenever you go into a city and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you. 9 Heal the sick that are there, and tell the people, ‘The kingdom of God is near you!’

10:1–4   Send me ahead of you, into your harvest. Send more people too. I’ll depend on you for whatever I need.

10 “But whenever you go into a city and people don’t welcome you, leave. Announce in its streets, 11 ‘We are wiping your city’s dust from our feet in protest against you! But realize that the kingdom of God is near you!’ 12 I can guarantee that judgment day will be easier for Sodom than for that city.

13 “How horrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How horrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in your cities had been worked in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed the way they thought and acted. Long ago they would have worn sackcloth and sat in ashes. 14 Judgment day will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to heaven? No, you will go to hell!

16 “The person who hears you hears me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

10:5–16   I’ll speak mercy and warning. I’ll tell about heaven and hell. I’ll tell people your kingdom is here!

17 The 70 disciples came back very happy. They said, “Lord, even demons obey us when we use the power and authority of your name!”

18 Jesus said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 I have given you the authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to destroy the enemy’s power. Nothing will hurt you. 20 However, don’t be happy that evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven.”

21 In that hour the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with joy. Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.

22 “My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows who the Son is. And no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.”

23 He turned to his disciples in private and said to them, “How blessed you are to see what you’ve seen. 24 I can guarantee that many prophets and kings wanted to see and hear what you’ve seen and heard, but they didn’t.”

10:17–24   Demons don’t fear me. But they obey the power and authority of your name. You make Satan fall like lightning from heaven. And you write my name in heaven.

A Story about a Good Samaritan

25 Then an expert in Moses’ Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus answered him, “What is written in Moses’ Teachings? What do you read there?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.’”

28 Jesus told him, “You’re right! Do this, and life will be yours.”

10:25–28   I choose to love you with everything in me. I won’t let anything take your place. I’ll care for others as much as I care for myself.

29 But the man wanted to justify his question. So he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

30 Jesus replied, “A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead.

31 “By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way. 32 Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his way.

33 “But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man, 34 went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I’ll pay you on my return trip.’

36 “Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?”

37 The expert said, “The one who was kind enough to help him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and imitate his example!”

10:29–37   Who am I in your story? Do I claim to be spiritual yet go out of my way to avoid the wounded and broken? Or would I get my hands bloody and help? Test my actions. Show me the condition of my heart.

Mary Listens to Jesus

38 As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk.

40 But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me.”

41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. 42 There’s only one thing you need.[16] Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her.”

10:38–42   There’s only one thing I need. I’ll make the right choice. I’ll sit at your feet and listen to you.

The Lord’s Prayer—Matthew 6:9–13

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1 Once Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped praying, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.”

2 Jesus told them, “When you pray, say this:

Father,

let your name be kept holy.

Let your kingdom come.

3 Give us our bread day by day.

4 Forgive us as we forgive everyone else.

Don’t allow us to be tempted.”

11:1–4   Father, let your name be kept holy. Let your kingdom come. Give us our bread day by day. Forgive us as we forgive everyone else. Don’t allow us to be tempted.

The Power of Prayer—Matthew 7:7–11

5 Jesus said to his disciples, “Suppose one of you has a friend. Suppose you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6 A friend of mine on a trip has dropped in on me, and I don’t have anything to serve him.’ 7 Your friend might answer you from inside his house, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ 8 I can guarantee that although he doesn’t want to get up to give you anything, he will get up and give you whatever you need because he is your friend and because you were so bold.

9 “So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the person who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “If your child asks you, his father, for a fish, would you give him a snake instead? 12 Or if your child asks you for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? 13 Even though you’re evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

11:5–13   I feel like I’m banging on your door at midnight. You’re locked in tight and tucked in bed. But you won’t refuse my request. You’re my friend.

Jesus Is Accused of Working with Beelzebul—Matthew 12:22–32, 43–45; Mark 3:20–30

14 Jesus was forcing a demon out of a man. The demon had made the man unable to talk. When the demon had gone out, the man began to talk.

The people were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He can force demons out of people only with the help of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.” 16 Others wanted to test Jesus and demanded that he show them some miraculous sign from heaven.

17 Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. A house divided against itself falls. 18 Now, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? I say this because you say Beelzebul helps me force demons out of people. 19 If I force demons out with the help of Beelzebul, who helps your followers force them out? That’s why they will be your judges. 20 But if I force out demons with the help of God’s power, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

11:14–20   You won’t put on a show for people who want a sign. You don’t fight the devil with the devil’s power. When you force out demons, your own kingdom has come.

21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe. 22 But a stronger man than he may attack him and defeat him. Then the stronger man will take away all the weapons in which the strong man trusted and will divide the loot.

23 “Whoever isn’t with me is against me. Whoever doesn’t gather with me scatters.

24 “When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the home I left.’ 25 When it comes, it finds the house swept clean and in order. 26 Then the spirit goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter and take up permanent residence there. In the end the condition of that person is worse than it was before.”

11:21–26   You’re the stronger man. You chase away evil and it doesn’t come back.

The Sign of Jonah—Matthew 12:38–42

27 While Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd shouted, “How blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and the breasts that nursed you.”

28 Jesus replied, “Rather, how blessed are those who hear and obey God’s word.”

29 As the people were gathering around him, Jesus said, “The people living today are evil. They look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of Jonah. 30 Just as Jonah became a miraculous sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a miraculous sign to the people living today. 31 The queen from the south will stand up at the time of judgment with the men who live today. She will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom. But look, someone greater than Solomon is here! 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the time of judgment with the people living today. Since the men of Nineveh turned to God and changed the way they thought and acted when Jonah spoke his message, they will condemn the people living today. But look, someone greater than Jonah is here!

11:27–32   Ancient Nineveh turned to you when you sent Jonah to warn them. And now someone greater than Jonah is here! Move me and my people to obey your word.

Jesus Talks about Light

33 “No one lights a lamp and hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see its light.

34 “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is unclouded, your whole body is full of light. But when your eye is evil, your body is full of darkness. 35 So be careful that the light in you isn’t darkness. 36 If your whole body is full of light and not darkness, it will be as bright as a lamp shining on you.”

11:33–36   You light up my life. I won’t hide what you’ve done.

Jesus Criticizes Some Jewish Leaders

37 After Jesus spoke, a Pharisee invited him to have lunch at his house. So Jesus accepted the invitation. 38 The Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus didn’t wash before the meal.

39 The Lord said to him, “You Pharisees clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside you are full of greed and evil. 40 You fools! Didn’t the one who made the outside make the inside too? 41 Give what is inside as a gift to the poor, and then everything will be clean[17] for you.

42 “How horrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give ⌞God⌟ one-tenth of your mint, spices, and every garden herb. But you have ignored justice and the love of God. You should have done these things without ignoring the others.

43 “How horrible it will be for you Pharisees! You love to sit in the front seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplaces. 44 How horrible it will be for you! You are like unmarked graves. People walk on them without knowing what they are.”

11:37–44   Forgive me and change me before it’s too late! Cleanse me inside so my outside comes clean. I’ll give my wealth yet not ignore mercy. I’ll quit pushing my way to the front.

45 One of the experts in Moses’ Teachings said to him, “Teacher, when you talk this way, you insult us too.”

46 Jesus said, “How horrible it will be for you experts in Moses’ Teachings! You burden people with loads that are hard to carry. But you won’t lift a finger to carry any of these loads.

47 “How horrible it will be for you! You build the monuments for the prophets. But it was your ancestors who murdered them. 48 So you are witnesses and approve of what your ancestors did. They murdered the prophets for whom you build monuments. 49 That’s why the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles. They will murder some of those prophets and apostles and persecute others.’ 50 So the people living now will be charged with the murder of every prophet since the world was made. 51 This includes the murders from Abel to Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the temple. Yes, I can guarantee this truth: The people living today will be held responsible for this.

52 “How horrible it will be for you experts in Moses’ Teachings! You have taken away the key that unlocks knowledge. You haven’t gained entrance into ⌞knowledge⌟ yourselves, and you’ve kept out those who wanted to enter.”

53 When Jesus left, the experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees held a terrible grudge against him. They questioned him about many things 54 and watched him closely to trap him in something he might say.

11:45–54   You send me your word yet I shut it out. I have plenty of knowledge but don’t live up to what I know. No wonder I feel insulted when you call me out.

Jesus Speaks to His Disciples

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1 Meanwhile, thousands of people had gathered. They were so crowded that they stepped on each other. Jesus spoke to his disciples and said, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. I’m talking about their hypocrisy. 2 Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. Whatever you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.

4 “My friends, I can guarantee that you don’t need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can’t do anything more. 5 I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you. I’m warning you to be afraid of him.

12:1–5   I’m afraid of people who mock me and make me feel left out. I should fear the one who can send me to my death and worse.

6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two cents? God doesn’t forget any of them. 7 Even every hair on your head has been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows. 8 I can guarantee that the Son of Man will acknowledge in front of God’s angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others. 9 But God’s angels will be told that I don’t know those people who tell others that they don’t know me. 10 Everyone who says something against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But the person who dishonors the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11 “When you are put on trial in synagogues or in front of rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.”

12:6–12   If I admit I know you, then you’ll admit you know me. When people test my faith, you’ll teach me what to say.

A Story about Material Possessions

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance that our father left us.”

14 Jesus said to him, “Who appointed me to be your judge or to divide ⌞your inheritance⌟?”

15 He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.”

16 Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. 17 He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ 18 He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’ 21 That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God.”

12:13–21   I’ll be careful to guard myself from every kind of greed. Life isn’t about having a lot of material possessions. I’d rather be rich in my relationship with you.

Stop Worrying—Matthew 6:25–34

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. 24 Consider the crows. They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even have a storeroom or a barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds.

25 “Can any of you add an hour to your life by worrying? 26 If you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? 27 Consider how the flowers grow. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 28 That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?

12:22–28   I’m obsessed with what I eat and where I sleep. I worry about how to get more and how to hang on to it all.

29 “Don’t concern yourself about what you will eat or drink, and quit worrying about these things. 30 Everyone in the world is concerned about these things, but your Father knows you need them. 31 Rather, be concerned about his kingdom. Then these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

33 “Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can’t get close enough to destroy your treasure. 34 Your heart will be where your treasure is.

12:29–34   Nothing on earth matters as much as your kingdom. I’ll make treasure for myself in heaven.

The Son of Man Will Return When You Least Expect Him

35 “Be ready for action, and have your lamps burning. 36 Be like servants waiting to open the door at their master’s knock when he returns from a wedding. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I can guarantee this truth: He will change his clothes, make them sit down at the table, and serve them. 38 They will be blessed if he comes in the middle of the night or toward morning and finds them awake.

39 “Of course, you realize that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let him break into his house. 40 Be ready, because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him.”

12:35–40   You’re like a boss who shows up unannounced. You’ll return when I least expect you.

41 Peter asked, “Lord, did you use this illustration just for us or for everyone?”

42 The Lord asked, “Who, then, is the faithful, skilled manager that the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their share of food at the right time? 43 That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing this job when he comes. 44 I can guarantee this truth: He will put that servant in charge of all his property. 45 On the other hand, that servant may think that his master is taking a long time to come home. The servant may begin to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk. 46 His master will return at an unexpected time. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.

47 “The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn’t get ready to do it will receive a hard beating. 48 But the servant who didn’t know ⌞what his master wanted⌟ and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.

12:41–48   You want to find me working when you come. You’ve given me a lot, so you expect a lot from me. Give me endurance to keep working hard.

Jesus Will Cause Conflict

49 “I have come to throw fire on the earth. I wish that it had already started! 50 I have a baptism to go through, and I will suffer until it is over.

51 “Do you think I came to bring peace to earth? No! I can guarantee that I came to bring nothing but division. 52 From now on a family of five will be divided. Three will be divided against two and two against three. 53 A father will be against his son and a son against his father. A mother will be against her daughter and a daughter against her mother. A mother-in-law will be against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

12:49–53   When you were born, you brought peace to earth. But don’t let me be surprised when your truth divides.

Use Good Judgment

54 Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you immediately say, ‘There’s going to be a rainstorm,’ and it happens. 55 When you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and that’s what happens. 56 You hypocrites! You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of earth and sky. But for some reason you don’t know how to judge the time in which you’re living. 57 So why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him before you get there. Otherwise, he will drag you in front of a judge. The judge will hand you over to an officer who will throw you into prison. 59 I can guarantee that you won’t get out until you pay every penny of your fine.”

12:54–59   Teach me to discern the time I’m living in. Help me see the right things to do.

Jesus Tells People to Turn to God and Change the Way They Think and Act

13

1 At that time some people reported to Jesus about some Galileans whom Pilate had executed while they were sacrificing animals. 2 Jesus replied to them, “Do you think that this happened to them because they were more sinful than other people from Galilee? 3 No! I can guarantee that they weren’t. But if you don’t turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die. 4 What about those 18 people who died when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more sinful than other people living in Jerusalem? 5 No! I can guarantee that they weren’t. But if you don’t turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die.”

A Story about a Fruitless Tree

6 Then Jesus used this illustration: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on the tree but didn’t find any. 7 He said to the gardener, ‘For the last three years I’ve come to look for figs on this fig tree but haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up ⌞good⌟ soil?’

8 “The gardener replied, ‘Sir, let it stand for one more year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 Maybe next year it’ll have figs. But if not, then cut it down.’”

13:1–9   Tragedy doesn’t pick one sinner to die and another to survive. But I won’t escape death unless I change the way I think and act.

Jesus Heals a Disabled Woman

10 Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the day of worship. 11 A woman who was possessed by a spirit was there. The spirit had disabled her for 18 years. She was hunched over and couldn’t stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her to come to him and said, “Woman, you are free from your disability.” 13 He placed his hands on her, and she immediately stood up straight and praised God.

14 The synagogue leader was irritated with Jesus for healing on the day of worship. The leader told the crowd, “There are six days when work can be done. So come on one of those days to be healed. Don’t come on the day of worship.”

15 The Lord said, “You hypocrites! Don’t each of you free your ox or donkey on the day of worship? Don’t you then take it out of its stall to give it some water to drink? 16 Now, here is a descendant of Abraham. Satan has kept her in this condition for 18 years. Isn’t it right to free her on the day of worship?”

17 As he said this, everyone who opposed him felt ashamed. But the entire crowd was happy about the miraculous things he was doing.

13:10–17   Stand me up straight when I’m twisted. Repair my shattered parts, and I’ll have yet another reason to praise you.

Stories about a Mustard Seed and Yeast—Matthew 13:31–33; Mark 4:30–32

18 Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to? 19 It’s like a mustard seed that someone planted in a garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds nested in its branches.”

20 He asked again, “What can I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It’s like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough.”

13:18–21   Nothing can stop the advance of your kingdom. What starts small reaches the entire earth.

The Narrow Door

22 Then Jesus traveled and taught in one city and village after another on his way to Jerusalem.

23 Someone asked him, “Sir, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He answered, 24 “Try hard to enter through the narrow door. I can guarantee that many will try to enter, but they won’t succeed. 25 After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, ⌞it’s too late⌟. You can stand outside, knock at the door, and say, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know who you are.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will tell you, ‘I don’t know who you are. Get away from me, all you evil people.’ 28 Then you will cry and be in extreme pain. That’s what you’ll do when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets. They’ll be in the kingdom of God, but you’ll be thrown out. 29 People will come from all over the world and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30 Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

13:22–30   Bring citizens from all over the world to feast in your kingdom. Give the last first place. Lead me through the narrow gate and let me be your true friend.

Jesus Warns Jerusalem

31 At that time some Pharisees told Jesus, “Get out of here, and go somewhere else! Herod wants to kill you.”

32 Jesus said to them, “Tell that fox that I will force demons out of people and heal people today and tomorrow. I will finish my work on the third day. 33 But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day. It’s not possible for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing! 35 Your house will be abandoned. I can guarantee that you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

13:31–35   You constantly drive out demons. Healing is nothing uncommon for you. But you won’t finish your work until the third day.

Jesus Attends a Banquet

14

1 On a day of worship Jesus went to eat at the home of a prominent Pharisee. The guests were watching Jesus very closely.

2 A man whose body was swollen with fluid was there. 3 Jesus reacted by asking the Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings, “Is it right to heal on the day of worship or not?” 4 But they didn’t say a thing.

So Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him away. 5 Jesus asked them, “If your son or your ox falls into a well on a day of worship, wouldn’t you pull him out immediately?” 6 They couldn’t argue with him about this.

7 Then Jesus noticed how the guests always chose the places of honor. So he used this illustration when he spoke to them: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding, don’t take the place of honor. Maybe someone more important than you was invited. 9 Then your host would say to you, ‘Give this person your place.’ Embarrassed, you would have to take the place of least honor. 10 So when you’re invited, take the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, ‘Friend, move to a more honorable place.’ Then all the other guests will see how you are honored. 11 Those who honor themselves will be humbled, but people who humble themselves will be honored.”

14:1–11   Remind me to take a humble place. You lower the proud and raise up the lowly.

12 Then he told the man who had invited him, “When you invite people for lunch or dinner, don’t invite only your friends, family, other relatives, or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they will return the favor. 13 Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the handicapped, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then you will be blessed because they don’t have any way to pay you back. You will be paid back when those who have God’s approval come back to life.”

14:12–14   I can’t pay back your invitation. Teach me to seek out people who can’t return my welcome.

15 One of those eating with him heard this. So he said to Jesus, “The person who will be at the banquet in the kingdom of God is blessed.”

16 Jesus said to him, “A man gave a large banquet and invited many people. 17 When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come! Everything is ready now.’

18 “Everyone asked to be excused. The first said to him, ‘I bought a field, and I need to see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I bought five pairs of oxen, and I’m on my way to see how well they plow. Please excuse me.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I recently got married, and that’s why I can’t come.’

21 “The servant went back to report this to his master. Then the master of the house became angry. He told his servant, ‘Run to every street and alley in the city! Bring back the poor, the handicapped, the blind, and the lame.’

22 “The servant said, ‘Sir, what you’ve ordered has been done. But there is still room for more people.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go to the roads and paths! Urge the people to come to my house. I want it to be full. 24 I can guarantee that none of those invited earlier will taste any food at my banquet.’”

14:15–24   Have mercy on my rude excuses. Search every road and path. Urge everyone to come to your house, and make sure your banquet is full.

The Cost of Being a Disciple

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned to them and said, 26 “If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples. 27 So those who do not carry their crosses and follow me cannot be my disciples.

28 “Suppose you want to build a tower. You would first sit down and figure out what it costs. Then you would see if you have enough money to finish it. 29 Otherwise, if you lay a foundation and can’t finish the building, everyone who watches will make fun of you. 30 They’ll say, ‘This person started to build but couldn’t finish the job.’

31 “Or suppose a king is going to war against another king. He would first sit down and think things through. Can he and his 10,000 soldiers fight against a king with 20,000 soldiers? 32 If he can’t, he’ll send ambassadors to ask for terms of peace while the other king is still far away. 33 In the same way, none of you can be my disciples unless you give up everything.

34 “Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? 35 It’s not any good for the ground or for the manure pile. People throw it away.

“Let the person who has ears listen!”

14:25–35   I’ve counted the cost and I’m ready to follow. I’m not bluffing when I say I’ll drop everything and pick up my cross. Show me exactly what it means to follow you today.

The Lost Sheep—Matthew 18:12–14

15

1 All the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings complained, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Jesus spoke to them using this illustration: 4 “Suppose a man has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 sheep grazing in the pasture and look for the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 When he finds it, he’s happy. He puts that sheep on his shoulders and 6 goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ 7 I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.”

15:1–7   Heaven goes wild when a lost person turns to you. Teach me how to look for people who’ve gone astray. I want to help you search.

The Lost Coin

8 “Suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house, and look for the coin carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found the coin that I lost.’ 10 So I can guarantee that God’s angels are happy about one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts.”

15:8–10   I’ll single-mindedly hunt for lost people. I’ll learn from you and not give up.

The Lost Son

11 Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the property.’ So the father divided his property between his two sons.

13 “After a few days, the younger son gathered his possessions and left for a country far away from home. There he wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle. 14 He had nothing left when a severe famine spread throughout that country. He had nothing to live on. 15 So he got a job from someone in that country and was sent to feed pigs in the fields. 16 No one in the country would give him any food, and he was so hungry that he would have eaten what the pigs were eating.

17 “Finally, he came to his senses. He said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more food than they can eat, while I’m starving to death here? 18 I’ll go at once to my father, and I’ll say to him, “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you. 19 I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Make me one of your hired men.” ’

15:11–19   Show me mercy when I waste your gifts and wallow with pigs. Shake me back to my senses. I don’t deserve to be called your child, but I’ll still come running home.

20 “So he went at once to his father. While he was still at a distance, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him. 21 Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore.’[18]

22 “The father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s celebrate with a feast. 24 My son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

15:20–24   You see me in the distance and feel sorry for me. You run to me and wrap me in your arms. I never imagined you would celebrate my return!

25 “His older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called to one of the servants and asked what was happening.

27 “The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come home. So your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate your brother’s safe return.’

28 “Then the older son became angry and wouldn’t go into the house. His father came out and begged him to come in. 29 But he answered his father, ‘All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your commands. Yet, you’ve never given me so much as a little goat for a celebration with my friends. 30 But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came home, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

31 “His father said to him, ‘My child, you’re always with me. Everything I have is yours. 32 But we have something to celebrate, something to be happy about. This brother of yours was dead but has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’”

15:25–32   Forgive my bitter self-righteousness. Correct me patiently when I forget to serve you from the heart. I need to remember how close you really are. You abundantly supply my needs.

Jesus Speaks about Dishonesty

16

1 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a business manager. The manager was accused of wasting the rich man’s property. 2 So the rich man called for his manager and said to him, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Let me examine your books. It’s obvious that you can’t manage my property any longer.’

3 “The manager thought, ‘What should I do? My master is taking my job away from me. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I’ll do so that people will welcome me into their homes when I’ve lost my job.’

5 “So the manager called for each one of his master’s debtors. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

6 “The debtor replied, ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil.’

“The manager told him, ‘Take my master’s ledger. Quick! Sit down, and write “four hundred!” ’

7 “Then he asked another debtor, ‘How much do you owe?’

“The debtor replied, ‘A thousand bushels of wheat.’

“The manager told him, ‘Take the ledger, and write “eight hundred!” ’

8 “The master praised the dishonest manager for being so clever. Worldly people are more clever than spiritually-minded people when it comes to dealing with others.”

16:1–8   I’ll make the most of every opportunity to make eternal friends for me and you.

9 ⌞Jesus continued,⌟ “I’m telling you that although wealth is often used in dishonest ways, you should use it to make friends for yourselves. When life is over, you will be welcomed into an eternal home. 10 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with a lot. 11 Therefore, if you can’t be trusted with wealth that is often used dishonestly, who will trust you with wealth that is real? 12 If you can’t be trusted with someone else’s wealth, who will give you your own?

13 “A servant cannot serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

16:9–13   I need money to get by, but I hate being its slave. Loosen money’s grip on me. You’re my one-and-only master.

14 The Pharisees, who love money, heard all this and were making sarcastic remarks about him. 15 So Jesus said to them, “You try to justify your actions in front of people. But God knows what’s in your hearts. What is important to humans is disgusting to God.

16 “Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets were ⌞in force⌟ until the time of John. Since that time, people have been telling the Good News about the kingdom of God, and everyone is trying to force their way into it. 17 It is easier for the earth and the heavens to disappear than to drop a comma from the Scriptures.

18 “Any man who divorces his wife to marry another woman is committing adultery. The man who marries a woman divorced in this way is committing adultery.

16:14–18   Sometimes the content of my heart sickens you. Help me obey your commands.

A Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who wore expensive clothes. Every day was like a party to him. 20 There was also a beggar named Lazarus who was regularly brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. 21 Lazarus would have eaten any scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Lazarus was covered with sores,[19] and dogs would lick them.

22 “One day the beggar died, and the angels carried him to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 He went to hell, where he was constantly tortured. As he looked up, in the distance he saw Abraham and Lazarus. 24 He yelled, ‘Father Abraham! Have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue. I am suffering in this fire.’

25 “Abraham replied, ‘Remember, my child, that you had a life filled with good times, while Lazarus’ life was filled with misery. Now he has peace here, while you suffer. 26 Besides, a wide area separates us. People couldn’t cross it in either direction even if they wanted to.’

27 “The rich man responded, ‘Then I ask you, Father, to send Lazarus back to my father’s home. 28 I have five brothers. He can warn them so that they won’t end up in this place of torture.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses’ ⌞Teachings⌟ and the Prophets. Your brothers should listen to them!’

30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! If someone comes back to them from the dead, they will turn to God and change the way they think and act.’

31 “Abraham answered him, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses’ ⌞Teachings⌟ and the Prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone comes back to life.’”

16:19–31   My life has never been one big party. But enable me to live for what matters most. I’ll turn to you. I’ll change how I think and act.

Causing Others to Lose Faith—Matthew 18:6–10; Mark 9:42–50

17

1 Jesus told his disciples, “Situations that cause people to lose their faith are certain to arise. But how horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith! 2 It would be best for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to lose his faith. 3 So watch yourselves!

“If a believer sins, correct him. If he changes the way he thinks and acts, forgive him. 4 Even if he wrongs you seven times in one day and comes back to you seven times and says that he is sorry, forgive him.”

17:1–4   Correct me when my thoughts and actions hurt me. Warn me when I lead others astray.

The Apostles Ask for More Faith

5 Then the apostles said to the Lord, “Give us more faith.”

6 The Lord said, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Pull yourself up by the roots, and plant yourself in the sea!’ and it would obey you.

7 “Suppose someone has a servant who is plowing fields or watching sheep. Does he tell his servant when he comes from the field, ‘Have something to eat’? 8 No. Instead, he tells his servant, ‘Get dinner ready for me! After you serve me my dinner, you can eat yours.’ 9 He doesn’t thank the servant for following orders. 10 That’s the way it is with you. When you’ve done everything you’re ordered to do, say, ‘We’re worthless servants. We’ve only done our duty.’”

17:5–10   How can you give me more faith? I’ll reflect on your promises and consider your word.

Ten Men with a Skin Disease Are Healed

11 Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee on his way to Jerusalem. 12 As he went into a village, ten men with a skin disease met him. They stood at a distance 13 and shouted, “Jesus, Teacher, have mercy on us!”

14 When he saw them, he told them, “Show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were made clean.[20] 15 When one of them saw that he was healed, he turned back and praised God in a loud voice. 16 He quickly bowed at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (The man was a Samaritan.)

17 Jesus asked, “Weren’t ten men made clean? Where are the other nine? 18 Only this foreigner came back to praise God.”

19 Jesus told the man, “Get up, and go home! Your faith has made you well.”

17:11–19   Don’t let me get so swept up in the good things you give me that I forget to say thanks. I promise to bow at your feet.

The Pharisees Ask about the Kingdom of God

20 The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come.

He answered them, “People can’t observe the coming of the kingdom of God. 21 They can’t say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ You see, the kingdom of God is within[21] you.”

17:20–21   Let your kingdom reign inside me.

Jesus Teaches about the Time When He Will Come Again

22 Jesus said to his disciples, “The time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will say, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Don’t run after those people. 24 The day of the Son of Man[22] will be like lightning that flashes from one end of the sky to the other. 25 But first he must suffer a lot and be rejected by the people of his day.

26 “When the Son of Man comes again, the situation will be like the time of Noah. 27 People were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship. Then the flood destroyed all of them.

28 “The situation will also be like the time of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But on the day that Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from the sky and destroyed all of them. 30 The day when the Son of Man is revealed will be like that.

31 “On that day those who are on the roof shouldn’t come down to get their belongings out of their houses. Those who are in the field shouldn’t turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Those who try to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives will save them.

34 “I can guarantee that on that night if two people are in one bed, one will be taken and the other one will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other one will be left.”[23]

37 They asked him, “Where, Lord?”

Jesus told them, “Vultures will gather wherever there is a dead body.”

17:22–37   You’ll suffer and be rejected, but soon the world will see your full splendor. You’ll flash like lightning from one end of the sky to the other.

God Will Help His People

18

1 Jesus used this illustration with his disciples to show them that they need to pray all the time and never give up. 2 He said, “In a city there was a judge who didn’t fear God or respect people. 3 In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice.’

4 “For a while the judge refused to do anything. But then he thought, ‘This widow really annoys me. Although I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 I’ll have to give her justice. Otherwise, she’ll keep coming to me until she wears me out.’”

6 The Lord added, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge thought. 7 Won’t God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them? 8 I can guarantee that he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

18:1–8   You give justice when I cry to you day and night. You’re not slow to help when I plead for myself and my world.

A Pharisee and a Tax Collector

9 Jesus also used this illustration with some who were sure that God approved of them while they looked down on everyone else. 10 He said, “Two men went into the temple courtyard to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people! I’m not a robber or a dishonest person. I haven’t committed adultery. I’m not even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my entire income.’

13 “But the tax collector was standing at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven. Instead, he became very upset, and he said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14 “I can guarantee that this tax collector went home with God’s approval, but the Pharisee didn’t. Everyone who honors himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be honored.”

18:9–14   I can never do enough good acts to get right with you. You’re simply not impressed. Be merciful to me, a sinner.

Jesus Blesses Children—Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16

15 Some people brought infants to Jesus to have him hold them. When the disciples saw this, they told the people not to do that.

16 But Jesus called the infants to him and said, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me! Children like these are part of the kingdom of God. 17 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it.”

18:15–17   I’ll open my heart to you with a small child’s trust.

Eternal Life in the Kingdom—Matthew 19:16–30; Mark 10:17–31

18 An official asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God. 20 You know the commandments: Never commit adultery. Never murder. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Honor your father and your mother.”

21 The official replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy.”

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still need one thing. Sell everything you have. Distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”

18:18–22   There’s no one good but you. Compared to you, I’m no good at all.

23 When the official heard this, he became sad, because he was very rich. 24 Jesus watched him and said, “How hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard him asked, “Who, then, can be saved?”

27 Jesus said, “The things that are impossible for people to do are possible for God to do.”

28 Then Peter said, “We’ve left everything to follow you.”

29 Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of the kingdom of God 30 will certainly receive many times as much in this life and will receive eternal life in the world to come.”

18:23–30   Confront my lack of total commitment. Do the impossible in my heart. Move me to leave everything behind and follow you.

For the Third Time Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Matthew 20:17–19; Mark 10:32–34

31 Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said to them, “We’re going to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to foreigners. They will make fun of him, insult him, spit on him, 33 whip him, and kill him. But on the third day he will come back to life.”

34 But they didn’t understand any of this. What he said was a mystery to them, and they didn’t know what he meant.

18:31–34   I don’t understand why you have to suffer. I’m not sure why you have to die. Isn’t there some other way?

Jesus Gives Sight to a Blind Man—Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52

35 As Jesus came near Jericho, a blind man was sitting and begging by the road. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he tried to find out what was happening. 37 The people told him that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by. 38 Then the blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 The people at the front of the crowd told the blind man to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man said, “Lord, I want to see again.”

42 Jesus told him, “Receive your sight! Your faith has made you well.” 43 Immediately, he could see again. He followed Jesus and praised God. All the people saw this, and they, too, praised God.

18:35–43   I won’t ever be quiet, because you alone can help me. I’ll shout my needs to you every day. Have mercy on me!

Zacchaeus Meets Jesus

19

1 Jesus was passing through Jericho. 2 A man named Zacchaeus was there. He was the director of tax collectors, and he was rich. 3 He tried to see who Jesus was. But Zacchaeus was a small man, and he couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowd. 4 So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a fig tree to see Jesus, who was coming that way.

5 When Jesus came to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down! I must stay at your house today.”

6 Zacchaeus came down and was glad to welcome Jesus into his home. 7 But the people who saw this began to express disapproval. They said, “He went to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 ⌞Later, at dinner,⌟ Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Lord, I’ll give half of my property to the poor. I’ll pay four times as much as I owe to those I have cheated in any way.”

9 Then Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “You and your family have been saved today. You’ve shown that you, too, are one of Abraham’s descendants. 10 Indeed, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save people who are lost.”

19:1–10   Let me find you when I search for you. Call me close and invite yourself to my house. You look for and save lost people like me.

A Story about a King

11 Jesus was getting closer to Jerusalem, and the people thought that the kingdom of God would appear suddenly. While Jesus had the people’s attention, he used this illustration. 12 He said, “A prince went to a distant country to be appointed king, and then he returned. 13 ⌞Before he left,⌟ he called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins. He said to his servants, ‘Invest this money until I come back.’

14 “The citizens of his own country hated him. They sent representatives to follow him and say ⌞to the person who was going to appoint him⌟, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15 “After he was appointed king, he came back. Then he said, ‘Call those servants to whom I gave money. I want to know how much each one has made by investing.’

16 “The first servant said, ‘Sir, the coin you gave me has earned ten times as much.’

17 “The king said to him, ‘Good job! You’re a good servant. You proved that you could be trusted with a little money. Take charge of ten cities.’

18 “The second servant said, ‘The coin you gave me, sir, has made five times as much.’

19 “The king said to this servant, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20 “Then the other servant said, ‘Sir, look! Here’s your coin. I’ve kept it in a cloth for safekeeping because 21 I was afraid of you. You’re a tough person to get along with. You take what isn’t yours and harvest grain you haven’t planted.’

19:11–21   I fear your demands. I’m not sure if I can live up to your expectations, so I don’t even try.

22 “The king said to him, ‘I’ll judge you by what you’ve said, you evil servant! You knew that I was a tough person to get along with. You knew that I take what isn’t mine and harvest grain I haven’t planted. 23 Then why didn’t you put my money in the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24 The king told his men, ‘Take his coin away, and give it to the man who has ten.’

25 “They replied, ‘Sir, he already has ten coins.’

26 “‘I can guarantee that everyone who has something will be given more. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much. 27 Bring my enemies, who didn’t want me to be their king. Kill them in front of me.’”

19:22–27   Inspire me to put to use every gift you’ve given me. Move me to serve you out of love, not fear.

The King Comes to Jerusalem—Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; John 12:12–19

28 After Jesus had given this illustration, he continued on his way to Jerusalem.

29 When he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives (as it was called), Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him. 30 He said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it, and bring it. 31 If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say that the Lord needs it.”

32 The men Jesus sent found it as he had told them. 33 While they were untying the young donkey, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the donkey?”

34 The disciples answered, “The Lord needs it.”

35 They brought the donkey to Jesus, put their coats on it, and helped Jesus onto it. 36 As he was riding along, people spread their coats on the road. 37 By this time he was coming near the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives. Then the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God for all the miracles they had seen. 38 They shouted joyfully,

19:28–37   I’ll create a path for your royal entry. I’ll get ready to worship you with happy shouts!

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet.”

40 Jesus replied, “I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out.”

41 When he came closer and saw the city, he began to cry. 42 He said, “If you had only known today what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden, so you cannot see it. 43 The time will come when enemy armies will build a wall to surround you and close you in on every side. 44 They will level you to the ground and kill your people. One stone will not be left on top of another, because you didn’t recognize the time when God came to help you.”

19:38–44   If I don’t praise you, the rocks will cry out. You’re the king who comes in God’s name. You bring heaven’s peace and glory to earth!

Jesus Throws Out the Moneychangers—Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19

45 Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were selling things there. 46 He said to them, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves.”

47 Jesus taught in the temple courtyard every day. The chief priests, the experts in Moses’ Teachings, and the leaders of the people looked for a way to kill him. 48 But they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were eager to hear him.

19:45–48   Purify my worship. Warn me when anything pollutes my prayers.

Jesus’ Authority Challenged—Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33

20

1 One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courtyard and telling them the Good News. The chief priests, the experts in Moses’ Teachings, and the leaders came up to him. 2 They asked him, “Tell us, what gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”

3 Jesus answered them, “I, too, have a question for you. Tell me, 4 did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?”

5 They talked about this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘from humans,’ everyone will stone us to death. They’re convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they didn’t know who gave John the right to baptize.

8 Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you why I have the right to do these things.”

20:1–8   You don’t owe an explanation to anyone. I can’t expect an answer when my questions are insincere.

A Story about a Vineyard—Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12

9 Then, using this illustration, Jesus spoke to the people: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to vineyard workers, and went on a long trip.

10 “At the right time he sent a servant to the workers to obtain from them a share of the grapes from the vineyard. But the workers beat the servant and sent him back with nothing. 11 So he sent a different servant. The workers beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him back with nothing. 12 Then he sent a third servant. But they injured this one and threw him out ⌞of the vineyard⌟.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I’ll send my son, whom I love. They’ll probably respect him.’

14 “When the workers saw him, they talked it over among themselves. They said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“What will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will destroy these workers and give the vineyard to others.”

Those who heard him said, “That’s unthinkable!”

17 Then Jesus looked straight at them and asked, “What, then, does this Scripture verse mean:

‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone’?

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken. If that stone falls on anyone, it will crush that person.”

19 The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the chief priests wanted to arrest him right there, but they were afraid of the people. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them.

20:9–19   You send messengers to speak to me, but I don’t listen. How will I respond when you come talk to me yourself?

A Question about Taxes—Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17

20 So they watched for an opportunity to send out some spies. The spies were to act like sincere religious people. They wanted to catch him saying the wrong thing so that they could hand him over to the governor. 21 They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you’re right in what you say and teach. Besides, you don’t play favorites. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to the emperor or not?”

23 He saw through their scheme, so he said to them, 24 “Show me a coin. Whose face and name is this?”

They answered, “The emperor’s.”

25 He said to them, “Well, then give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God.”

26 They couldn’t make him say anything wrong in front of the people. His answer surprised them, so they said no more.

20:20–26   You’re right in everything you say. You teach nothing but truth. I’m listening close so I can put your every word into action.

The Dead Come Back to Life—Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27

27 Some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him, 28 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.’ 29 There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children. 30 Then the second brother married the widow, 31 and so did the third. In the same way all seven brothers married the widow, died, and left no children. 32 Finally, the woman died. 33 Now, when the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? The seven brothers had married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, “In this world people get married. 35 But people who are considered worthy to come back to life and live in the next world will neither marry 36 nor die anymore. They are the same as the angels. They are God’s children who have come back to life.

37 “Even Moses showed in the passage about the bush that the dead come back to life. He says that the Lord is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 38 He’s not the God of the dead but of the living. In God’s sight all people are living.”

39 Some experts in Moses’ Teachings responded, “Teacher, that was well said.” 40 From that time on, no one dared to ask him another question.

20:27–39   I can’t grasp what heaven will be like. But you promise the dead will come back to life. All people live in your sight.

How Can David’s Son Be David’s Lord?—Matthew 22:41–46; Mark 12:35–37a

41 Jesus said to them, “How can people say that the Messiah is David’s son? 42 David says in the book of Psalms,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Take the highest position in heaven

43 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

44 David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?”

20:41–44   Even King David bows to you. You’re the Messiah for one and all.

Jesus Disapproves of the Example Set by the Experts in Moses’ Teachings—Matthew 23:1–12; Mark 12:37b–40

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the experts in Moses’ Teachings! They like to walk around in long robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces, to have the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at dinners. 47 They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The experts in Moses’ Teachings will receive the most severe punishment.”

20:45–47   Call me out when I try to get attention by putting my goodness on display.

A Widow’s Contribution—Mark 12:41–44

21

1 Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box. 2 He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins. 3 He said, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. 4 All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”

21:1–4   Train me to give you everything, not just what I can spare.

Jesus Teaches His Disciples—Matthew 24:1–35; Mark 13:1–31

5 Some ⌞of the disciples⌟ were talking about the temple complex. They noted that it was built with fine stones and decorated with beautiful gifts. So Jesus said, 6 “About these buildings that you see—the time will come when not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down.”

7 The disciples asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will occur?”

8 Jesus said, “Be careful that you are not deceived. Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them!

9 “When you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t be terrified! These things must happen first, but the end will not come immediately.”

10 Then Jesus continued, “Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and dreadful diseases in various places. Terrifying sights and miraculous signs will come from the sky.

21:5–11   The earth will quake and disease will spread. The sky will fill up with terrifying sights and miraculous signs. But that’s only the beginning of the end.

12 “Before all these things happen, people will arrest and persecute you. They will hand you over to their synagogues and put you into their prisons. They will drag you in front of kings and governors because of my name. 13 It will be your opportunity to testify to them. 14 So make up your minds not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 I will give you words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to oppose or prove wrong.

16 “Even parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you and kill some of you. 17 Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. 18 But not a hair on your head will be lost. 19 By your endurance you will save your life.

21:12–19   Strengthen me to face pain and persecution. Put words in my mouth at just the right time.

20 “When you see armies camped around Jerusalem, realize that the time is near for it to be destroyed. 21 Then those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. Those of you in Jerusalem should leave it. Those of you in the fields shouldn’t go back into them. 22 This will be a time of vengeance. Everything that is written about it will come true.

23 “How horrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. Indeed, the land will suffer very hard times, and its people will be punished. 24 Swords will cut them down, and they will be carried off into all nations as prisoners. Nations will trample Jerusalem until the times allowed for the nations ⌞to do this⌟ are over.

25 “Miraculous signs will occur in the sun, moon, and stars. The nations of the earth will be deeply troubled and confused because of the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint as they fearfully wait for what will happen to the world. Indeed, the powers of the universe will be shaken.

27 “Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

21:20–27   People will faint with fear as they wait to see the outcome of their world. But then you’ll come with power and great glory.

28 “When these things begin to happen, stand with confidence! The time when you will be set free is near.”

29 Then Jesus used this story as an illustration. “Look at the fig tree or any other tree. 30 As soon as leaves grow on them, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happen, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

32 “I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all this takes place. 33 The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

21:28–33   I’ll stand with your confidence when all these things take place. My time of freedom is near. Your promise won’t fail!

No One Knows When the Earth and the Heavens Will Disappear

34 “Make sure that you don’t become drunk, hung over, and worried about life. Then that day could suddenly catch you by surprise 35 like a trap that catches a bird. That day will surprise all people who live on the earth. 36 Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man.”

37 During the day Jesus would teach in the temple courtyard. But at night he would go to the Mount of Olives (as it was called) and spend the night there. 38 All of the people would get up early to hear him speak in the temple courtyard.

21:34–38   I won’t get hung over. I’ll stay alert so I’m not surprised. Give me power to stand before you!

The Plot to Kill Jesus—Matthew 26:1–5, 14–16; Mark 14:1–2, 10–11; John 11:45–57

22

1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, called Passover, was near. 2 The chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings were looking for some way to kill Jesus. However, they were afraid of the people.

3 Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles. 4 Judas went to the chief priests and the temple guards and discussed with them how he could betray Jesus. 5 They were pleased and agreed to give him some money. 6 So Judas promised to do it. He kept looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them when there was no crowd.

22:1–6   Protect me when darkness calls me. Stop me before I do devastating acts.

The Passover—Matthew 26:17–20; Mark 14:12–17

7 The day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the Passover lamb had to be killed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John and told them, “Go, prepare the Passover lamb for us to eat.”

9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”

10 He told them, “Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house that the teacher asks, ‘Where is the room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 12 He will take you upstairs and show you a large furnished room. Get things ready there.”

13 The disciples left. They found everything as Jesus had told them and prepared the Passover.

14 When it was time to eat the Passover meal, Jesus and the apostles were at the table. 15 Jesus said to them, “I’ve had a deep desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 I can guarantee that I won’t eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He said, “Take this, and share it. 18 I can guarantee that from now on I won’t drink this wine until the kingdom of God comes.”

22:7–18   You’re the fulfillment of the ancient Passover. You’re the lamb’s blood painted on my door. You’re the reason I don’t die.

The Lord’s Supper—Matthew 26:26–30; Mark 14:22–26

19 Then Jesus took bread and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this to remember me.”

20 When supper was over, he did the same with the cup. He said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new promise[24] made with my blood.”

22:19–20   You break your body. You pour out your blood. It’s your new promise for me.

Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him—Matthew 26:21–25; Mark 14:18–21; John 13:21–30

21 “The hand of the one who will betray me is with me on the table. 22 The Son of Man is going to die the way it has been planned for him. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays him.”

23 So they began to discuss with each other who could do such a thing.

22:21–23   I’m capable of doing great evil. Save me from myself.

An Argument about Greatness

24 Then a quarrel broke out among the disciples. They argued about who should be considered the greatest.

25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of nations have power over their people, and those in authority call themselves friends of the people. 26 But you’re not going to be that way! Rather, the greatest among you must be like the youngest, and your leader must be like a servant. 27 Who’s the greatest, the person who sits at the table or the servant? Isn’t it really the person who sits at the table? But I’m among you as a servant.

28 “You have stood by me in the troubles that have tested me. 29 So as my Father has given me a kingdom, I’m giving it to you. 30 You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will also sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”

22:24–30   Powerful people make others their slaves. You showed up as a servant. I choose to imitate you.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial—Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; John 13:36–38

31 ⌞Then the Lord said,⌟ “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you apostles for himself. He wants to separate you from me as a farmer separates wheat from husks. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.”

33 But Peter said to him, “Lord, I’m ready to go to prison with you and to die with you.”

34 Jesus replied, “Peter, I can guarantee that the rooster won’t crow tonight until you say three times that you don’t know me.”

35 Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without a wallet, traveling bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?”

“Not a thing!” they answered.

36 Then he said to them, “But now, the person who has a wallet and a traveling bag should take them along. The person who doesn’t have a sword should sell his coat and buy one. 37 I can guarantee that the Scripture passage which says, ‘He was counted with criminals,’ must find its fulfillment in me. Indeed, whatever is written about me will come true.”

38 The disciples said, “Lord, look! Here are two swords!”

Then Jesus said to them, “That’s enough!”

22:31–38   I’m being split like wheat from a husk. Pray for me so my faith won’t fail. When you restore me, I’ll strengthen others.

Authentic Prayer

Luke 22:39–46

Surrender

Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if it is your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, your will must be done, not mine.” Luke 22:41–42

Even Jesus struggled to obey. Jesus didn’t enter in the world ready for the cross. Even though he is God in human flesh, he was as full of human frailty as the rest of us. He faced potent temptation from Satan himself (Matthew 4:1–11). He had to consciously choose his Father’s plan and die to his own way (John 12:20–28). He needed to suffer to become complete (Hebrews 2:10–18).

The Lord’s most extreme struggle arrived in the final hours of his journey to death. As he considered the pain he would suffer—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual—he asked his Father if there was any possibility of bypassing the cross. His real anguish caused him to sweat blood. He decided he would gladly endure the cross to win humankind back to God. After prayer, he rose and walked resolutely down his Father’s appointed path.

Your most intense hours of prayer might come as you contemplate the cost of obeying God. You can’t hide your inner battles from him. Debate with him. Plead with him. Let him persuade you to surrender to his plan.

Pray the Scriptures Surrender: Joshua 24:14–28, Proverbs 9:10–12, Ecclesiastes 12:9–14, Matthew 16:24–28

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane—Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42

39 Jesus went out ⌞of the city⌟ to the Mount of Olives as he usually did. His disciples followed him. 40 When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t be tempted.”

41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if it is your will, take this cup ⌞of suffering⌟ away from me. However, your will must be done, not mine.”

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 So he prayed very hard in anguish. His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.[25]

45 When Jesus ended his prayer, he got up and went to the disciples. He found them asleep and overcome with sadness. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up, and pray that you won’t be tempted.”

22:39–46   You prayed in unfathomable anguish. Your blood fell to the ground in sweaty drops. Why am I sleeping? I should be praying so I’m not tempted.

Jesus Is Arrested—Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; John 18:1–14

47 While he was still speaking to the disciples, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the twelve apostles, was leading them. He came close to Jesus to kiss him.

48 Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you intend to betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 The men who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen. So they asked him, “Lord, should we use our swords to fight?” 50 One of the disciples cut off the right ear of the chief priest’s servant.

51 But Jesus said, “Stop! That’s enough of this.” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple guards, and leaders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? 53 I was with you in the temple courtyard every day and you didn’t try to arrest me. But this is your time, when darkness rules.”

54 So they arrested Jesus and led him away to the chief priest’s house.

22:47–54   One friend betrayed you. Another drew blood. But everyone could have left their weapons at home. You’re not a criminal.

Peter Denies Jesus—Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; John 18:15–18, 25–27

Peter followed at a distance.

55 Some men had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard. As they sat together, Peter sat among them. 56 A female servant saw him as he sat facing the glow of the fire. She stared at him and said, “This man was with Jesus.”

57 But Peter denied it by saying, “I don’t know him, woman.”

58 A little later someone else saw Peter and said, “You are one of them.”

But Peter said, “Not me!”

59 About an hour later another person insisted, “It’s obvious that this man was with him. He’s a Galilean!”

60 But Peter said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked directly at Peter. Peter remembered what the Lord had said: “Before a rooster crows today, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” 62 Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.

22:55–62   Why did Peter betray you? Not once—not twice—three times he claimed he didn’t know you. Teach me to weep over times I disown you.

The Trial in Front of the Jewish Council—Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65

63 The men who were guarding Jesus made fun of him as they beat him. 64 They blindfolded him and said to him, “Tell us who hit you.” 65 They also insulted him in many other ways.

66 In the morning the council of the people’s leaders, the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings, gathered together. They brought Jesus in front of their highest court and asked him, 67 “Tell us, are you the Messiah?”

Jesus said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. 68 And if I ask you, you won’t answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be in the highest position in heaven.”

70 Then all of them said, “So you’re the Son of God?”

Jesus answered them, “You’re right to say that I am.”

71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We’ve heard him say it ourselves.”

22:63–71   Your accusers weren’t ready to hear you’re the Messiah. They wouldn’t believe your claims. But you’re God’s Son. You reign from the highest position in heaven.

Pilate Questions Jesus—Matthew 27:11–14; Mark 15:1–5; John 18:28–38

23

1 Then the entire assembly stood up and took him to Pilate.

2 They began to accuse Jesus by saying, “We found that he stirs up trouble among our people: He keeps them from paying taxes to the emperor, and he says that he is Christ, a king.”

3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Yes, I am,” Jesus answered.

4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I can’t find this man guilty of any crime.”

23:1–4   You’re king of the Jews but infinitely more. You rule the world.

Pilate Sends Jesus to Herod

5 The priests and the crowd became more forceful. They said, “He stirs up the people throughout Judea with his teachings. He started in Galilee and has come here.”

6 When Pilate heard that, he asked if the man was from Galilee. 7 When Pilate found out that he was, he sent Jesus to Herod. Herod ruled Galilee and was in Jerusalem at that time.

8 Herod was very pleased to see Jesus. For a long time he had wanted to see him. He had heard about Jesus and hoped to see him perform some kind of miracle. 9 Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus wouldn’t answer him. 10 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings stood there and shouted their accusations against Jesus.

11 Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and made fun of him. They put a colorful robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 So Herod and Pilate became friends that day. They had been enemies before this.

23:5–12   You disappoint people who expect you’ll work a miracle on demand. You don’t even speak a word.

13 Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. 14 He told them, “You brought me this man as someone who turns the people against the government. I’ve questioned him in front of you and haven’t found this man guilty of the crimes of which you accuse him. 15 Neither could Herod. So he sent this man back to us. This man hasn’t done anything to deserve the death penalty. 16 So I’m going to have him whipped and set free.”[26]

23:13–16   No one could prove you guilty of provoking rebellion. Everyone knows you do nothing wrong.

The Crowd Rejects Jesus—Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; John 18:39–40

18 The whole crowd then shouted, “Take him away! Free Barabbas for us.” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for his involvement in a riot that had taken place in the city and for murder.)

20 But because Pilate wanted to free Jesus, he spoke to the people again.

21 They began yelling, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 A third time Pilate spoke to them. He asked, “Why? What has he done wrong? I haven’t found this man deserving of the death penalty. So I’m going to have him whipped and set free.”

23 But the crowd pressured Pilate. They shouted that Jesus had to be crucified, and they finally won. 24 Pilate decided to give in to their demand. 25 He freed Barabbas, who had been put in prison for rioting and murdering, because that’s what they wanted. But he let them do what they wanted to Jesus.

23:18–25   The crowd wanted to free an obviously guilty man—and to crucify the only innocent person on earth. The crowd won. They got their way.

Jesus Is Led Away to Be Crucified

26 As the soldiers led Jesus away, they grabbed a man named Simon, who was from the city of Cyrene. Simon was coming into Jerusalem. They laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

27 A large crowd followed Jesus. The women in the crowd cried and sang funeral songs for him. 28 Jesus turned to them and said, “You women of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me! Rather, cry for yourselves and your children! 29 The time is coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the women who couldn’t get pregnant, who couldn’t give birth, and who couldn’t nurse a child.’ 30 Then people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31 If people do this to a green tree, what will happen to a dry one?”

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be executed with him.

23:26–32   What does it mean to help you carry your cross? How can I do that today?

The Crucifixion—Matthew 27:31–44; Mark 15:20–32; John 19:16b–24

33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him. The criminals were also crucified, one on his right and the other on his left.

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”[27]

Meanwhile, the soldiers divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.

35 The people stood there watching. But the rulers were making sarcastic remarks. They said, “He saved others. If he’s the Messiah that God has chosen, let him save himself!” 36 The soldiers also made fun of him. They would go up to him, offer him some vinegar, 37 and say, “If you’re the king of the Jews, save yourself!”

38 A written notice was placed above him. It said, “This is the king of the Jews.”

23:33–38   You were nailed to a cross at a place called The Skull. Forgive me when I don’t know what I’m doing. Have mercy on me when I mock you.

Criminals Talk to Jesus

39 One of the criminals hanging there insulted Jesus by saying, “So you’re really the Messiah, are you? Well, save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal scolded him: “Don’t you fear God at all? Can’t you see that you’re condemned in the same way that he is? 41 Our punishment is fair. We’re getting what we deserve. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”

43 Jesus said to him, “I can guarantee this truth: Today you will be with me in paradise.”

23:39–43   I’m as guilty as the criminals who hung at your side. But what would I have said to you?

Jesus Dies on the Cross—Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; John 19:28–30

44 Around noon darkness came over the entire land and lasted until three in the afternoon. 45 The sun had stopped shining. The curtain in the temple was split in two.

46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” After he said this, he died.

47 When an army officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly, this man was innocent!” 48 Crowds had gathered to see the sight. But when all of them saw what had happened, they cried and returned to the city. 49 All his friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance and watched everything.

23:44–49   Surely you were an innocent man! I weep at the thought of your death.

Jesus Is Placed in a Tomb—Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; John 19:38–42

50 There was a good man who had God’s approval. His name was Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish council, 51 but he had not agreed with what they had done. He was from the Jewish city of Arimathea, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.

52 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 After he took it down from the cross, he wrapped it in linen. Then he laid the body in a tomb cut in rock, a tomb in which no one had ever been buried. 54 It was Friday, and the day of worship was just beginning.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed closely behind Joseph. They observed the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went back to the city and prepared spices and perfumes. But on the day of worship they rested according to the commandment.

23:50–56   A good man didn’t agree with your torture or death. He had expected to see your kingdom. I wonder if I have his conviction or courage.

Jesus Comes Back to Life—Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; John 20:1–10

24

1 Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb. They were carrying the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. 3 When they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were puzzled about this, two men in clothes that were as bright as lightning suddenly stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed to the ground.

The men asked the women, “Why are you looking among the dead for the living one? 6 He’s not here. He has been brought back to life! Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee. 7 He said, ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and come back to life on the third day.’” 8 Then the women remembered what Jesus had told them.

24:1–8   Why do I look for the living among the dead? You’re not in the grave. You’ve been brought back to life!

9 The women left the tomb and went back to the city. They told everything to the eleven apostles and all the others. 10 The women were Mary from Magdala, Joanna, and Mary (the mother of James). There were also other women with them. They told the apostles everything.

11 The apostles thought that the women’s story didn’t make any sense, and they didn’t believe them.

12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down to look inside and saw only the strips of linen. Then he went away, wondering what had happened.

24:9–12   I’m shaken by this story. It makes no sense at all. I need to understand for myself what happened.

Jesus Appears to Disciples on a Road to Emmaus

13 On the same day, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking to each other about everything that had happened.

15 While they were talking, Jesus approached them and began walking with them. 16 Although they saw him, they didn’t recognize him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing?”

They stopped and looked very sad. 18 One of them, Cleopas, replied, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has happened recently?”

19 “What happened?” he asked.

They said to him, “We were discussing what happened to Jesus from Nazareth. He was a powerful prophet in what he did and said in the sight of God and all the people. 20 Our chief priests and rulers had him condemned to death and crucified. 21 We were hoping that he was the one who would free Israel. What’s more, this is now the third day since everything happened. 22 Some of the women from our group startled us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 and didn’t find his body. They told us that they had seen angels who said that he’s alive. 24 Some of our men went to the tomb and found it empty, as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

24:13–24   I can’t figure out on my own what happened. I need you to walk with me and explain.

25 Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are! You’re so slow to believe everything the prophets said! 26 Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then he began with Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets to explain to them what was said about him throughout the Scriptures.

28 When they came near the village where they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 They urged him, “Stay with us! It’s getting late, and the day is almost over.” So he went to stay with them.

30 While he was at the table with them, he took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But he vanished from their sight.

32 They said to each other, “Weren’t we excited when he talked with us on the road and opened up the meaning of the Scriptures for us?”

33 That same hour they went back to Jerusalem. They found the eleven apostles and those who were with them gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has really come back to life and has appeared to Simon.”

35 Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road and how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.

24:25–35   I’m slow to believe the prophets’ words—that you had to suffer many things and enter your glory. I can’t even recognize you unless you open my eyes.

Jesus Appears to the Apostles—John 20:19–23

36 While they were talking about what had happened, Jesus stood among them. He said to them, “Peace be with you!” 37 They were terrified, and thought they were seeing a ghost.

38 He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Why do you have doubts? 39 Look at my hands and feet, and see that it’s really me. Touch me, and see for yourselves. Ghosts don’t have flesh and bones, but you can see that I do.” 40 As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

41 The disciples were overcome with joy and amazement because this seemed too good to be true. Then Jesus asked them, “Do you have anything to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish. 43 He took it and ate it while they watched him.

24:36–43   Why am I afraid? Why do I doubt? I can see the scars in your hands and feet. I can touch you and test you for myself.

44 Then he said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses’ Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, “Scripture says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day. 47 Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.48 You are witnesses to these things.

24:44–48   Open my mind to understand the Scriptures. You had to suffer and rise. Now I need to change how I think and act.

49 “I’m sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven.”

50 Then Jesus took them to a place near Bethany. There he raised his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken to heaven.

52 The disciples worshiped him and were overjoyed as they went back to Jerusalem. 53 They were always in the temple, where they praised God.

24:49–53   I want your power from heaven. Send me to speak for you!

JOHN

INTRODUCTION

John shows off Jesus’ intense glory. An account of Jesus unlike any other, this book rewinds history to a point long before his birth in Bethlehem. It declares Jesus “the Word,” the God who existed forever. When the Word robed himself in human flesh and came to earth, humankind “saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth” (John 1:14).

This book doesn’t reveal many details of Jesus’ day-to-day life. Instead it presents a series of significant events that show off Jesus as God’s all-powerful Son. He turns a boy’s lunch into a meal for thousands, then declares himself “the bread of life,” promising to satisfy the gnawing hunger of anyone who comes to him (John 6:35). He informs a grieving woman that he is “life itself” and “the one who brings people back to life,” then raises her brother from the grave, proving that everyone who believes in him will come back to life (John 11:25). He dares to apply to himself God’s sacred name, “I am,” making a statement everyone who hears understands to be an obvious claim to be God (John 8:58).

John writes this book with an unmistakable purpose. He says, “But these miracles have been written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that you will have life by believing in him” (John 20:31). Praying this book lets you enter into the life only Jesus can offer.

JOHN

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21

The Word Becomes Human

1

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was already with God in the beginning.

1:1–2   In the beginning you already existed. You were with God. You were God!

3 Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.

4 He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity.

5 The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.[1]

1:3–5   Everything that exists comes from you. You’re the source of all life and light.

6 God sent a man named John to be his messenger. 7 John came to declare the truth about the light so that everyone would become believers through his message. 8 John was not the light, but he came to declare the truth about the light.

1:6–9   John declared the truth about you so everyone would believe. But you’re the real light.

9 The real light, which shines on everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him. Yet, the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He went to his own people, and his own people didn’t accept him. 12 However, he gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who believed in him. 13 These people didn’t become God’s children in a physical way—from a human impulse or from a husband’s desire ⌞to have a child⌟. They were born from God.

1:10–13   Everyone saw you, but not everyone recognized you. You give the right to become God’s child to everyone who believes in you.

14 The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness[2] and truth.

15 (John declared the truth about him when he said loudly, “This is the person about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.’”)

16 Each of us has received one gift after another because of all that the Word is. 17 Laws were given through Moses, but kindness and truth came into existence through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. God’s only Son, the one who is closest to the Father’s heart, has made him known.

1:14–18   You became human and lived among people, putting glorious kindness and truth on display. No one can see God, but you show us all what he’s like.

John Prepares the Way—Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–18

19 This was John’s answer when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 John didn’t refuse to answer. He told them clearly, “I’m not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Well, are you Elijah?”

John answered, “No, I’m not.”

Then they asked, “Are you the prophet?”

John replied, “No.”

22 So they asked him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can take an answer back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John said, “I’m a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make the way for the Lord straight,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 Some of those who had been sent were Pharisees. 25 They asked John, “Why do you baptize if you’re not the Messiah or Elijah or the prophet?”

26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Someone you don’t know is standing among you. 27 He’s the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to untie his sandal strap.”

28 This happened in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

1:19–28   John wasn’t the Messiah, but his shouting in the desert cleared you a path. You’re infinitely greater than John or any ordinary human being.

John Identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God

29 John saw Jesus coming toward him the next day and said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 30 He is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘A man who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.’ 31 I didn’t know who he was. However, I came to baptize with water to show him to the people of Israel.”

32 John said, “I saw the Spirit come down as a dove from heaven and stay on him. 33 I didn’t know who he was. But God, who sent me to baptize with water, had told me, ‘When you see the Spirit come down and stay on someone, you’ll know that person is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen this and have declared that this is the Son of God.”

1:29–34   You’re God’s Son, the Lamb who takes away my sin. Baptize me with your Spirit!

Calling of the First Disciples

35 The next day John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 John saw Jesus walk by. John said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God.” 37 When the two disciples heard John say this, they followed Jesus.

38 Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked them, “What are you looking for?”

They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 Jesus told them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went to see where he was staying and spent the rest of that day with him. It was about ten o’clock in the morning.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two disciples who heard John and followed Jesus. 41 Andrew at once found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Andrew brought Simon to Jesus.

Jesus looked at Simon and said, “You are Simon, son of John. Your name will be Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

1:35–42   I’ve heard all about you, but I need to meet you for myself. I’ll invite others to pursue you too.

43 The next day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me!” 44 (Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.)

45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the man whom Moses wrote about in his teachings and whom the prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from the city of Nazareth.”

46 Nathanael said to Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

Philip told him, “Come and see!”

1:43–46   You’re more than what any eye sees at first glance. You’re the one Moses and the prophets wrote about.

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and remarked, “Here is a true Israelite who is sincere.”

48 Nathanael asked Jesus, “How do you know anything about me?”

Jesus answered him, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Nathanael said to Jesus, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!”

50 Jesus replied, “You believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 Jesus said to Nathanael, “I can guarantee this truth: You will see the sky open and God’s angels going up and coming down to the Son of Man.”

1:47–51   Your knowledge amazes me. You know me inside and out. But you promise I’ll experience even bigger things!

Jesus Changes Water into Wine

2

1 Three days later a wedding took place in the city of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had been invited too.

3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They’re out of wine.”

4 Jesus said to her, “Why did you come to me? My time has not yet come.”

5 His mother told the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Six stone water jars were there. They were used for Jewish purification rituals. Each jar held 18 to 27 gallons.

7 Jesus told the servers, “Fill the jars with water.” The servers filled the jars to the brim. 8 Jesus said to them, “Pour some, and take it to the person in charge.” The servers did as they were told.

9 The person in charge tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it had come from, although the servers who had poured the water knew. The person in charge called the groom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the best wine first. When people are drunk, the host serves cheap wine. But you have saved the best wine for now.”

11 Cana in Galilee was the place where Jesus began to perform miracles. He made his glory public there, and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this, Jesus, his mother, brothers, and disciples went to the city of Capernaum and stayed there for a few days.

2:1–12   When you began to perform miracles, you made your glory public. I believe in you!

Jesus Throws Merchants and Moneychangers out of the Temple Courtyard

13 The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 He found those who were selling cattle, sheep, and pigeons in the temple courtyard. He also found moneychangers sitting there. 15 He made a whip from small ropes and threw everyone with their sheep and cattle out of the temple courtyard. He dumped the moneychangers’ coins and knocked over their tables.

16 He told those who sold pigeons, “Pick up this stuff, and get it out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”

17 His disciples remembered that Scripture said, “Devotion for your house will consume me.”

2:13–17   I want to be consumed by devotion to you—so drive every little compromise from my life. Point out the stuff I should pick up and toss out.

18 The Jews reacted by asking Jesus, “What miracle can you show us to justify what you’re doing?”

19 Jesus replied, “Tear down this temple, and I’ll rebuild it in three days.”

20 The Jews said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple. Do you really think you’re going to rebuild it in three days?”

21 But the temple Jesus spoke about was his own body. 22 After he came back to life, his disciples remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scripture and this statement that Jesus had made.

23 While Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, many people believed in him because they saw the miracles that he performed. 24 Jesus, however, was wary of these believers. He understood people 25 and didn’t need anyone to tell him about human nature. He knew what people were really like.

2:18–25   Scripture convinces me you’re real, but you don’t need anyone to tell you what I’m really like. You can spot whether my belief is sincere or fake.

A Conversation with Nicodemus

3

1 Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish council. 2 He came to Jesus one night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that God has sent you as a teacher. No one can perform the miracles you perform unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[3]

4 Nicodemus asked him, “How can anyone be born when he’s an old man? He can’t go back inside his mother a second time to be born, can he?”

5 Jesus answered Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to things that are spiritual. 7 Don’t be surprised when I tell you that all of you must be born from above. 8 The wind[4] blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it’s going. That’s the way it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

3:1–8   I can’t enter your kingdom without being born a second time. I can’t be born anew apart from your Spirit’s work.

9 Nicodemus replied, “How can that be?”

10 Jesus told Nicodemus, “You’re a well-known teacher of Israel. Can’t you understand this? 11 I can guarantee this truth: We know what we’re talking about, and we confirm what we’ve seen. Yet, you don’t accept our message. 12 If you don’t believe me when I tell you about things on earth, how will you believe me when I tell you about things in heaven? 13 No one has gone to heaven except the Son of Man, who came from heaven.

14 “As Moses lifted up the snake ⌞on a pole⌟ in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. 15 Then everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”

3:9–15   You’ll be raised up for all to see, just as Moses lifted a serpent on a pole in the desert. You give eternal life to everyone who turns in trust to you.

16 God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. 18 Those who believe in him won’t be condemned. But those who don’t believe are already condemned because they don’t believe in God’s only Son.

19 This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil. 20 People who do what is wrong hate the light and don’t come to the light. They don’t want their actions to be exposed. 21 But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen.

3:16–21   You came to the world as an act of pure love, offering true life that starts now and lasts forever. You didn’t come to condemn me but to rescue me from my evil actions.

John the Baptizer Talks about Christ

22 Later, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them and baptized people. 23 John was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim. Water was plentiful there. (People came to John to be baptized, 24 since John had not yet been put in prison.)

25 Some of John’s disciples had an argument with a Jew about purification ceremonies. 26 So they went to John and asked him, “Rabbi, do you remember the man you spoke so favorably about when he was with you on the other side of the Jordan River? Well, he’s baptizing, and everyone is going to him!”

27 John answered, “People can’t receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven. 28 You are witnesses that I said, ‘I’m not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’

29 “The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel. 30 He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.

31 “The person who comes from above is superior to everyone. I, a person from the earth, know nothing but what is on earth, and that’s all I can talk about. The person who comes from heaven is superior to everyone 32 and tells what he has seen and heard. Yet, no one accepts what he says. 33 I have accepted what that person said, and I have affirmed that God is truthful. 34 The man whom God has sent speaks God’s message. After all, God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything in his power. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, he will see God’s constant anger.”

3:22–36   You came to speak God’s message. You’re the Messiah, a man who has limitless Spirit. If I reject you, I face constant anger. Because I believe, I possess eternal life.

A Samaritan Woman Meets Jesus at a Well

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1 Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John. 2 (Actually, Jesus was not baptizing people. His disciples were.) 3 So he left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.

4 Jesus had to go through Samaria. 5 He arrived at a city in Samaria called Sychar. Sychar was near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s Well was there. Jesus sat down by the well because he was tired from traveling. The time was about six o’clock in the evening.

7 A Samaritan woman went to get some water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink of water.” 8 (His disciples had gone into the city to buy some food.)

9 The Samaritan woman asked him, “How can a Jewish man like you ask a Samaritan woman like me for a drink of water?” (Jews, of course, don’t associate with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus replied to her, “If you only knew what God’s gift is and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink. He would have given you living water.”

4:1–10   Why do you bother with a sinful outcast like me? And please explain, why should I ask you for a drink? What can you offer me that I want?

11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you don’t have anything to use to get water, and the well is deep. So where are you going to get this living water? 12 You’re not more important than our ancestor Jacob, are you? He gave us this well. He and his sons and his animals drank water from it.”

13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water that I will give them will never become thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give them will become in them a spring that gushes up to eternal life.”

15 The woman told Jesus, “Sir, give me this water! Then I won’t get thirsty or have to come here to get water.”

4:11–15   Your eternal life will surge within me like a spring. Give me your water to drink! Quench my thirst forever!

16 Jesus told her, “Go to your husband, and bring him here.”

17 The woman replied, “I don’t have a husband.”

Jesus told her, “You’re right when you say that you don’t have a husband. 18 You’ve had five husbands, and the man you have now isn’t your husband. You’ve told the truth.”

19 The woman said to Jesus, “I see that you’re a prophet! 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain. But you Jews say that people must worship in Jerusalem.”

21 Jesus told her, “Believe me. A time is coming when you Samaritans won’t be worshiping the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You don’t know what you’re worshiping. We ⌞Jews⌟ know what we’re worshiping, because salvation comes from the Jews. 23 Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that to worship him. 24 God is a spirit. Those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

4:16–24   You see right through me. You know everything I’ve ever done. Teach me to worship you from the depth of my being. I ache to be your true worshiper.

25 The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us everything.” (Messiah is the one called Christ.)

26 Jesus told her, “I am he, and I am speaking to you now.”

27 At that time his disciples returned. They were surprised that he was talking to a woman. But none of them asked him, “What do you want from her?” or “Why are you talking to her?”

28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back into the city. She told the people, 29 “Come with me, and meet a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could he be the Messiah?” 30 The people left the city and went to meet Jesus.

4:25–30   I’ll bring people to meet you. I’ll explain everything you’ve done for me. You’re the Messiah we’ve all been waiting for!

31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, have something to eat.”

32 Jesus told them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”

33 The disciples asked each other, “Did someone bring him something to eat?”

34 Jesus told them, “My food is to do what the one who sent me wants me to do and to finish the work he has given me.

35 “Don’t you say, ‘In four more months the harvest will be here’? I’m telling you to look and see that the fields are ready to be harvested. 36 The person who harvests the crop is already getting paid. He is gathering grain for eternal life. So the person who plants the grain and the person who harvests it are happy together. 37 In this respect the saying is true: ‘One person plants, and another person harvests.’ 38 I have sent you to harvest a crop you have not worked for. Other people have done the hard work, and you have followed them in their work.”

39 Many Samaritans in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman who said, “He told me everything I’ve ever done.” 40 So when the Samaritans went to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them. He stayed in Samaria for two days. 41 Many more Samaritans believed because of what Jesus said. 42 They told the woman, “Our faith is no longer based on what you’ve said. We have heard him ourselves, and we know that he really is the savior of the world.”

4:31–42   You’re fed by doing the will of the one who sent you. I’ll join you in harvesting the crop you’ve planted. I want everyone to know you’re the world’s savior.

A Believing Official—Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10

43 After spending two days in Samaria, Jesus left for Galilee. 44 Jesus had said that a prophet is not honored in his own country. 45 But when Jesus arrived in Galilee, the people of Galilee welcomed him. They had seen everything he had done at the festival in Jerusalem, since they, too, had attended the festival.

46 Jesus returned to the city of Cana in Galilee, where he had changed water into wine. A government official was in Cana. His son was sick in Capernaum. 47 The official heard that Jesus had returned from Judea to Galilee. So he went to Jesus and asked him to go to Capernaum with him to heal his son who was about to die.

48 Jesus told the official, “If people don’t see miracles and amazing things, they won’t believe.”

49 The official said to him, “Sir, come with me before my little boy dies.”

50 Jesus told him, “Go home. Your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus told him and left.

51 While the official was on his way to Capernaum, his servants met him and told him that his boy was alive. 52 The official asked them at what time his son got better. His servants told him, “The fever left him yesterday evening at seven o’clock.” 53 Then the boy’s father realized that it was the same time that Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” So the official and his entire family became believers.

54 This was the second miracle that Jesus performed after he had come back from Judea to Galilee.

4:43–54   It takes miracles and amazing acts for some people to believe. Convince me and my world that you’re real.

Jesus Cures a Man at the Bethesda Pool

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1 Later, Jesus went to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival.

2 Near Sheep Gate in Jerusalem was a pool called Bethesda in Hebrew. It had five porches. 3 Under these porches a large number of sick people—people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed—used to lie.[5] 5 One man, who had been sick for 38 years, was lying there. 6 Jesus saw the man lying there and knew that he had been sick for a long time. So Jesus asked the man, “Would you like to get well?”

7 The sick man answered Jesus, “Sir, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I’m trying to get there, someone else steps into the pool ahead of me.”

8 Jesus told the man, “Get up, pick up your cot, and walk.” 9 The man immediately became well, picked up his cot, and walked.

That happened on a day of worship. 10 So the Jews told the man who had been healed, “This is a day of worship. You’re not allowed to carry your cot today.”

11 The man replied, “The man who made me well told me to pick up my cot and walk.”

12 The Jews asked him, “Who is the man who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 But the man who had been healed didn’t know who Jesus was. (Jesus had withdrawn from the crowd.)

14 Later, Jesus met the man in the temple courtyard and told him, “You’re well now. Stop sinning so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.”

15 The man went back to the Jews and told them that Jesus was the man who had made him well.

5:1–15   I want to get well. But I can’t fix myself, and I’ve found no one willing to help me get better. I know you can heal me instantly. I’ll tell everyone you’re the one who made me well.

The Son Is Equal to the Father

16 The Jews began to persecute Jesus because he kept healing people on the day of worship. 17 Jesus replied to them, “My Father is working right now, and so am I.”

18 His reply made the Jews more intent on killing him. Not only did he break the laws about the day of worship, but also he made himself equal to God when he said repeatedly that God was his Father.

19 Jesus said to the Jews, “I can guarantee this truth: The Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing. Indeed, the Son does exactly what the Father does. 20 The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. The Father will show him even greater things to do than these things so that you will be amazed. 21 In the same way that the Father brings back the dead and gives them life, the Son gives life to anyone he chooses.

5:16–21   You imitate your loving Father in everything you do. You do amazing things. You even bring the dead back to life.

22 “The Father doesn’t judge anyone. He has entrusted judgment entirely to the Son 23 so that everyone will honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him. 24 I can guarantee this truth: Those who listen to what I say and believe in the one who sent me will have eternal life. They won’t be judged because they have already passed from death to life.

25 “I can guarantee this truth: A time is coming (and is now here) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who respond to it will live. 26 The Father is the source of life, and he has enabled the Son to be the source of life too.

27 “He has also given the Son authority to pass judgment because he is the Son of Man.[6] 28 Don’t be surprised at what I’ve just said. A time is coming when all the dead will hear his voice, 29 and they will come out of their tombs. Those who have done good will come back to life and live. But those who have done evil will come back to life and will be judged. 30 I can’t do anything on my own. As I listen ⌞to the Father⌟, I make my judgments. My judgments are right because I don’t try to do what I want but what the one who sent me wants.

5:22–30   This is your solemn promise: Whoever believes in you has eternal life. I won’t be judged, because I’ve already passed from death to life.

31 “If I testify on my own behalf, what I say isn’t true. 32 Someone else testifies on my behalf, and I know that what he says about me is true. 33 You sent people to John ⌞the Baptizer⌟, and he testified to the truth. 34 But I don’t depend on human testimony. I’m telling you this to save you. 35 John was a lamp that gave off brilliant light. For a time you enjoyed the pleasure of his light. 36 But I have something that testifies more favorably on my behalf than John’s testimony. The tasks that the Father gave me to carry out, these tasks which I perform, testify on my behalf. They prove that the Father has sent me. 37 The Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice, and you have never seen his form. 38 So you don’t have the Father’s message within you, because you don’t believe in the person he has sent. 39 You study the Scriptures in detail because you think you have the source of eternal life in them. These Scriptures testify on my behalf. 40 Yet, you don’t want to come to me to get ⌞eternal⌟ life.

5:31–40   The Scriptures have no power in themselves to give me eternal life. But they point me to you. I’ll come to you to get the life that lasts forever.

41 “I don’t accept praise from humans. 42 But I know what kind of people you are. You don’t have any love for God. 43 I have come with the authority my Father has given me, but you don’t accept me. If someone else comes with his own authority, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe when you accept each other’s praise and don’t look for the praise that comes from the only God?

45 “Don’t think that I will accuse you in the presence of the Father. Moses, the one you trust, is already accusing you. 46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me. Moses wrote about me. 47 If you don’t believe what Moses wrote, how will you ever believe what I say?”

Jesus Feeds More Than Five Thousand—Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17

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1 Jesus later crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or the Sea of Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed him because they saw the miracles that he performed for the sick. 3 Jesus went up a mountain and sat with his disciples. 4 The time for the Jewish Passover festival was near.

5 As Jesus saw a large crowd coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 Jesus asked this question to test him. He already knew what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered, “We would need about a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each of them to have a piece.”

8 One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peter’s brother, told him, 9 “A boy who has five loaves of barley bread and two small fish is here. But they won’t go very far for so many people.”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.”

The people had plenty of grass to sit on. (There were about 5,000 men in the crowd.)

11 Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the people who were sitting there. He did the same thing with the fish. All the people ate as much as they wanted.

12 When the people were full, Jesus told his disciples, “Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing will be wasted.” 13 The disciples gathered the leftover pieces of bread and filled twelve baskets.

14 When the people saw the miracle Jesus performed, they said, “This man is certainly the prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus realized that the people intended to take him by force and make him king. So he returned to the mountain by himself.

6:1–15   You told Philip to fetch bread for a crowd of thousands. But you already knew exactly what you were going to do. I trust you to work miracles to meet my needs. My stomach and soul are both desperately hungry.

Jesus Walks on the Sea—Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52

16 When evening came, his disciples went to the sea. 17 They got into a boat and started to cross the sea to the city of Capernaum. By this time it was dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 A strong wind started to blow and stir up the sea.

19 After they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they became terrified.

20 Jesus told them, “It’s me. Don’t be afraid!”

21 So they were willing to help Jesus into the boat. Immediately, the boat reached the shore where they were going.

6:16–21   I’m alarmed when you act in ways I can’t understand. Remind me who you are. Free me from fear.

Jesus Is the Bread of Life

22 On the next day the people were still on the other side of the sea. They noticed that only one boat was there and that Jesus had not stepped into that boat with his disciples. The disciples had gone away without him. 23 Other boats from Tiberias arrived near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks. 24 When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to the city of Capernaum to look for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus replied to them, “I can guarantee this truth: You’re not looking for me because you saw miracles. You are looking for me because you ate as much of those loaves as you wanted. 27 Don’t work for food that spoils. Instead, work for the food that lasts into eternal life. This is the food the Son of Man will give you. After all, the Father has placed his seal of approval on him.”

6:22–27   Ordinary food spoils, but you bring food that lasts into eternity.

28 The people asked Jesus, “What does God want us to do?”

29 Jesus replied to them, “God wants to do something for you so that you believe in the one whom he has sent.”

30 The people asked him, “What miracle are you going to perform so that we can see it and believe in you? What are you going to do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the desert. Scripture says, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 God’s bread is the man who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread all the time.”

6:28–34   You’re the heavenly bread that gives life to the world. You’re the miracle I need in order to believe.

35 Jesus told them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry, and whoever believes in me will never become thirsty. 36 I’ve told you that you have seen me. However, you don’t believe in me. 37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me. 38 I haven’t come from heaven to do what I want to do. I’ve come to do what the one who sent me wants me to do. 39 The one who sent me doesn’t want me to lose any of those he gave me. He wants me to bring them back to life on the last day. 40 My Father wants all those who see the Son and believe in him to have eternal life. He wants me to bring them back to life on the last day.”

6:35–40   You’re the only bread that can ever fill me up. I believe in you. Bring me back to life on the last day!

41 The Jews began to criticize Jesus for saying, “I am the bread that came from heaven.” 42 They asked, “Isn’t this man Jesus, Joseph’s son? Don’t we know his father and mother? How can he say now, ‘I came from heaven’?”

43 Jesus responded, “Stop criticizing me! 44 People cannot come to me unless the Father who sent me brings them to me. I will bring these people back to life on the last day. 45 The prophets wrote, ‘God will teach everyone.’ Those who do what they have learned from the Father come to me. 46 I’m saying that no one has seen the Father. Only the one who is from God has seen the Father. 47 I can guarantee this truth: Every believer has eternal life.

48 “I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert and died. 50 This is the bread that comes from heaven so that whoever eats it won’t die. 51 I am the living bread that came from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. The bread I will give to bring life to the world is my flesh.”

52 The Jews began to quarrel with each other. They said, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus told them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you don’t eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have the source of life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will bring them back to life on the last day. 55 My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them. 57 The Father who has life sent me, and I live because of the Father. So those who feed on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came from heaven. It is not like the bread your ancestors ate. They eventually died. Those who eat this bread will live forever.”

6:41–58   You’re more than the son of Joseph. You were heaven-sent to give your life for the world. I’ll live forever because I accept your sacrifice for me.

59 Jesus said this while he was teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum. 60 When many of Jesus’ disciples heard him, they said, “What he says is hard to accept. Who wants to listen to him anymore?”

61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were criticizing his message. So Jesus asked them, “Did what I say make you lose faith? 62 What if you see the Son of Man go where he was before? 63 Life is spiritual. Your physical existence doesn’t contribute to that life. The words that I have spoken to you are spiritual. They are life. 64 But some of you don’t believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning those who wouldn’t believe and the one who would betray him. 65 So he added, “That is why I told you that people cannot come to me unless the Father provides the way.”

6:59–65   These words are hard to swallow. But they’re a spiritual message that gives me life.

66 Jesus’ speech made many of his disciples go back to the lives they had led before they followed Jesus. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve apostles, “Do you want to leave me too?”

68 Simon Peter answered Jesus, “Lord, to what person could we go? Your words give eternal life. 69 Besides, we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

70 Jesus replied, “I chose all twelve of you. Yet, one of you is a devil.” 71 Jesus meant Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. Judas, who was one of the twelve apostles, would later betray Jesus.

6:66–71   I won’t ever go back to the life I lived without you. I have nowhere else to go. Your words give life that never dies or diminishes. You’re the Holy One of God.

Jesus Goes to the Festival of Booths

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1 Jesus later traveled throughout Galilee. He didn’t want to travel in Judea because Jews there wanted to kill him.

2 The time for the Jewish Festival of Booths was near. 3 So Jesus’ brothers told him, “Leave this place, and go to Judea so that your disciples can see the things that you’re doing. 4 No one does things secretly when he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, you should let the world see you.” 5 Even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

6 Jesus told them, “Now is not the right time for me to go. Any time is right for you. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I say that what everyone does is evil. 8 Go to the festival. I’m not going to this festival right now. Now is not the right time for me to go.”

9 After saying this, Jesus stayed in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, Jesus went. He didn’t go publicly but secretly.

11 The Jews were looking for Jesus in the crowd at the festival. They kept asking, “Where is that man?” 12 The crowds argued about Jesus. Some people said, “He’s a good man,” while others said, “No he isn’t. He deceives the people.” 13 Yet, no one would talk openly about him because they were afraid of the Jews.

7:1–13   Your family didn’t believe in you. The crowds couldn’t decide if you were good or bad. But I’ve made up my mind who you are.

14 When the festival was half over, Jesus went to the temple courtyard and began to teach. 15 The Jews were surprised and asked, “How can this man be so educated when he hasn’t gone to school?”

16 Jesus responded to them, “What I teach doesn’t come from me but from the one who sent me. 17 Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts. 18 Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn’t have dishonest motives. 19 Didn’t Moses give you his teachings? Yet, none of you does what Moses taught you. So why do you want to kill me?”

20 The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who wants to kill you?”

21 Jesus answered them, “I performed one miracle, and all of you are surprised by it. 22 Moses gave you the teaching about circumcision (although it didn’t come from Moses but from our ancestors). So you circumcise a male on a day of worship. 23 If you circumcise a male on the day of worship to follow Moses’ Teachings, why are you angry with me because I made a man entirely well on the day of worship? 24 Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly.”

7:14–24   If I’m honestly intent on obeying, I’ll instantly know whether your teaching is true. I’ll test you and conclude you’re not spreading your own ideas.

25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this the man they want to kill? 26 But look at this! He’s speaking in public, and no one is saying anything to him! Can it be that the rulers really know that this man is the Messiah? 27 However, we know where this man comes from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then, while Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he said loudly, “You know me, and you know where I come from. I didn’t decide to come on my own. The one who sent me is true. He’s the one you don’t know. 29 I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”

30 The Jews tried to arrest him but couldn’t because his time had not yet come.

31 However, many people in the crowd believed in him. They asked, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more miracles than this man has?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd saying things like this about him. So the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Jesus.

33 Jesus said, “I will still be with you for a little while. Then I’ll go to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you won’t find me. You can’t go where I’m going.”

35 The Jews said among themselves, “Where does this man intend to go so that we won’t find him? Does he mean that he’ll live with the Jews who are scattered among the Greeks and that he’ll teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will look for me, but you won’t find me,’ and ‘You can’t go where I’m going’?”

7:25–36   The rulers couldn’t answer your wisdom. The crowds were convinced by your power. But your plan was past everyone’s understanding.

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus was standing ⌞in the temple courtyard⌟. He said loudly, “Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink. 38 As Scripture says, ‘Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.’” 39 Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Jesus had been glorified.

7:37–39   I’m thirsty. I’ll come to you to drink! Your Spirit will be like a stream of living water flowing from deep inside me.

40 After some of the crowd heard Jesus say these words, they said, “This man is certainly the prophet.” 41 Other people said, “This man is the Messiah.” Still other people asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Doesn’t Scripture say that the Messiah will come from the descendants of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David lived?” 43 So the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but they couldn’t.

45 When the temple guards returned, the chief priests and Pharisees asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Jesus?”

46 The temple guards answered, “No human has ever spoken like this man.”

47 The Pharisees asked the temple guards, “Have you been deceived too? 48 Has any ruler or any Pharisee believed in him? 49 This crowd is cursed because it doesn’t know Moses’ Teachings.”

50 One of those Pharisees was Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus. Nicodemus asked them, 51 “Do Moses’ Teachings enable us to judge a person without first hearing that person’s side of the story? We can’t judge a person without finding out what that person has done.”

52 They asked Nicodemus, “Are you saying this because you’re from Galilee? Study ⌞the Scriptures⌟, and you’ll see that no prophet comes from Galilee.”[7]

53 Then each of them went home.

7:40–53   You puzzled the crowd. Without all the facts, they couldn’t figure you out. Teach me everything I need to know to be fully convinced.

A Woman Caught in Adultery

8

1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early the next morning he returned to the temple courtyard. All the people went to him, so he sat down and began to teach them.

3 The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone 4 and asked Jesus, “Teacher, we caught this woman in the act of adultery. 5 In his teachings, Moses ordered us to stone women like this to death. What do you say?” 6 They asked this to test him. They wanted to find a reason to bring charges against him.

Jesus bent down and used his finger to write on the ground. 7 When they persisted in asking him questions, he straightened up and said, “The person who is sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he bent down again and continued writing on the ground.

9 One by one, beginning with the older men, the experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees left. Jesus was left alone with the woman. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Where did they go? Has anyone condemned you?”

8:1–9   Call me out when I condemn others to justify myself. You know I’m not without sin. And I know better than to throw that first stone.

11 The woman answered, “No one, sir.”

Jesus said, “I don’t condemn you either. Go! From now on don’t sin.”

8:10–11   You see all my sins but still don’t heap abuse on me. You continually set me free—and tell me to sin no more.

Jesus Speaks with the Pharisees about His Father

12 Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.”

13 The Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony isn’t true.”

14 Jesus replied to them, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is true because I know where I came from and where I’m going. However, you don’t know where I came from or where I’m going. 15 You judge the way humans do. I don’t judge anyone. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is valid because I don’t make it on my own. I make my judgment with the Father who sent me. 17 Your own teachings say that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I testify on my own behalf, and so does the Father who sent me.”

19 The Pharisees asked him, “Where is your father?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”

20 Jesus spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury area of the temple courtyard. No one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.

8:12–20   You’re the light of the world. With you I don’t stumble in the dark. You speak total truth about yourself and your Father.

21 Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I’m going away, and you’ll look for me. But you will die because of your sin. You can’t go where I’m going.”

22 Then the Jews asked, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means when he says, ‘You can’t go where I’m going’?”

23 Jesus said to them, “You’re from below. I’m from above. You’re from this world. I’m not from this world. 24 For this reason I told you that you’ll die because of your sins. If you don’t believe that I am the one, you’ll die because of your sins.”

8:21–24   If I don’t believe you’re the one sent from God, I’ll die because of my sin.

25 The Jews asked him, “Who did you say you are?”

Jesus told them, “I am who I said I was from the beginning. 26 I have a lot I could say about you and a lot I could condemn you for. But the one who sent me is true. So I tell the world exactly what he has told me.” 27 (The Jews didn’t know that he was talking to them about the Father.)

28 So Jesus told them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you’ll know that I am the one and that I can’t do anything on my own. Instead, I speak as the Father taught me. 29 Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn’t left me by myself. I always do what pleases him.”

8:25–29   You’re exactly who you say you are, and you always do what pleases your Father.

30 As Jesus was saying this, many people believed in him. 31 So Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

8:30–32   If I live by what you say, I’m really your follower. I’ll know your truth, and it will set me free.

33 They replied to Jesus, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and we’ve never been anyone’s slaves. So how can you say that we will be set free?”

34 Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin. 35 A slave doesn’t live in the home forever, but a son does. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free. 37 I know that you’re Abraham’s descendants. However, you want to kill me because you don’t like what I’m saying. 38 What I’m saying is what I have seen in my Father’s presence. But you do what you’ve heard from your father.”

8:33–38   If I live a sinful life, then I’ve made myself sin’s slave. If you set me free, I’ll be absolutely free.

39 The Jews replied to Jesus, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus told them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did. 40 I am a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. But now you want to kill me. Abraham wouldn’t have done that. 41 You’re doing what your father does.”

The Jews said to Jesus, “We’re not illegitimate children. God is our only Father.”

42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me. After all, I’m here, and I came from God. I didn’t come on my own. Instead, God sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand the language I use? Is it because you can’t understand the words I use? 44 You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’t know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he’s doing what comes naturally to him. He’s a liar and the father of lies. 45 So you don’t believe me because I tell the truth. 46 Can any of you convict me of committing a sin? If I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 The person who belongs to God understands what God says. You don’t understand because you don’t belong to God.”

8:39–47   If I belong to the Father above, I’ll understand what you say. I recognize that you always tell the truth.

48 The Jews replied to Jesus, “Aren’t we right when we say that you’re a Samaritan and that you’re possessed by a demon?”

49 Jesus answered, “I’m not possessed. I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. 50 I don’t want my own glory. But there is someone who wants it, and he is the judge. 51 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever obeys what I say will never see death.”

52 The Jews told Jesus, “Now we know that you’re possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, ‘Whoever does what I say will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets have also died. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus said, “If I bring glory to myself, my glory is nothing. My Father is the one who gives me glory, and you say that he is your God. 55 Yet, you haven’t known him. However, I know him. If I would say that I didn’t know him, I would be a liar like all of you. But I do know him, and I do what he says. 56 Your father Abraham was pleased to see that my day was coming. He saw it and was happy.”

8:48–56   If I obey your words, I won’t ever see death. I’ll live forever with you.

57 The Jews said to Jesus, “You’re not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus told them, “I can guarantee this truth: Before Abraham was ever born, I am.”

59 Then some of the Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus. However, Jesus was concealed, and he left the temple courtyard.

8:57–59   You existed before Abraham was born. You’re the almighty and ever-present I am!

Jesus Gives Sight to a Blind Man

9

1 As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been born blind. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Did he or his parents sin?”

3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. Instead, he was born blind so that God could show what he can do for him. 4 We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no one can do anything is coming. 5 As long as I’m in the world, I’m light for the world.”

6 After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground and mixed the spit with dirt. Then he smeared it on the man’s eyes 7 and told him, “Wash it off in the pool of Siloam.” (Siloam means “sent.”) The blind man washed it off and returned. He was able to see.

9:1–7   You refused to blame blindness on a man’s sins—or on his parents’ failings. You open blind eyes just to show what you can do. You’re light for the world!

8 His neighbors and those who had previously seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”

9 Some of them said, “He’s the one.” Others said, “No, he isn’t, but he looks like him.” But the man himself said, “I am the one.”

10 So they asked him, “How did you receive your sight?”

11 He replied, “The man people call Jesus mixed some spit with dirt, smeared it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam, and wash it off.’ So I went there, washed it off, and received my sight.”

12 They asked him, “Where is that man?”

The man answered, “I don’t know.”

13 Some people brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 The day when Jesus mixed the spit and dirt and gave the man sight was a day of worship. 15 So the Pharisees asked the man again how he received his sight.

The man told the Pharisees, “He put a mixture of spit and dirt on my eyes. I washed it off, and now I can see.”

9:8–15   Whether onlookers believe it or not, you give sight to the blind. Open my own eyes. I’ll testify to what you’ve done.

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “The man who did this is not from God because he doesn’t follow the traditions for the day of worship.” Other Pharisees asked, “How can a man who is a sinner perform miracles like these?” So the Pharisees were divided in their opinions.

17 They asked the man who had been born blind another question: “What do you say about the man who gave you sight?”

The man answered, “He’s a prophet.”

18 Until they talked to the man’s parents, the Jews didn’t believe that the man had been blind and had been given sight. 19 They asked his parents, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? Why can he see now?”

20 His parents replied, “We know that he’s our son and that he was born blind. 21 But we don’t know how he got his sight or who gave it to him. You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough to answer for himself.” 22 (His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. 23 That’s why his parents said, “You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough.”)

24 So once again the Jews called the man who had been blind. They told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man who gave you sight is a sinner.”

25 The man responded, “I don’t know if he’s a sinner or not. But I do know one thing. I used to be blind, but now I can see.”

26 The Jews asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he give you sight?”

27 The man replied, “I’ve already told you, but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 The Jews yelled at him, “You’re his disciple, but we’re Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man came from.”

30 The man replied to them, “That’s amazing! You don’t know where he’s from. Yet, he gave me sight. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants. 32 Since the beginning of time, no one has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do anything like that.”

34 The Jews answered him, “You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us?” Then they threw him out ⌞of the synagogue⌟.

9:16–34   If your power weren’t from above, you couldn’t heal a blind man. If you can do miracles like that, you’re clearly not a sinner. Why do some people run from plain truth?

35 Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out ⌞of the synagogue⌟. So when Jesus found the man, he asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 The man replied, “Sir, tell me who he is so that I can believe in him.”

37 Jesus told him, “You’ve seen him. He is the person who is now talking with you.”

38 The man bowed in front of Jesus and said, “I believe, Lord.”

39 Then Jesus said, “I have come into this world to judge: Blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with Jesus heard this. So they asked him, “Do you think we’re blind?”

41 Jesus told them, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be sinners. But now you say, ‘We see,’ so you continue to be sinners.

9:35–41   I know you’re my healer. I bow to you, because I believe you’re the Son of Man.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd

10

1 “I can guarantee this truth: The person who doesn’t enter the sheep pen through the gate but climbs in somewhere else is a thief or a robber. 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out of the pen. 4 After he has brought out all his sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger. Instead, they will run away from a stranger because they don’t recognize his voice.” 6 Jesus used this illustration as he talked to the people, but they didn’t understand what he meant.

10:1–6   You call me by name and lead me to good pasture. I follow because I recognize your voice. I scatter when a stranger tries to catch me.

7 Jesus emphasized, “I can guarantee this truth: I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before I did were thieves or robbers. However, the sheep didn’t respond to them. 9 I am the gate. Those who enter the sheep pen through me will be saved. They will go in and out of the sheep pen and find food. 10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.

10:7–10   Every thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But you came to give me life and everything I need.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand isn’t a shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep. When he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and quickly runs away. So the wolf drags the sheep away and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand is concerned about what he’s going to get paid and not about the sheep.

10:11–13   You’re the good shepherd. You’ll never abandon me.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep as the Father knows me.[8] My sheep know me as I know the Father. 15 So I give my life for my sheep. 16 I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must lead them. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd. 17 The Father loves me because I give my life in order to take it back again. 18 No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my own free will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is what my Father ordered me to do.”

19 The Jews were divided because of what Jesus said. 20 Many of them said, “He’s possessed by a demon! He’s crazy! Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others said, “No one talks like this if he’s possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind?”

10:14–21   No one forces you to give yourself as a sacrifice. You choose to die. You willingly lay down your life for me.

The Jews Reject Jesus

22 The Festival of the Dedication of the Temple took place in Jerusalem during the winter. 23 Jesus was walking on Solomon’s porch in the temple courtyard.

24 The Jews surrounded him. They asked him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “I’ve told you, but you don’t believe me. The things that I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf. 26 However, you don’t believe because you’re not my sheep. 27 My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father. 30 The Father and I are one.”

10:22–30   Your opponents won’t listen to blunt truth. They won’t believe you at all. But I respond to your voice. You give me eternal life, and no one can rip me away from you.

31 The Jews had again brought some rocks to stone Jesus to death. 32 Jesus replied to them, “I’ve shown you many good things that come from the Father. For which of these good things do you want to stone me to death?”

33 The Jews answered Jesus, “We’re going to stone you to death, not for any good things you’ve done, but for dishonoring God. You claim to be God, although you’re only a man.”

34 Jesus said to them, “Don’t your Scriptures say, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? 35 The Scriptures cannot be discredited. So if God calls people gods (and they are the people to whom he gave the Scriptures), 36 why do you say that I’m dishonoring God because I said, ‘I’m the Son of God’? God set me apart for this holy purpose and has sent me into the world. 37 If I’m not doing the things my Father does, don’t believe me. 38 But if I’m doing those things and you refuse to believe me, then at least believe the things that I’m doing. Then you will know and recognize that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father.”

39 The Jews tried to arrest Jesus again, but he got away from them. 40 He went back across the Jordan River and stayed in the place where John first baptized people.

41 Many people went to Jesus. They said, “John didn’t perform any miracles, but everything John said about this man is true.” 42 Many people there believed in Jesus.

10:31–42   What reason does anyone have to condemn you? You’re dedicated to one holy purpose, and your miracles prove you and your Father are one.

Jesus Brings Lazarus Back to Life

11

1 Lazarus, who lived in Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived, was sick. 2 (Mary was the woman who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was the one who was sick.)

3 So the sisters sent a messenger to tell Jesus, “Lord, your close friend is sick.”

4 When Jesus heard the message, he said, “His sickness won’t result in death. Instead, this sickness will bring glory to God so that the Son of God will receive glory through it.”

5 Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. 6 Yet, when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days.

7 Then, after the two days, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

11:1–7   Why didn’t you hurry when your close friend was sick? How can sickness bring you glory?

8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, not long ago the Jews wanted to stone you to death. Do you really want to go back there?”

9 Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day don’t stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 However, those who walk at night stumble because they have no light in themselves.”

11 After Jesus said this, he told his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, and I’m going to Bethany to wake him.”

12 His disciples said to him, “Lord, if he’s sleeping, he’ll get well.”

13 Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, but the disciples thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was only sleeping. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 but I’m glad that I wasn’t there so that you can grow in faith. Let’s go to Lazarus.”

16 Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to the rest of the disciples, “Let’s go so that we, too, can die with Jesus.”

17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. 18 (Bethany was near Jerusalem, not quite two miles away.) 19 Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.

11:8–17   Did you really have a plan—or were you just making it up as you went along? Do you ever stumble around like me?

20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha told Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask him.”

23 Jesus told Martha, “Your brother will come back to life.”

24 Martha answered Jesus, “I know that he’ll come back to life on the last day, when everyone will come back to life.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?”

11:18–26   Couldn’t you have shown up a bit sooner? Why did you let Lazarus die? You’re the one who brings people back to life. You’re life itself! Everyone who believes in you will live forever.

27 Martha said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who was expected to come into the world.”

11:27   I believe you’re the Messiah, God’s Son, the one expected to come into the world.

28 After Martha had said this, she went back home and whispered to her sister Mary, “The teacher is here, and he is calling for you.”

29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Jesus. 30 (Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still where Martha had met him.) 31 The Jews who were comforting Mary in the house saw her get up quickly and leave. So they followed her. They thought that she was going to the tomb to cry. 32 When Mary arrived where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who were crying with her, he was deeply moved and troubled.

34 So Jesus asked, “Where did you put Lazarus?”

They answered him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus cried. 36 The Jews said, “See how much Jesus loved him.” 37 But some of the Jews asked, “Couldn’t this man who gave a blind man sight keep Lazarus from dying?”

11:28–37   I run quickly to you when you call my name. You’re troubled when you notice my pain. When I weep, you weep.

38 Deeply moved again, Jesus went to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone covering the entrance. 39 Jesus said, “Take the stone away.”

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Jesus, “Lord, there must already be a stench. He’s been dead for four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see God’s glory?” 41 So the stone was moved away from the entrance of the tomb.

Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. 42 I’ve known that you always hear me. However, I’ve said this so that the crowd standing around me will believe that you sent me.” 43 After Jesus had said this, he shouted as loudly as he could, “Lazarus, come out!”

44 The dead man came out. Strips of cloth were wound around his feet and hands, and his face was wrapped with a handkerchief. Jesus told them, “Free Lazarus, and let him go.”

11:38–44   How can you bring a dead man back to life? Yet you do! Let everyone see your power and conclude you’re everything you claim to be.

The Jewish Council Plans to Kill Jesus

45 Many Jews who had visited Mary and had seen what Jesus had done believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council. They asked, “What are we doing? This man is performing a lot of miracles. 48 If we let him continue what he’s doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation.”

49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year, told them, “You people don’t know anything. 50 You haven’t even considered this: It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

51 Caiaphas didn’t say this on his own. As chief priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation. 52 He prophesied that Jesus wouldn’t die merely for this nation, but that Jesus would die to bring God’s scattered children together and make them one.

11:45–52   Caiaphas wasn’t in on your plan. But the chief priest foresaw you would die for the people.

53 From that day on, the Jewish council planned to kill Jesus. 54 So Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews. Instead, he left Bethany and went to the countryside near the desert, to a city called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 The Jewish Passover was near. Many people came from the countryside to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. 56 As they stood in the temple courtyard, they looked for Jesus and asked each other, “Do you think that he’ll avoid coming to the festival?” 57 (The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that whoever knew where Jesus was should tell them so that they could arrest him.)

11:53–57   Your enemies plotted to take your life. The people wondered if they would glimpse you. You had to stop hanging out in the open.

Mary Prepares Jesus’ Body for the Tomb—Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9

12

1 Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life, lived there. 2 Dinner was prepared for Jesus in Bethany. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus.

3 Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus’ feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.

4 One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray him, asked, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for a high price and the money given to the poor?” 6 (Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.) 7 Jesus said to Judas, “Leave her alone! She has done this to prepare me for the day I will be placed in a tomb. 8 You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you.”

9 A large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was in Bethany. So they went there not only to see Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life. 10 The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too. 11 Lazarus was the reason why many people were leaving the Jews and believing in Jesus.

12:1–11   Mary washed your feet with extravagant perfume, then dried your feet with her hair. She prepared you for your burial. Did she have any idea what she was doing?

The King Comes to Jerusalem—Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:29–44

12 On the next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took palm branches and went to meet him. They were shouting,

“Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord,

the king of Israel!”

14 Jesus obtained a donkey and sat on it, as Scripture says:

15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Zion!

Your king is coming.

He is riding on a donkey’s colt.”

12:12–15   My king is coming, making a royal entry. You take away my fear! Hosanna! Save me!

16 At first Jesus’ disciples didn’t know what these prophecies meant. However, when Jesus was glorified, the disciples remembered that these prophecies had been written about him. The disciples remembered that they had taken part in fulfilling the prophecies.

17 The people who had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus from the tomb and brought him back to life reported what they had seen. 18 Because the crowd heard that Jesus had performed this miracle, they came to meet him.

19 The Pharisees said to each other, “This is getting us nowhere. Look! The whole world is following him!”

12:16–19   Teach me all the ways you fulfilled your prophets’ words. I want to hear about every amazing thing you do.

Some Greeks Ask to See Jesus

20 Some Greeks were among those who came to worship during the Passover festival. 21 They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, “Sir, we would like to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew, and they told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied to them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I can guarantee this truth: A single grain of wheat doesn’t produce anything unless it is planted in the ground and dies. If it dies, it will produce a lot of grain. 25 Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life. 26 Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever I will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them.

12:20–26   If a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it produces a lot of grain. So I’ll die to this life. I’ll go wherever you go.

27 “I am too deeply troubled now to know how to express my feelings. Should I say, ‘Father, save me from this time ⌞of suffering⌟’? No! I came for this time of suffering. 28 Father, give glory to your name.”

A voice from heaven said, “I have given it glory, and I will give it glory again.”

29 The crowd standing there heard the voice and said that it had thundered. Others in the crowd said that an angel had talked to him. 30 Jesus replied, “That voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours.

12:27–30   My problems are nothing compared to yours. But should I say, “Save me from this suffering”? No! Glorify your name!

31 “This world is being judged now. The ruler of this world will be thrown out now. 32 When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me.” 33 By saying this, he indicated how he was going to die.

34 The crowd responded to him, “We have heard from the Scriptures that the Messiah will remain here forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up from the earth’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Jesus answered the crowd, “The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won’t defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don’t know where they’re going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light.”

After Jesus had said this, he was concealed as he left. 37 Although they had seen Jesus perform so many miracles, they wouldn’t believe in him. 38 In this way the words of the prophet Isaiah came true:

12:31–36   Your death looms. You know you’ll be lifted high. Draw the world to you.

“Lord, who has believed our message?

To whom has the Lord’s power been revealed?”

39 So the people couldn’t believe because, as Isaiah also said,

40 “God blinded them

and made them close-minded

so that their eyes don’t see

and their minds don’t understand.

And they never turn to me for healing!”

41 Isaiah said this because he had seen Jesus’ glory and had spoken about him.

12:37–41   The crowds wouldn’t believe in you no matter how many miracles you did. They were too closeminded to understand.

42 Many rulers believed in Jesus. However, they wouldn’t admit it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue. 43 They were more concerned about what people thought of them than about what God thought of them.

44 Then Jesus said loudly, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me. 45 Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark. 47 If anyone hears my words and doesn’t follow them, I don’t condemn them. I didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world. 48 Those who reject me by not accepting what I say have a judge appointed for them. The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day. 49 I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it. 50 I know that what he commands is eternal life. Whatever I say is what the Father told me to say.”

12:42–50   Rulers who believed in you wouldn’t own up to it in public. Shake me when I care about what people think instead of what you think.

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

13

1 Before the Passover festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. Jesus loved his own who were in the world, and he loved them to the end.

2 While supper was taking place, the devil had already put the idea of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.

13:1–2   Your time had arrived to go back to your Father. Yet you never stopped loving us.

3 The Father had put everything in Jesus’ control. Jesus knew that. He also knew that he had come from God and was going back to God. 4 So he got up from the table, removed his outer clothes, took a towel, and tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that he had tied around his waist.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus answered Peter, “You don’t know now what I’m doing. You will understand later.”

8 Peter told Jesus, “You will never wash my feet.”

Jesus replied to Peter, “If I don’t wash you, you don’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, don’t wash only my feet. Wash my hands and my head too!”

10 Jesus told Peter, “People who have washed are completely clean. They need to have only their feet washed. All of you, except for one, are clean.” 11 (Jesus knew who was going to betray him. That’s why he said, “All of you, except for one, are clean.”)

13:3–11   Why do you strip down like a servant? What gives you the idea you should wash my feet? Isn’t there someone else to do the dirty work?

12 After Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothes, he took his place at the table again. Then he asked his disciples, “Do you understand what I’ve done for you? 13 You call me teacher and Lord, and you’re right because that’s what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you must wash each other’s feet. 15 I’ve given you an example that you should follow. 16 I can guarantee this truth: Slaves are not superior to their owners, and messengers are not superior to the people who send them. 17 If you understand all of this, you are blessed whenever you follow my example.

18 “I’m not talking about all of you. I know the people I’ve chosen ⌞to be apostles⌟. However, I’ve made my choice so that Scripture will come true. It says, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me.’ 19 I’m telling you now before it happens. Then, when it happens, you will believe that I am the one.

20 “I can guarantee this truth: Whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

13:12–20   You’re my teacher and Lord. If you dare to serve me, I’d better humble myself and serve others. You’ve given me an example to follow.

Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him—Matthew 26:21–25; Mark 14:18–21; Luke 22:21–23

21 After saying this, Jesus was deeply troubled. He declared, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me!”

22 The disciples began looking at each other and wondering which one of them Jesus meant.

23 One disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, was near him at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to that disciple and said, “Ask Jesus whom he’s talking about!”

25 Leaning close to Jesus, that disciple asked, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “He’s the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I’ve dipped it in the sauce.” So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.

27 Then, after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “Hurry! Do what you have to do.” 28 No one at the table knew why Jesus said this to him. 29 Judas had the moneybag. So some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the festival or to give something to the poor.

30 Judas took the piece of bread and immediately went outside. It was night.

31 When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “The Son of Man is now glorified, and because of him God is glorified. 32 If God is glorified because of the Son of Man, God will glorify the Son of Man because of himself, and he will glorify the Son of Man at once.”

13:21–32   Who could betray you? Why would anyone turn on you? Is this what it takes for you to be glorified?

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial—Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–34

33 Jesus said, “Dear children, I will still be with you for a little while. I’m telling you what I told the Jews. You will look for me, but you can’t go where I’m going.

34 “I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. 35 Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other.”

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus answered him, “You can’t follow me now to the place where I’m going. However, you will follow me later.”

37 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I’ll give my life for you.”

38 Jesus replied, “Will you give your life for me? I can guarantee this truth: No rooster will crow until you say three times that you don’t know me.

13:33–38   I’ll love others the same way you love me. When I do, everyone will know I’m your follower.

Jesus Promises to Send the Holy Spirit

14

1 “Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. So how can we know the way?”

14:1–5   Because I believe in you, I refuse to be troubled. I know you’ll prepare a place for me in your Father’s house.

6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me. 7 If you have known me, you will also know my Father. From now on you know him ⌞through me⌟ and have seen him ⌞in me⌟.”

8 Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will satisfy us.”

9 Jesus replied, “I have been with all of you for a long time. Don’t you know me yet, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I’m telling you doesn’t come from me. The Father, who lives in me, does what he wants. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe me because of the things I do.

14:6–11   You’re the way, the truth, and the life. I can’t get to the Father except through you. Because I’ve seen you, I know exactly what the Father is like.

12 “I can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things that I am doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do anything you ask ⌞the Father⌟ in my name so that the Father will be given glory because of the Son. 14 If you ask me to do something, I will do it.

14:12–14   Help me imitate everything you do. Give me whatever I ask in your name. Your glory is my sole motivation!

15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. 17 That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you all alone. I will come back to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. You will live because I live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me and that I am in you. 21 Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me. Those who love me will have my Father’s love, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them.”

14:15–21   You’ll never leave me alone. You’ll send a helper to live in me. By knowing and obeying your commands, I experience your love.

22 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Jesus, “Lord, what has happened that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will go to them and make our home with them. 24 A person who doesn’t love me doesn’t do what I say. I don’t make up what you hear me say. What I say comes from the Father who sent me.

25 “I have told you this while I’m still with you. 26 However, the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. He will remind you of everything that I have ever told you.

14:22–26   Because I love you, I’ll do what you say. Because you love me, you and the Father will dwell in me, and the Spirit will teach me whatever I need to know.

27 “I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly. 28 You heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away, but I’m coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I’m going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.

29 “I’m telling you this now before it happens. When it does happen, you will believe. 30 The ruler of this world has no power over me. But he’s coming, so I won’t talk with you much longer. 31 However, I want the world to know that I love the Father and that I am doing exactly what the Father has commanded me to do. Get up! We have to leave.”

14:27–31   You give me a peace nothing can take away. I have no reason to be troubled or cowardly.

Jesus, the True Vine

15

1 ⌞Then Jesus said,⌟ “I am the true vine, and my Father takes care of the vineyard. 2 He removes every one of my branches that doesn’t produce fruit. He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit.

3 “You are already clean[9] because of what I have told you. 4 Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.

15:1–4   You’re the true vine, and your Father dresses the vineyard. He cuts off every barren limb. He prunes every good branch to make it bear more fruit.

5 “I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can’t produce anything without me. 6 Whoever doesn’t live in me is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Branches like this are gathered, thrown into a fire, and burned. 7 If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours. 8 You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples.

15:5–8   You’re the vine, and I’m one of your branches. I can’t bear fruit if I’m not attached to you. Make me sprout fruit that shows I’m your disciple!

9 “I have loved you the same way the Father has loved me. So live in my love. 10 If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love. 11 I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete. 12 Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I’m commanding you to do. 13 The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends. 14 You are my friends if you obey my commandments. 15 I don’t call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. But I’ve called you friends because I’ve made known to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father. 16 You didn’t choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for. 17 Love each other. This is what I’m commanding you to do.

15:9–17   You love me with the Father’s infinite affection. When I obey your commands, I’ll feel your true happiness. I’ll love others the same way you love me.

18 “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you had anything in common with the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But you don’t have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world, and that’s why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant isn’t greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they did what I said, they will also do what you say. 21 Indeed, they will do all this to you because you are committed to me, since they don’t know the one who sent me. 22 If I hadn’t come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t have any sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The person who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done among them what no one else has done, they wouldn’t have any sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 In this way what is written in their Scriptures has come true: ‘They hate me for no reason.’

15:18–21   I won’t be surprised if the world hates me, because it hated you first. I have nothing in common with the world.

26 “The helper whom I will send to you from the Father will come. This helper, the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, will declare the truth about me. 27 You will declare the truth, too, because you have been with me from the beginning.”

15:22–27   Thank you for pointing out my sin and putting my life back together. Teach me through your always-truthful Spirit.

Sadness Will Turn to Joy

16

1 ⌞Jesus continued,⌟ “I have said these things to you so that you won’t lose your faith. 2 You will be thrown out of synagogues. Certainly, the time is coming when people who murder you will think that they are serving God. 3 They will do these things to you because they haven’t known the Father or me. 4 But I’ve told you this so that when it happens you’ll remember what I’ve told you. I didn’t tell you this at first, because I was with you.

16:1–4   Keep talking to me so I don’t lose my faith. The time is coming when people who hurt me will think they’re helping you.

5 “Now I’m going to the one who sent me. Yet, none of you asks me where I’m going. 6 But because I’ve told you this, you’re filled with sadness. 7 However, I am telling you the truth: It’s good for you that I’m going away. If I don’t go away, the helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 He will come to convict the world of sin, to show the world what has God’s approval, and to convince the world that God judges it. 9 He will convict the world of sin, because people don’t believe in me. 10 He will show the world what has God’s approval, because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore. 11 He will convince the world that God judges it, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

16:5–11   I’m overwhelmed with sadness because you’re leaving. But the only way the helper will come is if you go. Convict me of sin and show me what you approve.

12 “I have a lot more to tell you, but that would be too much for you now. 13 When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into the full truth. He won’t speak on his own. He will speak what he hears and will tell you about things to come. 14 He will give me glory, because he will tell you what I say. 15 Everything the Father says is also what I say. That is why I said, ‘He will take what I say and tell it to you.’

16:12–15   Keep teaching me, because I can’t process all your truth at once. Guide me into everything I need to learn.

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. Then in a little while you will see me again.”

17 Some of his disciples said to each other, “What does he mean? He tells us that in a little while we won’t see him. Then he tells us that in a little while we will see him again and that he’s going to the Father.” 18 So they were asking each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while’? We don’t understand what he’s talking about.”

19 Jesus knew they wanted to ask him something. So he said to them, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, and in a little while you will see me again’? 20 I can guarantee this truth: You will cry because you are sad, but the world will be happy. You will feel pain, but your pain will turn to happiness. 21 A woman has pain when her time to give birth comes. But after the child is born, she doesn’t remember the pain anymore because she’s happy that a child has been brought into the world.

16:16–21   The pain I feel will turn to happiness. This will all turn out like a mother giving birth to a child. Joy will make me forget pain.

22 “Now you’re in a painful situation. But I will see you again. Then you will be happy, and no one will take that happiness away from you. 23 When that day comes, you won’t ask me any more questions. I can guarantee this truth: If you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you. 24 So far you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive so that you can be completely happy.

25 “I have used examples to illustrate these things. The time is coming when I won’t use examples to speak to you. Rather, I will speak to you about the Father in plain words. 26 When that day comes, you will ask for what you want in my name. I’m telling you that I won’t have to ask the Father for you. 27 The Father loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I left the Father and came into the world. Again, ⌞as I’ve said,⌟ I’m going to leave the world and go back to the Father.”

16:22–28   I’ll make requests in your name. I’ll trust you to give me what will make me truly happy.

29 His disciples said, “Now you’re talking in plain words and not using examples. 30 Now we know that you know everything. You don’t need to wait for questions to be asked. Because of this, we believe that you have come from God.”

31 Jesus replied to them, “Now you believe. 32 The time is coming, and is already here, when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go your own way and leave me all alone. Yet, I’m not all alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I’ve told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you’ll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

16:29–33   I’m finally starting to understand you. You’re giving me the answers I need to have your peace. I’ll face trouble in the world, but I’ll cheer up. You’ve overcome the world!

Jesus Prays for Himself, His Disciples, and His Church

17

1 After saying this, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the time is here. Give your Son glory so that your Son can give you glory. 2 After all, you’ve given him authority over all humanity so that he can give eternal life to all those you gave to him. 3 This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 On earth I have given you glory by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, give me glory in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed.

17:1–5   This is eternal life: to know the Father and the Son. I long to see the glory you had before the world existed.

6 “I made your name known to the people you gave me. They are from this world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They did what you told them. 7 Now they know that everything you gave me comes from you, 8 because I gave them the message that you gave me. They have accepted this message, and they know for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.

17:6–8   You told us all about the Father, and all of us who accepted your message believe you came from him.

9 “I pray for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 Everything I have is yours, and everything you have is mine. I have been given glory by the people you have given me. 11 I won’t be in the world much longer, but they are in the world, and I’m coming back to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me, so that their unity may be like ours. 12 While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me. I watched over them, and none of them, except one person, became lost. So Scripture came true.

Authentic Prayer

John 17:20–23

Unity

I pray that all of these people continue to have unity in the way that you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me. John 17:21

Unity doesn’t come naturally to flawed people. In the final hours before his death, Jesus didn’t have time to waste. Shortly before his arrest, he talks to his Father about his most pressing concerns. At the top of his list comes the topic of how you get along with other believers.

As Jesus prays in John 17, he speaks first about himself, asking the Father to give him the glory he had in heaven. He prays for his early followers, urging their protection in the tests about to come. He wants his joy to fill them and his truth to make them holy. As he turns to those who will believe in him in every time and place, his primary prayer is for our unity. Only as we live as close to each other as Jesus does to the Father will the world know he is real.

Praying for authentic connections with other believers might not be at the top of your prayer list, but Jesus put it at the top of his. Ask God to bring you and all believers into the tight embrace shared by the Father and the Son.

Pray the Scriptures Unity: Psalm 133:1–3, Acts 2:42–47, 1 Corinthians 10:10–16, Ephesians 4:1–10

13 “But now, ⌞Father,⌟ I’m coming back to you. I say these things while I’m still in the world so that they will have the same joy that I have. 14 I have given them your message. But the world has hated them because they don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one. 16 They don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

17:9–14   Pray for us. Keep us safe through your powerful name, and don’t let any of us be lost. Give us every bit of your joy!

17 “Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth. 18 I have sent them into the world the same way you sent me into the world. 19 I’m dedicating myself to this holy work I’m doing for them so that they, too, will use the truth to be holy.

17:15–19   Don’t take us out of the world. Instead protect us from the evil one. Use your true words to make us holy.

20 “I’m not praying only for them. I’m also praying for those who will believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that all of these people continue to have unity in the way that you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me. I did this so that they are united in the same way we are. 23 I am in them, and you are in me. So they are completely united. In this way the world knows that you have sent me and that you have loved them in the same way you have loved me.

17:20–23   Unite everyone everywhere who believes your message. When we’re completely united, people will know you’re real. They’ll understand your perfect love.

24 “Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made. 25 Righteous Father, the world didn’t know you. Yet, I knew you, and these ⌞disciples⌟ have known that you sent me. 26 I have made your name known to them, and I will make it known so that the love you have for me will be in them and I will be in them.”

17:24–26   Pull us close to you and show us the glory you had before the world was made. Make your name known so we can live in your love.

Jesus Is Arrested—Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–54a

18

1 After Jesus finished his prayer, he went with his disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley. They entered the garden that was there.

2 Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples often gathered there. 3 So Judas took a troop of soldiers and the guards from the chief priests and Pharisees and went to the garden. They were carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4 Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went to meet them and asked, “Who are you looking for?”

5 They answered him, “Jesus from Nazareth.”

Jesus told them, “I am he.”

Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with the crowd. 6 When Jesus told them, “I am he,” the crowd backed away and fell to the ground.

18:1–6   Soldiers came at you with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Yet the mob fell to the ground when you announced your name.

7 Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?”

They said, “Jesus from Nazareth.”

8 Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these other men go.” 9 In this way what Jesus had said came true: “I lost none of those you gave me.”

10 Simon Peter had a sword. He drew it, attacked the chief priest’s servant, and cut off the servant’s right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away. Shouldn’t I drink the cup ⌞of suffering⌟ that my Father has given me?”

12 Then the army officer and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus. They tied Jesus up 13 and took him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas, the chief priest that year, 14 was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.

18:7–14   Putting up a fight wasn’t your plan. You refused to take your lips from the cup of suffering your Father had given you to drink.

Peter Denies Jesus—Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54b–62

15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. The other disciple was well-known to the chief priest. So that disciple went with Jesus into the chief priest’s courtyard. 16 Peter, however, was standing outside the gate. The other disciple talked to the woman who was the gatekeeper and brought Peter into the courtyard.

17 The gatekeeper asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples too?”

Peter answered, “No, I’m not!”

18 The servants and the guards were standing around a fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was standing there, too, and warming himself with the others.

18:15–18   One of your own flat-out denied you, just like you said he would. How could you endure this suffering all alone?

The Chief Priest Questions Jesus

19 The chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teachings.

20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly for everyone to hear. I have always taught in synagogues or in the temple courtyard, where all the Jews gather. I haven’t said anything in secret. 21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said to them. They know what I’ve said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing near Jesus slapped his face and said, “Is that how you answer the chief priest?”

23 Jesus replied to him, “If I’ve said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I’ve told the truth, why do you hit me?”

24 Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the chief priest. Jesus was still tied up.

18:19–24   Everyone knew what you stood for. Was this their first chance to get even? Is that why they kept you tied up?

Peter Denies Jesus Again—Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54b–62

25 Simon Peter continued to stand and warm himself by the fire. Some men asked him, “Aren’t you, too, one of his disciples?”

Peter denied it by saying, “No, I’m not!”

26 One of the chief priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked him, “Didn’t I see you with Jesus in the garden?”

27 Peter again denied it, and just then a rooster crowed.

18:25–27   Peter warmed himself by the fire while you were interrogated. Did you hear the rooster crow?

Pilate Questions Jesus—Matthew 27:11–14; Mark 15:1–5; Luke 23:1–4

28 Early in the morning, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the governor’s palace.

The Jews wouldn’t go into the palace. They didn’t want to become unclean,[10] since they wanted to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What accusation are you making against this man?”

30 The Jews answered Pilate, “If he weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate told the Jews, “Take him, and try him by your law.”

The Jews answered him, “We’re not allowed to execute anyone.” 32 In this way what Jesus had predicted about how he would die came true.

18:28–32   The religious leaders wouldn’t try you according to their own rules, because they had no legal right to kill you.

33 Pilate went back into the palace, called for Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 Jesus replied, “Did you think of that yourself, or did others tell you about me?”

35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn’t belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. My kingdom doesn’t have its origin on earth.”

37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”

Jesus replied, “You’re correct in saying that I’m a king. I have been born and have come into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”

38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After Pilate said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I don’t find this man guilty of anything. 39 You have a custom that I should free one person for you at Passover. Would you like me to free the king of the Jews for you?”

18:33–38   Your kingdom isn’t part of this world. Your followers don’t fight with earthly weapons. Pilate had no idea what kind of king you are.

40 The Jews shouted again, “Don’t free this man! Free Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a political revolutionary.)

18:39–40   What is truth? Pilate couldn’t see truth standing right in front of him.

The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus—Matthew 27:27–30; Mark 15:16–19

19

1 Then Pilate had Jesus taken away and whipped. 2 The soldiers twisted some thorny branches into a crown, placed it on his head, and put a purple cape on him. 3 They went up to him, said, “Long live the king of the Jews!” and slapped his face.

19:1–3   You were taken away and whipped, crowned with thorns and dressed in a royal cape.

The People Want Jesus Crucified

4 Pilate went outside again and told the Jews, “I’m bringing him out to you to let you know that I don’t find this man guilty of anything.” 5 Jesus went outside. He was wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cape. Pilate said to the Jews, “Look, here’s the man!”

6 When the chief priests and the guards saw Jesus, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Pilate told them, “You take him and crucify him. I don’t find this man guilty of anything.”

19:4–6   Pilate found no reason to convict you. But he stood you in front of the crowd in mocking royal garb. The people screamed for your crucifixion.

7 The Jews answered Pilate, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

8 When Pilate heard them say that, he became more afraid than ever. 9 He went into the palace again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus didn’t answer him.

10 So Pilate said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to free you or to crucify you?”

11 Jesus answered Pilate, “You wouldn’t have any authority over me if it hadn’t been given to you from above. That’s why the man who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

12 When Pilate heard what Jesus said, he wanted to free him. But the Jews shouted, “If you free this man, you’re not a friend of the emperor. Anyone who claims to be a king is defying the emperor.”

13 When Pilate heard what they said, he took Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s seat in a place called Stone Pavement. (In Hebrew it is called Gabbatha.) 14 The time was about six o’clock in the morning on the Friday of the Passover festival.

Pilate said to the Jews, “Look, here’s your king!”

15 Then the Jews shouted, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”

Pilate asked them, “Should I crucify your king?”

The chief priests responded, “The emperor is the only king we have!”

16 Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.

19:7–16   The crowd wanted you dead for claiming to be God’s Son. Pilate timidly asked where you came from, but he still found no reason to kill you. Even so, he handed you over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion—Matthew 27:31–44; Mark 15:20–32; Luke 23:26–38

So the soldiers took Jesus. 17 He carried his own cross and went out ⌞of the city⌟ to a location called The Skull. (In Hebrew this place is called Golgotha.) 18 The soldiers crucified Jesus and two other men there. Jesus was in the middle.

19 Pilate wrote a notice and put it on the cross. The notice read, “Jesus from Nazareth, the king of the Jews.” 20 Many Jews read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

21 The chief priests of the Jewish people told Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews!’ Instead, write, ‘He said that he is the king of the Jews.’”

22 Pilate replied, “I have written what I’ve written.”

19:17–22   You carried your cross to The Skull, where you were crucified between two criminals. So what was Pilate thinking? Did he actually believe you were your people’s king?

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them four ways so that each soldier could have a share. His robe was left over. It didn’t have a seam because it had been woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 The soldiers said to each other, “Let’s not rip it apart. Let’s throw dice to see who will get it.” In this way the Scripture came true: “They divided my clothes among themselves. They threw dice for my clothing.” So that’s what the soldiers did.

25 Jesus’ mother, her sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary from Magdala were standing beside Jesus’ cross. 26 Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there. He said to his mother, “Look, here’s your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Look, here’s your mother!”

From that time on she lived with that disciple in his home.

19:23–27   Soldiers split up your clothes and made Scripture come true. You gave your mother a son and your friend a mother. Why weren’t you worrying about yourself?

Jesus Dies on the Cross—Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; Luke 23:44–49

28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything had now been finished, he said, “I’m thirsty.” He said this so that Scripture could finally be concluded.

29 A jar filled with vinegar was there. So the soldiers put a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick and held it to his mouth.

30 After Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!”

Then he bowed his head and died.

19:28–30   Your job was done. Complete. You bowed your head and gave yourself up to death.

31 Since it was Friday and the next day was an especially important day of worship, the Jews didn’t want the bodies to stay on the crosses. So they asked Pilate to have the men’s legs broken and their bodies removed. 32 The soldiers broke the legs of the first man and then of the other man who had been crucified with Jesus.

33 When the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs. 34 However, one of the soldiers stabbed Jesus’ side with his spear, and blood and water immediately came out. 35 The one who saw this is an eyewitness. What he says is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth so that you, too, will believe.

36 This happened so that the Scripture would come true: “None of his bones will be broken.” 37 Another Scripture passage says, “They will look at the person whom they have stabbed.”

19:31–37   No one needed to break your legs. You were already dead beyond question. Even in your death, you kept your word.

Jesus Is Placed in a Tomb—Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56

38 Later Joseph from the city of Arimathea asked Pilate to let him remove Jesus’ body. (Joseph was a disciple of Jesus but secretly because he was afraid of the Jews). Pilate gave him permission to remove Jesus’ body. So Joseph removed it. 39 Nicodemus, the one who had first come to Jesus at night, went with Joseph and brought 75 pounds of a myrrh and aloe mixture.

40 These two men took the body of Jesus and bound it with strips of linen. They laced the strips with spices. This was the Jewish custom for burial.

41 A garden was located in the place where Jesus was crucified. In that garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. 42 Joseph and Nicodemus put Jesus in that tomb, since that day was the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

19:38–42   Joseph boldly requested your body. Nicodemus came in broad daylight. Is your death what it took to make your followers act?

Jesus Comes Back to Life—Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12

20

1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary from Magdala went to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb’s entrance. 2 So she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved. She told them, “They have removed the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.”

3 So Peter and the other disciple headed for the tomb. 4 The two were running side by side, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked inside the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there but didn’t go inside.

6 Simon Peter arrived after him and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there. 7 He also saw the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head. It wasn’t lying with the strips of linen but was rolled up separately. 8 Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, went inside. He saw and believed. 9 They didn’t know yet what Scripture meant when it said that Jesus had to come back to life. 10 So the disciples went back home.

20:1–10   Your followers came to your tomb the first chance they had. But you were gone. Peter and your best friend couldn’t find you. What were they supposed to think?

Jesus Appears to Mary from Magdala

11 Mary, however, stood there and cried as she looked at the tomb. As she cried, she bent over and looked inside. 12 She saw two angels in white clothes. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying. One angel was where Jesus’ head had been, and the other was where his feet had been. 13 The angels asked her why she was crying.

Mary told them, “They have removed my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”

14 After she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. However, she didn’t know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus asked her, “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”

Mary thought it was the gardener speaking to her. So she said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I’ll remove him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

Mary turned around and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (This word means “teacher.”)

20:11–16   Mary just stood and cried. She didn’t stop until she realized it was you who was talking.

17 Jesus told her, “Don’t hold on to me. I have not yet gone to the Father. But go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary from Magdala went to the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord.” She also told them what he had said to her.

20:17–18   You were going to the Father. But Mary had seen you. She explained to everyone what you said.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples—Luke 24:36–48

19 That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you!” 20 When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad to see the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 After he had said this, he breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 Whenever you forgive sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you don’t forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

20:19–23   You give peace when you come back from the dead. You give your Spirit and send your disciples to speak.

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, who was called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord.”

Thomas told them, “I refuse to believe this unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers into them, and put my hand into his side.”

26 A week later Jesus’ disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, and believe.”

28 Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to Thomas, “You believe because you’ve seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me but believe.”

20:24–29   My questions don’t bother you, and you offer me every reason to stop doubting. I’m blessed if I believe without having seen you.

30 Jesus performed many other miracles that his disciples saw. Those miracles are not written in this book. 31 But these miracles have been written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that you will have life by believing in him.

20:30–31   I’ll study your signs and grow in faith. You’re the Messiah, the Son of God. And I have life by believing in you.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples Again

21

1 Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. This is what happened. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples of Jesus were together. 3 Simon Peter said to the others, “I’m going fishing.”

They told him, “We’re going with you.”

They went out in a boat but didn’t catch a thing that night. 4 As the sun was rising, Jesus stood on the shore. The disciples didn’t realize that it was Jesus.

5 Jesus asked them, “Friends, haven’t you caught any fish?”

They answered him, “No, we haven’t.”

6 He told them, “Throw the net out on the right side of the boat, and you’ll catch some.” So they threw the net out and were unable to pull it in because so many fish were in it.

7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put back on the clothes that he had taken off and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came with the boat and dragged the net full of fish. They weren’t far from the shore, only about 100 yards.

21:1–8   Your followers went back to making a living. What else were they supposed to do? But you won’t let me continue in the same old life.

9 When they went ashore, they saw a fire with a fish lying on the coals, and they saw a loaf of bread.

10 Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” 11 Simon Peter got into the boat and pulled the net ashore. Though the net was filled with 153 large fish, it was not torn.

12 Jesus told them, “Come, have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask him who he was. They knew he was the Lord. 13 Jesus took the bread, gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

14 This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had come back to life.

21:9–14   They didn’t dare ask questions. They knew it was you. Invite me to eat with you. Spread your feast before me.

Jesus Speaks with Peter

15 After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the other disciples do?”

Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Jesus asked him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus told him, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 Jesus asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter felt sad because Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” So Peter said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep. 18 I can guarantee this truth: When you were young, you would get ready to go where you wanted. But when you’re old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will get you ready to take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to show by what kind of death Peter would bring glory to God. After saying this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved. That disciple was following them. He was the one who leaned against Jesus’ chest at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus said to Peter, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you? Follow me!” 23 So a rumor that that disciple wouldn’t die spread among Jesus’ followers. But Jesus didn’t say that he wouldn’t die. What Jesus said was, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you?”

21:15–23   Put me back together when I disappoint you. I don’t even need to know what my future holds. I simply want to be sure you believe in me, because I know I believe in you.

24 This disciple was an eyewitness of these things and wrote them down. We know that what he says is true.

25 Jesus also did many other things. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the world wouldn’t have enough room for the books that would be written.

21:24–25   I trust your eyewitnesses. I trust that you’re everything you claim to be.

ACTS

INTRODUCTION

Acts tells the story of the first Christians. Part two of the history that began in the book of Luke, this book describes the birth and growth of the early church.

Acts begins with an account of Jesus’ instruction to his followers to await power from above. As his disciples watch, he dramatically ascends to heaven (Acts 1:9). Days later, tongues that look like fire come down on the believers, filling them with the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter seizes the occasion to preach about the crucified but risen Jesus. He tells a large crowd, “All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift” (Acts 2:38).

That day more than three thousand people accept Peter’s words about Jesus and join the community of believers, and Acts describes how the message continued to spread. As the story develops, the first Christians bravely face imprisonment and death for their faith. They struggle to make sense of how their new faith relates to old Jewish beliefs. They take the good news about Jesus throughout the known world, often with the apostle Paul at the lead. The book concludes with several chapters explaining how Paul preached about Jesus all the way to the highest levels of imperial power in Rome.

Praying the book of Acts challenges you to fresh faith in Jesus and inspires you to take the news about him to your world.

ACTS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10

11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20

21  | 22  | 23  | 24  | 25  | 26  | 27  | 28

Introduction

1

1 In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote about what Jesus began to do and teach. This included everything from the beginning ⌞of his life⌟ 2 until the day he was taken to heaven. Before he was taken to heaven, he gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles, whom he had chosen.

1:1–2   Without clarity on the facts, I can’t be sure of my faith. I’m glad for details.

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

3 After his death Jesus showed the apostles a lot of convincing evidence that he was alive. For 40 days he appeared to them and talked with them about the kingdom of God.

4 Once, while he was meeting with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised. Jesus said to them, “I’ve told you what the Father promises: 5 John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when the apostles came together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you’re going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 Jesus told them, “You don’t need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1:3–8   Abundant evidence convinces me you’re alive. And I’m part of your promise. You’ll baptize me with your Spirit and send me to the world to witness about you.

9 After he had said this, he was taken to heaven. A cloud hid him so that they could no longer see him.

10 They were staring into the sky as he departed. Suddenly, two men in white clothes stood near them. 11 They asked, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking at the sky? Jesus, who was taken from you to heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven.”

1:9–11   Did you really have to leave? How would things have been different had you stayed? And when will you come back?

A New Apostle Takes Judas’ Place

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives. It is near Jerusalem, about half a mile away.

13 When they came into the city, Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon the Zealot, and Judas (son of James) went to the second-story room where they were staying.

14 The apostles had a single purpose as they devoted themselves to prayer. They were joined by some women, including Mary (the mother of Jesus), and they were joined by his brothers.

1:12–14   I’m devoting myself to prayer with your people. Mold a single purpose in us.

15 At a time when about 120 disciples had gathered together, Peter got up and spoke to them.

He said, 16 “Brothers, what the Holy Spirit predicted through David in Scripture about Judas had to come true. Judas led the men to arrest Jesus. 17 He had been one of us and had been given an active role in this ministry. 18 With the money he received from the wrong he had done, he bought a piece of land where he fell headfirst to his death. His body split open, and all his internal organs came out. 19 Everyone living in Jerusalem knows about this. They even call that piece of land Akeldama, which means ‘Field of Blood’ in their dialect. 20 You’ve read in Psalms, ‘Let his home be deserted, and let no one live there,’ and ‘Let someone else take his position.’”

“Therefore, someone must be added to our number to serve with us as a witness that Jesus came back to life. 21 He must be one of the men who accompanied Jesus with us the entire time that the Lord Jesus was among us. 22 This person must have been with us from the time that John was baptizing people to the day that Jesus was taken from us.”[1]

23 The disciples determined that two men were qualified. These men were Joseph (who was called Barsabbas and was also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s thoughts. Show us which of these two you have chosen. 25 Show us who is to take the place of Judas as an apostle, since Judas abandoned his position to go to the place where he belongs.”

26 They drew names to choose an apostle. Matthias was chosen and joined the eleven apostles.

1:15–26   Judas kept every detail of your ancient words. You chose Matthias to testify you came back to life. Nothing hinders your plan.

The Believers Are Filled with the Holy Spirit

2

1 When Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Passover, came, all the believers were together in one place. 2 Suddenly, a sound like a violently blowing wind came from the sky and filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 Tongues that looked like fire appeared to them. The tongues arranged themselves so that one came to rest on each believer. 4 All the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

2:1–4   Put me in a place where your Spirit blows. I’ll wait with other believers for your fresh wind. We’ll watch for tongues of fire.

5 Devout Jewish men from every nation were living in Jerusalem. 6 They gathered when they heard the wind. Each person was startled to recognize his own dialect when the disciples spoke.

7 Stunned and amazed, the people in the crowd said, “All of these men who are speaking are Galileans. 8 Why do we hear them speaking in our native dialects? 9 We’re Parthians, Medes, and Elamites. We’re people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the country near Cyrene in Libya. We’re Jewish people, converts to Judaism, and visitors from Rome, 11 Crete, and Arabia. We hear these men in our own languages as they tell about the miracles that God has done.”

12 All of these devout men were stunned and puzzled. They asked each other, “What can this mean?” 13 Others said jokingly, “They’re drunk on sweet wine.”

2:5–13   Call people of every nation to yourself. Amaze them with the sound of your Spirit. Inform them of all the miracles you’ve done.

Peter Talks to the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. In a loud voice he said to them, “Men of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You must understand this, so pay attention to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning. 16 Rather, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:

17 ‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour my Spirit on everyone.

Your sons and daughters will speak what God has revealed.

Your young men will see visions.

Your old men will dream dreams.

18 In those days

I will pour my Spirit on my servants, on both men and women.

They will speak what God has revealed.

19 I will work miracles in the sky and give signs on the earth:

blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.

20 The sun will become dark,

and the moon will become as red as blood

before the terrifying day of the Lord comes.

21 Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

2:14–21   Let your Spirit overflow from your followers. Send visions and dreams, miracles and signs. Show everyone how they can be saved by calling on you.

22 “Men of Israel, listen to what I say: Jesus from Nazareth was a man whom God brought to your attention. You know that through this man God worked miracles, did amazing things, and gave signs. 23 By using men who don’t acknowledge Moses’ Teachings, you crucified Jesus, who was given over ⌞to death⌟ by a plan that God had determined in advance. 24 But God brought him from death back to life and destroyed the pains of death, because death had no power to hold him. 25 This is what David meant when he said about Jesus:

2:22–24   Your death was part of a predetermined plan. That same plan raised you to life. Death couldn’t keep you in the grave.

‘I always see the Lord in front of me.

I cannot be moved because he is by my side.

26 That is why my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices.

My body also rests securely

27 because you do not abandon my soul to the grave

or allow your holy one to decay.

28 You make the path of life known to me.

In your presence there is complete joy.’

29 “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that our ancestor David died and was buried and that his tomb is here to this day. 30 David was a prophet and knew that God had promised with an oath that he would place one of David’s descendants on his throne. 31 David knew that the Messiah would come back to life, and he spoke about that before it ever happened. He said that the Messiah wouldn’t be left in the grave and that his body wouldn’t decay.

2:25–31   David gazed into the future and saw you come back to life. The Messiah wouldn’t decay in the grave.

32 “God brought this man Jesus back to life. We are all witnesses to that. 33 God used his power to give Jesus the highest position. Jesus has also received and has poured out the Holy Spirit as the Father had promised, and this is what you’re seeing and hearing. 34 David didn’t go up to heaven, but he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Take my highest position of power

35 until I put your enemies under your control.” ’

2:32–35   Many can testify that you’re back from the dead. Now you’re seated in heaven’s highest position. You’re pouring out your Spirit.

36 “All the people of Israel should know beyond a doubt that God made Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 When the people heard this, they were deeply upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

2:36–37   I’m part of the crowd that crucified you, the Lord and Christ of all. I’ll act on my anguish before it fades.

38 Peter answered them, “All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. 39 This promise belongs to you and to your children and to everyone who is far away. It belongs to everyone who worships the Lord our God.”

2:38–39   I’ll turn to you and change how I think and act. I’ll say yes to your gifts of baptism and forgiveness and Spirit.

40 Peter said much more to warn them. He urged, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added ⌞to the group⌟.

2:40–41   Rescue people from this corrupt world. Add thousands and millions more to our group.

Life as a Christian

42 The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 A feeling of fear came over everyone as many amazing things and miraculous signs happened through the apostles. 44 All the believers kept meeting together, and they shared everything with each other. 45 From time to time, they sold their property and other possessions and distributed the money to anyone who needed it. 46 The believers had a single purpose and went to the temple every day. They were joyful and humble as they ate at each other’s homes and shared their food. 47 At the same time, they praised God and had the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord saved people, and they were added to the group.

2:42–47   I’ll devote myself to study and fellowship, to sharing and prayer. Keep showing your power. Continue saving people. Add to our group each day.

A Lame Man Is Healed

3

1 Peter and John were going to the temple courtyard for the three o’clock prayer. 2 At the same time, a man who had been lame from birth was being carried by some men. Every day these men would put the lame man at a gate in the temple courtyard. The gate was called Beautiful Gate. There he would beg for handouts from people going into the courtyard. 3 When the man saw that Peter and John were about to go into the courtyard, he asked them for a handout.

4 Peter and John stared at him. “Look at us!” Peter said. 5 So the man watched them closely. He expected to receive something from them. 6 However, Peter said to him, “I don’t have any money, but I’ll give you what I do have. Through the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, walk!” 7 Peter took hold of the man’s right hand and began to help him up. Immediately, the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 Springing to his feet, he stood up and started to walk. He went with Peter and John into the temple courtyard. The man was walking, jumping, and praising God.

3:1–8   You gave a lame beggar something far better than money. Your power made him spring to his feet. Remind me of reasons to jump up and praise you!

9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 They knew that he was the man who used to sit and beg at the temple’s Beautiful Gate. The people were amazed and stunned to see what had happened to him. 11 They were excited, and everyone ran to see them at the place called Solomon’s Porch. The man wouldn’t let go of Peter and John.

3:9–12   You stun the crowds with your life-changing power. Only you can make a lame man walk.

12 When Peter saw this, he said to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed about this man? Why are you staring at us as though we have made him walk by our own power or godly life? 13 The God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed Jesus over to Pilate. You rejected him in Pilate’s presence, even though Pilate had decided to let him go free. 14 You rejected the man who was holy and innocent. You asked to have a murderer given to you, 15 and you killed the source of life. But God brought him back to life, and we are witnesses to that. 16 We believe in the one named Jesus. Through his power alone this man, whom you know, was healed, as all of you saw.

3:13–16   The people cried for the death of the holy and innocent one. They killed their source of life. But you’re back from the dead.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that like your rulers you didn’t know what you were doing. 18 But in this way God made the sufferings of his Messiah come true. God had predicted these sufferings through all the prophets. 19 So change the way you think and act, and turn ⌞to God⌟ to have your sins removed. 20 Then times will come when the Lord will refresh you. He will send you Jesus, whom he has appointed to be the Christ. 21 Heaven must receive Jesus until the time when everything will be restored as God promised through his holy prophets long ago.

22 “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me. Listen to everything he tells you. 23 Those who won’t listen to that prophet will be excluded from the people.’ 24 Samuel and all the prophets who followed him spoke about these days. 25 You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs of the promise[2] that God made to our ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendant all people on earth will be blessed.’ 26 God has brought his servant back to life and has sent him to you first. God did this to bless you by turning every one of you from your evil ways.”

3:17–26   You suffered just as the prophets predicted. So now you call me to change how I think and act. Remove my sins and rescue me from all my evil ways.

Peter and John’s Trial in Front of the Jewish Council

4

1 Some priests, the officer in charge of the temple guards, and some Sadducees approached Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 These religious authorities were greatly annoyed. Peter and John were teaching the people and spreading the message that the dead will come back to life through Jesus. 3 So the temple guards arrested them. Since it was already evening, they put Peter and John in jail until the next day.

4 But many of those who had heard the message became believers, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.

4:1–4   The news that you bring the dead back to life infuriated the religious authorities. They put your messengers in jail.

5 The next day the Jewish rulers, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings met in Jerusalem. 6 The chief priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the rest of the chief priest’s family were present. 7 They made Peter and John stand in front of them and then asked, “By what power or in whose name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and leaders of the people, 9 today you are cross-examining us about the good we did for a crippled man. You want to know how he was made well. 10 You and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands in your presence with a healthy body because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified Jesus Christ, but God has brought him back to life. 11 He is the stone that the builders rejected, the stone that has become the cornerstone. 12 No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person.”

4:5–12   Power to heal comes only from you, the one crucified but back from the dead. No one else can save. People can be saved by you and no one else.

13 After they found out that Peter and John had no education or special training, they were surprised to see how boldly they spoke. They realized that these men had been with Jesus. 14 When they saw the man who was healed standing with Peter and John, they couldn’t say anything against the two apostles. 15 So they ordered Peter and John to leave the council room and began to discuss the matter among themselves. 16 They said, “What should we do to these men? Clearly, they’ve performed a miracle that everyone in Jerusalem knows about. We can’t deny that. 17 So let’s threaten them. Let’s tell them that they must never speak to anyone about the one named Jesus. Then the news about the miracle that they have performed will not spread any further among the people.”

4:13–17   The bold words of unschooled men surprised the religious rulers. No one could deny Peter and John had done a miracle by your power.

18 They called Peter and John and ordered them never to teach about Jesus or even mention his name.

19 Peter and John answered them, “Decide for yourselves whether God wants people to listen to you rather than to him. 20 We cannot stop talking about what we’ve seen and heard.”

21 The authorities threatened them even more and then let them go. Since all the people were praising God for what had happened, the authorities couldn’t find any way to punish Peter and John. 22 (The man who was healed by this miracle was over 40 years old.)

4:18–22   No one could make Peter and John quit talking about what they’d seen and heard. I want be like them—bold toward humans, accountable to you.

The Apostles Pray for God’s Help

23 When Peter and John were released, they went to the other apostles and told them everything the chief priests and leaders had said. 24 When the apostles heard this, they were united and loudly prayed to God, “Master, you made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them. 25 You said through the Holy Spirit, who spoke through your servant David (our ancestor),

‘Why do the nations act arrogantly?

Why do their people devise useless plots?

26 Kings take their stand.

Rulers make plans together

against the Lord and against his Messiah.’

27 “In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 Through your will and power, they did everything that you had already decided should be done.

4:23–28   Why do people devise useless plots? Why do rulers make plans against you? I can’t help but loudly praise you. You’re the master of everything!

29 “Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow us to speak your word boldly. 30 Show your power by healing, performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 When the apostles had finished praying, their meeting place shook. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God boldly.

4:29–31   Don’t overlook the threats I face. Work in me to speak your word boldly. Show your power by doing amazing things.

The Believers Share Their Property

32 The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify that the Lord Jesus had come back to life. ⌞God’s⌟ abundant good will[3] was with all of them. 34 None of them needed anything. From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money 35 to the apostles. Then the money was distributed to anyone who needed it.

36 Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means “a person who encourages.” 37 He had some land. He sold it and turned the money over to the apostles.

4:32–37   Give me power to match my declaration that you’ve come back to life. Fill me with your kindness, so I can be content with what I have. I’ll look after my needy brothers and sisters.

Ananias and Sapphira

5

1 A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property. 2 They agreed to hold back some of the money ⌞they had pledged⌟ and turned only part of it over to the apostles.

3 Peter asked, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you could deceive the Holy Spirit? You’ve held back some of the money you received for the land. 4 While you had the land, it was your own. After it was sold, you could have done as you pleased with the money. So how could you do a thing like this? You didn’t lie to people but to God!”

5 When Ananias heard Peter say this, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard about his death was terrified. 6 Some young men got up, wrapped his body in a sheet, carried him outside, and buried him.

5:1–6   I can’t deceive you. It’s not right to make you a promise and then take it back. You don’t tolerate lies!

7 About three hours later Ananias’ wife arrived. She didn’t know what had happened. 8 So Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for that price?”

She answered, “Yes, that was the price.”

9 Then Peter said to her, “How could you and your husband agree to test the Lord’s Spirit? Those who buried your husband are standing at the door, and they will carry you outside for burial.”

10 Immediately, she dropped dead in front of Peter. When the young men came back, they found Sapphira dead. So they carried her outside and buried her next to her husband. 11 The whole church and everyone else who heard about what had happened were terrified.

5:7–11   I won’t test you. I tremble at the thought of being on the wrong side of your judgment.

The Apostles Perform Many Miracles

12 The people saw the apostles perform many miracles and do amazing things. The believers had a common faith in Jesus as they met on Solomon’s Porch. 13 None of the other people dared to join them, although everyone spoke highly of them. 14 More men and women than ever began to believe in the Lord. 15 As a result, people carried their sick into the streets. They placed them on stretchers and cots so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some sick people as he went by. 16 Crowds from the cities around Jerusalem would gather. They would bring their sick and those who were troubled by evil spirits, and each person was cured.

5:12–16   Do amazing acts to prove your power. Unite me in a common faith with all your real followers. Bring more people than ever to believe in you.

The Apostles’ Trial in Front of the Jewish Council

17 The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action 18 by arresting the apostles and putting them in the city jail. 19 But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison. 20 The angel told them, “Stand in the temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life ⌞in Christ⌟.”

21 Early in the morning, after they had listened to the angel, the apostles went into the temple courtyard and began to teach.

The chief priest and those who were with him called together the Jewish council, that is, all the leaders of Israel. They also sent men to the prison to get the apostles. 22 When the temple guards arrived at the prison, they didn’t find the apostles. The guards came back and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors. However, when we opened the doors, we found no one inside.” 24 When the officer of the temple guards and the chief priests heard this, they were puzzled about what could have happened.

5:17–24   No one can imprison your message. You set your apostles free and told them to explain everything about true life in you.

25 Then someone told them, “The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courtyard. They’re teaching the people.”

26 Then the officer of the temple guards went with some of his men to bring back the apostles without using force. After all, the officer and his guards were afraid that the people would stone them to death for using force. 27 When they brought back the apostles, they made them stand in front of the council. The chief priest questioned them. 28 He said, “We gave you strict orders not to mention Jesus’ name when you teach. Yet, you’ve filled Jerusalem with your teachings. You want to take revenge on us for putting that man to death.”

29 Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 You murdered Jesus by hanging him on a cross. But the God of our ancestors brought him back to life. 31 God used his power to give Jesus the highest position as leader and savior. He did this to lead the people of Israel to him, to change the way they think and act, and to forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

5:25–32   You baffle your opponents and make your disciples bold. Shake me when I bow to anyone but you. Train me to tell everyone about you and your plan to forgive sin.

33 When the men on the council heard this, they became furious and wanted to execute the apostles. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up. He was a highly respected expert in Moses’ Teachings. He ordered that the apostles should be taken outside for a little while.

35 Then he said to the council, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you do with these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed that he was important, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were scattered. The whole movement was a failure.

37 “After that man, at the time of the census, Judas from Galilee appeared and led people in a revolt. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered.

38 “We should keep away from these men for now. We should leave them alone. I can guarantee that if the plan they put into action is of human origin, it will fail. 39 However, if it’s from God, you won’t be able to stop them. You may even discover that you’re fighting against God.”

5:33–39   The Good News is unstoppable, because it comes straight from you. It’s never smart to battle you.

40 The council took his advice. They called the apostles, beat them, ordered them not to speak about the one named Jesus, and let them go.

41 The apostles left the council room. They were happy to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for speaking about Jesus. 42 Every day in the temple courtyard and from house to house, they refused to stop teaching and telling the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah.

5:40–42   I’ll gladly suffer dishonor for speaking up about you. I won’t stop telling the Good News that you’re the Messiah.

The Disciples Choose Seven Men to Help the Apostles

6

1 At that time, as the number of disciples grew, Greek-speaking Jews complained about the Hebrew-speaking Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that the widows among them were neglected every day when food and other assistance was distributed.

2 The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, “It’s not right for us to give up God’s word in order to distribute food. 3 So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem. 4 However, we will devote ourselves to praying and to serving in ways that are related to the word.”

5 The suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, who was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, who had converted to Judaism in the city of Antioch. 6 The disciples had these men stand in front of the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on these seven men.

7 The word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew very large. A large number of priests accepted the faith.

6:1–7   Give your people wisdom to spread your word and meet practical needs. Raise up leaders full of faith and your Spirit.

Stephen Is Arrested

8 Stephen was a man filled with God’s favor[4] and power. He did amazing things and performed miracles. 9 ⌞One day⌟ some men from the cities of Cyrene and Alexandria and the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started an argument with Stephen. They belonged to a synagogue called Freedmen’s Synagogue. 10 They couldn’t argue with Stephen because he spoke with the wisdom that the Spirit had given him. 11 Then they bribed some men to lie.

These men said, “We heard him slander Moses and God.” 12 The liars stirred up trouble among the people, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. So they went to Stephen, took him by force, and brought him in front of the Jewish council. 13 Some witnesses stood up and lied about Stephen. They said, “This man never stops saying bad things about the holy place and Moses’ Teachings. 14 We heard him say that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy the temple and change the customs that Moses gave us.”

15 Everyone who sat in the council stared at him and saw that his face looked like an angel’s face.

6:8–15   No one could argue with the wisdom you spoke through Stephen. So they made up lies and seized him.

Stephen Speaks in His Own Defense

7

1 Then the chief priest asked Stephen, “Is this true?”

2 Stephen answered, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God who reveals his glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia. This happened before Abraham lived in Haran. 3 God told him, ‘Leave your land and your relatives. Go to the land that I will show you.’

4 “Then Abraham left the country of Chaldea and lived in the city of Haran. After his father died, God made him move from there to this land where we now live.

5 “Yet, God didn’t give Abraham anything in this land to call his own, not even a place to rest his feet. But God promised to give this land to him and to his descendants, even though Abraham didn’t have a child. 6 God told Abraham that his descendants would be foreigners living in another country and that the people there would make them slaves and mistreat them for 400 years. 7 God also told him, ‘I will punish the people whom they will serve. After that, they will leave that country and worship me here.’

8 “God gave Abraham circumcision to confirm his promise.[5] So when Abraham’s son Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him on the eighth day. Isaac did the same to his son Jacob, and Jacob did the same to his twelve sons (the ancestors of our tribes).

7:1–8   You commanded Abraham to leave his home and family and travel to a place he didn’t know. You promised land to Abraham and his children.

9 “Jacob’s sons were jealous of their brother Joseph. They sold him into slavery, and he was taken to Egypt. But God was with Joseph 10 and rescued him from all his suffering. When Joseph stood in the presence of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt), God gave Joseph divine favor[6] and wisdom so that he became ruler of Egypt and of Pharaoh’s whole palace. 11 Then a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan brought a lot of suffering. Our ancestors couldn’t find any food. 12 When Jacob heard that Egypt had food, he sent our ancestors there. That was their first trip. 13 On the second trip, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. 14 Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his relatives, 75 people in all. 15 So Jacob went to Egypt, and he and our ancestors died there. 16 They were taken to Shechem for burial in the tomb that Abraham purchased in Shechem from Hamor’s sons.

7:9–18   Joseph’s jealous brothers abandoned him to slavery, but you never left him. You rescued Joseph from all his suffering. You sent him to Egypt to save his family.

17 “When the time that God had promised to Abraham had almost come, the number of our people in Egypt had grown very large. 18 Then a different king, who knew nothing about Joseph, began to rule in Egypt. 19 This king was shrewd in the way he took advantage of our people. He mistreated our ancestors. He made them abandon their newborn babies outdoors, where they would die.

20 “At that time Moses was born, and he was a very beautiful child. His parents took care of him for three months. 21 When Moses was abandoned outdoors, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and raised him as her son. 22 So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a great man in what he said and did. 23 When he was 40 years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 24 When he saw an Israelite man being treated unfairly by an Egyptian, he defended the Israelite. He took revenge by killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought his own people would understand that God was going to use him to give them freedom. But they didn’t understand. 26 The next day Moses saw two Israelites fighting, and he tried to make peace between them. He said to them, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you treating each other unfairly?’

27 “But one of the men pushed Moses aside. He asked Moses, ‘Who made you our ruler and judge? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 After he said that, Moses quickly left Egypt and lived in Midian as a foreigner. In Midian he fathered two sons.

7:17–29   A king who knew nothing about Joseph forced your people to become slaves. You raised Moses in Pharaoh’s house, but he fled Egypt for Midian.

30 “Forty years later, a Messenger appeared to him in the flames of a burning bush in the desert of Mount Sinai. 31 Moses was surprised when he saw this. As he went closer to look at the bush, the voice of the Lord said to him, 32 ‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses began to tremble and didn’t dare to look at the bush. 33 The Lord told him, ‘Take off your sandals. The place where you’re standing is holy ground. 34 I’ve seen how my people are mistreated in Egypt. I’ve heard their groaning and have come to rescue them. So now I’m sending you to Egypt.’

7:30–34   You appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush and told him your name. You had a plan to rescue your people.

35 “This is the Moses whom the Israelites rejected by saying, ‘Who made you our ruler and judge?’ This is the one God sent to free them and to rule them with the help of the Messenger who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This is the man who led our ancestors out of Egypt. He is the person who did amazing things and worked miracles in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert for 40 years. 37 This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me.’ 38 This is the Moses who was in the assembly in the desert. Our ancestors and the Messenger who spoke to him on Mount Sinai were there with him. Moses received life-giving messages to give to us, 39 but our ancestors were not willing to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, ‘We don’t know what has happened to this Moses, who led us out of Egypt. So make gods who will lead us.’ 41 That was the time they made a calf. They offered a sacrifice to that false god and delighted in what they had made.

7:35–41   Your people pushed Moses aside and rebelled against you. They worshiped a false god.

42 “So God turned away from them and let them worship the sun, moon, and stars. This is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and grain offerings in the desert for 40 years, nation of Israel? 43 You carried along the shrine of Moloch, the star of the god Rephan, and the statues you made for yourselves to worship. I will send you into exile beyond the city of Babylon.’

7:42–43   You turned from your people. You let them chase false idols all the way into exile.

44 “In the desert our ancestors had the tent of God’s promise. Moses built this tent exactly as God had told him. He used the model he had seen. 45 After our ancestors received the tent, they brought it into this land. They did this with Joshua’s help when they took possession of the land from the nations that God forced out of our ancestors’ way. This tent remained here until the time of David, 46 who won God’s favor. David asked that he might provide a permanent place for the family of Jacob.[7] 47 But Solomon was the one who built a house for God.

48 “However, the Most High doesn’t live in a house built by humans, as the prophet says:

49 ‘The Lord says,

“Heaven is my throne.

The earth is my footstool.

What kind of house are you going to build for me?

Where will I rest?

50 Didn’t I make all these things?” ’

7:44–50   Moses built you a tent and Solomon constructed a house. But heaven is your throne and earth is your footstool.

51 “How stubborn can you be? How can you be so heartless and disobedient? You’re just like your ancestors. They always opposed the Holy Spirit, and so do you! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute? They killed those who predicted that a man with God’s approval would come. You have now become the people who betrayed and murdered that man. 53 You are the people who received Moses’ Teachings, which were put into effect by angels. But you haven’t obeyed those teachings.”

7:51–53   How can your people be so stubborn and heartless? They fought your Holy Spirit, killed your prophets, and murdered you on the cross.

Authentic Prayer

Acts 7:51–60

Forgiveness

While council members were executing Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, welcome my spirit.” Then he knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them.” After he had said this, he died. Acts 7:59–60

You can forgive others because God forgives you. Stephen is a hero, the first Christian martyr. But his power to forgive wasn’t his own.

The early church leaders chose Stephen to manage food distribution to poor widows among the Jerusalem believers. He was “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) who “did amazing things and performed miracles” (Acts 6:8). When religious opponents couldn’t answer his reasoning about Christ, they charged him with slandering God (Acts 6:9–14).

On trial before the ruling council, Stephen recites Israel’s history from Abraham to the crucifixion, blaming his opponents for murdering God’s Son. As he sees heaven open and Jesus reigning in glory, they drag him out of the city and stone him.

As Stephen dies, he echoes Jesus’ words from the cross (Luke 23:34), asking his Father to show mercy to his killers. If you want power to forgive others, start in prayer. Thank God for wiping away your own sins. Urge him to forgive your opponents. Then shout his mercy to others.

Pray the Scriptures Forgiveness: Psalm 103:8–12, Matthew 18:21–35, Luke 23:33–38, Colossians 3:12–14

Stephen Is Executed

54 As council members listened to Stephen, they became noticeably furious. 55 But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked into heaven, saw God’s glory, and Jesus in the position of authority that God gives. 56 So Stephen said, “Look, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man in the position of authority that God has given him!”

57 But the council members shouted and refused to listen. Then they rushed at Stephen with one purpose in mind, 58 and after they had thrown him out of the city, they began to stone him to death. The witnesses left their coats with a young man named Saul.

59 While council members were executing Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, welcome my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them.” After he had said this, he died.

7:54–60   Stephen made his accusers furious. When he saw heaven open wide—and you in the place of highest authority—they rushed him. They stoned him. Stephen knelt before you and died.

8

1 Saul approved of putting Stephen to death.

On that day widespread persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. Most believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

2 Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him.

3 Saul tried to destroy the church. He dragged men and women out of one home after another and threw them into prison.

8:1–3   Saul must have been smiling when Stephen died. Protect your church from hateful persecutors. Scatter us to accomplish your purpose.

Some Samaritans Become Believers

4 The believers who were scattered went from place to place, where they spread the word. 5 Philip went to the city of Samaria and told people about the Messiah. 6 The crowds paid close attention to what Philip said. They listened to him and saw the miracles that he performed. 7 Evil spirits screamed as they came out of the many people they had possessed. Many paralyzed and lame people were cured. 8 As a result, that city was extremely happy.

8:4–8   Believers spread your word wherever they fled. The Samaritan crowds listened to your word and witnessed your miracles. Make this world happy with your power.

9 A man named Simon lived in that city. He amazed the people of Samaria with his practice of magic. He claimed that he was great. 10 Everyone from children to adults paid attention to him. They said, “This man is the power of God, and that power is called great.” 11 They paid attention to Simon because he had amazed them for a long time with his practice of magic. 12 However, when Philip spread the Good News about the kingdom of God and the one named Jesus Christ, men and women believed him and were baptized. 13 Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized, he became devoted to Philip. Simon was amazed to see the miracles and impressive things that were happening.

8:9–13   Simon didn’t get his magic from you. Challenge spiritual fakes. Confront them with the reality of your kingdom—and of you.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (Before this the Holy Spirit had not come to any of the Samaritans. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit.

18 Simon saw that the Spirit was given to the Samaritans when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he offered Peter and John money 19 and said, “Give me this power so that anyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 Peter told Simon, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy God’s gift. 21 You won’t have any share in this because God can see how twisted your thinking is. 22 So change your wicked thoughts, and ask the Lord if he will forgive you for thinking like this. 23 I can see that you are bitter with jealousy and wrapped up in your evil ways.”

24 Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you said will happen to me.”

25 After they had boldly spoken about the message of the Lord, they spread the Good News in many Samaritan villages on their way back to Jerusalem.

8:14–25   Your Spirit isn’t for sale. Stop people who want to profit from your power. Have mercy when I try to manipulate you for my own benefit.

Philip Tells an Ethiopian about Jesus

26 An angel from the Lord said to Philip, “Get up, and take the desert road that goes south from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So Philip went.

An Ethiopian man who had come to Jerusalem to worship was on his way home. The man was a eunuch, a high-ranking official in charge of all the treasures of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. 28 As the official rode along in his carriage, he was reading the prophet Isaiah out loud.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that carriage, and stay close to it.”

30 Philip ran to the carriage and could hear the official reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

31 The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to sit with him in his carriage.

8:26–31   I can’t understand Scripture without help. Educate me as I study your word on my own and with others.

32 This was the part of the Scriptures that the official was reading:

“He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

He was like a sheep that is silent

when its wool is cut off.

He didn’t open his mouth.

33 When he humbled himself,

he was not judged fairly.

Who from his generation

will talk about his life on earth being cut short?”

34 The official said to Philip, “I would like to know who the prophet is talking about. Is he talking about himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip spoke. Starting with that passage, Philip told the official the Good News about Jesus.

36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The official said to Philip, “Look, there’s some water. What can keep me from being baptized?”[8] 38 The official ordered the carriage to stop. He and Philip stepped into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they had stepped out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official joyfully continued on his way and didn’t see Philip again.

40 Philip found himself in the city of Azotus. He traveled through all the cities and spread the Good News until he came to the city of Caesarea.

8:32–40   You went to the cross like a lamb led to slaughter. You’re Good News for the whole world. I won’t let anything stand in the way of my belief and baptism.

Saul Becomes a Follower of Jesus

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1 Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest 2 and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟ and imprison them in Jerusalem.

3 As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

9:1–4   Saul threatened to murder anyone who followed your way. But your heavenly light blinded him. You put a stop to his misguided zeal.

5 Saul asked, “Who are you, sir?”

The person replied, “I’m Jesus, the one you’re persecuting. 6 Get up! Go into the city, and you’ll be told what you should do.”

7 Meanwhile, the men traveling with him were speechless. They heard the voice but didn’t see anyone.

8 Saul was helped up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. So his companions led him into Damascus. 9 For three days he couldn’t see and didn’t eat or drink.

9:5–9   You felt your people’s pain. You’re actually the one Saul persecuted.

10 A disciple named Ananias lived in the city of Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

Ananias answered, “Yes, Lord.”

11 The Lord told him, “Get up! Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He’s praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13 Ananias replied, “Lord, I’ve heard a lot of people tell about the many evil things this man has done to your people in Jerusalem. 14 Saul has come here to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to put anyone who calls on your name in prison.”

15 The Lord told Ananias, “Go! I’ve chosen this man to bring my name to nations, to kings, and to the people of Israel. 16 I’ll show him how much he has to suffer for the sake of my name.”

9:10–16   You chose a man with an evil reputation to take your story to the nations. You know from the start how much I’ll suffer for the sake of your name.

17 Ananias left and entered Judas’ house. After he placed his hands on Saul, Ananias said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way to Damascus, sent me to you. He wants you to see again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 Immediately, something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. Then Saul stood up and was baptized. 19 After he had something to eat, his strength came back to him.

9:17–19   Make me like Ananias, daring enough to do your will. Send me wherever you want me to go.

Saul was with the disciples in the city of Damascus for several days. 20 He immediately began to spread the word in their synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. 21 Everyone who heard him was amazed. They asked, “Isn’t this the man who destroyed those who worshiped the one named Jesus in Jerusalem? Didn’t he come here to take these worshipers as prisoners to the chief priests ⌞in Jerusalem⌟?”

22 Saul grew more powerful, and he confused the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. 23 Later the Jews planned to murder Saul, 24 but Saul was told about their plot. They were watching the city gates day and night in order to murder him. 25 However, Saul’s disciples lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall one night.

9:20–25   You transformed your violent persecutor into your most fearless messenger. You amaze me every time you save a sinner.

26 After Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But everyone was afraid of him. They wouldn’t believe that he was a disciple.

27 Then Barnabas took an interest in Saul and brought him to the apostles. Barnabas told the apostles how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also told them how boldly Saul had spoken about the one named Jesus in the city of Damascus. 28 Then Saul went throughout Jerusalem with the disciples. He spoke boldly with the power and authority of the Lord.

29 He talked and argued with Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 As soon as the disciples found out about this, they took Saul to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace. The number of people increased as people lived in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

9:26–31   Your disciples weren’t naive. They checked out Saul’s story. Let me speak with your kind of power and authority.

Peter Heals Aeneas

32 When Peter was going around to all of God’s people, he came to those who lived in the city of Lydda. 33 In Lydda Peter found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and confined to a cot for eight years.

34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up, and pick up your cot.” Aeneas immediately got up.

35 Everyone who lived in the city of Lydda and the coastal region of Sharon saw what had happened to Aeneas and turned to the Lord in faith.

9:32–35   Raise me up when I can’t move. You’re the one who makes me well.

Peter Brings Tabitha Back to Life

36 A disciple named Tabitha lived in the city of Joppa. Her Greek name was Dorcas. She always helped people and gave things to the poor. 37 She became sick and died. Her body was prepared for burial and was laid in an upstairs room.

38 Lydda is near the city of Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him. They begged Peter, “Hurry to Joppa! We need your help!”

39 So Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs. All the widows stood around him. They were crying and showing Peter the articles of clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter made everyone leave the room.

He knelt and prayed. Then he turned toward the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!”

Tabitha opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 Peter took her hand and helped her stand up. After he called the believers, especially the widows, he presented Tabitha to them. She was alive.

42 The news about this spread throughout the city of Joppa, and as a result, many people believed in the Lord.

43 Peter stayed in Joppa for a number of days with Simon, a leatherworker.

9:36–43   Bring me back to life when I’m as good as dead. I have your work to do. I don’t want to stop helping people and caring for the poor.

Cornelius Has a Vision

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1 A man named Cornelius lived in the city of Caesarea. He was a Roman army officer in the Italian Regiment. 2 He and everyone in his home were devout and respected God. Cornelius gave many gifts to poor Jewish people and always prayed to God.

3 One day, about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He clearly saw an angel from God come to him and say, “Cornelius!”

4 He stared at the angel and was terrified. Cornelius asked the angel, “What do you want, sir?”

The angel answered him, “God is aware of your prayers and your gifts to the poor, and he has remembered you. 5 Send messengers now to the city of Joppa, and summon a man whose name is Simon Peter. 6 He is a guest of Simon, a leatherworker, whose house is by the sea.”

7 After saying this, the angel left. Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of those who served him regularly. 8 Cornelius explained everything to them and sent them to Joppa.

10:1–8   I want to be known for living in awe of you. Give me your clear instructions. Teach me to obey you immediately and unconditionally.

Peter Has a Vision

9 Around noon the next day, while Cornelius’ men were on their way and coming close to Joppa, Peter went on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat. While the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open and something like a large linen sheet being lowered by its four corners to the ground. 12 In the sheet were all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds.

13 A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill these animals, and eat them.”

14 Peter answered, “I can’t do that, Lord! I’ve never eaten anything that is impure or unclean.”[9]

15 A voice spoke to him a second time, “Don’t say that the things which God has made clean[10] are impure.”

16 This happened three times. Then the sheet was quickly taken into the sky.

10:9–16   You challenge my old understandings of right and wrong. You show me how to live in real purity. You keep at me until I get your point.

17 While Peter was puzzled by the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and went to the gate. 18 They asked if Simon Peter was staying there. 19 Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit said to him, “Three men are looking for you. 20 Get up, and go downstairs. Don’t hesitate to go with these men. I have sent them.”

21 So Peter went to the men. He said, “I’m the man you’re looking for. Why are you here?”

22 The men replied, “Cornelius, a Roman army officer, sent us. He’s a man who has God’s approval and who respects God. Also, the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to summon you to his home to hear what you have to say.”

23 Peter asked the men to come into the house and had them stay overnight.

10:17–23   I won’t give up on your teachings. I’ll puzzle out what they mean. Challenge me like you did Peter.

Peter Speaks with Cornelius

The next day Peter left with them. Some disciples from Joppa went along. 24 The following day they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together.

25 When Peter was about to enter Cornelius’ house, Cornelius met him, bowed down, and worshiped Peter. 26 But Peter made him get up. He told him, “Stand up! I’m only a man.”

27 As Peter talked, he entered Cornelius’ house and found that many people had gathered. 28 He said to them, “You understand how wrong it is for a Jewish man to associate or visit with anyone of another race. But God has shown me that I should no longer call anyone impure or unclean. 29 That is why I didn’t object to coming here when you sent for me. I want to know why you sent for me.”

10:24–29   No person or race is impure or unclean. I’m sinning if I avoid associating with people who aren’t just like me.

30 Cornelius answered, “Four days ago I was praying at home. It was at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man dressed in radiant clothes stood in front of me. 31 He said to me, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and has remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 So send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man whose name is Simon Peter. He’s a guest in the home of Simon, a leatherworker who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately. Thank you for coming. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say.”

34 Then Peter said, “Now I understand that God doesn’t play favorites. 35 Rather, whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation. 36 God sent his word to the people of Israel and brought them the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is everyone’s Lord. 37 You know what happened throughout Judea. Everything began in Galilee after John spread the news about baptism. 38 You know that God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went everywhere and did good things, such as healing everyone who was under the devil’s power. Jesus did these things because God was with him. 39 We can testify to everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. People hung him on a cross and killed him, 40 but God brought him back to life on the third day. God didn’t show him 41 to all the people. He showed Jesus to witnesses, apostles he had already chosen. We apostles are those men who ate and drank with Jesus after he came back to life. 42 He ordered us to warn the people, ‘God has appointed Jesus to judge the living and the dead.’ 43 In addition, all the prophets testify that people who believe in the one named Jesus receive forgiveness for their sins through him.”

10:30–43   You don’t play favorites. Whoever respects you and does right is acceptable to you, no matter who they are or where they come from. Everyone who believes in you receives forgiveness.

44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came to everyone who heard his message. 45 All the believers who were circumcised and who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured on people who were not Jewish. 46 They heard these non-Jewish people speaking in other languages and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “No one can refuse to baptize these people with water. They have received the Holy Spirit in the same way that we did.” 48 So Peter ordered that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Then they asked Peter to stay with them for several days.

10:44–48   Send your Spirit on your people everywhere. Don’t hold anything back.

Peter Reports That Non-Jewish People Can Belong to the Church

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1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that people who were not Jewish had accepted God’s word. 2 However, when Peter went to Jerusalem, the believers who insisted on circumcision began to argue with him. 3 They said, “You went to visit men who were uncircumcised, and you even ate with them.”

4 Then Peter began to explain to them point by point what had happened. He said, 5 “I was praying in the city of Joppa when I fell into a trance. I saw something like a large linen sheet being lowered by its four corners from the sky. The sheet came near me. 6 I looked into the sheet very closely and saw tame animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds. 7 I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill these animals, and eat them.’

8 “But I answered, ‘I can’t do that, Lord! I’ve never put anything impure or unclean[11] into my mouth.’

9 “A voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Don’t say that the things which God has made clean[12] are impure.’ 10 This happened three times. Then everything was pulled back into the sky again.

11:1–10   You welcome non-Jews into your kingdom. You convince them of your word and make them part of your people. You purify every unclean thing.

11 “At that moment three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent from Caesarea to find me. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them without any hesitation. Six believers ⌞from Joppa⌟ went with me, and we visited Cornelius’ home.

13 “He told us that he had seen an angel standing in his home. The angel told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man whose name is Simon Peter. 14 He will give you a message that will save you and everyone in your home.’

15 “When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came to these people. This was the same thing that happened to us in the beginning. 16 I remembered that the Lord had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.’ 17 When they believed, God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So who was I to interfere with God?”

18 When the others heard this, they had no further objections. They praised God by saying, “Then God has also led people who are not Jewish to turn to him so that they can change the way they think and act and have eternal life.”

11:11–18   You call people who aren’t Jewish to turn to you. You urge them to change how they think and act. You give eternal life to everyone who believes.

The New Church in Antioch

19 Some of the believers who were scattered by the trouble that broke out following Stephen’s death went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and the city of Antioch. They spoke God’s word only to Jewish people. 20 But other believers, who were from Cyprus and Cyrene, arrived in Antioch. They started to spread the Good News about the Lord Jesus to Greeks. 21 The Lord’s power was with his followers, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22 After the news about Antioch reached the church in Jerusalem, Barnabas was sent to Antioch. 23 When he arrived there, he was pleased to see what God had done for them out of kindness.[13] So he encouraged all the people to remain solidly committed to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a dependable man, and he was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. A large crowd believed in the Lord.

11:19–24   Your kindness motivates every one of your actions. So give power to your people, no matter who they are or where they come from. Encourage us to remain solidly committed to you.

25 Then Barnabas left Antioch to go to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 After finding Saul, Barnabas brought him back to Antioch. Barnabas and Saul met with the church in Antioch for a whole year and taught a large group of people. The disciples were called Christians for the first time in the city of Antioch.

27 At that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to the city of Antioch. 28 One of them was named Agabus. Through the Spirit Agabus predicted that a severe famine would affect the entire world. This happened while Claudius was emperor. 29 All the disciples in Antioch decided to contribute whatever they could afford to help the believers living in Judea. 30 The disciples did this and sent their contribution with Barnabas and Saul to the leaders ⌞in Jerusalem⌟.

11:25–30   Bring us teachers. Show us where and how to help other believers. We’re happy to be known by your name.

An Angel Frees Peter from Prison

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1 About that time King Herod devoted his attention to mistreating certain members of the church. 2 He had James, the brother of John, executed. 3 When he saw how this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter too. This happened during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 After capturing Peter, Herod had him thrown into prison with sixteen soldiers in squads of four to guard him. Herod wanted to bring Peter to trial in front of the people after Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying very hard to God for him.

12:1–5   Herod tried to win even more applause by arresting Peter. But your church prayed hard you would use him in jail.

6 The night before Herod was going to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. His hands were bound with two chains, and guards were in front of the door. They were watching the prison.

7 Suddenly, an angel from the Lord stood near Peter, and his cell was filled with light. The angel nudged Peter’s side, woke him up, and said, “Hurry! Get up!” At that moment the chains fell from Peter’s hands.

8 The angel told him, “Put your shoes on, and get ready to go!” Peter did this. Then the angel told him, “Put your coat on, and follow me.”

9 Peter followed the angel out of the cell. He didn’t realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guardposts and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This gate opened by itself for them, so they went outside and up the street. The angel suddenly left Peter.

12:6–10   An angel nudged Peter awake and broke his chains. No one can imprison your message.

11 When Peter came to his senses, he said, “Now I’m sure that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish people are expecting to happen to me.”

12 When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered at her home and were praying. 13 Peter knocked on the door of the entryway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so happy that instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and reported, “Peter is standing at the door!”

15 The people told her, “You’re crazy!” But she insisted that Peter was at the door. They said, “It has to be his angel.”

16 But Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door, they were shocked to see him. 17 Peter motioned with his hand to quiet them down and told them how the Lord had taken him out of prison. He added, “Tell James and the other believers about this.” Then he left and went somewhere else.

18 In the morning the soldiers were in an uproar over what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod searched for Peter but couldn’t find him. So he questioned the guards and gave orders to have them executed.

12:11–19   Peter had to come to his senses, and Rhoda was beyond giddy. Yet Peter’s escape was real. Your power is great.

Herod’s Death

Then Herod left Judea and went to Caesarea, where he stayed for a while.

20 Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They were going to meet with Herod. They had agreed on what they wanted to do: They enlisted the help of Blastus to ask Herod for terms of peace. This was because their cities depended on Herod for their food supply. (Blastus was in charge of the king’s living quarters.)

21 The appointed day came. Herod, wearing his royal clothes, sat on his throne and began making a speech to them. 22 The people started shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”

23 Immediately, an angel from the Lord killed Herod for not giving glory to God. Herod was eaten by maggots, and he died.

24 But God’s word continued to spread and win many followers.

Barnabas and Saul Travel to Cyprus

25 After Barnabas and Saul delivered the contribution ⌞to the leaders in Jerusalem⌟, they returned ⌞to Antioch⌟ from Jerusalem. They brought John Mark with them.

12:20–25   You strike down rulers who refuse to worship you. And your word can’t be stopped.

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1 Barnabas, Simeon (called the Black), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (a close friend of Herod since childhood), and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch.

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me. I want them to do the work for which I called them.” 3 After fasting and praying, Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and released them ⌞from their work in Antioch⌟.

4 After Barnabas and Saul were sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to the city of Seleucia and from there sailed to the island of Cyprus. 5 Arriving in the city of Salamis, they began to spread God’s word in the synagogues. John Mark had gone along to help them. 6 They went through the whole island as far as the city of Paphos.

13:1–6   You chose Barnabas and Saul to spread your word. Show me where and when I can best talk about you.

In Paphos they met a Jewish man named Barjesus. He was an astrologer who claimed to be a prophet. 7 He was associated with an intelligent man, Sergius Paulus, who was the governor of the island. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 Elymas, whose name means astrologer, opposed them and tried to distort the meaning of the faith so that the governor wouldn’t believe.

9 But Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He stared at Elymas 10 and said, “You are full of dirty tricks and schemes, you son of the devil! You hate everything that has God’s approval. Quit trying to distort the truth about the way the Lord wants people to live. 11 The Lord is against you now. For a while you will be blind, unable to see the light of day.”

Suddenly, Elymas couldn’t see a thing. He tried to find people to lead him. 12 When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. The Lord’s teachings amazed him.

13:7–12   Stop the devil’s dirty tricks. Silence people who distort how you want people to live. Cause people to believe.

Paul and Barnabas Go to Antioch Near Pisidia

13 Paul and his men took a ship from Paphos and arrived in Perga, a city in Pamphylia. John Mark deserted them there and went back to Jerusalem. 14 Paul and Barnabas left Perga and arrived in Antioch, a city near Pisidia. On the day of worship they went into the synagogue and sat down.

15 After reading from Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent ⌞a message⌟ to Paul and Barnabas. The message said, “Brothers, if you have any words of encouragement for the people, feel free to speak.”

16 Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Men of Israel and converts to Judaism, listen to me. 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors and made them a strong nation while they lived as foreigners in Egypt. He used his powerful arm to bring them out of Egypt, 18 and he put up with them for about forty years in the desert. 19 Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as an inheritance. 20 He did all this in about four hundred and fifty years.

“After that he gave his people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.

21 “Then the people demanded a king, so God gave them Saul, son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years 22 God removed Saul and made David their king. God spoke favorably about David. He said, ‘I have found that David, son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

23 “God had the Savior, Jesus, come to Israel from David’s descendants, as he had promised. 24 Before Jesus began his ministry, John ⌞the Baptizer⌟ told everyone in Israel about the baptism of repentance.[14] 25 When John was finishing his work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the person you’re looking for. He will come later. I’m not even good enough to untie his sandals.’

13:13–25   You’re the Savior who came to your people. You’re the fulfillment of God’s long-term plan.

26 “Brothers—descendants of Abraham and converts to Judaism—the message that God saves people was sent to us. 27 The people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers didn’t know who Jesus was. They didn’t understand the prophets’ messages, which are read every day of worship. So they condemned Jesus and fulfilled what the prophets had said. 28 Although they couldn’t find any good reason to kill him, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had finished doing everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God brought him back to life, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come with him to Jerusalem from Galilee. These people are now witnesses and are testifying to the Jewish people about him. 32 We are telling you the Good News: What God promised our ancestors has happened. 33 God has fulfilled the promise for us, their descendants, by bringing Jesus back to life. This is what Scripture says in the second psalm:

‘You are my Son.

Today I have become your Father.’

34 “God stated that he brought Jesus back to life and that Jesus’ body never decayed. He said, ‘I will give you the enduring love promised to David.’ 35 Another psalm says, ‘You will not allow your holy one to decay.’ 36 After doing God’s will by serving the people of his time, David died. He was laid to rest with his ancestors, but his body decayed. 37 However, the man God brought back to life had a body that didn’t decay.

13:26–37   You’re the one who saves. You died on the cross and came back to life. Your witnesses spread out to tell your Good News. And you make every promise come true.

38 “So, brothers, I’m telling you that through Jesus your sins can be forgiven. Sins kept you from receiving God’s approval through Moses’ Teachings. 39 However, everyone who believes in Jesus receives God’s approval.

40 “Be careful, or what the prophets said may happen to you.

41 ‘Look, you mockers!

Be amazed and die!

I am going to do something in your days

that you would not believe even if it were reported to you!’”

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak on the same subject the next day of worship. 43 When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas talked with them and were persuading them to continue trusting God’s good will.[15]

13:38–43   I won’t mock the message that through you every sin can be forgiven. Keep me hungry for more of your word.

44 On the next day of worship, almost the whole city gathered to hear the Lord’s word. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They used insulting language to contradict whatever Paul said.

46 Paul and Barnabas told them boldly, “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject the word and consider yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, we are now going to turn to people of other nations. 47 The Lord gave us the following order:

‘I have made you a light for the nations

so that you would save people all over the world.’”

13:44–47   People get jealous when you get all the attention. They hurl insults to contradict your word. But you’re a light for the nations.

48 The people who were not Jews were pleased with what they heard and praised the Lord’s word. Everyone who had been prepared for everlasting life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread throughout the whole region. 50 But Jews stirred up devout women of high social standing and the officials of the city. These people started to persecute Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their territory.

51 In protest against these people, Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet and went to the city of Iconium. 52 Meanwhile, the disciples ⌞in Antioch⌟ continued to be full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

13:48–52   Save people all over the world. Let everyone praise you. Teach your people to persevere.

Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

14

1 The same thing happened in the city of Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large crowd of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up some people who were not Jewish and poisoned their minds against the believers. 3 Paul and Barnabas stayed in the city of Iconium for a long time. They spoke boldly about the Lord, who confirmed their message about his good will[16] by having them perform miracles and do amazing things. 4 But the people of Iconium were divided. Some were for the Jews, while others were for the apostles.

5 In the meantime, Paul and Barnabas found out that the non-Jewish people and the Jewish people with their rulers planned to attack them and stone them to death. 6 So they escaped to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding territory. 7 They spread the Good News there.

14:1–7   Don’t let poison seep into attitudes toward your Church. Warn us when death looms, and we’ll spread your Good News somewhere else.

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra

8 A man who was born lame was in Lystra. He was always sitting because he had never been able to walk. 9 He listened to what Paul was saying. Paul observed him closely and saw that the man believed he could be made well. 10 So Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up.” The man jumped up and began to walk.

11 The crowds who saw what Paul had done shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come to us, and they look human.” 12 They addressed Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes because Paul did most of the talking. 13 Zeus’ temple was at the entrance to the city. The priest of the god Zeus brought bulls with flowery wreaths around their necks to the temple gates. The priest and the crowd wanted to offer a sacrifice ⌞to Paul and Barnabas⌟.

14:8–13   You’re the one and only God. You’re the source of your people’s power.

14 When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they were very upset. They rushed into the crowd 15 and said, “Men, what are you doing? We’re human beings like you. We’re spreading the Good News to you to turn you away from these worthless gods to the living God. The living God made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past God allowed all people to live as they pleased. 17 Yet, by doing good, he has given evidence of his existence. He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. He fills you with food and your lives with happiness.” 18 Although Paul and Barnabas said these things, they hardly kept the crowd from sacrificing to them.

14:14–16   Teach people to walk away from worthless gods. Let them discover the one who made sky, land, and sea.

19 However, Jews from the cities of Antioch and Iconium arrived in Lystra and won the people over. They tried to stone Paul to death and dragged him out of the city when they thought that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.

14:17–20   Your goodness gives evidence of your existence. You fill our stomachs with food and our lives with happiness.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

The next day Paul and Barnabas left for the city of Derbe. 21 They spread the Good News in that city and won many disciples. Then they went back to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (which is in Pisidia). 22 They strengthened the disciples in these cities and encouraged the disciples to remain faithful. Paul and Barnabas told them, “We must suffer a lot to enter the kingdom of God.” 23 They had the disciples in each church choose spiritual leaders,[17] and with prayer and fasting they entrusted the leaders to the Lord in whom they believed.

24 After they had gone through Pisidia, they went to Pamphylia. 25 They spoke the message in the city of Perga and went to the city of Attalia. 26 From Attalia they took a boat and headed home to the city of Antioch ⌞in Syria⌟. (In Antioch they had been entrusted to God’s care[18] for the work they had now finished.) 27 When they arrived, they called the members of the church together. They reported everything God had done through them, especially that he had given people who were not Jewish the opportunity to believe. 28 They stayed for a long time with these disciples.

14:21–28   I long to see your Good News win more disciples. I ache for your followers to stay faithful in suffering. I’ll fast and pray for spiritual leaders.

Controversy about Moses’ Teachings

15

1 Some men came from Judea and started to teach believers that people can’t be saved unless they are circumcised as Moses’ Teachings require. 2 Paul and Barnabas had a fierce dispute with these men. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were sent to Jerusalem to see the apostles and spiritual leaders[19] about this claim.

3 The church sent Paul and Barnabas ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. As they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of how non-Jewish people were turning to God. This story brought great joy to all the believers.

4 The church in Jerusalem, the apostles, and the spiritual leaders welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they arrived. Paul and Barnabas reported everything that God had done through them. 5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “People who are not Jewish must be circumcised and ordered to follow Moses’ Teachings.”

15:1–5   You don’t require us to follow ancient rules to be saved. It’s a point worth standing up for.

6 The apostles and spiritual leaders met to consider this statement. 7 After a lot of debating, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know what happened some time ago. God chose me so that people who aren’t Jewish could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God, who knows everyone’s thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren’t Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us. 9 God doesn’t discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people. He has cleansed non-Jewish people through faith as he has cleansed us Jews. 10 So why are you testing God? You’re putting a burden on the disciples, a burden neither our ancestors nor we can carry. 11 We certainly believe that the Lord Jesus saves us the same way that he saves them—through his kindness.”[20]

15:6–11   You choose people who aren’t Jewish to hear your Good News and believe. You don’t discriminate between peoples or races. You save everyone through your kindness.

12 The whole crowd was silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the miracles and amazing things that God had done through them among non-Jewish people.

13 After they finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has explained how God first showed his concern by taking from non-Jewish people those who would honor his name. 15 This agrees with what the prophets said. Scripture says,

16 ‘Afterwards, I will return.

I will set up David’s fallen tent again.

I will restore its ruined places again.

I will set it up again

17 so that the survivors and all the people who aren’t Jewish

over whom my name is spoken,

may search for the Lord, declares the Lord.

18 He is the one who will do these things that have always been known!’

15:12–18   You want everyone on earth to search for you, no matter who they are or where they came from. You’ve always said this.

19 “So I’ve decided that we shouldn’t trouble non-Jewish people who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter telling them to keep away from things polluted by false gods, from sexual sins, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from eating bloody meat. 21 After all, Moses’ words have been spread to every city for generations. His teachings are read in synagogues on every day of worship.”

22 Then the apostles, the spiritual leaders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to the city of Antioch. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, who were leaders among the believers. 23 They wrote this letter for them to deliver:

From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers.

To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

Dear brothers and sisters,

24 We have heard that some individuals who came from us have confused you with statements that disturb you. We did not authorize these men ⌞to speak⌟. 25 So we have come to a unanimous decision that we should choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul. 26 Barnabas and Paul have dedicated their lives to our Lord, the one named Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent Judas and Silas to report to you on our decision. 28 The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to place any additional burdens on you. Do only what is necessary 29 by keeping away from food sacrificed to false gods, from eating bloody meat, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sins. If you avoid these things, you will be doing what’s right.

15:19–29   Clear up our confusion. Show us what it means to do well. Teach us the difference between real purity and unnecessary rules.

Farewell!

30 So the men were sent on their way and arrived in the city of Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. 31 When the people read the letter, they were pleased with the encouragement it brought them. 32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, spoke a long time to encourage and strengthen the believers.

33 After Judas and Silas had stayed in Antioch for some time, the congregation sent them back to Jerusalem with friendly greetings to those who had sent them.[21] 35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught people about the Lord’s word and spread the Good News.

15:28–35   I want to experience the lightness of true obedience. Encourage me through your word. Equip to spread your Good News.

Paul and Barnabas Disagree

36 After a while Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back to every city where we spread the Lord’s word. We’ll visit the believers to see how they’re doing.”

37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along. 38 However, Paul didn’t think it was right to take a person like him along. John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to work. 39 Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to the island of Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas and left after the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s care.[22]

41 Paul went through the provinces of Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches.

15:36–41   You’re in charge of me and my spiritual partners. Show us your will for our work. Spare us from unnecessary division.

Timothy Joins Paul in Lystra

16

1 Paul arrived in the city of Derbe and then went to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived. Timothy’s mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was Greek. 2 The believers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him. So he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in those places and because he knew that Timothy’s father was Greek.

4 As they went through the cities, they told people about the decisions that the apostles and spiritual leaders[23] in Jerusalem had made for the people. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew in numbers every day.

Paul Has a Vision

6 Paul and Silas went through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit kept them from speaking the word in the province of Asia. 7 They went to the province of Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t allow this. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went to the city of Troas.

9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia. The man urged Paul, “Come to Macedonia to help us.”

10 As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we immediately looked for a way to go to Macedonia. We concluded that God had called us to tell the people of Macedonia about the Good News.

16:1–10   Strengthen your church in faith. Add to our numbers every day. Send us exactly where you want us to go. We’ll spread your Good News.

Paul and Silas in Philippi

11 So we took a ship from Troas and sailed straight to the island of Samothrace. The next day we sailed to the city of Neapolis, 12 and from there we went to the city of Philippi. Philippi is a leading city in that part of Macedonia, and it is a Roman colony. We were in this city for a number of days.

13 On the day of worship we went out of the city to a place along the river where we thought Jewish people gathered for prayer. We sat down and began talking to the women who had gathered there. 14 A woman named Lydia was present. She was a convert to Judaism from the city of Thyatira and sold purple dye for a living. She was listening because the Lord made her willing to pay attention to what Paul said. 15 When Lydia and her family were baptized, she invited us to stay at her home. She said, “If you’re convinced that I believe in the Lord, then stay at my home.” She insisted. So we did.

16:11–15   Make people willing to pay attention to your word. Give them a convincing faith.

16 One day when we were going to the place of prayer, a female servant met us. She was possessed by an evil spirit that told fortunes. She made a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. 17 She used to follow Paul and shout, “These men are servants of the Most High God. They’re telling you how you can be saved.” 18 She kept doing this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned to the evil spirit, and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!”

16:16–18   Even demons know the truth about you. You’re the only way to be saved.

As Paul said this, the evil spirit left her. 19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the public square. 20 In front of the Roman officials, they said, “These men are stirring up a lot of trouble in our city. They’re Jews, 21 and they’re advocating customs that we can’t accept or practice as Roman citizens.”

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered ⌞the guards⌟ to beat them with sticks. 23 After they had hit Paul and Silas many times, they threw them in jail and ordered the jailer to keep them under tight security. 24 So the jailer followed these orders and put Paul and Silas into solitary confinement with their feet in leg irons.

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the jail. All the doors immediately flew open, and all the prisoners’ chains came loose.

16:19–25   Even after being stripped, beaten, and thrown in solitary confinement, Paul and Silas worshiped you. Other prisoners listened.

27 The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open. Thinking the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted as loudly as he could, “Don’t hurt yourself! We’re all here!”

16:26–28   You shook the jail and set the prisoners free. And you spared the jailer’s life.

29 The jailer asked for torches and rushed into the jail. He was trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas. 30 Then he took Paul and Silas outside and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved?”

31 They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved.” 32 They spoke the Lord’s word to the jailer and everyone in his home.

16:29–32   You have a quick answer to one of the biggest questions I can ever ask. I do believe in you.

33 At that hour of the night, the jailer washed Paul and Silas’ wounds. The jailer and his entire family were baptized immediately. 34 He took Paul and Silas upstairs into his home and gave them something to eat. He and his family were thrilled to be believers in God.

16:33–34   Give me the fresh thrill of being a new believer. Bring back my joy of first meeting you.

35 In the morning the Roman officials sent guards who told the jailer, “You can release those men now.”

36 The jailer reported this order to Paul by saying, “The officials have sent word to release you. So you can leave peacefully now.”

37 But Paul told the guards, “Roman officials have had us beaten publicly without a trial and have thrown us in jail, even though we’re Roman citizens. Now are they going to throw us out secretly? There’s no way they’re going to get away with that! Have them escort us out!”

38 The guards reported to the officials what Paul had said. When the Roman officials heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were afraid. 39 So the officials went to the jail and apologized to Paul and Silas. As the officials escorted Paul and Silas out of the jail, they asked them to leave the city.

40 After Paul and Silas left the jail, they went to Lydia’s house. They met with the believers, encouraged them, and then left.

16:35–40   Tell me when to surrender my rights for your sake—and when to stand up. I’m willing to listen to your wisdom.

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

17

1 Paul and Silas traveled through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue. On three consecutive days of worship, he had discussions about Scripture with the synagogue members. 3 He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and come back to life, and that Jesus, the person he talked about, was this Messiah.

4 Some of the Jews were persuaded to join Paul and Silas, especially a large group of Greeks who had converted to Judaism and the wives of many prominent men.

17:1–4   Scripture said the Messiah had to suffer, die, and come back to life. You’re that person.

5 Then the Jews became jealous. They took some low-class characters who hung around the public square, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 When they didn’t find Paul and Silas, they dragged Jason and some other believers in front of the city officials. They shouted, “Those men who have made trouble all over the world are now here in Thessalonica, 7 and Jason has welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor’s decrees by saying that there is another king, whose name is Jesus.”

8 The crowd and the officials were upset when they heard this. 9 But after they had made Jason and the others post bond, they let them go.

10 Immediately when night came, the believers sent Paul and Silas to the city of Berea.

17:5–10   Protect your people from jealous leaders and low-class characters. We won’t ever stop telling everyone you’re the one real king.

Paul and Silas in Berea

When Paul and Silas arrived in the city of Berea, they entered the synagogue. 11 The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God’s message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of them became believers, and quite a number of them were prominent Greek men and women.

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica found out that Paul was also spreading God’s word in Berea, they went there to upset and confuse the people. 14 The believers immediately sent Paul to the seacoast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea.

17:11–14   Make me openminded to your message. I’ll carefully examine the Scriptures to see if your message is true.

Paul in Athens

15 The men who escorted Paul took him all the way to the city of Athens. When the men left Athens, they took instructions back to Silas and Timothy to join Paul as soon as possible.

16 While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he saw that the city had statues of false gods everywhere. This upset him. 17 He held discussions in the synagogue with Jews and converts to Judaism. He also held discussions every day in the public square with anyone who happened to be there. 18 Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers had discussions with him. Some asked, “What is this babbling fool trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be speaking about foreign gods.” The philosophers said these things because Paul was telling the Good News about Jesus and saying that people would come back to life.

17:15–18   I should be more upset by the false gods that clutter my world. Teach me to strike up a conversation with anyone willing to listen to your Good News.

19 Then they brought Paul to the city court, the Areopagus, and asked, “Could you tell us these new ideas that you’re teaching? 20 Some of the things you say sound strange to us. So we would like to know what they mean.”

21 Everyone who lived in Athens looked for opportunities to tell or hear something new and unusual.

17:19–23   Everyone in Athens liked new and unusual ideas. They were so religious they erected an altar to an unknown god.

22 Paul stood in the middle of the court and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious. 23 As I was going through your city and looking closely at the objects you worship, I noticed an altar with this written on it: ‘To an unknown god.’ I’m telling you about the unknown god you worship. 24 The God who made the universe and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in shrines made by humans, 25 and he isn’t served by humans as if he needed anything. He gives everyone life, breath, and everything they have. 26 From one man he has made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth. He has given them the seasons of the year and the boundaries within which to live. 27 He has done this so that they would look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. In fact, he is never far from any one of us. 28 Certainly, we live, move, and exist because of him. As some of your poets have said, ‘We are God’s children.’ 29 So if we are God’s children, we shouldn’t think that the divine being is like an image made from gold, silver, or stone, an image that is the product of human imagination and skill.

17:24–29   You’re the God who made the universe. You’re the Lord of heaven and earth. You give us everything we need so we’ll search for you.

30 “God overlooked the times when people didn’t know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 31 He has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice, and he will use a man he has appointed to do this. God has given proof to everyone that he will do this by bringing that man back to life.”

32 When the people of the court heard that a person had come back to life, some began joking about it, while others said, “We’ll hear you talk about this some other time.”

33 With this response, Paul left the court. 34 Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the court, and a woman named Damaris, and some other people.

17:30–34   You’ve overlooked a lot of human ignorance, but now you tell us to turn to you and change how we think and act. Soon you’ll judge the world with justice. Don’t let people endlessly debate truth without ever coming to faith in you!

Paul in Corinth

18

1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to the city of Corinth. 2 In Corinth he met a Jewish man named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Aquila had been born in Pontus, and they had recently come from Italy because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them, 3 and because they made tents for a living as he did, he stayed with them and they worked together.

4 On every day of worship, Paul would discuss ⌞Scripture⌟ in the synagogue. He tried to win over Jews and Greeks who had converted to Judaism. 5 But when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted all his time to teaching the word of God. He assured the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. 6 But they opposed him and insulted him. So Paul shook the dust from his clothes and told them, “You’re responsible for your own death. I’m innocent. From now on I’m going to people who are not Jewish.”

7 Then he left the synagogue and went to the home of a man named Titius Justus, who was a convert to Judaism. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 The synagogue leader Crispus and his whole family believed in the Lord. Many Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

18:1–8   Paul shook off rejection. You sent him to tell the rest of the world you’re the Messiah.

9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Don’t be afraid to speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 I’m with you. No one will attack you or harm you. I have many people in this city.”

11 Paul lived in Corinth for a year and a half and taught the word of God to them.

12 While Gallio was governor of Greece, the Jews had one thought in mind. They attacked Paul and brought him to court. 13 They said, “This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are against Moses’ Teachings.”

14 Paul was about to answer when Gallio said to the Jews, “If there were some kind of misdemeanor or crime involved, reason would demand that I put up with you Jews. 15 But since you’re disputing words, names, and your own teachings, you’ll have to take care of that yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge who gets involved in those things.” 16 So Gallio had them forced out of his court.

17 Then all ⌞the governor’s officers⌟ took Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio couldn’t have cared less.

18:9–17   You told Paul to preach without fear. Give your people freedom to explain to everyone how you want to be worshiped.

Paul’s Return Trip to Antioch

18 After staying in Corinth quite a while longer, Paul left ⌞for Ephesus⌟. Priscilla and Aquila went with him. In the city of Cenchrea, Aquila had his hair cut, since he had taken a vow. From Cenchrea they took a boat headed for Syria 19 and arrived in the city of Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. Paul went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 20 The Jews asked him to stay longer, but he refused. 21 As he left, he told them, “I’ll come back to visit you if God wants me to.”

Paul took a boat from Ephesus 22 and arrived in the city of Caesarea. He went ⌞to Jerusalem⌟, greeted the church, and went back to the city of Antioch.

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, where he strengthened ⌞the faith of⌟ all the disciples.

18:18–23   Direct my choices and moves. Show me where I should strengthen your followers’ faith.

Apollos Tells Others about Jesus

24 A Jew named Apollos, who had been born in Alexandria, arrived in the city of Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker and knew how to use the Scriptures in a powerful way. 25 He had been instructed in the Lord’s way and spoke enthusiastically. He accurately taught about Jesus but knew only about the baptism John performed. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him ⌞home⌟ with them and explained God’s way to him more accurately.

27 When Apollos wanted to travel to Greece, the believers ⌞in Ephesus⌟ encouraged him. They wrote to the disciples in Greece to tell them to welcome him. When he arrived in Greece, God’s kindness[24] enabled him to help the believers a great deal. 28 In public Apollos helped them by clearly showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah and that the Jews were wrong.

18:24–28   Enthusiasm is a good start, but I need an accurate understanding of your word. Teach me to demonstrate from Scripture that you’re the Messiah.

Paul in Ephesus

19

1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior provinces to get to the city of Ephesus. He met some disciples in Ephesus 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”

They answered him, “No, we’ve never even heard of the Holy Spirit.”

3 Paul asked them, “What kind of baptism did you have?”

They answered, “John’s baptism.”

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.[25] John told people to believe in Jesus, who was coming later.”

5 After they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came to them, and they began to talk in other languages and to speak what God had revealed. 7 About twelve men were in the group.

19:1–7   Pour out your Spirit on me and your church. Educate us when we’re unaware of everything you have in store for us.

8 For three months Paul would go into the synagogue and speak boldly. He had discussions with people to convince them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some people became stubborn, refused to believe, and had nothing good to say in front of the crowd about the way ⌞of Christ⌟, he left them. He took his disciples and held daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

19:8–10   I know what it’s like when people stubbornly refuse to believe and start insulting your way. I need wisdom to move on—and endurance to keep on.

11 God worked unusual miracles through Paul. 12 People would take handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s skin to those who were sick. Their sicknesses would be cured, and evil spirits would leave them.

13 Some Jews used to travel from place to place and force evil spirits out of people. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to force evil spirits out of those who were possessed. These Jews would say, “I order you ⌞to come out⌟ in the name of Jesus, whom Paul talks about.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 But the evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I’m acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man possessed by the evil spirit attacked them. He beat them up so badly that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.

19:11–16   I need more than a secondhand relationship with you. I want an authentic connection. Call me out when I don’t live up to my big words.

17 All the Jews and Greeks living in the city of Ephesus heard about this. All of them were filled with awe for the name of the Lord Jesus and began to speak very highly about it. 18 Many believers openly admitted their involvement with magical spells and told all the details. 19 Many of those who were involved in the occult gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of these books and found that they were worth 50,000 silver coins. 20 In this powerful way the word of the Lord was spreading and gaining strength.

21 After all these things had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem by traveling through Macedonia and Greece. He said, “After I have been there, I must see Rome.” 22 So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed longer in the province of Asia.

19:17–22   Fill me with awe. Move me to quit anything connected to dark arts. I want to watch your word spread and gain strength.

A Riot in Ephesus

23 During that time a serious disturbance concerning the way ⌞of Christ⌟ broke out in the city of Ephesus.

24 Demetrius, a silversmith, was in the business of making silver models of the temple of Artemis. His business brought a huge profit for the men who worked for him. 25 He called a meeting of his workers and others who did similar work. Demetrius said, “Men, you know that we’re earning a good income from this business, 26 and you see and hear what this man Paul has done. He has won over a large crowd that follows him not only in Ephesus but also throughout the province of Asia. He tells people that gods made by humans are not gods. 27 There’s a danger that people will discredit our line of work, and there’s a danger that people will think that the temple of the great goddess Artemis is nothing. Then she whom all Asia and the rest of the world worship will be robbed of her glory.”

19:23–27   A god made by humans is no god at all. Show off your glory so you get the worship you deserve.

28 When Demetrius’ workers and the others heard this, they became furious and began shouting, “Artemis of the Ephesians is great!” 29 The confusion spread throughout the city, and the people had one thought in mind as they rushed into the theater. They grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who traveled with Paul, and they dragged the two men into the theater with them.

30 Paul wanted to go into the crowd, but his disciples wouldn’t let him. 31 Even some officials who were from the province of Asia and who were Paul’s friends sent messengers to urge him not to risk going into the theater.

32 Some people shouted one thing while others shouted something else. The crowd was confused. Most of the people didn’t even know why they had come together. 33 Some people concluded that Alexander was the cause, so the Jews pushed him to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand to quiet the people because he wanted to defend himself in front of them. 34 But when they recognized that Alexander was a Jew, everyone started to shout in unison, “Artemis of the Ephesians is great!” They kept doing this for about two hours.

19:28–34   Show me the difference between seizing an opportunity and acting stupidly. Tell me when I should speak up for you and when should stay out of sight.

35 The city clerk finally quieted the crowd. Then he said, “Citizens of Ephesus, everyone knows that this city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis. Everyone knows that Ephesus is the keeper of the statue that fell down from Zeus. 36 No one can deny this. So you have to be quiet and not do anything foolish. 37 The men you brought here don’t rob temples or insult our goddess. 38 If Demetrius and the men who work for him have a legal complaint against anyone, we have special days and officials to hold court. That’s where they should bring charges against each other. 39 If you want anything else, you must settle the matter in a legal assembly. 40 At this moment we run the risk of being accused of rioting today for no reason. We won’t be able to explain this mob.” 41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.[26]

19:35–41   Don’t let your people always lose out when it comes to the law. Grant us the same rights and freedoms other people enjoy.

20

1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia. 2 He went through that region and spoke many words of encouragement to the people. Then he went to Greece 3 and stayed there for three months.

20:1–3   I need encouragement—and more encouragement. Don’t stop speaking your words to me.

Paul in Troas

When Paul was going to board a ship for Syria, he found out that the Jews were plotting to kill him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 Sopater (son of Pyrrhus) from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia accompanied Paul. 5 All these men went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas. 6 After the Festival of Unleavened Bread, we boarded a ship at Philippi. Five days later we joined them in Troas and stayed there for seven days.

7 On Sunday we met to break bread. Paul was discussing ⌞Scripture⌟ with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8 (Many lamps were lit in the upstairs room where we were meeting.)

9 A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. As Paul was talking on and on, Eutychus was gradually falling asleep. Finally, overcome by sleep, he fell from the third story and was dead when they picked him up. 10 Paul went to him, took him into his arms, and said, “Don’t worry! He’s alive!” 11 Then Eutychus went upstairs again, broke the bread, and ate. Paul talked with the people for a long time, until sunrise, and then left.

12 The people took the boy home. They were greatly relieved that he was alive.

20:7–12   You don’t judge me when spiritual things put me to sleep. Pick me up. Breathe life into my soul.

Paul’s Trip to Miletus

13 We went ahead to the ship and sailed for the city of Assos. At Assos, we were going to pick up Paul. He had made these arrangements, since he had planned to walk overland to Assos. 14 When Paul met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to the city of Mitylene. 15 We sailed from there. On the following day we approached the island of Chios. The next day we went by the island of Samos, and on the next day we arrived at the city of Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible.

20:13–16   I’m constantly on the run. Direct my moves so I’m at your right place at your right time.

Paul Meets with the Spiritual Leaders from Ephesus

17 From Miletus Paul sent messengers to the city of Ephesus and called the spiritual leaders[27] of the church to meet with him ⌞in Miletus⌟. 18 When they were with him, he said to them, “You know how I spent all my time with you from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19 I humbly served the Lord, often with tears in my eyes. I served the Lord during the difficult times I went through when the Jews plotted against me. 20 I didn’t avoid telling you anything that would help you, and I didn’t avoid teaching you publicly and from house to house. 21 I warned Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Jesus.

20:17–21   I try to serve you humbly, and sometimes tears fill my eyes. But I persevere through difficult times. I warn people to change how they think and act. I urge them to believe.

22 “I am determined to go to Jerusalem now. I don’t know what will happen to me there. 23 However, the Holy Spirit warns me in every city that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me. 24 But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness.[28]

20:22–24   I don’t know what my future holds. But I value you more than my own life. I aim to finish the mission you gave me.

25 “Now I know that none of you whom I told about the kingdom ⌞of God⌟ will see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the ⌞spiritual⌟ death of any of you. 27 I didn’t avoid telling you the whole plan of God. 28 Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops[29] to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood. 29 I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave, and they won’t spare the flock. 30 Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them. 31 So be alert! Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes.

20:25–31   I won’t avoid telling people your whole plan. I’ll warn them about distortions of your perfect truth.

32 “I am now entrusting you to God and to his message that tells how kind he is. That message can help you grow and can give you the inheritance that is shared by all of God’s holy people.

33 “I never wanted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes. 34 You know that I worked to support myself and those who were with me. 35 I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak. We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said, ‘Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them.’”

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37 Everyone cried a lot as they put their arms around Paul and kissed him. 38 The thought of not seeing Paul again hurt them most of all. Then they took Paul to the ship.

20:32–38   Your message constantly reminds me of your kindness. It lets me take hold of every blessing that belongs to your holy people.

Paul in Tyre

21

1 When we finally left them, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we sailed to the island of Rhodes and from there to the city of Patara. 2 In Patara, we found a ship that was going to Phoenicia, so we went aboard and sailed away. 3 We could see the island of Cyprus as we passed it on our left and sailed to Syria. We landed at the city of Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

4 In Tyre we searched for the disciples. After we found them, we stayed there for seven days. The Spirit had the disciples tell Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 5 When our time was up, we started on our way. All of them with their wives and children accompanied us out of the city. We knelt on the beach, prayed, 6 and said goodbye to each other. Then we went aboard the ship, and the disciples went back home.

21:1–6   Give me brothers and sisters I can live and die with. Give us bonds that don’t break.

Paul in Caesarea

7 Our sea travel ended when we sailed from Tyre to the city of Ptolemais. We greeted the believers in Ptolemais and spent the day with them. 8 The next day we went to Philip’s home in Caesarea and stayed with him. He was a missionary and one of the seven men who helped the apostles. 9 Philip had four unmarried daughters who had the ability to speak what God had revealed.

10 After we had been there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea. 11 During his visit he took Paul’s belt and tied his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt. Then they will hand him over to people who are not Jewish.’”

12 When we heard this, we and the believers who lived there begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul replied, “Why are you crying like this and breaking my heart? I’m ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but also to die there for the sake of the Lord, the one named Jesus.”

14 When Paul could not be persuaded, we dropped the issue and said, “May the Lord’s will be done.”

21:7–14   You told Paul he’d be tied up and handed over. His friends begged him not to go. Show me when I shouldn’t back down from difficult or dangerous things.

Paul in Jerusalem

15 After that, we got ready to go to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us. They took us to Mnason’s home, where we would be staying. Mnason was from the island of Cyprus and was one of the first disciples. 17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers welcomed us warmly.

18 The next day Paul went with us to visit James. All the spiritual leaders[30] were present. 19 After greeting them, Paul related everything God had done through his work with non-Jewish people.

21:15–19   Your work gives me constant reasons to praise you. Make me aware of everything you’re up to in my world. Let me see it with my own eyes.

20 When the spiritual leaders heard about everything, they praised God. They said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews are now believers, and all of them are deeply committed to Moses’ Teachings. 21 But they have been told that you teach all the Jews living among non-Jewish people to abandon Moses. They claim that you tell them not to circumcise their children or follow Jewish customs. 22 What should we do about this? They will certainly hear that you’re in town. 23 So follow our advice. We have four men who have made a vow to God. 24 Take these men, go through the purification ceremony with them, and pay the expenses to shave their heads. Then everyone will know that what they’ve been told about you isn’t true. Instead, they’ll see that you carefully follow Moses’ Teachings.

25 ⌞To clarify this matter⌟ we have written non-Jewish believers a letter with our decision. We told them that they should not eat food sacrificed to false gods, bloody meat, or the meat of strangled animals. They also should not commit sexual sins.”

26 The next day, Paul took the men and went through the purification ceremony with them. Then he went into the temple courtyard to announce the time when the purification would be over and the sacrifice would be offered for each of them.

27 When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the temple courtyard. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed Paul. 28 Then they began shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere to turn against the Jewish people, Moses’ Teachings, and this temple. He has even brought Greeks into the temple courtyard and has made this holy place unclean.”[31] 29 They had seen Trophimus from Ephesus with him in the city earlier and thought Paul had taken him into the temple courtyard.

21:20–29   Tell me when rules apply—or don’t. Show me when they’re helpful—or not. My goal is to glorify you by helping people understand your truth.

30 The whole city was in chaos, and a mob formed. The mob grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple courtyard. The courtyard doors were immediately shut.

31 As the people were trying to kill Paul, the officer in charge of the Roman soldiers received a report that all Jerusalem was rioting. 32 Immediately, he took some soldiers and officers and charged the crowd. When the crowd saw the officer and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the officer went to Paul, grabbed him, and ordered him to be tied up with two chains.

The officer asked who Paul was and what he had done. 34 Some of the crowd shouted one thing, while others shouted something else. The officer couldn’t get any facts because of the noise and confusion, so he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul came to the stairs of the barracks, the crowd was so violent that the soldiers had to carry him. 36 The mob was behind them shouting, “Kill him!”

21:30–36   Don’t let me suffer for nothing. Let your words rise above the loud mob.

Paul Speaks in His Own Defense

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the officer, “May I say something to you?”

The officer replied to Paul, “Can you speak Greek? 38 Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolution not long ago and led four thousand terrorists into the desert?”

39 Paul answered, “I’m a Jew, a citizen from the well-known city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I’m asking you to let me talk to the people.”

40 The officer gave Paul permission to speak. So Paul stood on the stairs of the barracks and motioned with his hand for the people to be quiet. When the mob was silent, Paul spoke to them in the Hebrew language.

21:37–40   Give me the right words when I’m put on the spot. I’m not all that quick, but you are.

22

1 “Brothers and fathers, listen as I now present my case to you.”

2 When the mob heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul continued, 3 “I’m a Jew. I was born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia and received my education from Gamaliel here in Jerusalem. My education was in the strict laws handed down by our ancestors. I was as devoted to God as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted people who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟: I tied up men and women and put them into prison until they were executed. 5 The chief priest and the entire council of our leaders can prove that I did this. In fact, they even gave me letters to take to the Jewish community in the city of Damascus. I was going there to tie up believers and bring them back to Jerusalem to punish them.

22:1–5   Paul was as devoted to you as anyone could be. He once thought he was doing right by persecuting your followers.

6 “But as I was on my way and approaching the city of Damascus about noon, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’

8 “I answered, ‘Who are you, sir?’

“The person told me, ‘I’m Jesus from Nazareth, the one you’re persecuting.’

9 “The men who were with me saw the light but didn’t understand what the person who was speaking to me said.

10 “Then I asked, ‘What do you want me to do, Lord?’

“The Lord told me, ‘Get up! Go into the city of Damascus, and you’ll be told everything I’ve arranged for you to do.’

11 “I was blind because the light had been so bright. So the men who were with me led me into the city of Damascus.

22:6–11   You appeared to Paul in a blinding flash of light. You sent him to Damascus to await your instructions.

12 “A man named Ananias lived in Damascus. He was a devout person who followed Moses’ Teachings. All the Jews living in Damascus spoke highly of him. 13 He came to me, stood beside me, and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ At that moment my sight came back and I could see Ananias.

14 “Ananias said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the one who has God’s approval, and to hear him speak to you. 15 You will be his witness and will tell everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for now? Get up! Be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.’

22:12–16   You gave Paul his sight and sent him as a witness to what he’s seen and heard. You wash away our sins when we call on you.

17 “After that, I returned to Jerusalem. While I was praying in the temple courtyard, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord. He told me, ‘Hurry! Get out of Jerusalem immediately. The people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’

19 “I said, ‘Lord, people here know that I went from synagogue to synagogue to imprison and whip those who believe in you. 20 When Stephen, who witnessed about you, was being killed, I was standing there. I approved of his death and guarded the coats of those who were murdering him.’

21 “But the Lord told me, ‘Go! I’ll send you on a mission. You’ll go far away to people who aren’t Jewish.’”

22:17–21   Paul smiled as Stephen died. But you saved him and sent him on a mission.

22 Up to that point the mob listened. Then they began to shout, “Kill him! The world doesn’t need a man like this. He shouldn’t have been allowed to live this long!”

23 The mob was yelling, taking off their coats, and throwing dirt into the air. 24 So the officer ordered the soldiers to take Paul into the barracks and told them to question Paul as they whipped him. The officer wanted to find out why the people were yelling at Paul like this. 25 But when the soldiers had Paul stretch out ⌞to tie him to the whipping post⌟ with the straps, Paul asked the sergeant who was standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t had a trial?”

26 When the sergeant heard this, he reported it to his commanding officer. The sergeant asked him, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The officer went to Paul and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

Paul answered, “Yes.”

28 The officer replied, “I paid a lot of money to become a Roman citizen.”

Paul replied, “But I was born a Roman citizen.”

29 Immediately, the soldiers who were going to question Paul stepped away from him. The officer was afraid when he found out that he had tied up a Roman citizen.

22:22–29   The mob wanted Paul dead. Soldiers readied their whips. But it wasn’t your time for Paul to die.

Paul in Front of the Jewish Council

30 The officer wanted to find out exactly what accusation the Jews had against Paul. So the officer released Paul the next day and ordered the chief priests and the entire Jewish council to meet. Then the officer brought Paul and had him stand in front of them.

23

1 Paul stared at the Jewish council and said, “Brothers, my relationship with God has always given me a perfectly clear conscience.”

2 The chief priest Ananias ordered the men standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you hypocrite! You sit there and judge me by Moses’ Teachings and yet you break those teachings by ordering these men to strike me!”

4 The men standing near Paul said to him, “You’re insulting God’s chief priest!”

5 Paul answered, “Brothers, I didn’t know that he is the chief priest. After all, Scripture says, ‘Don’t speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”

6 When Paul saw that some of them were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he shouted in the council, “Brothers, I’m a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I’m on trial because I expect that the dead will come back to life.”

22:30–23:6   Give me courage to call out my accusers’ hypocrisy. And help me own up to my own sins. I’ll stand up for your unbreakable promise to bring the dead back to life.

7 After Paul said that, the Pharisees and Sadducees began to quarrel, and the men in the meeting were divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that the dead won’t come back to life and that angels and spirits don’t exist. The Pharisees believe in all these things.) 9 The shouting became very loud. Some of the experts in Moses’ Teachings were Pharisees who argued their position forcefully. They said, “We don’t find anything wrong with this man. Maybe a spirit or an angel actually spoke to him!”

10 The quarrel was becoming violent, and the officer was afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces. So the officer ordered his soldiers to drag Paul back to the barracks.

11 The Lord stood near Paul the next night and said to him, “Don’t lose your courage! You’ve told the truth about me in Jerusalem. Now you must tell the truth about me in Rome.”

23:7–11   I won’t cave in to fear. I’ll tell the truth about you wherever you send me.

Some Jews Plot to Kill Paul

12 In the morning the Jews formed a conspiracy. They asked God to curse them if they ate or drank anything before they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men took part in this plot.

14 They went to the chief priests and leaders ⌞of the people⌟ and said, “We’ve asked God to curse us if we taste any food before we’ve killed Paul. 15 Here’s our plan: You and the council must go to the Roman officer on the pretext that you need more information from Paul. You have to make it look as though you want to get more accurate information about him. We’ll be ready to kill him before he gets to you.”

16 But Paul’s nephew heard about the ambush. He entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the sergeants and told him, “Take this young man to the officer. He has something to tell him.”

18 The sergeant took the young man to the officer and said, “The prisoner Paul called me. He asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The officer took the young man by the arm, went where they could be alone, and asked him, “What do you have to tell me?”

20 The young man answered, “The Jews have planned to ask you to bring Paul to the Jewish council tomorrow. They’re going to make it look as though they want more accurate information about him. 21 Don’t let them persuade you to do this. More than forty of them are planning to ambush him. They have asked God to curse them if they eat or drink anything before they have murdered him. They are ready now and are expecting you to promise ⌞that you will bring Paul⌟.”

22 The officer dismissed the young man and ordered him not to tell this information to anyone else.

23:12–22   Spare me from plots against me. Don’t let your enemies ambush me.

23 Then the officer summoned two of his sergeants and told them, “I want 200 infantrymen, 70 soldiers on horseback, and 200 soldiers with spears. Have them ready to go to Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. 24 Provide an animal for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 The officer wrote a letter to the governor with the following message:

26 Claudius Lysias sends greetings to Your Excellency, Governor Felix:

27 The Jews had seized this man and were going to murder him. When I found out that he was a Roman citizen, I went with my soldiers to rescue him. 28 I wanted to know what they had against him. So I took him to their Jewish council 29 and found their accusations had to do with disputes about their own laws. He wasn’t accused of anything for which he deserved to die or to be put into prison. 30 Since I was informed that there was a plot against this man, I immediately sent him to you. I have also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in front of you.

31 So the infantrymen did as they had been ordered. They took Paul to the city of Antipatris during the night. 32 They returned to their barracks the next day and let the soldiers on horseback travel with Paul. 33 When the soldiers arrived in the city of Caesarea with Paul, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.

34 After the governor had read the letter, he asked Paul which province he was from. When he found out that Paul was from the province of Cilicia, 35 he said, “I’ll hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then the governor gave orders to keep Paul under guard in Herod’s palace.

23:23–35   The Romans found no reason to imprison or kill Paul. Guard me from people who hate your message.

Paul Presents His Case to Felix

24

1 Five days later the chief priest Ananias went to the city of Caesarea with some leaders of the people and an attorney named Tertullus. They reported to the governor their charges against Paul.

2 When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him. He said to Felix, “Your Excellency, through your wise leadership we have lasting peace and reforms that benefit the people. 3 We appreciate what you’ve done in every way and in every place, and we want to thank you very much. 4 I don’t want to keep you too long. Please listen to us. We will be brief. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker. He starts quarrels among all Jews throughout the world. He’s a ringleader of the Nazarene sect. 6 He also entered the temple courtyard in a way that violates our tradition. So we arrested him.[32] 8 When you cross-examine him, you’ll be able to find out from him that our accusations are true.”

9 The Jews supported Tertullus’ accusations and asserted that everything Tertullus said was true.

10 The governor motioned for Paul to speak. Paul responded, “I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years. So I’m pleased to present my case to you. 11 You can verify for yourself that I went to Jerusalem to worship no more than twelve days ago. 12 No one found me having a discussion with anyone in the temple courtyard or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues throughout the city. 13 These people cannot even prove their accusations to you. 14 But I’ll admit to you that I’m a follower of the way ⌞of Christ⌟, which they call a sect. This means that I serve our ancestors’ God and believe everything written in Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets. 15 I hope for the same thing my accusers do, that people with God’s approval and those without it will come back to life. 16 With this belief I always do my best to have a clear conscience in the sight of God and people. 17 After many years I have come back to my people and brought gifts for the poor and offerings ⌞for God⌟. 18 My accusers found me in the temple courtyard doing these things after I had gone through the purification ceremony. No crowd or noisy mob was present. 19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there. They should be here in front of you to accuse me if they have anything against me. 20 Otherwise, these men who are accusing me should tell what I was charged with when I stood in front of their council. 21 They could accuse me of only one thing. As I stood among them, I shouted, ‘I’m being tried in front of you because ⌞I believe that⌟ the dead will come back to life.’”

24:1–21   The accusations against Paul were baseless. But he owned up to being your follower. Like him, I expect I’ll come back to life. You’re the one who gives me a clear conscience.

22 Felix knew the way ⌞of Christ⌟ rather well, so he adjourned the trial. He told them, “When the officer Lysias arrives, I’ll decide your case.” 23 Felix ordered the sergeant to guard Paul but to let him have some freedom and to let his friends take care of his needs.

24 Some days later Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discussed the subjects of God’s approval, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, “That’s enough for now. You can go. When I find time, I’ll send for you again.” 26 At the same time, Felix was hoping that Paul would give him some money. For that reason, Felix would send for Paul rather often to have friendly conversations with him.

24:22–26   Paul’s arguments didn’t surprise Felix. But your judgment terrified him. Help me make the most of friendly conversations about you.

27 Two years passed. Then Porcius Festus took Felix’s place. (Since Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.)

Paul Makes an Appeal

25

1 Three days after Festus took over his duties in the province of Judea, he went from the city of Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 The chief priests and the other important Jewish leaders informed Festus about their charges against Paul. They were urging 3 Festus to do them the favor of having Paul brought to Jerusalem. The Jews had a plan to ambush and kill Paul as he traveled to Jerusalem.

4 Festus replied that he would be returning to Caesarea soon and would keep Paul there. 5 He told them, “Have your authorities come to Caesarea with me and accuse him there if the man has done something wrong.”

6 Festus stayed in Jerusalem for eight or ten days at the most and then returned to Caesarea. The next day Festus took his place in court and summoned Paul.

7 When Paul entered the room, the Jews who had come from Jerusalem surrounded him. They made a lot of serious accusations that they couldn’t prove. 8 Paul defended himself by saying, “I haven’t broken any Jewish law or done anything against the temple or the emperor.”

9 But Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he asked Paul, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on these charges with me as your judge?”

10 Paul said, “I am standing in the emperor’s court where I must be tried. I haven’t done anything wrong to the Jews, as you know very well. 11 If I am guilty and have done something wrong for which I deserve the death penalty, I don’t reject the idea of dying. But if their accusations are untrue, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal my case to the emperor!”

12 Festus discussed the appeal with his advisers and then replied to Paul, “You have appealed your case to the emperor, so you’ll go to the emperor!”

25:1–12   Paul sought the highest opportunity to speak about you. Help me make the most of every chance to spread your Good News.

King Agrippa Meets Paul

13 Later King Agrippa and Bernice came to the city of Caesarea to welcome Festus. 14 Since they were staying there for a number of days, Festus told the king about Paul’s case.

Festus said, “Felix left a man here in prison. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the Jewish leaders brought me some information about him and asked me to condemn him.

16 “I replied to them, ‘That’s not the Roman way of doing things. A person can’t be sentenced as a favor. Before he is sentenced, he must face his accusers and have a chance to defend himself against their accusation.’

17 “So the Jewish leaders came to Caesarea with me. The next day I immediately convened court and summoned the man. 18 When his accusers stood up, they didn’t accuse him of the crimes I was expecting. 19 They were disputing with him about their own religion and about some man named Jesus who had died. But Paul claimed that Jesus is alive. 20 Their debate about these things left me puzzled. So I asked Paul if he would like to go to Jerusalem to have his case heard there. 21 But Paul appealed his case. He asked to be held in prison and to have His Majesty the Emperor decide his case. So I ordered him to be held in prison until I could send him to the emperor.”

22 Agrippa told Festus, “I would like to hear the man.”

Festus replied, “You’ll hear him tomorrow.”

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice entered the auditorium with a lot of fanfare. Roman army officers and the most important men of the city entered the auditorium with them. Festus gave the order, and Paul was brought into the auditorium.

24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and everyone who is present with us! All the Jews in Jerusalem and Caesarea have talked to me about this man you see in front of you. They shout that he must not be allowed to live any longer. 25 However, I don’t think that he has done anything to deserve the death penalty. But since he made an appeal to His Majesty the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I don’t have anything reliable to write our emperor about him. So I have brought him to all of you, and especially to you, King Agrippa. Then I’ll have something to write after he is cross-examined. 27 I find it ridiculous to send a prisoner to Rome when I can’t specify any charges against him.”

25:13–27   Festus couldn’t follow the debates between Paul and the Jews. I need practice making your Good News understandable to everyone.

26

1 Agrippa said to Paul, “You’re free to speak for yourself.”

Paul acknowledged King Agrippa and then began his defense. 2 “King Agrippa, I think I’m fortunate today to stand in front of you and defend myself against every charge that the Jews brought against me. 3 I say this since you are especially familiar with every custom and controversy in Judaism. So I ask you to listen patiently to me.

4 “All the Jews know how I lived the earliest days of my youth with my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They’ve known me for a long time and can testify, if they’re willing, that I followed the strictest party of our religion. They know that I lived my life as a Pharisee.

6 “I’m on trial now because I expect God to keep the promise that he made to our ancestors. 7 Our twelve tribes expect this promise to be kept as they worship with intense devotion day and night. Your Majesty, the Jews are making accusations against me because I expect God to keep his promise. 8 Why do all of you refuse to believe that God can bring dead people back to life?

9 “I used to think that I had to do a lot of things to oppose the one named Jesus of Nazareth. 10 That is what I did in Jerusalem. By the authority I received from the chief priests, I locked many Christians in prison. I voted to have them killed every time a vote was taken. 11 I even went to each synagogue, punished believers, and forced them to curse ⌞the name of Jesus⌟. In my furious rage against them, I hunted them down in cities outside ⌞Jerusalem⌟.

12 “I was carrying out these activities when I went to the city of Damascus. I had the power and authority of the chief priests. 13 Your Majesty, at noon, while I was traveling, I saw a light that was brighter than the sun. The light came from the sky and shined around me and those who were with me. 14 All of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice asking me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me? It’s hard for ⌞a mortal like⌟ you to resist God.’

26:1–14   Paul once fought you. He hunted your followers with furious rage. Then you stopped him in his tracks and spoke to him. Why was he persecuting you?

15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, sir?’

“The Lord answered, ‘I am Jesus, the one you’re persecuting. 16 Stand up! I have appeared to you for a reason. I’m appointing you to be a servant and witness of what you have seen and of what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from the Jewish people and from the non-Jewish people to whom I am sending you. 18 You will open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan’s control to God’s. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and a share among God’s people who are made holy by believing in me.’

26:15–18   You sent Paul to open the eyes of non-Jewish people—to move them from darkness to light, from Satan’s control to yours. You have a plan to forgive everyone’s sins and make them holy.

19 “At that point I did not disobey the vision I saw from heaven, King Agrippa. 20 Instead, I spread the message that I first told to the ⌞Jewish⌟ people in Damascus and Jerusalem and throughout the whole country of Judea. I spread the same message to non-Jewish people. Both groups were expected to change the way they thought and acted and to turn to God. I told them to do things that prove they had changed their lives. 21 For this reason the Jews took me prisoner in the temple courtyard and tried to murder me.

22 “God has been helping me to this day so that I can stand and testify to important and unimportant people. I tell them only what the prophets and Moses said would happen. 23 They said that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to come back to life and would spread light to Jewish and non-Jewish people.”

26:19–23   Paul never disobeyed your message from heaven. Instead he witnessed to kings and common people. I want to live with his perfect consistency toward your purpose.

24 As Paul was defending himself in this way, Festus shouted, “Paul, you’re crazy! Too much education is driving you crazy!”

25 Paul replied, “I’m not crazy, Your Excellency Festus. What I’m saying is true and sane. 26 I can easily speak to a king who knows about these things. I’m sure that none of these things has escaped his attention. None of this was done secretly. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe them!”

28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think you can quickly persuade me to become a Christian?”

29 Paul replied, “I wish to God that you and everyone listening to me today would quickly and completely become as I am (except for being a prisoner).”

30 The king, the governor, Bernice, and the people who were sitting with them got up. 31 As they were leaving, they said to each other, “This man isn’t doing anything for which he deserves to die or be put in prison.”

32 Agrippa told Festus, “This man could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed his case to the emperor.”

26:24–32   Paul wasn’t crazy. He described events everyone had seen and heard. Use the facts about you to move everyone to believe in you quickly and completely!

Paul Sails for Rome

27

1 When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were turned over to an army officer. His name was Julius, and he belonged to the emperor’s division. 2 We set sail on a ship from the city of Adramyttium. The ship was going to stop at ports on the coast of the province of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from the city of Thessalonica, went with us.

3 The next day we arrived at the city of Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to visit his friends and receive any care he needed. 4 Leaving Sidon, we sailed on the northern side of the island of Cyprus because we were traveling against the wind. 5 We sailed along the coast of the provinces of Cilicia and Pamphylia and arrived at the city of Myra in the province of Lycia. 6 In Myra the officer found a ship from Alexandria that was on its way to Italy and put us on it. 7 We were sailing slowly for a number of days. Our difficulties began along the coast of the city of Cnidus because the wind would not let us go further. So at Cape Salmone, we started to sail for the south side of the island of Crete. 8 We had difficulty sailing along the shore of Crete. We finally came to a port called Fair Harbors. The port was near the city of Lasea.

9 We had lost so much time that the day of fasting had already past. Sailing was now dangerous, so Paul advised them, 10 “Men, we’re going to face a disaster and heavy losses on this voyage. This disaster will cause damage to the cargo and the ship, and it will affect our lives.” 11 However, the officer was persuaded by what the pilot and the owner of the ship said and not by what Paul said. 12 Since the harbor was not a good place to spend the winter, most of the men decided to sail from there. They hoped to reach the city of Phoenix somehow and spend the winter there. (Phoenix is a harbor that faces the southwest and northwest winds and is located on the island of Crete.)

27:1–12   I hate sounding overly anxious. But don’t let my warnings fall on deaf ears.

13 When a gentle breeze began to blow from the south, the men thought their plan would work. They raised the anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete.

14 Soon a powerful wind (called a northeaster) blew from the island. 15 The wind carried the ship away, and we couldn’t sail against the wind. We couldn’t do anything, so we were carried along by the wind. 16 As we drifted to the sheltered side of a small island called Cauda, we barely got control of the ship’s lifeboat. 17 The men pulled it up on deck. Then they passed ropes under the ship to reinforce it. Fearing that they would hit the large sandbank off the shores of Libya, they lowered the sail and were carried along by the wind. 18 We continued to be tossed so violently by the storm that the next day the men began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day they threw the ship’s equipment overboard. 20 For a number of days we couldn’t see the sun or the stars. The storm wouldn’t let up. It was so severe that we finally began to lose any hope of coming out of it alive.

21 Since hardly anyone wanted to eat, Paul stood among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. You would have avoided this disaster and loss. 22 Now I advise you to have courage. No one will lose his life. Only the ship will be destroyed. 23 I know this because an angel from the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood by me last night. 24 The angel told me, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul! You must present your case to the emperor. God has granted safety to everyone who is sailing with you.’ 25 So have courage, men! I trust God that everything will turn out as he told me. 26 However, we will run aground on some island.”

27:13–26   Protect me when I’m blown around by circumstances I can’t control. Show me what to save and what to toss overboard. Keep me moving toward your goals.

The Shipwreck

27 On the fourteenth night we were still drifting through the Mediterranean Sea. About midnight the sailors suspected that we were approaching land. 28 So they threw a line with a weight on it into the water. It sank 120 feet. They waited a little while and did the same thing again. This time the line sank 90 feet. 29 Fearing we might hit rocks, they dropped four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for morning to come.

27:27–28   I’ll never stop praying for your help. I trust you to care for me even in the midst of disaster. Feed me when I’m starving and bring me to a safe place.

30 The sailors tried to escape from the ship. They let the lifeboat down into the sea and pretended they were going to lay out the anchors from the front of the ship. 31 Paul told the officer and the soldiers, “If these sailors don’t stay on the ship, you have no hope of staying alive.” 32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just before daybreak Paul was encouraging everyone to have something to eat. “This is the fourteenth day you have waited and have had nothing to eat. 34 So I’m encouraging you to eat something. Eating will help you survive, since not a hair from anyone’s head will be lost.” 35 After Paul said this, he took some bread, thanked God in front of everyone, broke it, and began to eat. 36 Everyone was encouraged and had something to eat. 37 (There were 276 of us on the ship.) 38 After the people had eaten all they wanted, they lightened the ship by dumping the wheat into the sea.

39 In the morning they couldn’t recognize the land, but they could see a bay with a beach. So they decided to try to run the ship ashore. 40 They cut the anchors free and left them in the sea. At the same time they untied the ropes that held the steering oars. Then they raised the top sail to catch the wind and steered the ship to the shore. 41 They struck a sandbar in the water and ran the ship aground. The front of the ship stuck and couldn’t be moved, while the back of the ship was broken to pieces by the force of the waves.

42 The soldiers had a plan to kill the prisoners to keep them from swimming away and escaping. 43 However, the officer wanted to save Paul, so he stopped the soldiers from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and swim ashore. 44 Then he ordered the rest to follow on planks or some other pieces ⌞of wood⌟ from the ship. In this way everyone got to shore safely.

Paul on the Island of Malta

28

1 When we were safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The people who lived on the island were unusually kind to us. They made a fire and welcomed all of us around it because of the rain and the cold.

3 Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire. The heat forced a poisonous snake out of the brushwood. The snake bit Paul’s hand and wouldn’t let go. 4 When the people who lived on the island saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He may have escaped from the sea, but justice won’t let him live.”

5 Paul shook the snake into the fire and wasn’t harmed. 6 The people were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they had waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

7 A man named Publius, who was the governor of the island, had property around the area. He welcomed us and treated us kindly, and for three days we were his guests. 8 His father happened to be sick in bed. He was suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, placed his hands on him, and made him well.

9 After that had happened, other sick people on the island went to Paul and were made well. 10 They showed respect for us in many ways, and when we were going to set sail, they put whatever we needed on board.

28:1–10   Show me unusual kindness. Welcome me out of the cold rain and warm me up. Show your power even when I’m not sure where I am.

Paul Sails from Malta to Rome

11 After three months we sailed on an Alexandrian ship that had spent the winter at the island. The ship had the gods Castor and Pollux carved on its front. 12 We stopped at the city of Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13 We sailed from Syracuse and arrived at the city of Rhegium. The next day a south wind began to blow, and two days later we arrived at the city of Puteoli. 14 In Puteoli we discovered some believers who begged us to spend a week with them.

15 Believers in Rome heard that we were coming, so they came as far as the cities of Appius’ Market and Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt encouraged. So we finally arrived in the city of Rome.[33] 16 After our arrival, Paul was allowed to live by himself, but he had a soldier who guarded him.

28:11–16   Bring brothers and sisters close to me. I’ll thank you and feel encouraged.

Paul in Rome

17 After three days Paul invited the most influential Jews in Rome to meet with him. When they assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, I haven’t done anything against the Jewish people or violated the customs handed down by our ancestors. Yet, I’m a prisoner from Jerusalem, and I’ve been handed over to the Roman authorities. 18 The Roman authorities cross-examined me and wanted to let me go because I was accused of nothing for which I deserved to die. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal my case to the emperor. That doesn’t mean I have any charges to bring against my own people. 20 That’s why I asked to see you and speak with you. I’m wearing these chains because of what Israel hopes for.”

28:17–20   No one could accuse him of anything deserving death, but he was in chains because of you. Teach me to turn my difficulties into opportunities to talk about you.

21 The Jewish leaders told Paul, “We haven’t received any letters from Judea about you, and no Jewish person who has come to Rome has reported or mentioned anything bad about you. 22 However, we would like to hear what you think. We know that everywhere people are talking against this sect.”

23 On a designated day a larger number of influential Jews ⌞than expected⌟ went to the place where Paul was staying. From morning until evening, Paul was explaining the kingdom of God to them. He was trying to convince them about Jesus from Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets. 24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others continued to disbelieve.

28:21–24   I’ll explain your kingdom to everyone I can. I’ll tell them your story from beginning to end. I can open my mouth, but I can’t make anyone believe.

25 The Jews, unable to agree among themselves, left after Paul had quoted this particular passage to them: “How well the Holy Spirit spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah! 26 The Spirit said: ‘Go to these people and say,

“You will hear clearly but never understand.

You will see clearly but never comprehend.

27 These people have become close-minded

and hard of hearing.

They have shut their eyes

so that their eyes never see.

Their ears never hear.

Their minds never understand.

And they never turn to me for healing.” ’

28 “You need to know that God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. They will listen.”[34]

28:25–28   Have mercy on people who hear but don’t understand. Open their minds. Let them look to you and be healed.

30 Paul rented a place to live for two full years and welcomed everyone who came to him. 31 He spread the message about God’s kingdom and taught very boldly about the Lord Jesus Christ. No one stopped him.

28:30–31   I’ll spread the message of your kingdom and teach about you boldly. Don’t let anyone stop me.

ROMANS

INTRODUCTION

Romans explains how people can get right with God. In this majestic letter to believers in Rome, the apostle Paul communicates the core truths of Christian faith, moving with fluent logic from the bad news of human sin to the good news of salvation through Jesus.

Paul has no shame about the good news. “It is God’s power to save everyone who believes,” he asserts, the means by which God approves people (Romans 1:16). All human beings need saving because sin holds us all captive. We have all rejected truths he revealed about himself through creation (Romans 1:19–20). Even though the Lord made his power and goodness obvious in everything he made, we stubbornly refuse to change the way we think and act.

God judges all people guilty, because “all people have sinned,” falling far short of his glorious perfection (Romans 3:23). But the Lord freely approves people as an act of sheer kindness. He forgives all who have faith in Jesus, who paid the price to set people free from sin (Romans 3:24). Because of God’s kindness we now have peace with God and can approach him boldly, certain we stand in his favor (Romans 5:1–2). Sin earned us the reward of death, but God gives us the free gift of everlasting life (Romans 6:23). Through his Spirit, God remakes us (Romans 8:9).

Those are the most basic facts of Christian belief, but they are lessons for a lifetime. Praying this book leads you to deep truth and assures you of eternity with God in heaven.

ROMANS

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Greeting

1

1 From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and appointed to spread the Good News of God.

2 (God had already promised this Good News through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3 This Good News is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.[1] In his human nature he was a descendant of David. 4 In his spiritual, holy nature he was declared the Son of God. This was shown in a powerful way when he came back to life. 5 Through him we have received God’s kindness[2] and the privilege of being apostles who bring people from every nation to the obedience that is associated with faith. This is for the honor of his name. 6 You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.)

7 To everyone in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his holy people.

Good will[3] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

1:1–7   Coming back to life proves you’re God’s Son. It’s through you I receive kindness. I belong to you, so I honor your name!

Paul’s Prayer and Desire to Visit Rome

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for every one of you because the news of your faith is spreading throughout the whole world. 9 I serve God by spreading the Good News about his Son. God is my witness that I always mention you 10 every time I pray. I ask that somehow God will now at last make it possible for me to visit you. 11 I long to see you to share a spiritual blessing with you so that you will be strengthened. 12 What I mean is that we may be encouraged by each other’s faith.

13 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to visit you. However, until now I have been kept from doing so. What I want is to enjoy some of the results of working among you as I have also enjoyed the results of working among the rest of the nations. 14 I have an obligation to those who are civilized and those who aren’t, to those who are wise and those who aren’t. 15 That’s why I’m eager to tell you who live in Rome the Good News also.

16 I’m not ashamed of the Good News. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes, Jews first and Greeks as well. 17 God’s approval is revealed in this Good News. This approval begins and ends with faith as Scripture says, “The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.”

1:8–17   I’m not ashamed of the Good News about you, because it’s the powerful way you save everyone who believes. Everyone who has your approval lives by faith.

God’s Anger against Sinful Humanity

18 God’s anger is revealed from heaven against every ungodly and immoral thing people do as they try to suppress the truth by their immoral living. 19 What can be known about God is clear to them because he has made it clear to them. 20 From the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what he made. As a result, people have no excuse. 21 They knew God but did not praise and thank him for being God. Instead, their thoughts were pointless, and their misguided minds were plunged into darkness. 22 While claiming to be wise, they became fools. 23 They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for statues that looked like mortal humans, birds, animals, and snakes.

1:18–23   You’re angry about the sinful things I do as I attempt to suppress the truth. In creation you show off your invisible qualities, so I have no excuse when I disobey.

24 For this reason God allowed their lusts to control them. As a result, they dishonor their bodies by sexual perversion with each other. 25 These people have exchanged God’s truth for a lie. So they have become ungodly and serve what is created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen!

26 For this reason God allowed their shameful passions to control them. Their women have exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 Likewise, their men have given up natural sexual relations with women and burn with lust for each other. Men commit indecent acts with men, so they experience among themselves the punishment they deserve for their perversion.

1:24–27   Lusts oppress me. I misuse and dishonor my body.

28 And because they thought it was worthless to acknowledge God, God allowed their own immoral minds to control them. So they do these indecent things. 29 Their lives are filled with all kinds of sexual sins, wickedness, and greed. They are mean. They are filled with envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, haughty, arrogant, and boastful. They think up new ways to be cruel. They don’t obey their parents, 31 don’t have any sense, don’t keep promises, and don’t show love to their own families or mercy to others. 32 Although they know God’s judgment that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do these things but also approve of others who do them.

1:28–32   When I don’t acknowledge your existence and reign, I put myself under the control of my corrupt mind. Free me from the evil that enslaves me!

God Will Judge Everyone

2

1 No matter who you are, if you judge anyone, you have no excuse. When you judge another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. 2 We know that God’s judgment is right when he condemns people for doing these things. 3 When you judge people for doing these things but then do them yourself, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don’t you realize that it is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act?

2:1–4   It’s your job to judge me, but I have no right to judge others. After all, you put up with me. Your kindness leads me to you. It changes how I think and act.

5 Since you are stubborn and don’t want to change the way you think and act, you are adding to the anger that God will have against you on that day when God vents his anger. At that time God will reveal that his decisions are fair. 6 He will pay all people back for what they have done. 7 He will give everlasting life to those who search for glory, honor, and immortality by persisting in doing what is good. But he will bring 8 anger and fury on those who, in selfish pride, refuse to believe the truth and who follow what is wrong. 9 There will be suffering and distress for every person who does evil, for Jews first and Greeks as well. 10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for every person who does what is good, for Jews first and Greeks as well. 11 God does not play favorites.

12 Here’s the reason: Whoever sins without having the laws in Moses’ Teachings will still be condemned to destruction. And whoever has these laws from God and sins will still be judged by them. 13 People who merely listen to the laws in Moses’ Teachings don’t have God’s approval. Rather, people who do what those laws demand will have God’s approval.

2:5–13   One day you’ll give everlasting life to everyone who searches for your glory, but you’ll bring fury on people whose pride holds them back from believing the truth.

God Will Judge People Who Are Not Jewish

14 For example, whenever non-Jews who don’t have the laws in Moses’ Teachings do by nature the things that those laws contain, they are a law to themselves even though they don’t have any of those laws. 15 They show that some requirements found in Moses’ Teachings are written in their hearts. Their consciences speak to them. Their thoughts accuse them on one occasion and defend them on another. 16 This happens as they face the day when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge people’s secret thoughts. He will use the Good News that I am spreading to make that judgment.

2:14–16   You’ll judge people who’ve never heard of your laws, because you’ve written your requirements on their hearts.

God Will Judge Jewish People

17 You call yourself a Jew, rely on the laws in Moses’ Teachings, brag about your God, 18 know what he wants, and distinguish right from wrong because you have been taught Moses’ Teachings. 19 You are confident that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in the dark, 20 an instructor of ignorant people, and a teacher of children because you have the full content of knowledge and truth in Moses’ Teachings. 21 As you teach others, are you failing to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, are you stealing? 22 As you tell others not to commit adultery, are you committing adultery? As you treat idols with disgust, are you robbing temples? 23 As you brag about the laws in Moses’ Teachings, are you dishonoring God by ignoring those laws? 24 As Scripture says, “God’s name is cursed among the nations because of you.”

25 For example, circumcision is valuable if you follow the laws in Moses’ Teachings. If you don’t follow those laws, your circumcision amounts to uncircumcision. 26 So if a man does what those laws demand, won’t he be considered circumcised even if he is uncircumcised? 27 The uncircumcised man who carries out what those laws say will condemn you for not following them. He will condemn you in spite of the fact that you are circumcised and have those laws in writing. 28 A person is not a Jew because of his appearance, nor is circumcision a matter of how the body looks. 29 Rather, a person is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is something that happens in a person’s heart. Circumcision is spiritual, not just a written rule. That person’s praise will come from God, not from people.

2:17–29   You’ll judge your ancient people, because you hold them accountable to the teachings you gave them long ago.

Everyone Is a Sinner

3

1 Is there any advantage, then, in being a Jew? Or is there any value in being circumcised? 2 There are all kinds of advantages. First of all, God entrusted them with his word.

3 What if some of them were unfaithful? Can their unfaithfulness cancel God’s faithfulness? 4 That would be unthinkable! God is honest, and everyone else is a liar, as Scripture says,

“So you hand down justice when you speak,

and you win your case in court.”

5 But if what we do wrong shows that God is fair, what should we say? Is God unfair when he vents his anger on us? (I’m arguing the way humans would.) 6 That’s unthinkable! Otherwise, how would God be able to judge the world? 7 If my lie increases the glory that God receives by showing that God is truthful, why am I still judged as a sinner? 8 Or can we say, “Let’s do evil so that good will come from it”? Some slander us and claim that this is what we say. They are condemned, and that’s what they deserve.

3:1–8   You entrusted your word to the Jews. The fact that some are unfaithful doesn’t mean you’re not perfectly faithful and honest.

9 What, then, is the situation? Do we have any advantage? Not at all. We have already accused everyone (both Jews and Greeks) of being under the power of sin, 10 as Scripture says,

“Not one person has God’s approval.

11 No one understands.

No one searches for God.

12 Everyone has turned away.

Together they have become rotten to the core.

No one does anything good,

not even one person.

13 Their throats are open graves.

Their tongues practice deception.

Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes.

14 Their mouths are full of curses and bitter resentment.

15 They run quickly to murder people.

16 There is ruin and suffering wherever they go.

17 They have not learned to live in peace.

18 They are not terrified of God.”

19 We know that whatever the Scriptures say applies to everyone under their influence, and no one can say a thing. The whole world is brought under the judgment of God. 20 Not one person can have God’s approval by any effort to follow the laws in the Scriptures. These laws show what sin is.

3:9–20   Everyone is under the power of sin. Not one person has your approval. Not a single one understands you or searches for you. Like everyone else, I just do what I want.

God Gives Us His Approval as a Gift

21 Now, the way to receive God’s approval has been made plain in a way other than the laws in the Scriptures. Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. 22 Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Jesus Christ.

3:21–22   You created a way of gaining your approval that has nothing to do with keeping rules. I receive your approval through faith in you.

There is no difference between people. 23 Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. 24 They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness[4] through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌞from sin⌟. 25 God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. 26 He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus.

27 So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith. 28 We conclude that a person has God’s approval by faith, not by his own efforts.

29 Is God only the God of the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of people who are not Jewish? Certainly, he is, 30 since it is the same God who approves circumcised people by faith and uncircumcised people through this same faith.

31 Are we abolishing the laws in the Scriptures by this faith? That’s unthinkable! Rather, we are supporting these laws.

3:23–31   There’s no doubt I’ve sinned and fall short of your perfection. But you approve me as an act of pure kindness. You paid the price to set me free from sin, and I gain your approval through faith in your blood. You make a friend of everyone who believes.

We Have God’s Approval by Faith

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1 What can we say that we have discovered about our ancestor Abraham? 2 If Abraham had God’s approval because of something he did, he would have had a reason to brag. But he could not brag to God about it. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God.”

4 When people work, their pay is not regarded as a gift but something they have earned. 5 However, when people don’t work but believe God, the one who approves ungodly people, their faith is regarded as the basis of God’s approval. 6 David says the same thing about those who are blessed: God approves of people without their earning it. David said,

7 “Blessed are those whose disobedience is forgiven

and whose sins are pardoned.

8 Blessed is the person whom the Lord no longer considers sinful.”

4:1–8   If people can get your approval by acting good, then Abraham had reason to brag. But even Abraham became your friend through faith.

9 Are only the circumcised people blessed, or are uncircumcised people blessed as well? We say, “Abraham’s faith was regarded as the basis of God’s approval.” 10 How was his faith regarded as the basis of God’s approval? Was he circumcised or was he uncircumcised at that time? He had not been circumcised. 11 Abraham’s faith was the basis of his approval by God while he was still uncircumcised. The mark of circumcision is the seal of that approval. Therefore, he is the father of every believer who is not circumcised, and their faith, too, is regarded as the basis of their approval by God. 12 He is also the father of those who not only are circumcised but also are following in the footsteps of his faith. Our father Abraham had that faith before he was circumcised.

4:9–12   Abraham’s body carried the mark of belonging to you. But that wasn’t how he received your approval.

13 So it was not by obeying the laws in Moses’ Teachings that Abraham or his descendants received the promise that he would inherit the world. Rather, he received this promise through God’s approval that comes by faith. 14 If those who obey Moses’ Teachings are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless. 15 The laws in Moses’ Teachings bring about anger. But where those laws don’t exist, they can’t be broken. 16 Therefore, the promise is based on faith so that it can be a gift.[5] Consequently, the promise is guaranteed for every descendant, not only for those who are descendants by obeying Moses’ Teachings but also for those who are descendants by believing as Abraham did. He is the father of all of us, 17 as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.”

4:13–16   None of Abraham’s descendants won your approval by following Moses’ Teachings. Approval came though faith in your promise. It’s your simple gift to me and everyone who believes.

Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist. 18 When there was nothing left to hope for, Abraham still hoped and believed. As a result, he became a father of many nations, as he had been told: “That is how many descendants you will have.” 19 Abraham didn’t weaken. Through faith he regarded the facts: His body was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old, and Sarah was unable to have children. 20 He didn’t doubt God’s promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, giving honor to God ⌞for the promise⌟, he became strong because of faith 21 and was absolutely confident that God would do what he promised. 22 That is why Abraham’s faith was regarded as the basis of his approval by God.

4:17–22   Abraham believed your impossible promises, having absolute confidence you would do as you said. Through faith he became right with you.

23 But the words “his faith was regarded as the basis of his approval by God” were written not only for him 24 but also for us. Our faith will be regarded as the basis of our approval by God—each of us who believe in the one who brought Jesus, our Lord, back to life. 25 Jesus, our Lord, was handed over to death because of our failures and was brought back to life so that we could receive God’s approval.

We Are at Peace with God because of Jesus

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1 Now that we have God’s approval by faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. 2 Through Christ we can approach God[6] and stand in his favor.[7] So we brag because of our confidence that we will receive glory from God. 3 But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, 4 endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. 5 We’re not ashamed to have this confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

5:1–5   I have your peace because of what you’ve done. Now I can approach you with confidence and stand in your favor.

6 Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. 7 Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. 8 Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us.

5:6–8   I was completely helpless when you died for me, still a sinner through and through. There’s no bigger proof of your love!

9 Since Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God’s anger. 10 If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. 11 In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ lets us continue to brag about God. After all, it is through Christ that we now have this restored relationship with God.

5:9–11   Your blood spares me from wrath. While I was still your enemy, you restored my relationship with you. How can you not save me now?

A Comparison between Adam and Christ

12 Sin came into the world through one person, and death came through sin. So death spread to everyone, because everyone sinned. 13 Sin was in the world before there were any laws. But no record of sin can be kept when there are no laws. 14 Yet, death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin in the same way Adam did when he disobeyed. Adam is an image of the one who would come.

15 There is no comparison between ⌞God’s⌟ gift and ⌞Adam’s⌟ failure. If humanity died as the result of one person’s failure, it is certainly true that God’s kindness[8] and the gift given through the kindness of one person, Jesus Christ, have been showered on humanity.

5:12–15   When Adam brought sin into the world, death spread to all people. But you showered humanity with kindness.

16 There is also no comparison between ⌞God’s⌟ gift and the one who sinned. The verdict which followed one person’s failure condemned everyone. But, even after many failures, the gift brought God’s approval. 17 It is certain that death ruled because of one person’s failure. It’s even more certain that those who receive God’s overflowing kindness and the gift of his approval will rule in life because of one person, Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, everyone was condemned through one failure, and everyone received God’s life-giving approval through one verdict. 19 Clearly, through one person’s disobedience humanity became sinful, and through one person’s obedience humanity will receive God’s approval. 20 The laws in Moses’ Teachings were added to increase the failure. But where sin increased, God’s kindness increased even more. 21 As sin ruled by bringing death, God’s kindness would rule by bringing us his approval. This results in our living forever because of Jesus Christ our Lord.

5:16–21   Because of Adam’s failure, death rules humankind. But because I’ve received your overflowing kindness, I’ll rule in life. Because of you, I’ll live forever!

No Longer Slaves to Sin, but God’s Servants

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1 What should we say then? Should we continue to sin so that God’s kindness[9] will increase? 2 That’s unthinkable! As far as sin is concerned, we have died. So how can we still live under sin’s influence?

6:1–2   It’s stupid to think I should keep sinning so you can show me more kindness. I died to sin, so I won’t let it control me.

3 Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 When we were baptized into his death, we were placed into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life. 5 If we’ve become united with him in a death like his, certainly we will also be united with him when we come back to life as he did. 6 We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies. Because of this we are no longer slaves to sin. 7 The person who has died has been freed from sin.

6:3–7   In baptism I was put in the tomb with you. Just as you were brought back from the dead, I too can rise to a new life. My old self was crucified with you, so I’m no longer sin’s slave.

8 If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, who was brought back to life, will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once and for all to sin’s power. But now he lives, and he lives for God. 11 So consider yourselves dead to sin’s power but living for God in the power Christ Jesus gives you.

6:8–11   If I died with you, I’ll also live with you. Sin no longer has me in its grip. Help me live in the power you give me!

12 Therefore, never let sin rule your physical body so that you obey its desires. 13 Never offer any part of your body to sin’s power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of. 14 Certainly, sin shouldn’t have power over you because you’re not controlled by God’s laws, but by God’s favor.[10]

15 Then what is the implication? Should we sin because we are not controlled by God’s laws but by God’s favor? That’s unthinkable! 16 Don’t you know that if you offer to be someone’s slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting obedience be your master leads to God’s approval. 17 You were slaves to sin. But I thank God that you have become wholeheartedly obedient to the teachings which you were given. 18 Freed from sin, you were made slaves who do what God approves of.

6:12–18   I won’t let sin rule me. I offer all of myself to you, because I’m controlled by your favor!

19 I’m speaking in a human way because of the weakness of your corrupt nature. Clearly, you once offered all the parts of your body as slaves to sexual perversion and disobedience. This led you to live disobedient lives. Now, in the same way, offer all the parts of your body as slaves that do what God approves of. This leads you to live holy lives. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from doing what God approves of.

21 What did you gain by doing those things? You’re ashamed of what you used to do because it ended in death. 22 Now you have been freed from sin and have become God’s slaves. This results in a holy life and, finally, in everlasting life. 23 The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

6:19–23   My corrupt nature is weak. I’ve used my body to commit all kinds of sin. But now I dedicate myself to a holy life. My sin earned me death, but you give me everlasting life for free!

7

1 Don’t you realize, brothers and sisters, that laws have power over people only as long as they are alive? (I’m speaking to people who are familiar with Moses’ Teachings.) 2 For example, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, that marriage law is no longer in effect for her. 3 So if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she will be called an adulterer. But if her husband dies, she is free from this law, so she is not committing adultery if she marries another man.

4 In the same way, brothers and sisters, you have died to the laws in Moses’ Teachings through Christ’s body. You belong to someone else, the one who was brought back to life.

As a result, we can do what God wants. 5 While we were living under the influence of our corrupt nature, sinful passions were at work throughout our bodies. Stirred up by the laws in Moses’ Teachings, our sinful passions did things that result in death. 6 But now we have died to those laws that bound us. God has broken their effect on us so that we are serving in a new spiritual way, not in an old way dictated by written words.

7:1–6   Laws only have a claim on the living. They can’t control me after I’m dead. So when I died with you, I also died to religious rules. I’m free to do what you want.

Moses’ Laws Show What Sin Is

7 What should we say, then? Are the laws in Moses’ Teachings sinful? That’s unthinkable! In fact, I wouldn’t have recognized sin if those laws hadn’t shown it to me. For example, I wouldn’t have known that some desires are sinful if Moses’ Teachings hadn’t said, “Never have wrong desires.” 8 But sin took the opportunity provided by this commandment and made me have all kinds of wrong desires. Clearly, without laws sin is dead. 9 At one time I was alive without any laws. But when this commandment came, sin became alive 10 and I died. I found that the commandment which was intended to bring me life actually brought me death. 11 Sin, taking the opportunity provided by this commandment, deceived me and then killed me.

12 So the laws in Moses’ Teachings are holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good. 13 Now, did something good cause my death? That’s unthinkable! Rather, my death was caused by sin so that sin would be recognized for what it is. Through a commandment sin became more sinful than ever.

7:7–13   It’s not as if Moses’ laws are bad. They teach me to recognize sin. Alert me when I do wrong!

God’s Standards Are at War with Sin’s Standards

14 I know that God’s standards in Moses’ Teachings are spiritual, but I have a corrupt nature, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I don’t realize what I’m doing. I don’t do what I want to do. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 I don’t do what I want to do, but I agree that God’s standards are good. 17 So I am no longer the one who is doing the things I hate, but sin that lives in me is doing them.

18 I know that nothing good lives in me; that is, nothing good lives in my corrupt nature. Although I have the desire to do what is right, I don’t do it. 19 I don’t do the good I want to do. Instead, I do the evil that I don’t want to do. 20 Now, when I do what I don’t want to do, I am no longer the one who is doing it. Sin that lives in me is doing it.

7:14–20   My corrupt nature is in bondage to sin. It controls me so completely that I do what I hate. I don’t live up to your standards.

21 So I’ve discovered this truth: Evil is present with me even when I want to do what God’s standards say is good. 22 I take pleasure in God’s standards in my inner being. 23 However, I see a different standard ⌞at work⌟ throughout my body. It is at war with the standards my mind sets and tries to take me captive to sin’s standards which still exist throughout my body. 24 What a miserable person I am! Who will rescue me from my dying body? 25 I thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ rescues me! So I am obedient to God’s standards with my mind, but I am obedient to sin’s standards with my corrupt nature.

7:21–25   I intend to stay away from evil but don’t. I want to do the right thing but can’t. I need you to rescue me from my wretchedness!

God’s Spirit Makes Us His Children

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1 So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned. 2 The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death. 3 It is impossible to do what God’s standards demand because of the weakness our human nature has. But God sent his Son to have a human nature as sinners have and to pay for sin. That way God condemned sin in our corrupt nature. 4 Therefore, we, who do not live by our corrupt nature but by our spiritual nature, are able to meet God’s standards in Moses’ Teachings.

5 Those who live by the corrupt nature have the corrupt nature’s attitude. But those who live by the spiritual nature have the spiritual nature’s attitude. 6 The corrupt nature’s attitude leads to death. But the spiritual nature’s attitude leads to life and peace. 7 This is so because the corrupt nature has a hostile attitude toward God. It refuses to place itself under the authority of God’s standards because it can’t. 8 Those who are under the control of the corrupt nature can’t please God. 9 But if God’s Spirit lives in you, you are under the control of your spiritual nature, not your corrupt nature.

8:1–8   Because I believe in you, I’m no longer condemned. I can never live up to your standards, but you paid for my sins in full. You set me free to live according to a new spiritual nature.

Whoever doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ doesn’t belong to him. 10 However, if Christ lives in you, your bodies are dead because of sin, but your spirits are alive because you have God’s approval. 11 Does the Spirit of the one who brought Jesus back to life live in you? Then the one who brought Christ back to life will also make your mortal bodies alive by his Spirit who lives in you.

8:9–11   Your Spirit dwells in me and controls me. I live by the same power that brought you back to life!

12 So, brothers and sisters, we have no obligation to live the way our corrupt nature wants us to live. 13 If you live by your corrupt nature, you are going to die. But if you use your spiritual nature to put to death the evil activities of the body, you will live. 14 Certainly, all who are guided by God’s Spirit are God’s children. 15 You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “Abba![11] Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 If we are his children, we are also God’s heirs. If we share in Christ’s suffering in order to share his glory, we are heirs together with him.

8:12–17   I’m no longer a fearful slave. Because of you I cry out, “Abba! Father!”

God’s Spirit Helps Us

18 I consider our present sufferings insignificant compared to the glory that will soon be revealed to us. 19 All creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal who his children are. 20 Creation was subjected to frustration but not by its own choice. The one who subjected it to frustration did so in the hope 21 that it would also be set free from slavery to decay in order to share the glorious freedom that the children of God will have. 22 We know that all creation has been groaning with the pains of childbirth up to the present time.

23 However, not only creation groans. We, who have the Spirit as the first of God’s gifts, also groan inwardly. We groan as we eagerly wait for our adoption, the freeing of our bodies ⌞from sin⌟. 24 We were saved with this hope in mind. If we hope for something we already see, it’s not really hope. Who hopes for what can be seen? 25 But if we hope for what we don’t see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

8:18–25   The suffering I go through now is nothing compared to the glory you’ll reveal to me. Sin filled creation with decay, but you’re setting everything free.

26 At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don’t know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words. 27 The one who searches our hearts knows what the Spirit has in mind. The Spirit intercedes for God’s people the way God wants him to.

8:26–27   Help me when I don’t know how to pray. Intercede for me with my groans too deep for words!

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan. 29 This is true because he already knew his people and had already appointed them to have the same form as the image of his Son. Therefore, his Son is the firstborn among many children. 30 He also called those whom he had already appointed. He approved of those whom he had called, and he gave glory to those whom he had approved of.

8:28–30   I love you and I’m called according to your plan. So you’ll work all things together for my good. Nothing will get in the way of your shaping me into your image.

31 What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over ⌞to death⌟ for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him. 33 Who will accuse those whom God has chosen? God has approved of them. 34 Who will condemn them? Christ has died, and more importantly, he was brought back to life. Christ has the highest position in heaven. Christ also intercedes for us. 35 What will separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or violent death separate us from his love? 36 As Scripture says:

“We are being killed all day long because of you.

We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered.”

8:31–36   If you’re for me, who can be against me? If you were willing to die for me, won’t you supply everything else I need? I have your approval, so nothing can take away your love.

37 The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties. 38 I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us.[12] We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces 39 or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.

8:37–39   You give me an overwhelming victory in all my troubles. Nothing can separate me from your love. Absolutely nothing!

Paul’s Concern for the Jewish People

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1 As a Christian, I’m telling you the truth. I’m not lying. The Holy Spirit, along with my own thoughts, supports me in this. 2 I have deep sorrow and endless heartache. 3 I wish I could be condemned and cut off from Christ for the sake of others who, like me, are Jewish by birth. 4 They are Israelites, God’s adopted children. They have the Lord’s glory, the pledges,[13] Moses’ Teachings, the true worship, and the promises. 5 The Messiah is descended from their ancestors according to his human nature. The Messiah is God over everything, forever blessed. Amen.

9:1–5   You have endless heartache for your ancient people. They have all your glory—all your promises, your teaching, and true worship.

6 Now it is not as though God’s word has failed. Clearly, not everyone descended from Israel is part of Israel 7 or a descendant of Abraham. However, ⌞as Scripture says,⌟ “Through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name.” 8 This means that children born by natural descent ⌞from Abraham⌟ are not necessarily God’s children. Instead, children born by the promise are considered Abraham’s descendants.

9 For example, this is what the promise said, “I will come back at the right time, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 The same thing happened to Rebekah. Rebekah became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac. 11 Before the children had been born or had done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told that the older child would serve the younger one. This was said to Rebekah so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice, 12 a choice based on God’s call and not on anything people do.[14] 13 The Scriptures say, “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.”

9:6–13   It’s not as if your word failed. But only children born of your promise are Abraham’s descendants.

14 What can we say—that God is unfair? That’s unthinkable! 15 For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.” 16 Therefore, God’s choice does not depend on a person’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

17 For example, Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I put you here for this reason: to demonstrate my power through you and to spread my name throughout the earth.” 18 Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will.

9:14–18   You’re never unfair. You’re entitled to show kindness to one person and make another person stubborn. It all depends on your mercy.

19 You may ask me, “Why does God still find fault with anyone? Who can resist whatever God wants to do?”

20 Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?” 21 A potter has the right to do whatever he wants with his clay. He can make something for a special occasion or something for everyday use from the same lump of clay.

22 If God wants to demonstrate his anger and reveal his power, he can do it. But can’t he be extremely patient with people who are objects of his anger because they are headed for destruction? 23 Can’t God also reveal the riches of his glory to people who are objects of his mercy and who he had already prepared for glory? 24 This is what God did for us whom he called—whether we are Jews or not.

9:19–24   I won’t talk back to my maker. You have the right to demonstrate your anger and reveal your power however you want. You can give your glorious riches to whomever you choose.

God Chose People Who Are Not Jewish

25 As God says in Hosea:

“Those who are not my people

I will call my people.

Those who are not loved

I will call my loved ones.

26 Wherever they were told,

‘You are not my people,’

they will be called children of the living God.”

27 Isaiah also says about Israel:

“Although the descendants of Israel are

as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore,

only a few will be saved.

28 The Lord will carry out his sentence on the land,

completely and decisively.”

29 This is what Isaiah predicted:

“If the Lord of Armies hadn’t left us some descendants,

we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.”

30 So what can we say? We can say that non-Jewish people who were not trying to gain God’s approval won his approval, an approval based on faith. 31 The people of Israel tried to gain God’s approval by obeying the laws in Moses’ Teachings, but they did not reach their goal. 32 Why? They didn’t rely on faith to gain God’s approval, but they relied on their own efforts. They stumbled over the rock that trips people. 33 As Scripture says,

“I am placing a rock in Zion that people trip over,

a large rock that people find offensive.

Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed.”

9:25–33   Israel tried to get right with you by obeying Moses’ Teaching. But instead you gave approval to people who weren’t even looking for it. It’s an approval based on faith, so I won’t count on my own accomplishments to get right with you!

If You Believe You Will Be Saved

10

1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of the Jewish people is that they would be saved. 2 I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God, but they are misguided. 3 They don’t understand ⌞how to receive⌟ God’s approval. So they try to set up their own way to get it, and they have not accepted God’s way for receiving his approval. 4 Christ is the fulfillment of Moses’ Teachings so that everyone who has faith may receive God’s approval.

10:1–8   Israel was deeply devoted but misguided. They didn’t understand how to receive your approval. They devised their own plan to draw close to you.

5 Moses writes about receiving God’s approval by following his laws. He says, “The person who obeys these laws will live because he obeys them.” 6 However, Scripture says about God’s approval which is based on faith, “Don’t ask yourself who will go up to heaven,” (that is, to bring Christ down). 7 “Don’t ask who will go down into the depths,” (that is, to bring Christ back from the dead). 8 However, what else does it say? “This message is near you. It’s in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the message of faith that we spread. 9 If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be saved. 10 By believing you receive God’s approval, and by declaring your faith you are saved. 11 Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed.”

10:9–11   If I believe that you’re Lord and that you’ve come back from the dead, I’ll be saved. By believing I receive your approval. By declaring my faith I’m saved!

12 There is no difference between Jews and Greeks. They all have the same Lord, who gives his riches to everyone who calls on him. 13 So then, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

10:12–13   You have the same plan for everyone. Whoever calls on you will be saved!

14 But how can people call on him if they have not believed in him? How can they believe in him if they have not heard his message? How can they hear if no one tells ⌞the Good News⌟? 15 How can people tell the Good News if no one sends them? As Scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announce the Good News.” 16 But not everyone has believed the Good News.

Isaiah asks, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message that is heard is what Christ spoke.

10:14–16   People can’t believe in you if they never hear the Good News. So send me and many others to announce your message.

18 But I ask, “Didn’t they hear that message?” Certainly they did! “The voice of the messengers has gone out into the whole world and their words to the ends of the earth.”

19 Again I ask, “Didn’t Israel understand ⌞that message⌟?” Moses was the first to say, “I will make you jealous of people who are not a nation. I will make you angry about a nation that doesn’t understand.” 20 Isaiah said very boldly, “I was found by those who weren’t looking for me. I was revealed to those who weren’t asking for me.” 21 Then Isaiah said about Israel, “All day long I have stretched out my hands to disobedient and rebellious people.”

10:17–21   Faith comes from hearing the message you spoke. Now let your message sink deep into my soul.

God’s Continuing Love for Jewish People

11

1 So I ask, “Has God rejected his people Israel?” That’s unthinkable! Consider this. I’m an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he knew long ago. Don’t you know what Elijah says in the Scripture passage when he complains to God about Israel? He says, 3 “Lord, they’ve killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.” 4 But what was God’s reply? God said, “I’ve kept 7,000 people for myself who have not knelt to worship Baal.” 5 So, as there were then, there are now a few left that God has chosen by his kindness.[15] 6 If they were chosen by God’s kindness, they weren’t chosen because of anything they did. Otherwise, God’s kindness wouldn’t be kindness.

11:1–6   You haven’t rejected Israel. You’ve chosen some as an act of kindness, not because of anything they’ve done.

7 So what does all this mean? It means that Israel has never achieved what it has been striving for. However, those whom God has chosen have achieved it. The minds of the rest of Israel were closed, 8 as Scripture says,

“To this day God has given them a spirit of deep sleep.

Their eyes don’t see,

and their ears don’t hear!”

9 And David says,

“Let the table set for them become a trap and a net,

a snare and a punishment for them.

10 Let their vision become clouded so that they cannot see.

Let them carry back-breaking burdens forever.”

11:7–10   I can never achieve what I strive for. I find you only because you choose me. I get salvation as an act of your pure kindness.

11 So I ask, “Has Israel stumbled so badly that it can’t get up again?” That’s unthinkable! By Israel’s failure, salvation has come to people who are not Jewish to make the Jewish people jealous. 12 The fall of the Jewish people made the world spiritually rich. Their failure made people who are not Jewish spiritually rich. So the inclusion of Jewish people will make the world even richer.

13 Now, I speak to you who are not Jewish. As long as I am an apostle sent to people who are not Jewish, I bring honor to my ministry. 14 Perhaps I can make my people jealous and save some of them. 15 If Israel’s rejection means that the world has been brought back to God, what does Israel’s acceptance mean? It means that Israel has come back to life.

11:11–15   Israel hasn’t fallen so badly that it can’t get back up. Help your people return to you.

16 If the first handful of dough is holy, the whole batch of dough is holy. If the root is holy, the branches are holy. 17 But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree. 18 So don’t brag about being better than the other branches. If you brag, remember that you don’t support the root, the root supports you. 19 “Well,” you say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted onto the tree.” 20 That’s right! They were broken off because they didn’t believe, but you remain on the tree because you do believe. Don’t feel arrogant, but be afraid. 21 If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you, either. 22 Look at how kind and how severe God can be. He is severe to those who fell, but kind to you if you continue to hold on to his kindness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off ⌞from the tree⌟.

11:16–22   I’m no better than branches you cut off. So there’s no room for me to brag. I’ll continue to hold on to your kindness.

23 If Jewish people do not continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted onto the tree again, because God is able to do that. 24 In spite of the fact that you have been cut from a wild olive tree, you have been grafted onto a cultivated one. So wouldn’t it be easier for these natural branches to be grafted onto the olive tree they belong to?

25 Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won’t become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God’s non-Jewish people are included. 26 In this way Israel as a whole will be saved, as Scripture says,

“The Savior will come from Zion.

He will remove godlessness from Jacob.

27 My promise[16] to them will be fulfilled

when I take away their sins.”

11:23–27   You’ve closed the minds of some of Israel until you’ve finished welcoming others. One day you’ll save your ancient people.

28 The Good News made the Jewish people enemies because of you. But by God’s choice they are loved because of their ancestors. 29 God never changes his mind when he gives gifts or when he calls someone. 30 In the past, you disobeyed God. But now God has been merciful to you because of the disobedience of the Jewish people. 31 In the same way, the Jewish people have also disobeyed so that God may be merciful to them as he was to you. 32 God has placed all people into the prison of their own disobedience so that he could be merciful to all people.

33 God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep

that it is impossible to explain his decisions

or to understand his ways.

34 “Who knows how the Lord thinks?

Who can become his adviser?”

35 Who gave the Lord something

which the Lord must pay back?

36 Everything is from him and by him and for him.

Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

11:28–36   You made a choice to love Israel, and you’ll never go back on your decision. It’s impossible to understand your ways. Glory belongs to you forever!

Dedicate Your Lives to God

12

1 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. 2 Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

12:1   Because of your marvelous compassion, I’ll make myself a living sacrifice to you. This is an act of appropriate worship.

12:2   I won’t be like everyone else. I’ll change how I think. Then I’ll always know what you want.

3 Because of the kindness[17] that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers. 4 Our bodies have many parts, but these parts don’t all do the same thing. 5 In the same way, even though we are many individuals, Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other. 6 God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts. If your gift is speaking what God has revealed, make sure what you say agrees with the Christian faith. 7 If your gift is serving, then devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. 8 If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.

12:3–8   I want to see myself as you do—nothing more, nothing less. Then I’ll know how to use the unique gifts you put in me.

9 Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good. 10 Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other. 11 Don’t be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord. 12 Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble, and pray continually. 13 Share what you have with God’s people who are in need. Be hospitable.

12:9–13   Help me to love sincerely and to hate evil. Give me energy to serve you in every way, in every minute of my day.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless them, and don’t curse them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don’t think that you are smarter than you really are.

17 Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble. 18 As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone. 19 Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord.” 20 But,

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him a drink.

If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed.”

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good.

12:14–21   I’m done paying back the evil others do to me. I’ll leave revenge to you. Instead I’ll conquer evil with good.

Obey the Government

13

1 Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn’t been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. 2 Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves.

3 People who do what is right don’t have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you. 4 The government is God’s servant working for your good.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid. The government has the right to carry out the death sentence. It is God’s servant, an avenger to execute God’s anger on anyone who does what is wrong. 5 Therefore, it is necessary for you to obey, not only because you’re afraid of God’s anger but also because of your own conscience.

13:1–5   As long as I do right, I have no reason to fear the government. You make the government your servant. It works for my good, and it executes your anger on anyone who does wrong.

6 That is also why you pay your taxes. People in the government are God’s servants while they do the work he has given them. 7 Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person.

13:6–7   I’ll pay everyone what I owe them—taxes, tolls, respect, honor.

Love One Another

8 Pay your debts as they come due. However, one debt you can never finish paying is the debt of love that you owe each other. The one who loves another person has fulfilled Moses’ Teachings. 9 The commandments, “Never commit adultery; never murder; never steal; never have wrong desires,” and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 10 Love never does anything that is harmful to a neighbor. Therefore, love fulfills Moses’ Teachings.

13:8–10   I can never love others enough. When I love, I fulfill every one of your teachings.

11 You know the times ⌞in which we are living⌟. It’s time for you to wake up. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers. 12 The night is almost over, and the day is near. So we should get rid of the things that belong to the dark and take up the weapons that belong to the light. 13 We should live decently, as people who live in the light of day. Wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, and jealousy cannot be part of our lives. 14 Instead, live like the Lord Jesus Christ did, and forget about satisfying the desires of your corrupt nature.

13:11–14   It’s time for me to wake up. The night is over, and your day is almost here. I’ll live in the light of day. Help me keep wild sin out of my life.

How to Treat Christians Who Are Weak in Faith

14

1 Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don’t get into an argument over differences of opinion. 2 Some people believe that they can eat all kinds of food. Other people with weak faith believe that they can eat only vegetables. 3 People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people. 4 Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? The Lord will determine whether his servant has been successful. The servant will be successful because the Lord makes him successful.

14:1–4   Stop me from arguing about subjects where everyone has an opinion. It’s not my job to criticize your servants. You’re the one who does the evaluating.

5 One person decides that one day is holier than another. Another person decides that all days are the same. Every person must make his own decision. 6 When people observe a special day, they observe it to honor the Lord. When people eat all kinds of foods, they honor the Lord as they eat, since they give thanks to God. Vegetarians also honor the Lord when they eat, and they, too, give thanks to God. 7 It’s clear that we don’t live to honor ourselves, and we don’t die to honor ourselves. 8 If we live, we honor the Lord, and if we die, we honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this reason Christ died and came back to life so that he would be the Lord of both the living and the dead.

14:5–9   I don’t live or die for my own honor. It’s for you that I exist.

10 Why do you criticize or despise other Christians? Everyone will stand in front of God to be judged. 11 Scripture says,

“As certainly as I live, says the Lord,

everyone will worship me,

and everyone will praise God.”

12 All of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God.

13 So let’s stop criticizing each other. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make other Christians have doubts or lose their faith.

14:10–13   I’m not sure why I feel a need to look down on other Christians. My most important task is to worship you. I’ve made up my mind to avoid doing anything that makes others doubt.

14 The Lord Jesus has given me the knowledge and conviction that no food is unacceptable in and of itself. But it is unacceptable to a person who thinks it is. 15 So if what you eat hurts another Christian, you are no longer living by love. Don’t destroy anyone by what you eat. Christ died for that person. 16 Don’t allow anyone to say that what you consider good is evil.

17 God’s kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God’s kingdom consists of God’s approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives. 18 The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people.

14:14–18   If my conscience doesn’t bother me but my choices hurt other Christians, then I’m not living in love. I’ll work hard not to destroy people you died for.

19 So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other. 20 Don’t ruin God’s work because of what you eat. All food is acceptable, but it’s wrong for a person to eat something if it causes someone else to have doubts. 21 The right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that causes another Christian to have doubts. 22 So whatever you believe about these things, keep it between yourself and God. The person who does what he knows is right shouldn’t feel guilty. He is blessed. 23 But if a person has doubts and still eats, he is condemned because he didn’t act in faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin.

14:19–23   I’ll make choices that bring peace and do good. Help me see when my actions make others doubt. I’ll keep my opinions between you and me.

15

1 So those of us who have a strong ⌞faith⌟ must be patient with the weaknesses of those whose ⌞faith⌟ is not so strong. We must not think only of ourselves. 2 We should all be concerned about our neighbor and the good things that will build his faith. 3 Christ did not think only of himself. Rather, as Scripture says, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

15:1–3   I’ll quit thinking only about myself. Don’t let me shirk my responsibility to show concern for my neighbor.

God Gives Us Unity

4 Everything written long ago was written to teach us so that we would have confidence through the endurance and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. 5 May God, who gives you this endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other by following the example of Christ Jesus. 6 Then, having the same goal, you will praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15:4–6   Your word gives me endurance and encouragement. So let me live in harmony with others and always follow your example.

7 Therefore, accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you. He did this to bring glory to God. 8 Let me explain. Christ became a servant for the Jewish people to reveal God’s truth. As a result, he fulfilled God’s promise to the ancestors of the Jewish people. 9 People who are not Jewish praise God for his mercy as well. This is what the Scriptures say,

“That is why I will give thanks to you among the nations

and I will sing praises to your name.”

10 And Scripture says again,

“You nations, be happy together with his people!”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you nations!

Praise him, all you people of the world!”

12 Again, Isaiah says,

“There will be a root from Jesse.

He will rise to rule the nations,

and he will give the nations hope.”

13 May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

15:7–13   I want to accept others the way you accept me. Then you’ll receive glory. Fill me up with joy, peace, and hope!

Paul’s Desire to Tell the Good News to the World

14 I’m convinced, brothers and sisters, that you, too, are filled with goodness. I’m also convinced that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to instruct each other. 15 However, I’ve written you a letter, parts of which are rather bold, as a reminder to you. I’m doing this because God gave me the gift 16 to be a servant of Christ Jesus to people who are not Jewish. I serve as a priest by spreading the Good News of God. I do this in order that I might bring the nations to God as an acceptable offering, made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17 So Christ Jesus gives me the right to brag about what I’m doing for God. 18 I’m bold enough to tell you only what Christ has done through me to bring people who are not Jewish to obedience. By what I have said and done, 19 by the power of miraculous and amazing signs, and by the power of God’s Spirit, I have finished spreading the Good News about Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum.

15:14–19   I need you to remind me what you’re up to in the world. Show me how and where I can serve you best. Through your Spirit give me everything I need to tell your story.

20 My goal was to spread the Good News where the name of Christ was not known. I didn’t want to build on a foundation which others had laid. 21 As Scripture says,

“Those who were never told about him will see,

and those who never heard will understand.”

22 This is what has so often kept me from visiting you. 23 But now I have no new opportunities for work in this region. For many years I have wanted to visit you. 24 Now I am on my way to Spain, so I hope to see you when I come your way. After I have enjoyed your company for a while, I hope that you will support my trip to Spain.

15:20–24   I want to spread the Good News where you’re not known. Send me as your light to dark places.

25 Right now I’m going to Jerusalem to bring help to the Christians there. 26 Because the believers in Macedonia and Greece owe a debt to the Christians in Jerusalem, they have decided to take up a collection for the poor among the Christians in Jerusalem. 27 These Macedonians and Greeks have shared the spiritual wealth of the Christians in Jerusalem. So they are obligated to use their earthly wealth to help them.

28 When the collection is completed and I have officially turned the money over to the Christians in Jerusalem, I will visit you on my way to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you I will bring the full blessing of Christ.

15:25–29   Show me where I can use my earthly wealth to do good.

30 Brothers and sisters, I encourage you through our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that the Spirit creates, to join me in my struggle. Pray to God for me 31 that I will be rescued from those people in Judea who refuse to believe. Pray that God’s people in Jerusalem will accept the help I bring. 32 Also pray that by the will of God I may come to you with joy and be refreshed when I am with you.

33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

15:30–33   I’ll join in the struggle to spread your news. I’ll pray for your messengers.

Farewell

16

1 With this letter I’m introducing Phoebe to you. She is our sister in the Christian faith and a deacon[18] of the church in the city of Cenchrea. 2 Give her a Christian welcome that shows you are God’s holy people. Provide her with anything she may need, because she has provided help to many people, including me.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in the service of Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives to save me. I’m thankful to them and so are all the churches among the nations. 5 Also greet the church that meets in their house.

Greet my dear friend Epaenetus. He was the first person in the province of Asia to become a believer in Christ.

6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, who are Jewish by birth like me. They are prisoners like me and are prominent among the apostles. They also were Christians before I was.

8 Greet Ampliatus my dear friend in the service of the Lord.

9 Greet Urbanus our coworker in the service of Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

10 Greet Apelles, a true Christian.

Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.

11 Greet Herodion, who is Jewish by birth like me.

Greet those Christians who belong to the family of Narcissus.

12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard for the Lord.

Greet dear Persis, who has worked very hard for the Lord.

13 Greet Rufus, that outstanding Christian, and his mother, who has been a mother to me too.

14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them.

15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all God’s people who are with them.

16 Greet each other with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ greet you.

16:1–16   Give me Christian brothers and sisters I can serve alongside. I need people to live and die with.

17 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to watch out for those people who create divisions and who make others fall away ⌞from the Christian faith⌟ by teaching doctrine that is not the same as you have learned. Stay away from them. 18 People like these are not serving Christ our Lord. They are serving their own desires. By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive unsuspecting people.

16:17–18   Alert me to false teachers who serve their own desires. Guard me from being deceived.

19 Everyone has heard about your obedience and this makes me happy for you. I want you to do what is good and to avoid what is evil. 20 The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. May the good will[19] of our Lord Jesus be with you!

21 Timothy my coworker greets you; so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, who are Jewish by birth like me.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, send you Christian greetings.

23 Gaius greets you. He is host to me and the whole church.

Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you.

Quartus, our brother in the Christian faith, greets you.[20]

16:19–23   I want to do good and avoid evil. Crush Satan under my feet. Let your kindness be with me.

25 God can strengthen you by the Good News and the message I tell about Jesus Christ. He can strengthen you by revealing the mystery that was kept in silence for a very long time 26 but now is publicly known. The everlasting God ordered that what the prophets wrote must be shown to the people of every nation to bring them to the obedience that is associated with faith. 27 God alone is wise. Glory belongs to him through Jesus Christ forever! Amen.

16:25–27   Strengthen me through your Good News. You alone are wise. Glory belongs to you forever!

1 CORINTHIANS

INTRODUCTION

First Corinthians teaches believers how to get along. The apostle Paul founded the church in Corinth, the most successful trade center of ancient Greece and a metropolis famed for sports contests rivaling the Olympics, sophisticated multiculturalism, intense religiousity, and unchecked sin that included widespread temple prostitution.

Paul passed through Corinth on his second missionary journey. Acts 18:1–18 details how he worked for eighteen months to establish a flourishing gathering of believers. After he left, severe problems soon arose among this mixture of pagans and Jews, slaves and wealthy. The apostle urges these new Christians to accept the simple message of Christ crucified and to quit arguing about loyalties to various spiritual leaders. He calls out their sexual sin and gives advice about marriage. He commands the Corinthians not to abuse their spiritual freedom and cause others to fall from faith.

This book is best known, however, for its famous description of love: “Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant” (1 Corinthians 13:4). These words come from the Corinthian situation to inspire love within marriage and every situation of life. Yet they’re actually set between two chapters on the necessity of believers using their gifts to help each other grow up spiritually. Paul informs Christians that they belong to each other as one body, and that each has a spiritual gift bestowed by God for the benefit of all.

Praying 1 Corinthians urges you to grow up, put your life in order, and show love to everyone in your world.

1 CORINTHIANS

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Greeting

1

1 From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and from Sosthenes, our brother in the Christian faith.

2 To God’s church that was made holy by Christ Jesus and called to be God’s holy people in the city of Corinth and to people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Good will[1] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

1:1–3   You’re making me and your people holy—all of us who call on your name. Your kindness is with me!

4 I always thank God for you because Christ Jesus has shown you God’s good will. 5 Through Christ Jesus you have become rich in every way—in speech and knowledge of every kind. 6 Our message about Christ has been verified among you. 7 Therefore, you don’t lack any gift as you wait eagerly for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will continue to give you strength until the end so that no one can accuse you of anything on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God faithfully keeps his promises. He called you to be partners with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1:4–9   You make me rich in everything I see and know. You fill me with gifts and keep me strong to the end.

God’s Wisdom Is Better Than the World’s Wisdom

10 Brothers and sisters, I encourage all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to agree with each other and not to split into opposing groups. I want you to be united in your understanding and opinions. 11 Brothers and sisters, some people from Chloe’s family have made it clear to me that you are quarreling among yourselves. 12 This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,”[2] or “I follow Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God that[3] I didn’t baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 I also baptized Stephanas and his family. Beyond that, I’m not sure whether I baptized anyone else. 17 Christ didn’t send me to baptize. Instead, he sent me to spread the Good News. I didn’t use intellectual arguments. That would have made the cross of Christ lose its meaning.

1:10–16   Bring me into authentic agreement with my spiritual brothers and sisters. Unite our understanding and opinions.

18 The message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. 19 Scripture says,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.

I will reject the intelligence of intelligent people.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the persuasive speaker of our time? Hasn’t God turned the wisdom of the world into nonsense? 21 The world with its wisdom was unable to recognize God in terms of his own wisdom. So God decided to use the nonsense of the Good News we speak to save those who believe. 22 Jews ask for miraculous signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but our message is that Christ was crucified. This offends Jewish people and makes no sense to people who are not Jewish. 24 But to those Jews and Greeks who are called, he is Christ, God’s power and God’s wisdom. 25 God’s nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

1:17–25   You destroy worldly wisdom and intelligence, saving everyone who believes through the nonsense of the Good News, which has your crucifixion at its core. I won’t cling to human arguments, because they empty your cross of its meaning.

26 Brothers and sisters, consider what you were when God called you to be Christians. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view. You were not in powerful positions or in the upper social classes. 27 But God chose what the world considers nonsense to put wise people to shame. God chose what the world considers weak to put what is strong to shame. 28 God chose what the world considers ordinary and what it despises—what it considers to be nothing—in order to destroy what it considers to be something. 29 As a result, no one can brag in God’s presence. 30 You are partners with Christ Jesus because of God. Jesus has become our wisdom sent from God, our approval, our holiness, and our ransom from sin. 31 As Scripture says, “Whoever brags must brag about what the Lord has done.”

1:26–31   You didn’t call me because I was wise or powerful or popular. You picked an ordinary person and became my righteousness, my holiness, my ransom from sin.

2

1 Brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I didn’t speak about God’s mystery[4] as if it were some kind of brilliant message or wisdom. 2 While I was with you, I decided to deal with only one subject—Jesus Christ, who was crucified. 3 When I came to you, I was weak. I was afraid and very nervous. 4 I didn’t speak my message with persuasive intellectual arguments. I spoke my message with a show of spiritual power 5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.

2:1–5   The Good News isn’t some kind of brilliant message or wisdom. It’s all about you—and you crucified.

6 However, we do use wisdom to speak to those who are mature. It is a wisdom that doesn’t belong to this world or to the rulers of this world who are in power today and gone tomorrow. 7 We speak about the mystery of God’s wisdom. It is a wisdom that has been hidden, which God had planned for our glory before the world began. 8 Not one of the rulers of this world has known it. If they had, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as Scripture says:

“No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

the things that God has prepared

for those who love him.”

2:6–9   For the mature, you have real wisdom, a mystery the rulers of this world can’t understand. No one can begin to imagine what you’ve prepared for people who love you.

10 God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, especially the deep things of God. 11 After all, who knows everything about a person except that person’s own spirit? In the same way, no one has known everything about God except God’s Spirit. 12 Now, we didn’t receive the spirit that belongs to the world. Instead, we received the Spirit who comes from God so that we could know the things which God has freely given us. 13 We don’t speak about these things using teachings that are based on intellectual arguments like people do. Instead, we use the Spirit’s teachings. We explain spiritual things to those who have the Spirit.[5]

14 A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the teachings of God’s Spirit. He thinks they’re nonsense. He can’t understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them. 15 Spiritual people evaluate everything but are subject to no one’s evaluation.

16 “Who has known the mind of the Lord

so that he can teach him?”

However, we have the mind of Christ.

2:10–16   I know deep things by your Spirit. Someone who isn’t spiritual can’t accept your teachings, but you’ve given me your mind.

You Belong to Christ

3

1 Brothers and sisters, I couldn’t talk to you as spiritual people but as people still influenced by your corrupt nature. You were infants in your faith in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink. I didn’t give you solid food because you weren’t ready for it. Even now you aren’t ready for it 3 because you’re still influenced by your corrupt nature.

3:1–2   You can’t talk to me as a spiritual person as long as I’m still influenced by my corrupt nature. You can’t give me solid food if I’m still an infant in faith.

When you are jealous and quarrel among yourselves, aren’t you influenced by your corrupt nature and living by human standards? 4 When some of you say, “I follow Paul” and others say, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting like ⌞sinful⌟ humans? 5 Who is Apollos? Who is Paul? They are servants who helped you come to faith. Each did what the Lord gave him to do. 6 I planted, and Apollos watered, but God made it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is important because ⌞only⌟ God makes it grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have the same goal, and each will receive a reward for his own work. 9 We are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field.

3:3–8   The quarrels I have with other Christians show I still live by human standards. None of my spiritual mentors is the ultimate cause of my growth. You are.

You are God’s building. 10 As a skilled and experienced builder, I used the gift[6] that God gave me to lay the foundation ⌞for that building⌟. However, someone else is building on it. Each person must be careful how he builds on it. 11 After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 People may build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw. 13 The day will make what each one does clearly visible because fire will reveal it. That fire will determine what kind of work each person has done. 14 If what a person has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If his work is burned up, he will suffer ⌞the loss⌟. However, he will be saved, though it will be like going through a fire.

16 Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him because God’s temple is holy. You are that holy temple!

3:9–17   I’m your building. Make me solid from the foundation on up, able to stand through your fiery test. I’m your temple, and your Spirit lives in me.

18 Don’t deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise in the ways of this world, you should give up that wisdom in order to become really wise. 19 The wisdom of this world is nonsense in God’s sight. That’s why Scripture says, “God catches the wise in their cleverness.” 20 Again Scripture says, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are pointless.”

21 So don’t brag about people. Everything belongs to you. 22 Whether it is Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life or death, present or future things, everything belongs to you. 23 You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

3:18–23   I won’t brag about myself or my taste in popular preachers. Wisdom and everything else belongs to you.

The Work of the Apostles

4

1 People should think of us as servants of Christ and managers who are entrusted with God’s mysteries. 2 Managers are required to be trustworthy.

3 It means very little to me that you or any human court should cross-examine me. I don’t even ask myself questions. 4 I have a clear conscience, but that doesn’t mean I have God’s approval. It is the Lord who cross-examines me. 5 Therefore, don’t judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will also bring to light what is hidden in the dark and reveal people’s motives. Then each person will receive praise from God.

4:1–5   You require trustworthiness from the servants of your message. They answer to you.

6 Brothers and sisters, I have applied this to Apollos and myself for your sake. You should learn from us not to go beyond what is written in Scripture. Then you won’t arrogantly place one of us in opposition to the other.

7 Who says that you are any better than other people? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? If you were given what you have, why are you bragging as if it weren’t a gift?

8 You already have what you want! You’ve already become rich! You’ve become kings without us! I wish you really were kings so that we could be kings with you.

4:6–8   It’s foolish to go beyond what you wrote in Scripture. And I’m not better than anyone else. There’s not a thing I possess that you didn’t give me.

9 As I see it, God has placed us apostles last in line, like people condemned to die. We have become a spectacle for people and angels to look at. 10 We have given up our wisdom for Christ, but you have insight because of Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. 11 To this moment, we are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, and homeless. 12 We wear ourselves out doing physical labor. When people verbally abuse us, we bless them. When people persecute us, we endure it. 13 When our reputations are attacked, we remain courteous. Right now we have become garbage in the eyes of the world and trash in the sight of all people.

4:9–13   I act like I’m better than your true apostles. I have everything, but they have nothing. I act like I figured out your truth all on my own.

14 I’m not writing this to make you feel ashamed but to instruct you as my dear children. 15 You may have countless Christian guardians, but you don’t have many ⌞spiritual⌟ fathers. I became your father in the Christian life by telling you the Good News about Christ Jesus. 16 So I encourage you to imitate me. 17 That’s why I’ve sent Timothy to you to help you remember my Christian way of life as I teach it everywhere in every church. Timothy is my dear child, and he faithfully does the Lord’s work.

18 Some of you have become arrogant because you think I won’t pay you a visit. 19 If it’s the Lord’s will, I’ll visit you soon. Then I’ll know what these arrogant people are saying and what power they have. 20 God’s kingdom is not just talk, it is power.

21 When I come to visit you, would you prefer that I punish you or show you love and a gentle spirit?

4:14–21   I should value the spiritual leaders who told me the Good News about you. There’s no room for me to be arrogant toward the faithful teachers you bring my way.

How to Treat Christians Who Live Like Non-Christians

5

1 Your own members are aware that there is sexual sin going on among them. This kind of sin is not even heard of among unbelievers—a man is actually married to his father’s wife. 2 You’re being arrogant when you should have been more upset about this. If you had been upset, the man who did this would have been removed from among you. 3 Although I’m not physically present with you, I am with you in spirit. I have already judged the man who did this as though I were present with you. 4 When you have gathered together, I am with you in spirit. Then, in the name of our Lord Jesus, and with his power, 5 hand such a person over to Satan to destroy his corrupt nature so that his spiritual nature may be saved on the day of the Lord.

5:1–5   Catch me when I boast about things that should embarrass me. You hold your people accountable for sexual sin.

6 It’s not good for you to brag. Don’t you know that a little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough? 7 Remove the old yeast ⌞of sin⌟ so that you may be a new batch of dough, since you don’t actually have the yeast ⌞of sin⌟.

Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 So we must not celebrate our festival with the old yeast ⌞of sin⌟ or with the yeast of vice and wickedness. Instead, we must celebrate it with the bread of purity and truth that has no yeast.

5:6–8   A little bit of sin spreads everywhere—and to everyone. You sacrificed yourself for my sins, so I’ll rid my life of every vice. You want me full of purity and truth.

9 In my letter to you I told you not to associate with people who continue to commit sexual sins. 10 I didn’t tell you that you could not have any contact with unbelievers who commit sexual sins, are greedy, are dishonest, or worship false gods. If that were the case, you would have to leave this world. 11 Now, what I meant was that you should not associate with people who call themselves brothers or sisters in the Christian faith but live in sexual sin, are greedy, worship false gods, use abusive language, get drunk, or are dishonest. Don’t eat with such people.

12 After all, do I have any business judging those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟? Isn’t it your business to judge those who are inside? 13 God will judge those who are outside. Remove that wicked man from among you.

5:9–13   It’s impossible to escape unbelievers who ignore your rules. But you expect me to urge my brothers and sisters to obedience. Teach me how to do that.

Settling Disagreements between Christians

6

1 When one of you has a complaint against another, how dare you go to court to settle the matter in front of wicked people. Why don’t you settle it in front of God’s holy people? 2 Don’t you know that God’s people will judge the world? So if you’re going to judge the world, aren’t you capable of judging insignificant cases? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels, not to mention things in this life? 4 When you have cases dealing with this life, why do you allow people whom the church has a low opinion of to be your judges? 5 You should be ashamed of yourselves! Don’t you have at least one wise person who is able to settle disagreements between believers? 6 Instead, one believer goes to court against another believer, and this happens in front of unbelievers.

7 You are already totally defeated because you have lawsuits against each other. Why don’t you accept the fact that you have been wronged? Why don’t you accept that you have been cheated? 8 Instead, you do wrong and cheat, and you do this to other believers.

6:1–8   Dragging another Christian to court shows how totally defeated I am. It’s better to let go of a wrong than to ask unbelievers to settle our disputes.

9 Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit the kingdom of God? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals, 10 or thieves, those who are greedy or drunk, who use abusive language, or who rob people will not inherit the kingdom of God. 11 That’s what some of you were! But you have been washed and made holy, and you have received God’s approval in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

6:9–11   I once was totally wicked, unqualified to inherit your kingdom. But you washed me and made me holy. I’ve been approved in your name.

Stay Away from Sexual Sins

12 Someone may say, “I’m allowed to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but I won’t allow anything to gain control over my life. 13 Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food, but God will put an end to both of them. However, the body is not for sexual sin but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14 God brought the Lord back to life, and by his power God will also bring us back to life.

15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are parts of Christ’s body? Should I take the parts of Christ’s body and make them parts of a prostitute’s body? That’s unthinkable! 16 Don’t you realize that the person who unites himself with a prostitute becomes one body with her? God says, “The two will be one.” 17 However, the person who unites himself with the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

6:12–17   I might have freedom to do anything, but alert me to anything that doesn’t help me. Shake me when harmful things take control of my life.

18 Stay away from sexual sins. Other sins that people commit don’t affect their bodies the same way sexual sins do. People who sin sexually sin against their own bodies. 19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves. 20 You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body.

6:18–20   Sexual sin damages my body, the place your Spirit chooses to dwell. You paid a high price for me, so I’ll use my body to bring you glory.

Advice about Marriage

7

1 Now, concerning the things that you wrote about: It’s good for men not to get married. 2 But in order to avoid sexual sins, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

3 Husbands and wives should satisfy each other’s ⌞sexual⌟ needs. 4 A wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

5 Don’t withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together so that Satan doesn’t use your lack of self-control to tempt you. 6 What I have just said is not meant as a command but as a suggestion. 7 I would like everyone to be like me. However, each person has a special gift from God, and these gifts vary from person to person.

7:1–7   Marriage helps me avoid sexual sin, because you made spouses to meet each others’ needs. I won’t withhold myself and cause temptation for myself or my spouse.

8 I say to those who are not married, especially to widows: It is good for you to stay single like me. 9 However, if you cannot control your desires, you should get married. It is better for you to marry than to burn ⌞with sexual desire⌟.

7:8–9   Being single is a highly valuable thing, if you give it to me as a gift.

10 I pass this command along (not really I, but the Lord): A wife shouldn’t leave her husband. 11 If she does, she should stay single or make up with her husband. Likewise, a husband should not divorce his wife.

12 I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If any Christian man is married to a woman who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any Christian woman is married to a man who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce her husband. 14 Actually, the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and an unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, their children would be unacceptable ⌞to God⌟, but now they are acceptable to him. 15 But if the unbelieving partners leave, let them go. Under these circumstances a Christian man or Christian woman is not bound ⌞by a marriage vow⌟. God has called you to live in peace. 16 How do you as a wife know whether you will save your husband? How do you as a husband know whether you will save your wife?

17 Everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him when God called him. This is the guideline I use in every church.

18 Any man who was already circumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t undo his circumcision. Any man who was uncircumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t get circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and the lack of it is nothing. But keeping what God commands is everything. 20 All people should stay as they were when they were called. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? That shouldn’t bother you. However, if you have a chance to become free, take it. 22 If the Lord called you when you were a slave, you are the Lord’s free person. In the same way, if you were free when you were called, you are Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought for a price. Don’t become anyone’s slaves. 24 Brothers and sisters, you should remain in whatever circumstances you were in when God called you. God is with you in those circumstances.

25 Concerning virgins: Even though I don’t have any command from the Lord, I’ll give you my opinion. I’m a person to whom the Lord has shown mercy, so I can be trusted. 26 Because of the present crisis I believe it is good for people to remain as they are. 27 Do you have a wife? Don’t seek a divorce. Are you divorced from your wife? Don’t look for another one. 28 But if you do get married, you have not sinned. If a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will have trouble, and I would like to spare them from that.

7:10–28   With your help, I’ll stay with my spouse forever. I’ll live at peace with the person to whom I pledged my life. I’ll do my utmost to help my spouse meet you.

29 This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time has been shortened. While it lasts, those who are married should live as though they were not. 30 Those who have eyes filled with tears should live as though they have no sorrow. Those who are happy should live as though there was nothing to be happy about. Those who buy something should live as though they didn’t own it. 31 Those who use the things in this world should do so but not depend on them. It is clear that this world in its present form is passing away.

7:29–31   This world is passing away. The time is short and my focus should be on you. Don’t let things of this world consume me. I’ll use them but not give them my heart.

32 So I don’t want you to have any concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, ⌞that is,⌟ about how he can please the Lord. 33 But the married man is concerned about earthly things, ⌞that is,⌟ about how he can please his wife. 34 His attention is divided.

An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s things so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about earthly things, ⌞that is,⌟ about how she can please her husband. 35 I’m saying this for your benefit, not to restrict you. I’m showing you how to live a noble life of devotion to the Lord without being distracted by other things.

36 No father would want to do the wrong thing when his virgin daughter is old enough to get married. If she wants to get married, he isn’t sinning by letting her get married. 37 However, a father may have come to a decision about his daughter. If his decision is to keep her ⌞at home⌟ because she doesn’t want to get married, that’s fine. 38 So it’s fine for a father to give his daughter in marriage, but the father who doesn’t give his daughter in marriage does even better.

39 A married woman must remain with her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if the man is a Christian.[7] 40 However, she will be more blessed if she stays as she is. That is my opinion, and I think that I, too, have God’s Spirit.

7:32–40   Marriage demands my constant attention. But train me to live fully devoted to you. Don’t let anything distract me from your concerns.

Advice about Food Offered to False Gods

8

1 Now, concerning food offered to false gods: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up. 2 Those who think they know something still have a lot to learn. 3 But if they love God, they are known by God.

8:1–3   Everyone has an opinion about everything. What matters is love. If I think I know it all, I still have a lot to learn.

4 Now about eating food that was offered to false gods: We know that the false gods in this world don’t really exist and that no god exists except the one God. 5 People may say that there are gods in heaven and on earth—many gods and many lords, as they would call them. 6 But for us,

“There is only one God, the Father.

Everything came from him, and we live for him.

There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ.

Everything came into being through him,

and we live because of him.”

7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are so used to worshiping false gods that they believe they are eating food offered to a false god. So they feel guilty because their conscience is weak.

8:4–7   There’s no such thing as a false god, but some people don’t know that. They’re ignorant that you’re the one and only Lord.

8 Food will not affect our relationship with God. We are no worse off if we eat ⌞that food⌟ and no better off if we don’t. 9 But be careful that by using your freedom you don’t somehow make a believer who is weak in faith fall into sin. 10 For example, suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you, who have this knowledge, eating in the temple of a false god. Won’t you be encouraging that person to eat food offered to a false god? 11 In that case, your knowledge is ruining a believer whose faith is weak, a believer for whom Christ died. 12 When you sin against other believers in this way and harm their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ.

13 Therefore, if eating food ⌞offered to false gods⌟ causes other believers to lose their faith, I will never eat that kind of food so that I won’t make other believers lose their faith.

8:9–13   I don’t want to abuse my freedom. I won’t give anyone an excuse to go against his conscience. We would both be guilty of sin.

Paul’s Right to Be Paid for His Work as an Apostle

9

1 Don’t you agree that I’m a free man? Don’t you agree that I’m an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren’t you the result of my work for the Lord? 2 If I’m not an apostle to other people, at least I’m an apostle to you. You are the seal which proves that I am the Lord’s apostle. 3 This is how I defend myself to those who cross-examine me. 4 Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take our wives along with us like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas[8] do? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who don’t have any rights, except to find work to support ourselves?

9:1–6   You made Paul an apostle. You gave him every right to people’s support.

7 Does a soldier ever serve in the army at his own expense? Does anyone plant a vineyard and not eat the grapes? Does anyone take care of a flock and not drink milk from the sheep? 8 Am I merely stating some human rule? Don’t Moses’ Teachings say the same thing? 9 Moses’ Teachings say, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing[9] grain.” God’s concern isn’t for oxen. 10 Isn’t he speaking entirely for our benefit? This was written for our benefit so that the person who plows or threshes should expect to receive a share of the crop. 11 If we have planted the spiritual seed that has been of benefit to you, is it too much if we receive part of the harvest from your earthly goods? 12 If others have the right to expect this from you, don’t we deserve even more? But we haven’t used our rights. Instead, we would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News of Christ in any way.

9:7–11   Show me where I’ve undermined workers who plow your field. Teach me how to meet their needs. They deserve a share of the crop.

13 Don’t you realize that those who work at the temple get their food from the temple? Don’t those who help at the altar get a share of what is on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who spread the Good News should earn their living from the Good News.

15 I haven’t used any of these rights, and I haven’t written this in order to use them now. I would rather die than have anyone turn my bragging into meaningless words. 16 If I spread the Good News, I have nothing to brag about because I have an obligation to do this. How horrible it will be for me if I don’t spread the Good News! 17 If I spread the Good News willingly, I’ll have a reward. But if I spread the Good News unwillingly, I’m ⌞only⌟ doing what I’ve been entrusted to do.

18 So what is my reward? It is to spread the Good News free of charge. In that way I won’t use the rights that belong to those who spread the Good News.

9:12–18   People who spread your Good News should earn their living from their work. Paul laid down his rights to not hinder your work. But I won’t put that expectation on all your servants.

Paul’s Work as an Apostle

19 Although I’m free from all people, I have made myself a slave for all people to win more of them. 20 I became Jewish for Jewish people. I became subject to the laws in Moses’ Teachings for those who are subject to those laws. I did this to win them even though I’m not subject to Moses’ Teachings. 21 I became like a person who does not have Moses’ Teachings for those who don’t have those teachings. I did this to win them even though I have God’s teachings. I’m really subject to Christ’s teachings. 22 I became like a person weak in faith to win those who are weak in faith. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some of them. 23 I do all this for the sake of the Good News in order to share what it offers.

9:19–23   I’ll do whatever it takes to be able to share your Good News. Show me how to connect with people completely unlike me.

24 Don’t you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. 25 Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. 26 So I run—but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box—but not as if I were just shadow boxing. 27 Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.

9:24–27   I run fast with a clear goal in mind. I don’t let my body’s demands get in the way of spreading your Good News.

Learn from What Happened in the Time of Moses

10

1 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that all our ancestors ⌞who left Egypt⌟ were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea. 2 They were all united with Moses by baptism in the cloud and in the sea. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet, God was not pleased with most of them, so their dead bodies were scattered over the desert.

10:1–5   You rescued your people from slavery. You satisfied their hunger and quenched their thirst. Why wouldn’t they stop rebelling against you?

6 These things have become examples for us so that we won’t desire what is evil, as they did. 7 So don’t worship false gods as some of them did, as Scripture says, “The people sat down to a feast which turned into an orgy.” 8 We shouldn’t sin sexually as some of them did. Twenty-three thousand of them died on one day. 9 We shouldn’t put the Lord[10] to the test as some of them did. They were killed by snakes. 10 Don’t complain as some of them did. The angel of death destroyed them. 11 These things happened to make them an example for others. These things were written down as a warning for us who are living in the closing days of history. 12 So, people who think they are standing firmly should be careful that they don’t fall.

10:6–12   One glance at your people shows why I don’t want any part of evil. The consequences they faced are your warning to me. Shake me when I think I stand firm. That’s a sign I’m about to fall.

13 There isn’t any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps his promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, he will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape.

10:13   There’s no such thing as a new temptation. But you’re always faithful, and you won’t let me be tempted beyond what I can resist. Show me your way of escape!

Stay Away from Worshiping False Gods

14 Therefore, my dear friends, get as far away from the worship of false gods as you can.

15 I’m talking to intelligent people. Judge for yourselves what I’m saying. 16 When we bless the cup of blessing aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? When we break the bread aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we are one body, although we are many individuals. All of us share one loaf.

18 Look at the people of Israel from a human point of view. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices share what is on the altar? 19 Do I mean that an offering made to a false god is anything, or that a false god itself is anything? 20 Hardly! What I am saying is that these sacrifices which people make are made to demons and not to God. I don’t want you to be partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the cup of demons. You cannot participate at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?

10:14–22   I’ll get as far away from false gods as I can. I won’t worship them. You’re the only cup I drink from!

23 Someone may say, “I’m allowed to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth. 24 People should be concerned about others and not just about themselves. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the market without letting your conscience trouble you. 26 Certainly, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything it contains is his.” 27 If an unbeliever invites you ⌞to his house for dinner⌟, and you wish to go, eat anything he serves you without letting your conscience trouble you. 28 However, if someone says to you, “This was sacrificed to a god,” don’t eat it because of the one who informed you and because of conscience. 29 I’m not talking about your conscience but the other person’s conscience. Why should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I give thanks to God for the food I eat, why am I condemned for that? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God. 32 Don’t cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God’s church. 33 I try to please everyone in every way. I don’t think about what would be good for me but about what would be good for many people so that they might be saved.

10:23–30   I’m allowed to do anything, but do I honestly think everything helps me? I can do whatever I want, but do I really believe everything helps me grow?

11

1 Imitate me as I imitate Christ.

10:31–11:1   Whatever I do in life, I’ll do it for your glory. I’ll think hard about how to do good for people, so they might be saved.

Advice about Worship

2 I praise you for always thinking about me and for carefully following the traditions that I handed down to you.

3 However, I want you to realize that Christ has authority over every man, a husband has authority over his wife, and God has authority over Christ. 4 Every man who covers his head when he prays or speaks what God has revealed dishonors the one who has authority over him. 5 Every woman who prays or speaks what God has revealed and has her head uncovered while she speaks dishonors the one who has authority over her. She is like the woman who has her head shaved. 6 So if a woman doesn’t cover her head, she should cut off her hair. If it’s a disgrace for a woman to cut off her hair or shave her head, she should cover her head. 7 A man should not cover his head. He is God’s image and glory. The woman, however, is man’s glory. 8 Clearly, man wasn’t made from woman but woman from man. 9 Man wasn’t created for woman but woman for man. 10 Therefore, a woman should wear something on her head to show she is under ⌞someone’s⌟ authority, out of respect for the angels.

11 Yet, as believers in the Lord, women couldn’t exist without men and men couldn’t exist without women. 12 As a woman came into existence from a man, so men come into existence by women, but everything comes from God.

13 Judge your own situation. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Doesn’t nature itself teach you that it is disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 15 Doesn’t it teach you that it is a woman’s pride to wear her hair long? Her hair is given to her in place of a covering. 16 If anyone wants to argue about this ⌞they can’t, because⌟ we don’t have any custom like this—nor do any of the churches of God.

11:2–16   I’ll speak when you want me to speak. I’ll keep silent when you tell me to hold my tongue. You’re my ultimate authority. I want my every word to come from you.

17 I have no praise for you as I instruct you in the following matter: When you gather, it results in more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you gather as a church you split up into opposing groups. I believe some of what I hear. 19 Factions have to exist in order to make it clear who the genuine believers among you are.

20 When you gather in the same place, you can’t possibly be eating the Lord’s Supper. 21 Each of you eats his own supper ⌞without waiting for each other⌟. So one person goes hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Do you despise God’s church and embarrass people who don’t have anything to eat? What can I say to you? Should I praise you? I won’t praise you for this. 23 After all, I passed on to you what I had received from the Lord.

11:17–22   Some factions make clear who genuinely believes in you. But warn me when I’m part of a split that does harm.

On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread 24 and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 When supper was over, he did the same with the cup. He said, “This cup is the new promise[11] made with my blood. Every time you drink from it, do it to remember me.” 26 Every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks from the Lord’s cup in an improper way will be held responsible for the Lord’s body and blood. 28 With this in mind, individuals must determine whether what they are doing is proper when they eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 Anyone who eats and drinks is eating and drinking a judgment against himself when he doesn’t recognize the Lord’s body.

30 This is the reason why many of you are weak and sick and quite a number ⌞of you⌟ have died. 31 If we were judging ourselves correctly, we would not be judged. 32 But when the Lord judges us, he disciplines us so that we won’t be condemned along with the rest of the world.

33 Therefore, brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, wait for each other. 34 Whoever is hungry should eat at home so that you don’t have a gathering that brings judgment on you.

I will give directions concerning the other matters when I come.

11:23–34   You gave your body for me, and on my behalf you poured out your blood. I’ll judge myself by probing my conscience before I eat the bread and drink the cup.

Spiritual Gifts

12

1 Brothers and sisters, I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding concerning spiritual gifts. 2 You know that when you were unbelievers, every time you were led to worship false gods you were worshiping gods who couldn’t even speak. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is cursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

12:1–3   I used to worship false gods. But now your Spirit enables me to call you Lord.

4 There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. 5 There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. 6 There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.

7 The evidence of the Spirit’s presence is given to each person for the common good of everyone. 8 The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The same Spirit gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge. 9 To another person the same Spirit gives ⌞courageous⌟ faith. To another person the same Spirit gives the ability to heal. 10 Another can work miracles. Another can speak what God has revealed. Another can tell the difference between spirits. Another can speak in different kinds of languages. Another can interpret languages. 11 There is only one Spirit who does all these things by giving what God wants to give to each person.

12:4–11   You give each person spiritual gifts for the good of our group. You distribute different kinds of abilities exactly as you want.

12 For example, the body is one unit and yet has many parts. As all the parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether we are Jewish or Greek, slave or free, God gave all of us one Spirit to drink.

14 As you know, the human body is not made up of only one part, but of many parts. 15 Suppose a foot says, “I’m not a hand, so I’m not part of the body!” Would that mean it’s no longer part of the body? 16 Or suppose an ear says, “I’m not an eye, so I’m not a part of the body!” Would that mean it’s no longer part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? 18 So God put each and every part of the body together as he wanted it. 19 How could it be a body if it only had one part? 20 So there are many parts but one body.

12:12–21   I’m one part of your whole body. Forgive me when I convince myself my gift is useless. Forgive me for all the times I’ve made another part feel unneeded.

21 An eye can’t say to a hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 The opposite is true. The parts of the body that we think are weaker are the ones we really need. 23 The parts of the body that we think are less honorable are the ones we give special honor. So our unpresentable parts are made more presentable. 24 However, our presentable parts don’t need this kind of treatment. God has put the body together and given special honor to the part that doesn’t have it. 25 God’s purpose was that the body should not be divided but rather that all of its parts should feel the same concern for each other. 26 If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts share its suffering. If one part is praised, all the others share in its happiness.

12:22–26   I’ll respect the weakest parts of the body, because you give them the most honor of all. If one part suffers, I’ll suffer with it. If one part is honored, I’ll share its happiness.

27 You are Christ’s body and each of you is an individual part of it. 28 In the church God has appointed first apostles, next prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, then those who have the gift of healing, then those who help others, those who are managers, and those who can speak in a number of languages. 29 Not all believers are apostles, are they? Are all of them prophets? Do all of them teach? Do all of them perform miracles 30 or have gifts of healing? Can all of them speak in other languages or interpret languages?

31 You ⌞only⌟ want the better gifts, but I will show you the best thing to do.[12]

12:27–31   Not everyone has the same gift. Show me how different gifts work together best.

Love

13

1 I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned.[13] But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me.

13:1–3   I can have every kind of spectacular spiritual gift, but if I don’t have love, I’m nothing. I might sacrifice everything, but nothing matters without love.

4 Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant. 5 It isn’t rude. It doesn’t think about itself. It isn’t irritable. It doesn’t keep track of wrongs. 6 It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.

13:4–7   Love is patient and kind. It doesn’t put itself first. It doesn’t hang on to wrongs. Love never stops doing good.

8 Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used. 9 Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete. 10 But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will no longer be used. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways. 12 Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me.

13 So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love.

13:8–13   Keep me growing in love, because love never ends. Give me complete knowledge of you, so I grasp what real love looks like.

Speak in Ways That Can Be Understood

14

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed. 2 When a person speaks in another language, he doesn’t speak to people but to God. No one understands him. His spirit is speaking mysteries. 3 But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he speaks to people to help them grow, to encourage them, and to comfort them. 4 When a person speaks in another language, he helps himself grow. But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he helps the church grow. 5 I wish that all of you could speak in other languages, but especially that you could speak what God has revealed. The person who speaks what God has revealed is more important than the person who speaks in other languages. This is true unless he can interpret what he says to help the church grow. 6 Brothers and sisters, it wouldn’t do you any good if I came to you speaking in other languages, unless I explained revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine to you.

7 Musical instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. If there is no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played? 8 For example, if the trumpet doesn’t sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 In the same way, if you don’t speak in a way that can be understood, how will anyone know what you’re saying? You will be talking into thin air.

14:1–9   I’ll pursue love and desire your spiritual gifts. I want to speak everything you reveal and make your words understood.

10 No matter how many different languages there are in the world, not one of them is without meaning. 11 If I don’t know what a language means, I will be a foreigner to the person who speaks it and that person will be a foreigner to me. 12 In the same way, since you’re eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in them so that you help the church grow. 13 So the person who speaks in another language should pray for an interpretation of what he says.

14 If I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my mind is not productive. 15 So what does this mean? It means that I will pray with my spirit, and I will pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, and I will sing psalms with my mind. 16 Otherwise, if you praise God only with your spirit, how can outsiders say “Amen!” to your prayer of thanksgiving? They don’t know what you’re saying. 17 Your prayer of thanksgiving may be very good, but it doesn’t help other people grow. 18 I thank God that I speak in other languages more than any of you. 19 Yet, in order to teach others in church, I would rather say five words that can be understood than ten thousand words in another language.

14:10–19   Enable me to excel in spiritual gifts so I can help your church grow. Equip me with everything I need to do your work.

20 Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. When it comes to evil, be like babies, but think like mature people. 21 God’s word says,

“Through people who speak foreign languages

and through the mouths of foreigners

I will speak to these people,

but even then they will not listen to me,

says the Lord.”

22 So the gift of speaking in other languages is a sign for unbelievers, not for believers. The gift of speaking what God has revealed is a sign for believers, not for unbelievers. 23 Suppose the whole congregation gathers in the same place and you speak in other languages. When outsiders or unbelievers come in, won’t they say that you’re out of your mind? 24 Now suppose you speak what God has revealed. When unbelievers or outsiders come in you will show them where they are wrong and convince them that they are sinners. 25 The secrets in their hearts will become known, and in this way they will quickly bow with their faces touching the ground, worship God, and confess that God is truly among you.

14:20–25   I’m okay being as innocent as a baby about evil, but teach me to think like a mature adult. Convict unbelievers of their sin so they bow to you in worship.

Maintain Order in Your Worship Services

26 So what does this mean, brothers and sisters? When you gather, each person has a psalm, doctrine, revelation, another language, or an interpretation. Everything must be done to help each other grow. 27 If people speak in other languages, only two or three at the most should speak. They should do it one at a time, and someone must interpret what each person says. 28 But if an interpreter isn’t present, those people should remain silent in church. They should only speak to themselves and to God.

29 Two or three people should speak what God has revealed. Everyone else should decide whether what each person said is right or wrong. 30 If God reveals something to another person who is seated, the first speaker should be silent. 31 All of you can take your turns speaking what God has revealed. In that way, everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32 People who speak what God has revealed must control themselves. 33 God is not a God of disorder but a God of peace.

14:26–33   Teach me to worship you the way you desire. I’ll put my gifts to use when you give the right opportunity. You don’t bring disorder but peace.

As in all the churches of God’s holy people, 34 the women must keep silent. They don’t have the right to speak. They must take their place as Moses’ Teachings say. 35 If they want to know anything they should ask their husbands at home. It’s shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36 Did God’s word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

37 Whoever thinks that he speaks for God or that he is spiritually gifted must acknowledge that what I write to you is what the Lord commands. 38 But whoever ignores what I write should be ignored.

39 So, brothers and sisters, desire to speak what God has revealed, and don’t keep anyone from speaking in other languages. 40 Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

14:34–40   I don’t ever want to ignore you. I want to do everything in a proper way. Help me understand your commands.

Jesus Came Back to Life

15

1 Brothers and sisters, I’m making known to you the Good News which I already told you, which you received, and on which your faith is based. 2 In addition, you are saved by this Good News if you hold on to the doctrine I taught you, unless you believed it without thinking it over. 3 I passed on to you the most important points of doctrine that I had received:

Christ died to take away our sins as the Scriptures predicted.

4 He was placed in a tomb.

He was brought back to life on the third day as the Scriptures predicted.

5 He appeared to Cephas.[14] Next he appeared to the twelve apostles. 6 Then he appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. (Most of these people are still living, but some have died.) 7 Next he appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, he also appeared to me.

15:1–8   I’m saved by your good news, and I know the most important parts. You died to take away my sins. You were placed in a tomb. You were brought back to life after three days, as the Scriptures predicted. And you appeared to many.

I’m like an aborted fetus ⌞who was given life⌟. 9 I’m the least of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God’s church. 10 But God’s kindness[15] made me what I am, and that kindness was not wasted on me. Instead, I worked harder than all the others. It was not I who did it, but God’s kindness was with me. 11 So, whether it was I or someone else, this is the message we brought you, and this is what you believed.

15:9–11   I won’t let your kindness be wasted on me. I won’t ever abandon the truths I believe.

We Will Come Back to Life

12 If we have told you that Christ has been brought back to life, how can some of you say that coming back from the dead is impossible? 13 If the dead can’t be brought back to life, then Christ hasn’t come back to life. 14 If Christ hasn’t come back to life, our message has no meaning and your faith also has no meaning. 15 In addition, we are obviously witnesses who lied about God because we testified that he brought Christ back to life. But if it’s true that the dead don’t come back to life, then God didn’t bring Christ back to life. 16 Certainly, if the dead don’t come back to life, then Christ hasn’t come back to life either. 17 If Christ hasn’t come back to life, your faith is worthless and sin still has you in its power. 18 Then those who have died as believers in Christ no longer exist. 19 If Christ is our hope in this life only, we deserve more pity than any other people.

15:12–19   Some say the dead can’t come back to life, but you did! If you hadn’t, the Good News would have no meaning. My faith would be worthless and sin would still have me in its grip.

20 But now Christ has come back from the dead. He is the very first person of those who have died to come back to life. 21 Since a man brought death, a man also brought life back from death. 22 As everyone dies because of Adam, so also everyone will be made alive because of Christ. 23 This will happen to each person in his own turn. Christ is the first, then at his coming, those who belong to him ⌞will be made alive⌟. 24 Then the end will come. Christ will hand over the kingdom to God the Father as he destroys every ruler, authority, and power.

15:20–24   You were the first to come back to life. Because of you, I’ll come alive.

25 Christ must rule until God has put every enemy under his control. 26 The last enemy he will destroy is death. 27 Clearly, God has put everything under Christ’s authority. When God says that everything has been put under Christ’s authority, this clearly excludes God, since God has put everything under Christ’s authority. 28 But when God puts everything under Christ’s authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, since God had put everything under the Son’s authority. Then God will be in control of everything.

29 However, people are baptized because the dead ⌞will come back to life⌟. What will they do? If the dead can’t come back to life, why do people get baptized as if they can ⌞come back to life⌟?

15:25–29   You’ll put every enemy under your control. Death will be the last enemy you destroy.

30 Why are we constantly putting ourselves in danger? 31 Brothers and sisters, I swear to you on my pride in you which Christ Jesus our Lord has given me: I face death every day. 32 If I have fought with wild animals in Ephesus, what have I gained according to the way people look at things? If the dead are not brought back to life, “Let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’re going to die!” 33 Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. 34 Come back to the right point of view, and stop sinning. Some people don’t know anything about God. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

15:30–34   I’m willing to face danger to help others meet you. Use me to help them come around to the right point of view and stop sinning.

We Will Have Bodies That Will Not Decay

35 But someone will ask, “How do the dead come back to life? With what kind of body will they come back?”

36 You fool! The seed you plant doesn’t come to life unless it dies first. 37 What you plant, whether it’s wheat or something else, is only a seed. It doesn’t have the form that the plant will have. 38 God gives the plant the form he wants it to have. Each kind of seed grows into its own form. 39 Not all flesh is the same. Humans have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds have another, and fish have still another. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. Heavenly bodies don’t all have the same splendor, neither do earthly bodies. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon has another kind of splendor, and the stars have still another kind of splendor. Even one star differs in splendor from another star.

42 That is how it will be when the dead come back to life. When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay. 43 When the body is planted, it doesn’t have any splendor and is weak. When it comes back to life, it has splendor and is strong. 44 It is planted as a physical body. It comes back to life as a spiritual body. As there is a physical body, so there is also a spiritual body.

15:35–44   I’ll come back to life with a heavenly splendor. You’ll give me a body that won’t decay. I’ll never be weak again.

45 This is what Scripture says: “The first man, Adam, became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual does not come first, but the physical and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was made from the dust of the earth. He came from the earth. The second man came from heaven. 48 The people on earth are like the man who was made from the dust of the earth. The people in heaven are like the man who came from heaven. 49 As we have worn the likeness of the man who was made from the dust of the earth, we will also wear the likeness of the man who came from heaven. 50 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. What decays cannot inherit what doesn’t decay.

51 I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. 53 This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. 54 When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true:

15:45–53   I might not die before you return. You might change me at your coming, giving me a body that lives forever. My new body won’t be made of dust.

“Death is turned into victory!

55 Death, where is your victory?

Death, where is your sting?”

56 Sin gives death its sting, and God’s standards give sin its power. 57 Thank God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So, then, brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone move you off the foundation ⌞of your faith⌟. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.

15:54–58   Turn death to victory! Take away the sting of death! Give me victory through your power!

The Collection for the People in Jerusalem

16

1 Now, concerning the money to be collected for God’s people ⌞in Jerusalem⌟: I want you to do as I directed the churches in Galatia. 2 Every Sunday each of you should set aside some of your money and save it. Then money won’t have to be collected when I come. 3 When I come, I will give letters of introduction to the people whom you choose. You can send your gift to Jerusalem with them. 4 If I think it’s worthwhile for me to go, they can go with me.

16:1–4   I’ll set aside money and save it up for your work. I’ll give it to the causes that matter to you most.

Paul’s Plans

5 After I go through the province of Macedonia, I’ll visit you. (I will be going through Macedonia.) 6 I’ll probably stay with you. I might even spend the winter. Then you can give me your support as I travel, wherever I decide to go. 7 Right now all I could do is visit you briefly, but if the Lord lets me, I hope to spend some time with you. 8 I will be staying here in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 I have a great opportunity to do effective work here, although there are many people who oppose me.

16:5–9   Give me the opportunity to do effective work. Put able partners in my life.

News about Timothy, Apollos, and Others

10 If Timothy comes, make sure that he doesn’t have anything to be afraid of while he is with you. He’s doing the Lord’s work as I am, 11 so no one should treat him with contempt. Without quarreling, give him your support for his trip so that he may come to me. I’m expecting him to arrive with the other Christians.

12 Concerning Apollos, our brother in the Christian faith: I tried hard to get him to visit you with the other Christians. He didn’t want to at this time. However, he will visit you when he has an opportunity.

13 Be alert. Be firm in the Christian faith. Be courageous and strong. 14 Do everything with love.

15 You know that the family of Stephanas was the first family to be won ⌞for Christ⌟ in Greece. This family has devoted itself to serving God’s people. So I encourage you, brothers and sisters, 16 to follow the example of people like these and anyone else who shares their labor and hard work. 17 I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus came here. They have made up for your absence. 18 They have comforted me, and they have comforted you. Therefore, show people like these your appreciation.

16:10–18   I won’t treat your servants with contempt. I’ll stay alert, firm in the faith. I’ll do everything with love.

Greetings

19 The churches in the province of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca and the church that meets in their house send their warmest Christian greetings. 20 All the brothers and sisters ⌞here⌟ greet you. Greet each other with a holy kiss. 21 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand.

22 If anyone doesn’t love the Lord, let him be cursed! Our Lord, come!

23 May the good will[16] of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 Through Christ Jesus my love is with all of you.

16:19–24   Come, Lord Jesus! May your kindness be with me. Send me all your love.

2 CORINTHIANS

INTRODUCTION

Second Corinthians brings believers back in line. The problems revealed in the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians were unquestionably serious. He had been forced to address divisiveness, sexual immorality, and bickering about proper use of spiritual gifts in public worship.

Within months the situation has grown worse. The church had rejected his correction. When Paul changes his plans to visit them, they accuse him of deceit. Inspired by false apostles who had infiltrated their gathering, the Corinthian believers rebel against Paul’s leadership.

In response, the apostle launches into a painful, all-out defense of his calling to preach the good news about Jesus and shepherd his spiritual children. “Our message is not about ourselves,” he says. “It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Paul presents himself as a fragile clay jar, proof that his real power comes from God. He lives for the one who died and rose for him, and his whole life demonstrates his servanthood. He exclaims, “People can see our purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, our sincere love, truthfulness, and the presence of God’s power” (2 Corinthians 6:6–7). Paul offers a staggering list of all the ways he has suffered for God, the Corinthians, and by implication, all believers (2 Corinthians 11:16–33).

This book highlights the importance of following true messengers of Jesus and allowing them to speak into your life. Praying 2 Corinthians allows you to examine your motives as you follow Jesus and plead with the Lord for godly leaders to guide you.

2 CORINTHIANS

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11  | 12  | 13

Greeting

1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and from Timothy our brother.

To God’s church in the city of Corinth and to all God’s holy people everywhere in Greece.

2 Good will[1] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

1:1–2   I’m one of your holy people. Your kindness and peace are mine!

God Comforts Paul and the Corinthians

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who is compassionate and the God who gives comfort. 4 He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God. 5 Because Christ suffered so much for us, we can receive so much comfort from him. 6 Besides, if we suffer, it brings you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, we can effectively comfort you when you endure the same sufferings that we endure. 7 We have confidence in you. We know that as you share our sufferings, you also share our comfort.

1:3–7   Praise your compassion! Because you suffered so much, you know exactly how to comfort me. Bring me opportunities to pass along the comfort I get from you.

God Rescued Paul When He Was Suffering

8 Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about the suffering we experienced in the province of Asia. It was so extreme that it was beyond our ability to endure. We even wondered if we could go on living. 9 In fact, we still feel as if we’re under a death sentence. But we suffered so that we would stop trusting ourselves and learn to trust God, who brings the dead back to life. 10 He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us in the future. We are confident that he will continue to rescue us, 11 since you are also joining to help us when you pray for us. Then many people will thank God for the favor he will show us because many people prayed for us.

1:8–11   My suffering is more than I can endure. I feel like I’m living on death row. But I’m learning to stop trusting myself and to start relying on you.

Paul’s Reason for Being Proud

12 We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holiness[2] and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness.[3] 13 We are only writing you what you already knew before you read this. I hope you will understand this as long as you live, 14 even though you now understand it only partially. We are your reason to be proud, as you will be our reason to be proud on the day of our Lord Jesus.

1:12–14   Fill me with a holiness and sincerity that can come only from you. Let my life overflow with your kindness.

Why Paul Changed His Plans

15 Confident of this, I had previously wanted to visit you so that you could benefit twice. 16 My plans had been to go from the city of Corinth to the province of Macedonia. Then from Macedonia I had planned to return to you again in Corinth and have you support my trip to Judea.

17 You don’t think that I made these plans lightly, do you? Do you think that when I make plans, I make them in a sinful way? Why would I say that something is true when it isn’t? 18 You can depend on God. Our message to you isn’t false; it’s true. 19 God’s Son, Jesus Christ, whom I, Silvanus, and Timothy told you about, was true not false. Because of him our message was always true. 20 Certainly, Christ made God’s many promises come true. For that reason, because of our message, people also honor God by saying, “Amen!”

21 God establishes us, together with you, in a relationship with Christ. He has also anointed us. 22 In addition, he has put his seal ⌞of ownership⌟ on us and has given us the Spirit as his guarantee.

23 I appeal to God as a witness on my behalf, that I stayed away from Corinth because I wanted to spare you. 24 It isn’t that we want to have control over your Christian faith. Rather, we want to work with you so that you will be happy. Certainly, you are firmly established in the Christian faith.

1:15–24   Give me words as honest as Paul’s. Give me energy to focus on others’ good.

2

1 I decided not to visit you again while I was distressed. 2 After all, if I had made you uncomfortable, how could you have cheered me up when you were uncomfortable?

3 This is the very reason I wrote to you. I didn’t want to visit you and be distressed by those who should make me happy. I’m confident about all of you that whatever makes me happy also makes you happy.

4 I was deeply troubled and anguished. In fact, I had tears in my eyes when I wrote to you. I didn’t write to make you uncomfortable but to let you know how much I love you.

Forgive the Person Who Sinned

5 If someone caused distress, I’m not the one really affected. To some extent—although I don’t want to emphasize this too much—it has affected all of you. 6 The majority of you have imposed a severe enough punishment on that person. 7 So now forgive and comfort him. Such distress could overwhelm someone like that if he’s not forgiven and comforted. 8 That is why I urge you to assure him that you love him. 9 I had also written to you to test you. I wanted to see if you would be obedient in every way.
10 If you forgive someone, so do I. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did in the presence of Christ for your benefit. 11 I don’t want Satan to outwit us. After all, we are not ignorant about Satan’s scheming.

2:1–11   I’m anguished when I see Christians who need stern correction. I ache to see sinners forgiven and comforted. Please don’t let Satan outwit us.

Paul’s Mission as Christ’s Spokesman

12 When I went to the city of Troas, the Lord gave me an opportunity to spread the Good News about Christ. 13 But I didn’t have any peace of mind, because I couldn’t find Titus, our brother, there. So I said goodbye to the people in Troas and went to the province of Macedonia.

14 But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It’s like a fragrance that fills the air. 15 To God we are the aroma of Christ among those who are saved and among those who are dying. 16 To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a life-giving fragrance.

Who is qualified to tell about Christ? 17 At least we don’t go around selling an impure word of God like many others. The opposite is true. As Christ’s spokesmen and in God’s presence, we speak the pure message that comes from God.

2:12–17   Give me opportunities to spread your Good News. Let me be your aroma in the place you choose.

The Ministry That Comes from Christ Is Greater Than Moses’ Ministry

3

1 Do we have to show you our qualifications again? Do we, like some people, need letters that recommend us to you or letters from you that recommend us to others? 2 You’re our letter of recommendation written in our hearts that everyone knows and reads. 3 It’s clear that you are Christ’s letter, written as a result of our ministry. You are a letter written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, a letter written not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Christ gives us confidence about you in God’s presence. 5 By ourselves we are not qualified in any way to claim that we can do anything. Rather, God makes us qualified. 6 He has also qualified us to be ministers of a new promise,[4] a spiritual promise, not a written one. Clearly, what was written brings death, but the Spirit brings life.

3:1–6   The Corinthians were Paul’s letter of recommendation—proof of his effectiveness, written in human hearts. Yet Paul didn’t take credit for his accomplishments. You gave him the skills to minister your new promise.

7 The ministry that brought death was inscribed on stone. Yet, it came with such glory that the people of Israel couldn’t look at Moses’ face. His face was shining with glory, even though that glory was fading. 8 Won’t the ministry that brings the Spirit have even more glory? 9 If the ministry that brings punishment has glory, then the ministry that brings God’s approval has an overwhelming glory. 10 In fact, the ministry that brings punishment lost its glory because of the superior glory of the other ministry. 11 If that former ministry faded away despite its glory, how much more does that ministry which remains continue to be glorious?

3:7–11   You bring the Spirit—and approval—and an overwhelming glory. Your brilliance won’t fade away.

12 Since we have confidence ⌞in the new promise⌟, we speak very boldly. 13 We are not like Moses. He kept covering his face with a veil. He didn’t want the people of Israel to see the glory fading away. 14 However, their minds became closed. In fact, to this day the same veil is still there when they read the Old Testament. It isn’t removed, because only Christ can remove it. 15 Yet, even today, when they read the books of Moses, a veil covers their minds. 16 But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 This Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. 18 As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

3:12–18   Help me live in your new promise. Remove the veil that covers my mind. Change me into your image with ever-increasing glory.

Paul Is Never Discouraged

4

1 We don’t become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy. 2 Instead, we have refused to use secret and shameful ways. We don’t use tricks, and we don’t distort God’s word. As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone. This is our ⌞letter of⌟ recommendation.

3 So if the Good News that we tell others is covered with a veil, it is hidden from those who are dying. 4 The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. As a result, they don’t see the light of the Good News about Christ’s glory. It is Christ who is God’s image.

5 Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake. 6 We are his servants because the same God who said that light should shine out of darkness has given us light. For that reason we bring to light the knowledge about God’s glory which shines from Christ’s face.

4:1–6   I won’t let discouragement overtake me, because you called me to ministry through your mercy. I won’t build my ministry on gimmicks but on your clear word. And my message isn’t about me. It’s all about you.

7 Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. 8 In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up. 9 We’re persecuted, but we’re not abandoned. We’re captured, but we’re not killed. 10 We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our bodies. 11 While we are alive, we are constantly handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our mortal nature. 12 Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

4:7–12   I’m made of common, breakable clay. Yet you’ve filled me with the riches of your Good News. It proves that power comes from you.

13 The following is written, “I believed; therefore, I spoke.” We have that same spirit of faith. We also believe; therefore, we also speak. 14 We know that the one who brought the Lord Jesus back to life will also bring us back to life through Jesus. He will present us to God together with you.

4:13–14   You’ll bring me back to life and usher me into your presence. I believe you, so I speak.

15 All this is for your sake so that, as God’s kindness[5] overflows in the lives of many people, it will produce even more thanksgiving to the glory of God. 16 That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day. 17 Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine. 18 We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen last forever.

4:15–18   Your kindness keeps me from being discouraged. My outsides wear out, but you renew my insides each day. My suffering won’t last. I’m waiting for things I can’t see.

Faith Guides Our Lives

5

1 We know that if the life we live here on earth is ever taken down like a tent, we still have a building from God. It is an eternal house in heaven that isn’t made by human hands. 2 In our present tent-like existence we sigh, since we long to put on the house we will have in heaven. 3 After we have put it on,[6] we won’t be naked. 4 While we are in this tent, we sigh. We feel distressed because we don’t want to take off the tent, but we do want to put on the eternal house. Then ⌞eternal⌟ life will put an end to our mortal existence. 5 God has prepared us for this and has given us his Spirit to guarantee it.

5:1–5   My life will be torn down like a tent, but I have an eternal home in heaven. I can’t wait.

6 So we are always confident. We know that as long as we are living in these bodies, we are living away from the Lord. 7 Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident and prefer to live away from this body and to live with the Lord. 9 Whether we live in the body or move out of it, our goal is to be pleasing to him. 10 All of us must appear in front of Christ’s judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies.

5:6–10   As long as I’m in this body, I’m too far from you. But I keep on by faith, not sight. My aim is to please you!

Christ’s Love Guides Us

11 As people who know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. God already knows what we are, and I hope that you also know what we are. 12 We are not trying to show you our qualifications again, but we are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us. Then you can answer those who are proud of their appearance rather than their character. 13 So if we were crazy, it was for God. If we are sane, it is for you. 14 Clearly, Christ’s love guides us. We are convinced of the fact that one man has died for all people. Therefore, all people have died. 15 He died for all people so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the man who died and was brought back to life for them.

5:11–15   Your love guides me. Because you died and came back to life for me, I’ll live each day for you.

16 So from now on we don’t think of anyone from a human point of view. If we did think of Christ from a human point of view, we don’t anymore. 17 Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. 18 God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. 19 In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn’t hold people’s faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. 20 Therefore, we are Christ’s representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God. 21 God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God’s approval through him.

5:16–21   I’m a new creation. My old life disappeared, and I’m into a new way of living. Make me your messenger. I’m glad to urge people to become friends with you!

6

1 Since we are God’s coworkers, we urge you not to let God’s kindness[7] be wasted on you. 2 God says,

“At the right time I heard you.

On the day of salvation I helped you.”

Listen, now is God’s acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!

6:1–2   I won’t let your kindness be wasted on me. This is the day of salvation!

Our Lives Demonstrate That We Are God’s Servants

3 We don’t give people any opportunity to find fault with how we serve. 4 Instead, our lives demonstrate that we are God’s servants. We have endured many things: suffering, distress, anxiety, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, and lack of food. 6 ⌞People can see⌟ our purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit’s presence ⌞in our lives⌟, our sincere love, 7 truthfulness, and the presence of God’s power. We demonstrate that we are God’s servants 8 as we are praised and dishonored, as we are slandered and honored, and as we use what is right to attack what is wrong and to defend the truth.[8] We are treated as dishonest although we are honest, 9 as unknown although we are well-known, as dying although, as you see, we go on living. We are punished, but we are not killed. 10 People think we are sad although we’re always glad, that we’re beggars although we make many people spiritually rich, that we have nothing although we possess everything.

11 We have been very open in speaking to you Corinthians. We have a place for you in our hearts. 12 We haven’t cut you off. Your own emotions have cut you off ⌞from us⌟. 13 I’m talking to you as I would talk to children. Treat us the same way we’ve treated you. Make a place for us in your hearts too.

6:3–13   I won’t give anyone an opportunity to fault how I serve you. I’ll prove I’m your servant through suffering, character, and power. Let everyone see the changes you’ve made in me.

Christians and Their Relationships with Unbelievers

14 Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness? 15 Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever? 16 Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said,

“I will live and walk among them.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.”

17 The Lord says, “Get away from unbelievers.

Separate yourselves from them.

Have nothing to do with anything unclean.[9]

Then I will welcome you.”

18 The Lord Almighty says, “I will be your Father,

and you will be my sons and daughters.”

6:14–18   Right and wrong can’t be partners, and I need to make a clean break with sin. Show me how to break off inappropriate relationships with people who don’t obey you.

7

1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit and live a holy life in the fear of God.

7:1   Since I have your promises, I’ll cleanse myself from everything that pollutes my body and spirit. I’ll live in awe of you.

Paul Was Comforted by What the Corinthians Did

2 Open your hearts to us. We haven’t treated anyone unjustly, ruined anyone, or cheated anyone. 3 I’m not saying this to condemn you. I’ve already told you that you are in our hearts so that we will live and die together. 4 I have great confidence in you, and I have a lot of reasons to be proud of you. Even as we suffer, I’m encouraged and feel very happy.

7:2–4   I live and die with your people, so how could I think of ruining them?

5 Ever since we arrived in the province of Macedonia, we’ve had no rest. Instead, we suffer in a number of ways. Outwardly we have conflicts, and inwardly we have fears. 6 Yet God, who comforts those who are dejected, comforted us when Titus arrived. 7 We were comforted not only by his arrival but also by learning about the comfort he had received while he was with you. He told us how you wanted to see me, how sorry you are for what you’ve done, and how concerned you are about me. This made me even happier.

7:5–7   I face outward conflicts and inward fear. Comfort me when I feel dejected.

8 If my letter made you uncomfortable, I’m not sorry. But since my letter did make you uncomfortable for a while, I was sorry. 9 But I’m happy now, not because I made you uncomfortable, but because the distress I caused you has led you to change the way you think and act. You were distressed in a godly way, so we haven’t done you any harm. 10 In fact, to be distressed in a godly way causes people to change the way they think and act and leads them to be saved. No one can regret that. But the distress that the world causes brings only death.

7:8–10   I want to do my brothers and sisters no harm. But I can’t shy away from causing them godly distress, a pain that causes them to change how they think and act. In the end, it saves them.

11 When you became distressed in a godly way, look at how much devotion it caused you to have. You were ready to clear yourselves of the charges against you. You were disgusted with the wrong that had been done. You were afraid. You wanted to see us. You wanted to show your concern for us. You were ready to punish the wrong that had been done. In every way you have demonstrated that you are people who are innocent in this matter. 12 So, when I wrote to you, I didn’t write because of the man who did the wrong or the man who was hurt by it. Rather, I wrote because I wanted you to show your devotion to us in God’s sight. 13 This is what has comforted us.

In addition to being comforted, we were especially pleased to see how happy Titus was. All of you had put his mind at ease. 14 I didn’t have to be ashamed of anything I had said to him when I bragged about you. Since everything we told you was true, our bragging to Titus has also proved to be true. 15 His deepest feelings go out to you even more as he remembers how obedient all of you were, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 16 I’m pleased that I can be confident about you in every way.

7:11–16   Good distress brings true devotion. Convict me when I’m wrong and clear my name when I’m right. Make me totally obedient to you!

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

8

1 Brothers and sisters, we want you to know how God showed his kindness[10] to the churches in the province of Macedonia. 2 While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous. 3 I assure you that by their own free will they have given all they could, even more than they could afford. 4 They made an appeal to us, begging us to let them participate in the ministry of God’s kindness to his holy people ⌞in Jerusalem⌟. 5 They did more than we had expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord and to us, since this was God’s will. 6 This led us to urge Titus to finish his work of God’s kindness among you in the same way as he had already started it.

8:1–6   You showed kindness to the Macedonian church. They overflowed with joy and generosity even in their extreme poverty. Teach me to give myself fully to you and your people.

7 Indeed, the more your faith, your ability to speak, your knowledge, your dedication, and your love for us increase, the more we want you to participate in this work of God’s kindness.

8:7   The more I mature, the more I want to be part of your kind works.

8 I’m not commanding you, but I’m testing how genuine your love is by pointing out the dedication of others. 9 You know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty.

10 I’m giving you my opinion because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing ⌞to take a collection⌟ but had already started to do it. 11 So finish what you began to do. Then your willingness will be matched by what you accomplish 12 with whatever contributions you have. Since you are willing to do this, ⌞remember⌟ that people are accepted if they give what they are able to give. God doesn’t ask for what they don’t have.

8:8–10   I want to live up to your example. I’m willing to become poor to make others rich. So test my love for you and others.

13 I don’t mean that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it’s a matter of striking a balance. 14 At the present time, your surplus fills their need so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things balance out. 15 This is what Scripture says: “Those who had gathered a lot didn’t have too much, and those who gathered a little didn’t have too little.”

8:11–15   You want me to give what I’m able, and you don’t demand what I don’t have. I’m striking a balance between relief and hardship.

16 I thank God for making Titus as dedicated to you as I am. 17 He accepted my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will.

18 With him we have sent our Christian brother whom all the churches praise for the way he tells the Good News. 19 More than that, the churches elected him to travel with us and bring this gift of God’s kindness. We are administering it in a way that brings glory to the Lord and shows that we are doing it willingly. 20 We don’t want anyone to find fault with the way we are administering this generous gift. 21 We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.

22 We have also sent with them our Christian brother whom we have often tested in many ways and found to be a dedicated worker. We find that he is much more dedicated now than ever because he has so much confidence in you.

23 If any questions are raised, remember that Titus is my partner and coworker to help you. The other men are representatives of the churches and bring glory to Christ. 24 So give these men a demonstration of your love. Show their congregations that we were right to be proud of you.

8:16–24   Give me joy in giving and integrity in managing your gifts. I want to do right in your sight and in everyone’s eyes.

The Reason to Give to the Christians in Jerusalem

9

1 I don’t need to write anything further to you about helping the Christians ⌞in Jerusalem⌟. 2 I know how willing you are to help, and I brag about you to the believers in the province of Macedonia. I tell them, “The people of Greece have been ready ⌞to send their collection⌟ since last year,” and your enthusiasm has moved most of them ⌞to act⌟. 3 I’ve sent my coworkers so that when we brag that you’re ready, we can back it up. 4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me, they might find out that you’re not ready after all. This would embarrass us for feeling so confident as much as it would embarrass you. 5 So I thought that I should encourage our coworkers to visit you before I do and make arrangements for this gift that you had already promised to give. Then it will be the blessing it was intended to be, and it won’t be something you’re forced to do.

9:1–5   I’ll give you what I pledge. I won’t embarrass you by backing out. You won’t have to wrench my gift from my hand.

6 Remember this: The farmer who plants a few seeds will have a very small harvest. But the farmer who plants because he has received God’s blessings will receive a harvest of God’s blessings in return. 7 Each of you should give whatever you have decided. You shouldn’t be sorry that you gave or feel forced to give, since God loves a cheerful giver. 8 Besides, God will give you his constantly overflowing kindness.[11] Then, when you always have everything you need, you can do more and more good things. 9 Scripture says,

9:6–7   I’ll give cheerfully, not under compulsion, no more or less than I decided. If I plant many seeds, I’ll reap a rich harvest of blessings.

“The righteous person gives freely to the poor.

His righteousness continues forever.”

10 God gives seed to the farmer and food to those who need to eat. God will also give you seed and multiply it. In your lives he will increase the things you do that have his approval. 11 God will make you rich enough so that you can always be generous. Your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God because of us. 12 What you do to serve others not only provides for the needs of God’s people, but also produces more and more prayers of thanksgiving to God. 13 You will honor God through this genuine act of service because of your commitment to spread the Good News of Christ and because of your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else. 14 With deep affection they will pray for you because of the extreme kindness that God has shown you. 15 I thank God for his gift that words cannot describe.

9:8–10   You give me your constantly overflowing kindness. You supply my needs so I can do more and more good things.

9:11–15   Make me rich enough so I can always be generous. I’ll honor you through my indisputable acts of service. Spreading your Good News is my goal!

Paul’s Authority to Speak Forcefully

10

1 I, Paul, make my appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. I’m the one who is humble when I’m with you but forceful toward you when I’m not with you. 2 I beg you that when I am with you I won’t have to deal forcefully with you. I expect I will have to because some people think that we are only guided by human motives. 3 Of course we are human, but we don’t fight like humans. 4 The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people’s defenses, that is, their arguments 5 and all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ. 6 We are ready to punish every act of disobedience when you have become completely obedient.

10:1–6   You gave Paul weapons better than any made by human hands. Teach me to answer the arrogance that gets in the way of knowing you.

7 Look at the plain facts! If anyone is confident he belongs to Christ, he should take note that we also belong to Christ. 8 So, if I brag a little too much about the authority which the Lord gave us, I’m not ashamed. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you.

9 I don’t want you to think that I’m trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 I know that someone is saying that my letters are powerful and strong, but that I’m a weakling and a terrible speaker. 11 The person who is saying those things should take note of this fact: When we are with you we will do the things that we wrote about in our letters when we weren’t with you.

10:7–11   Paul had every reason to brag about the authority you gave him, but he didn’t. Teach me to use your power to help people, not hurt them.

Paul’s Reason for Bragging

12 We wouldn’t put ourselves in the same class with or compare ourselves to those who are bold enough to make their own recommendations. Certainly, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they show how foolish they are.

13 How can we brag about things that no one can evaluate? Instead, we will only brag about what God has given us to do—coming to ⌞the city of Corinth⌟ where you live. 14 It’s not as though we hadn’t already been to Corinth. We’re not overstating the facts. The fact is that we were the first to arrive in Corinth with the Good News about Christ. 15 How can we brag about things done by others that can’t be evaluated?

We have confidence that as your faith grows, you will think enough of us to give us the help we need to carry out our assignment—16 spreading the Good News in the regions far beyond you. We won’t brag about things already accomplished by someone else.

17 “Whoever brags should brag about what the Lord has done.” 18 It isn’t the person who makes his own recommendation who receives approval, but the person whom the Lord recommends.

10:12–18   It’s foolish to measure myself against myself. I’ll only brag about things you accomplish.

Paul Contrasts Himself with False Apostles

11

1 I want you to put up with a little foolishness from me. I’m sure that you will. 2 I’m as protective of you as God is. After all, you’re a virgin whom I promised in marriage to one man—Christ. 3 However, I’m afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 When someone comes to you telling about another Jesus whom we didn’t tell you about, you’re willing to put up with it. When you receive a spirit that is different from the Spirit you received earlier, you’re also willing to put up with that. When someone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you already accepted, you’re willing to put up with that too.

11:1–4   Guard my mind. Don’t let me be lured from sincere and pure devotion. I won’t accept any substitute for you or your Spirit. I won’t fall for made-up good news.

5 I don’t think I’m inferior in any way to your super-apostles. 6 Even though I’m not good with words, I know what I’m talking about. Timothy and I have made this clear to you in every possible way.

11:5–7   Paul thought he wasn’t good with words, but he knew what he was talking about. Make me stunning in substance and straightforward in style.

7 Did I commit a sin when I humbled myself by telling you the Good News of God free of charge so that you could become important? 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to serve you. 9 When I was with you and needed something, I didn’t bother any of you for help. My friends from the province of Macedonia supplied everything I needed. I kept myself from being a financial burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do that.

11:8–9   I’ll humble myself so I can share the Good News. I won’t make myself a burden to anyone I’m trying to reach.

10 As surely as I have Christ’s truth, my bragging will not be silenced anywhere in Greece. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do love you. 12 But I’ll go on doing what I’m doing. This will take away the opportunity of those people who want to brag because they think they’re like us. 13 People who brag like this are false apostles. They are dishonest workers, since they disguise themselves as Christ’s apostles. 14 And no wonder, even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it’s not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants who have God’s approval. In the end they will get what they deserve.

11:10–15   I’ve had enough of empty boasts. I’ll keep my mind on your work. I won’t give anyone a reason to accuse me of dishonesty.

More Reasons for Paul to Brag

16 Again I say that no one should think that I’m a fool. But if you do, then take me for a fool so that I can also brag a little. 17 What I say as I start bragging is foolishness. It’s not something I would say if I were speaking for the Lord. 18 Since it’s common for people to brag, I’ll do it too. 19 You’re wise, so you’ll gladly put up with fools. 20 When someone makes you slaves, consumes your wealth, seizes your property, orders you around, or slaps your faces, you put up with it. 21 I’m ashamed to admit it, but Timothy and I don’t have the strength to do those things to you.

11:16–21   Shake sense into me when I’m stupid enough to let false teachers steal my money, order me around, and slap my face.

Whatever other people dare to brag about, I, like a fool, can also brag about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they Christ’s servants? It’s insane to say it, but I’m a far better one. I’ve done much more work, been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often. 24 Five times the Jewish leaders had me beaten with 39 lashes; 25 three times Roman officials had me beaten with clubs. Once people tried to stone me to death; three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a night and a day. 26 Because I’ve traveled a lot, I’ve faced dangers from raging rivers, from robbers, from my own people, and from other people. I’ve faced dangers in the city, in the open country, on the sea, and from believers who turned out to be false friends. 27 Because I’ve had to work so hard, I’ve often gone without sleep, been hungry and thirsty, and gone without food and without proper clothes during cold weather. 28 Besides these external matters, I have the daily pressure of my anxiety about all the churches. 29 When anyone is weak, I’m weak too. When anyone is caught in a trap, I’m also harmed.

11:22–29   Show me a real servant. Bring your word to me through someone like Paul—a man who faced danger at every turn. He endured hunger, thirst, and cold. He went without sleep and faced constant anxiety.

30 If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows that I’m not lying. 32 The governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me. 33 So I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.

11:30–31   You’re seen more in my weakness than in my strength. May you forever be praised!

Authentic Prayer

2 Corinthians 12:6–10

Grace

I begged the Lord three times to take it away from me. But he told me: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” 2 Corinthians 12:8–9

Grace overcomes. No one knows exactly what plagued Paul, whether a severe temptation, an intractable opponent, or a dire illness. Whatever his situation, the apostle pleaded with the Lord, pressing his case that God remove this thorn. Yet the Lord refused.

God’s “kindness” or “grace” is the favor he shows undeserving people. It drives his actions toward you from start to finish. It blazes in full glory when you see it on display in Jesus (John 1:14). It rescues you from sin, raises you from death, and seats you in a place of privilege (Ephesians 2:5–8). It lets you approach God, stand boldly in his presence, and experience his Spirit living inside you (Romans 5:1–5). It teaches you to say no to evil and yes to God’s better way of life (Titus 2:11–12). And it brings you power when you think you can’t go on. Grace is a pure gift that loves you at your worst and carries you at your weakest.

Pray for grace in all its forms. Receive it when it isn’t what you want. The Lord’s kindness is strongest when you need it the most.

Pray the Scriptures Grace: John 1:14–18, Romans 5:1–8, Ephesians 2:1–10, Titus 2:11–15

Paul’s Visions and Revelations from the Lord

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1 I must brag, although it doesn’t do any good. I’ll go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a follower of Christ who was snatched away to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows. 3 I know that this person 4 was snatched away to paradise where he heard things that can’t be expressed in words, things that humans cannot put into words. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows.[12] 5 I’ll brag about this person, but I won’t brag about myself unless it’s about my weaknesses.

6 If I ever wanted to brag, I wouldn’t be a fool. Instead, I would be telling the truth. But I’m going to spare you so that no one may think more of me than what he sees or hears about me, 7 especially because of the excessive number of revelations that I’ve had.

12:1–6   Amid hardship and disciplined work, you blessed Paul with visions and revelations. You swept him up to heaven.

Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan’s messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited. 8 I begged the Lord three times to take it away from me. 9 But he told me: “My kindness[13] is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me. 10 Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It’s clear that when I’m weak, I’m strong.

12:7–10   You kept Paul from conceit by making him deal with torment that wouldn’t go away. When you don’t fix my problems, I’ll remember your kindness. When I’m weak, your power is strong.

Paul Was Not a Burden to the Corinthians

11 I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I’m nothing, I wasn’t inferior in any way to your super-apostles. 12 While I was among you I patiently did the signs, wonders, and miracles which prove that I’m an apostle. 13 How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I didn’t bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong!

14 I’m ready to visit you for a third time, and I won’t bother you for help. I don’t want your possessions. Instead, I want you. Children shouldn’t have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children. 15 I will be very glad to spend whatever I have. I’ll even give myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?

12:11–15   Paul did signs and wonders that proved he came from you. He didn’t want money. He wanted hearts.

16 You agree, then, that I haven’t been a burden to you. Was I a clever person who trapped you by some trick? 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you? 18 I encouraged Titus to visit you, and I sent my friend with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we have the same motives and do things the same way?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we’re trying to defend ourselves to you? We speak as Christ’s people in God’s sight. Everything we do, dear friends, is for your benefit.

12:16–19   I won’t be a burden to anyone. I won’t attract people with clever gimmicks. Hold me to the highest standard of integrity as I serve you.

Paul’s Concern about the Corinthians’ Way of Life

20 I’m afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I’m afraid that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. 21 I’m afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved.

12:20–21   I don’t want you to find my life full of out-of-control sin. Free me from anything that would give you reason to grieve.

Paul Tells the Corinthians to Prepare for His Visit

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1 This is the third time that I’ll be visiting you. Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses. 2 I already warned you when I was with you the second time, and even though I’m not there now, I’m warning you again. When I visit you again, I won’t spare you. That goes for all those who formerly led sinful lives as well as for all the others. 3 Since you want proof that Christ is speaking through me, that’s what you’ll get. Christ isn’t weak in dealing with you. Instead, he makes his power felt among you. 4 He was weak when he was crucified, but by God’s power he lives. We are weak with him, but by God’s power we will live for you with his help.

13:1–4   Give it to me straight when I cling to my sinful past. Don’t hold back. Do what it takes to heal me.

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are still in the Christian faith. Test yourselves! Don’t you recognize that you are people in whom Jesus Christ lives? Could it be that you’re failing the test? 6 I hope that you will realize that we haven’t failed the test. 7 We pray to God that you won’t do anything wrong. It’s not that we want to prove that we’ve passed the test. Rather, we want you to do whatever is right, even if we seem to have failed. 8 We can’t do anything against the truth but only to help the truth. 9 We’re glad when we are weak and you are strong. We are also praying for your improvement.

10 That’s why I’m writing this letter while I’m not with you. When I am with you I don’t want to be harsh by using the authority that the Lord gave me. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you.

13:5–10   I’ll test myself to see if my faith is real. I’d better not fail the exam! You live in me, so I know you have a plan for my growth.

Farewell

11 With that, brothers and sisters, I must say goodbye. Make sure that you improve. Accept my encouragement. Share the same attitude and live in peace. The God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All of God’s holy people greet you.[14]

13 May the Lord Jesus Christ’s good will,[15] God’s love, and the Holy Spirit’s presence be with all of you!

13:11–13   I’ll check myself to make sure I improve. I’ll accept your encouragement and live in peace with your holy people. Fill me with your kindness, love, and presence!

GALATIANS

INTRODUCTION

Galatians argues for the authentic good news about Jesus. The first dozen verses of this letter show the apostle Paul engaged in a life-and-death argument. His heated words prod everyone to understand how God makes people right with him.

Paul’s readers understand that Jesus had taken the punishment for their sins, a gift that flowed from God’s kindness. But they are in danger of falling for a distorted message, news that is “not really good news at all” (Galatians 1:7). Paul wishes that if he or anyone else would ever preach a message different from the genuine good news about Jesus, that person should be eternally condemned.

False teachers had told the Galatians that faith in Jesus couldn’t make them right with God. These teachers allege that to be saved the Galatians needed to keep Old Testament laws such as circumcision. Paul reminds his friends that no amount of human effort can ever earn God’s approval. The Lord only approves people who believe. Paul says that spiritual growth likewise only comes through dependence on God, who works inside believers through his Spirit.

Praying this book compels you to cling to true faith, trusting that God rescues you from sin as a gift of his kindness.

GALATIANS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6

Greeting

1

1 From Paul—an apostle ⌞chosen⌟ not by any group or individual but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who brought him back to life— 2 and all the believers who are with me.

To the churches in Galatia.

3 Good will[1] and peace are yours from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! 4 In order to free us from this present evil world, Christ took the punishment for our sins, because that was what our God and Father wanted. 5 Glory belongs to our God and Father forever! Amen.

1:1–5   You’re alive from the dead! Let me enjoy your good will and peace. You took my punishment and freed me from evil. Glory is yours!

Follow the Good News We Gave You

6 I’m surprised that you’re so quickly deserting Christ, who called you in his kindness,[2] to follow a different kind of good news. 7 But what some people are calling good news is not really good news at all. They are confusing you. They want to distort the Good News about Christ. 8 Whoever tells you good news that is different from the Good News we gave you should be condemned to hell, even if he is one of us or an angel from heaven. 9 I’m now telling you again what we’ve told you in the past: If anyone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you received, that person should be condemned to hell.

10 Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.

1:6–10   I won’t abandon you or your Good News. I won’t let myself be confused by so-called truth that comes from hell itself. I know your kindness when I see it.

Jesus Alone Gave Paul the Good News He Spreads

11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the Good News I have spread is not a human message. 12 I didn’t receive it from any person. I wasn’t taught it, but Jesus Christ revealed it to me.

1:11–12   Your Good News isn’t a human invention. No one made it up. You revealed it yourself.

13 You heard about the way I once lived when I followed the Jewish religion. You heard how I violently persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 You also heard how I was far ahead of other Jews in my age group in following the Jewish religion. I had become that fanatical for the traditions of my ancestors.

15 But God, who appointed me before I was born and who called me by his kindness, was pleased 16 to show me his Son. He did this so that I would tell people who are not Jewish that his Son is the Good News. When this happened, I didn’t talk it over with any other person. 17 I didn’t even go to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went to Arabia and then came back to Damascus.

18 Then, three years later I went to Jerusalem to become personally acquainted with Cephas.[3] I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 I didn’t see any other apostle. I only saw James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (God is my witness that what I’m writing is not a lie.) 21 Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 The churches of Christ in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23 The only thing they had heard was this: “The man who persecuted us is now spreading the faith that he once tried to destroy.” 24 So they praised God for what had happened to me.

1:13–23   You chose Paul before birth and called him at his worst. In kindness you showed yourself to him. You sent him to tell everyone you’re the Good News. Praise you!

Paul Was Accepted as an Apostle by the Leaders in Jerusalem

2

1 Then 14 years later I went to Jerusalem again with Barnabas. I also took Titus along. 2 I went in response to a revelation ⌞from God⌟. I showed them the way I spread the Good News among people who are not Jewish. I did this in a private meeting with those recognized as important people to see whether all my efforts had been wasted.

3 Titus was with me, and although he is Greek, no one forced him to be circumcised.

4 False Christians were brought in. They slipped in as spies to learn about the freedom Christ Jesus gives us. They hoped to find a way to control us. 5 But we did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the Good News would always be yours.

2:1–5   False Christians try to steal freedom from true believers. They try to usurp your control. Don’t let me give in for a moment.

6 Those who were recognized as important people didn’t add a single thing to my message. (What sort of people they were makes no difference to me, since God doesn’t play favorites.) 7 In fact, they saw that I had been entrusted with telling the Good News to people who are not circumcised as Peter had been entrusted to tell it to those who are circumcised. 8 The one who made Peter an apostle to Jewish people also made me an apostle to people who are not Jewish. 9 James, Cephas, and John (who were recognized as the most important people) acknowledged that God had given me this special gift.[4] So they shook hands with Barnabas and me, agreeing to be our partners. It was understood that we would work among the people who are not Jewish and they would work among Jewish people. 10 The only thing they asked us to do was to remember the poor, the very thing which I was eager to do.

2:6–10   You singled out Paul for a specific ministry—and told him to remember the poor. Show me my own special calling—and the good you expect everyone to do.

Paul Shows How Cephas Was Wrong

11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I had to openly oppose him because he was completely wrong. 12 He ate with people who were not Jewish until some men James had sent ⌞from Jerusalem⌟ arrived. Then Cephas drew back and would not associate with people who were not Jewish. He was afraid of those who insisted that circumcision was necessary. 13 The other Jewish Christians also joined him in this hypocrisy. Even Barnabas was swept along with them.

14 But I saw that they were not properly following the truth of the Good News. So I told Cephas in front of everyone, “You’re Jewish, but you live like a person who is not Jewish. So how can you insist that people who are not Jewish must live like Jews?”

15 We are Jewish by birth, not sinners from other nations. 16 Yet, we know that people don’t receive God’s approval by any effort to follow the laws in the Scriptures, but only by believing in Jesus Christ. So we also believed in Jesus Christ in order to receive God’s approval by faith in Christ and not by our own efforts. People won’t receive God’s approval by their own efforts.

2:11–16   I’ll never receive your approval because of my own efforts. I don’t get it by living by rules. I get it by believing in you.

17 If we, the same people who are searching for God’s approval in Christ, are still sinners, does that mean that Christ encourages us to sin? That’s unthinkable! 18 If I rebuild something that I’ve torn down, I admit that I was wrong to tear it down. 19 When I tried to obey the laws in the Scriptures, those laws killed me. As a result, I live in a relationship with God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by believing in God’s Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins. 21 I don’t reject God’s kindness.[5] If we receive God’s approval by obeying the laws in the Scriptures, then Christ’s death was pointless.

2:17–21   Your approval doesn’t make it okay to sin. I died with you, and you live in me. You love me and took my punishment. Why would I reject your kindness?

God Approves of Those Who Believe

3

1 You stupid people of Galatia! Who put you under an evil spell? Wasn’t Christ Jesus’ crucifixion clearly described to you? 2 I want to learn only one thing from you. Did you receive the Spirit by your own efforts to follow the laws in the Scriptures or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you that stupid? Did you begin in a spiritual way only to end up doing things in a human way? 4 Did you suffer so much for nothing? ⌞I doubt⌟ that it was for nothing! 5 Does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you through your own efforts or through believing what you heard?

3:1–5   How can I be so stupid? I know how Jesus died. I didn’t receive your Spirit by my own efforts but by believing your message.

6 Abraham serves as an example. He believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God. 7 You must understand that people who have faith are Abraham’s descendants. 8 Scripture saw ahead of time that God would give his approval to non-Jewish people who have faith. So Scripture announced the Good News to Abraham ahead of time when it said, “Through you all the people of the world will be blessed.” 9 So people who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the man of faith.

3:6–7   Faith made Abraham right with you, and I’m his descendant because I believe in you. That’s how I get your approval.

10 Certainly, there is a curse on all who rely on their own efforts because Scripture says, “Whoever doesn’t obey everything that is written in Moses’ Teachings is cursed.” 11 No one receives God’s approval by obeying the laws in Moses’ Teachings since, “The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.” 12 These laws have nothing to do with faith, but, “Whoever obeys laws will live because he obeys them.”

13 Christ paid the price to free us from the curse that the laws in Moses’ Teachings bring by becoming cursed instead of us. Scripture says, “Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.” 14 ⌞Christ paid the price⌟ so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to all the people of the world through Jesus Christ and we would receive the promised Spirit through faith.

3:10–14   I’m cursed when I rely on myself to live up to your commands. Your death freed me from the curse. You smile at me when I live by faith.

The Relationship between Law and Promise

15 Brothers and sisters, let me use an example from everyday life. No one can cancel a person’s will or add conditions to it once that will is put into effect. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture doesn’t say, “descendants,” referring to many, but “your descendant,” referring to one. That descendant is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: The laws ⌞given to Moses⌟ 430 years after God had already put his promise ⌞to Abraham⌟ into effect didn’t cancel the promise ⌞to Abraham⌟. 18 If we have to gain the inheritance by following those laws, then it no longer comes to us because of the promise. However, God freely gave the inheritance to Abraham through a promise.

19 What, then, is the purpose of the laws given to Moses? They were added to identify what wrongdoing is. Moses’ laws did this until the descendant to whom the promise was given came.[6] It was put into effect through angels, using a mediator. 20 A mediator is not used when there is only one person involved, and God has acted on his own.

21 Does this mean, then, that the laws given to Moses contradict God’s promises? That’s unthinkable! If those laws could give us life, then certainly we would receive God’s approval because we obeyed them. 22 But Scripture states that the whole world is controlled by the power of sin. Therefore, a promise based on faith in Jesus Christ could be given to those who believe.

23 We were kept under control by Moses’ laws until this faith came. We were under their control until this faith which was about to come would be revealed.

3:15–23   You never change how you work. You didn’t send your law to give life but to point out sin. No one can escape evil except through your promise.

24 Before Christ came, Moses’ laws served as our guardian. Christ came so that we could receive God’s approval by faith. 25 But now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the control of a guardian. 26 You are all God’s children by believing in Christ Jesus. 27 Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ’s name have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants and heirs, as God promised.

3:24–29   I’m your child because I believe. I’ve put you on like fresh clothes and become part of your people. I’m Abraham’s descendant and heir.

You Are God’s Children

4

1 Let me explain further. As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. 2 He is placed under the control of guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 It was the same way with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the principles of this world. 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son ⌞into the world⌟. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of the laws given to Moses. 5 God sent him to pay for the freedom of those who were controlled by these laws so that we would be adopted as his children. 6 Because you are God’s children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, “Abba![7] Father!” 7 So you are no longer slaves but God’s children. Since you are God’s children, God has also made you heirs.

4:1–7   I’m no longer a slave but your child. Your Spirit inside me cries, “Abba! Father!”

8 When you didn’t know God, you were slaves to things which are really not gods at all. 9 But now you know God, or rather, God knows you. So how can you turn back again to the powerless and bankrupt principles of this world? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? 10 You religiously observe days, months, seasons, and years! 11 I’m afraid for you. Maybe the hard work I spent on you has been wasted.

4:8–11   I’ve lived as a slave, and I won’t go back there. I won’t let religious rules dominate my life.

What Happened to Your Positive Attitude?

12 Brothers and sisters, I beg you to become like me. After all, I became like you were.

You didn’t do anything wrong to me. 13 You know that the first time I brought you the Good News I was ill. 14 Even though my illness was difficult for you, you didn’t despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were God’s messenger[8] or Christ Jesus himself. 15 What happened to your positive attitude? It’s a fact that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Can it be that I have become your enemy for telling you the truth?

17 These people ⌞who distort the Good News⌟ are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They don’t want you to associate with me so that you will be devoted only to them. 18 (Devotion to a good cause is always good, even when I’m not with you.)

19 My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until Christ is formed in you. 20 I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice. I’m completely puzzled by what you’ve done!

4:12–20   I won’t fall for a distorted Good News. I won’t listen to voices that lead me away from your true words.

You Are Children of the Promise

21 Those who want to be controlled by Moses’ laws should tell me something. Are you really listening to what Moses’ Teachings say? 22 Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one by a woman who was a slave and the other by a free woman. 23 Now, the son of the slave woman was conceived in a natural way, but the son of the free woman was conceived through a promise ⌞made to Abraham⌟.

24 I’m going to use these historical events as an illustration. The women illustrate two arrangements.[9] The one woman, Hagar, is the arrangement made on Mount Sinai. Her children are born into slavery. 25 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. She is like Jerusalem today because she and her children are slaves. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 Scripture says:

“Rejoice, women who cannot get pregnant,

who cannot give birth to any children!

Break into shouting, those who feel no pains of childbirth!

Because the deserted woman will have more children

than the woman who has a husband.”

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac.

29 Furthermore, at that time the son who was conceived in a natural way persecuted the son conceived in a spiritual way. That’s exactly what’s happening now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, because the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.” 31 Brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman but of the free woman.

4:21–31   I was conceived in freedom, so I shouldn’t be surprised when I’m picked on by people still enslaved to earning your approval. I rejoice that I’m a child of your promise.

Live in the Freedom That Christ Gives You

5

1 Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. Therefore, be firm ⌞in this freedom⌟, and don’t become slaves again.

2 I, Paul, can guarantee that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 Again, I insist that everyone who allows himself to be circumcised must realize that he obligates himself to do everything Moses’ Teachings demand. 4 Those of you who try to earn God’s approval by obeying his laws have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen out of God’s favor.[10] 5 However, in our spiritual nature, faith causes us to wait eagerly for the confidence that comes with God’s approval. 6 As far as our relationship to Christ Jesus is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether we are circumcised or not. But what matters is a faith that expresses itself through love.

7 You were doing so well. Who stopped you from being influenced by the truth? 8 The arguments of the person who is influencing you do not come from the one who is calling you. 9 A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough. 10 The Lord gives me confidence that you will not disagree with this. However, the one who is confusing you will suffer God’s judgment regardless of who he is. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the cross wouldn’t be offensive anymore. 12 I wish those troublemakers would castrate themselves.

5:1–12   You died so I can enjoy freedom. Why would I want to be a slave again? Warn me when I fall back into trying to earn your approval. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.

13 You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don’t turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love. 14 All of Moses’ Teachings are summarized in a single statement, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 15 But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don’t destroy each other.

5:13–15   I won’t abuse my freedom. I’ll use it as opportunity to love others.

16 Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants. 17 What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do. 18 If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to Moses’ laws.

19 Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

5:16–21   I won’t let myself be ruled by my corrupt nature. Your Spirit keeps me from acting on what that part of me wants.

22 But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. 26 We can’t allow ourselves to act arrogantly and to provoke or envy each other.

5:22–26   I won’t stop your Spirit’s work—producing praiseworthy qualities in me from love to self-control. My corrupt nature is dead, so I refuse to live by its passions and desires.

Help Carry Each Other’s Burdens

6

1 Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted. 2 Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings. 3 So if any one of you thinks you’re important when you’re really not, you’re only fooling yourself. 4 Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others. 5 Assume your own responsibility.

6:1–5   I need your help to rescue people trapped by wrongdoing. Train me to speak gently and not get pulled into sin.

We Will Harvest What We Plant

6 The person who is taught God’s word should share all good things with his teacher. 7 Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest. 8 If you plant in ⌞the soil of⌟ your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in ⌞the soil of⌟ your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. 9 We can’t allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive ⌞everlasting life⌟ at the proper time, if we don’t give up. 10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.

6:6–10   I can’t fool you. I harvest what I plant, so I won’t give up. I won’t allow myself to tire of living the right way. I’m headed for everlasting life.

Paul Summarizes His Teachings about Circumcision

11 Look at how large the letters ⌞in these words⌟ are because I’m writing this myself.

12 These people who want to make a big deal out of a physical thing are trying to force you to be circumcised. Their only aim is to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ. 13 It’s clear that not even those who had themselves circumcised did this to follow Moses’ laws. Yet, they want you to be circumcised so that they can brag about what was done to your body. 14 But it’s unthinkable that I could ever brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his cross my relationship to the world and its relationship to me have been crucified. 15 Certainly, it doesn’t matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy will come to rest on all those who conform to this principle. They are the Israel of God.[11]

17 From now on, don’t make any trouble for me! After all, I carry the scars of Jesus on my body.

18 May the good will[12] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters! Amen.

6:11–18   I won’t brag about anything except your cross. I died with you and became your new creation. I count on your peace and mercy. Let your kindness be with me.

EPHESIANS

INTRODUCTION

Ephesians says believers are alive from the dead. Worshipers of the fertility god Diana surrounded Ephesian believers, and her temple was revered as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Yet Paul sets out to prove that the acts of the one real God are even more amazing.

Before time began, the Lord chose to adopt people into his family through Jesus. People were once dead because of their failures and sins, dedicated to following this world’s evil ruler. But the Lord brought believers back to life, lifting us to a position where he will give us every spiritual blessing heaven has to offer. This isn’t a result of anything we have done. As Paul says, “Being saved is a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8). It’s an act of God’s pure kindness.

Paul urges his friends in Ephesus to live up to this fresh reality, commanding them to get rid of their old patterns and embrace God’s new life. The latter half of his letter overflows with specific ways believers can live as God’s people.

Praying the book of Ephesians lets this grand reality soak into your spirit. As you pray, let God train you to live as the new person you already are.

EPHESIANS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6

Greeting

1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will.

To God’s holy and faithful people who are united with Christ in the city of Ephesus.[1]

2 Good will[2] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

God Chose Us Through Christ

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer. 4 Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence. 5 Because of his love he had already decided to adopt us through Jesus Christ. He freely chose to do this 6 so that the kindness[3] he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory.

1:1–6   I praise you for giving me every spiritual blessing of heaven. You chose to make me holy and adopted me with love. From long ago you wanted to make your kindness known.

7 Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness. 8 He poured out his kindness by giving us every kind of wisdom and insight 9 when he revealed the mystery of his plan to us. He had decided to do this through Christ. 10 He planned to bring all of history to its goal in Christ. Then Christ would be the head of everything in heaven and on earth. 11 God also decided ahead of time to choose us through Christ according to his plan, which makes everything work the way he intends. 12 He planned all of this so that we who had already focused our hope on Christ would praise him and give him glory.

1:7–12   Through your blood, I’m set free from sin. Because of your overflowing kindness, you forgive all my failures. You reveal every insight I need. I praise you for your glorious plan.

13 You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised. 14 This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this.

1:13–14   You saved me and sealed me with your promised Holy Spirit. He’s the guarantee I’m your heir.

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians

15 I, too, have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. For this reason 16 I never stop thanking God for you. I always remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Christ better. 18 Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit. 19 You will also know the unlimited greatness of his power as it works with might and strength for us, the believers. 20 He worked with that same power in Christ when he brought him back to life and gave him the highest position in heaven. 21 He is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named, not only in this present world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put everything under the control of Christ. He has made Christ the head of everything for the good of the church. 23 The church is Christ’s body and completes him as he fills everything in every way.

1:15–23   Give me deep insights to know you better. Expand my confidence and show me my glorious wealth. Work in me. Use the power that raised you from the grave.

God Saved Us because of His Great Love for Us

2

1 You were once dead because of your failures and sins. 2 You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.

2:1–3   Once I was dead because of my sins. I followed the ruler of this world. I gave in to my corrupt desires. I deserved your anger.

4 But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. 5 We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God’s kindness[4] that saved you.) 6 God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him. 7 He did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us in order to show his extremely rich kindness in the world to come. 8 God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. 9 It’s not the result of anything you’ve done, so no one can brag about it. 10 God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.

2:4–7   You lovingly show me mercy. It’s your extreme kindness that saves me. You brought me back to life and gave me a seat in heaven.

2:8–10   You saved me through faith as an act of kindness. It wasn’t the result of anything I’ve done, so I have no reason to brag. You made me what I am. You created me to do good.

God Has United Jewish and Non-Jewish People

11 Remember that once you were not Jewish physically. Those who called themselves “the circumcised” because of what they had done to their bodies called you “the uncircumcised.” 12 Also, at that time you were without Christ. You were excluded from citizenship in Israel, and the pledges[5] ⌞God made in his⌟ promise were foreign to you. You had no hope and were in the world without God.

13 But now through Christ Jesus you, who were once far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 So he is our peace. In his body he has made Jewish and non-Jewish people one by breaking down the wall of hostility that kept them apart. 15 He brought an end to the commandments and demands found in Moses’ Teachings so that he could take Jewish and non-Jewish people and create one new humanity in himself. So he made peace. 16 He also brought them back to God in one body by his cross, on which he killed the hostility. 17 He came with the Good News of peace for you who were far away and for those who were near. 18 So Jewish and non-Jewish people can go to the Father in one Spirit.

2:9–15   I wasn’t part of the Jewish people or a beneficiary of your early promises. But your blood brought me into your family.

19 That is why you are no longer foreigners and outsiders but citizens together with God’s people and members of God’s family. 20 You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. 21 In him all the parts of the building fit together and grow into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 Through him you, also, are being built in the Spirit together with others into a place where God lives.

2:16–22   You brought me back to you through the cross. You came with Good News of peace. Now you’re building me and others into a place where you live.

Paul’s Work of Spreading the Good News

3

1 This is the reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus[6] for those of you who are not Jewish.

2 Certainly, you have heard how God gave me the responsibility of bringing his kindness[7] to you. 3 You have heard that he let me know this mystery through a revelation. I’ve already written to you about this briefly. 4 When you read this, you’ll see that I understand the mystery about Christ. 5 In the past, this mystery was not known by people as it is now. The Spirit has now revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is the Good News that people who are not Jewish have the same inheritance as Jewish people do. They belong to the same body and share the same promise that God made in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this Good News through God’s kindness freely given to me when his power worked ⌞in me⌟.

3:1–7   Once no one understood your mysteries. But now people understand your Good News. You give the same inheritance to everyone who belongs to you.

8 I am the least of all God’s people. Yet, God showed me his kindness by allowing me to spread the Good News of the immeasurable wealth of Christ to people who are not Jewish. 9 He allowed me to explain the way this mystery works. God, who created all things, kept it hidden in the past. 10 He did this so that now, through the church, he could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know his infinite wisdom. 11 This was God’s plan for all of history which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 We can go to God with bold confidence through faith in Christ. 13 So then, I ask you not to become discouraged by the troubles I suffer for you. In fact, my troubles bring you glory.

3:8–13   Show me the kindness you showed Paul. Let me spread your immeasurable riches. I trust you to let me approach you with bold confidence.

Paul Prays That God Would Strengthen Christians

14 This is the reason I kneel in the presence of the Father 15 from whom all the family in heaven and on earth receives its name. 16 I’m asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his glory. I pray that he would give you inner strength and power through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation. 18 This way, with all of God’s people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep his love is. 19 You will know Christ’s love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.

3:14–19   Give me inner power through your Spirit. Live in me through faith. Show me your love’s true breadth, depth, and height. Fill me completely with you.

Authentic Prayer

Ephesians 3:14–21

Growth

I pray that he would give you inner strength and power through his Spirit. Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots. Ephesians 3:16–17

God has a plan—and infinite power—to move you to spiritual maturity. The apostle Paul explains, “Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

Prayer positions you for growth. Prayer by and for you welcomes God to use his might to change you. Prayer for others invites him to transform them with a gift “from the wealth of his glory” (Ephesians 3:16). When Paul talks to the Lord about his Ephesian friends, he asks that they would experience the Spirit’s strength and that their faith would comprehend Christ’s presence in them. He wants all God’s people to grasp “how wide, long, high, and deep his love is” (Ephesians 3:18). It’s a love far beyond any human understanding.

Prayer allows you to be completely filled with God. You can be sure that when you ask the Lord to grow you, that’s a request he won’t refuse. And when people you care about won’t open their lives to God’s work, your prayer invites him near.

Pray the Scriptures Growth: Ephesians 4:11–16, Colossians 1:9–12, Hebrews 6:1–8, 2 Peter 1:3–10

20 Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. 21 Glory belongs to God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time and eternity! Amen.

3:20–21   Your power at work in me does infinitely more than I can imagine. Glory to you!

Christ’s Gifts to the Church

4

1 I, a prisoner in the Lord, encourage you to live the kind of life which proves that God has called you. 2 Be humble and gentle in every way. Be patient with each other and lovingly accept each other. 3 Through the peace that ties you together, do your best to maintain the unity that the Spirit gives. 4 There is one body and one Spirit. In the same way you were called to share one hope. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything.

7 God’s favor[8] has been given to each of us. It was measured out to us by Christ who gave it. 8 That’s why the Scriptures say:

“When he went to the highest place,

he took captive those who had captured us

and gave gifts to people.”

9 Now what does it mean that he went up except that he also had gone down to the lowest parts of the earth? 10 The one who had gone down also went up above all the heavens so that he fills everything.

4:1–10   Help me live in a way that proves you called me—humble, gentle, patient, accepting. I’ll work hard to live in unity with your people.

11 He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts ⌞to his church⌟. 12 Their purpose is to prepare God’s people to serve and to build up the body of Christ. 13 This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. 15 Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head. 16 He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint. As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

4:11–16   Give your people useful gifts. Grow us until we measure up to you in every way. Then we won’t blow in the wind. We’ll live as one body. We’ll speak truth and build each other up.

Live as God’s People

17 So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. 18 They can’t understand because they are in the dark. They are excluded from the life that God approves of because of their ignorance and stubbornness. 19 Since they no longer have any sense of shame, they have become promiscuous. They practice every kind of sexual perversion with a constant desire for more.

4:17–19   My mind used to be set on worthless things. I was in the dark and didn’t know it. I was ignorant and stubborn, practicing all kinds of evil and always wanting more.

20 But that is not what you learned from Christ’s teachings. 21 You have certainly heard his message and have been taught his ways. The truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you. 23 However, you were taught to have a new attitude. 24 You were also taught to become a new person created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.

4:20–24   You taught me to change the way I’m living. The person I used to be will ruin me, but I’ve become a new person. You made me to be like you, truly good and holy.

25 So then, get rid of lies. Speak the truth to each other, because we are all members of the same body.

26 Be angry without sinning. Don’t go to bed angry. 27 Don’t give the devil any opportunity ⌞to work⌟.

28 Thieves must quit stealing and, instead, they must work hard. They should do something good with their hands so that they’ll have something to share with those in need.

29 Don’t say anything that would hurt ⌞another person⌟. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you. 30 Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free ⌞from the world of sin⌟.

31 Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred. 32 Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.

4:25–32   I’m getting rid of lies and tempering my anger. I work hard and share gladly. Help me speak words that give others what they need. I’ll forgive like you forgive me.

Imitate God

5

1 Imitate God, since you are the children he loves. 2 Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God.

3 Don’t let sexual sin, perversion of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you. This is not appropriate behavior for God’s holy people. 4 It’s not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks ⌞to God⌟. 5 You know very well that no person who is involved in sexual sin, perversion, or greed (which means worshiping wealth) can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey him. 7 Don’t be partners with them.

5:1–7   I’m your child, so I’ll imitate your pattern of love. I’ll get rid of sins in my body, heart, and words. I won’t worship wealth or have anything to do with sexual sin.

8 Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light. 9 Light produces everything that is good, that has God’s approval, and that is true. 10 Determine which things please the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the useless works that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. 12 It is shameful to talk about what some people do in secret. 13 Light exposes the true character of everything 14 because light makes everything easy to see. That’s why it says:

“Wake up, sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”[9]

15 So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people. 16 Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants. 18 Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit[10] 19 by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts. 20 Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5:8–16   I lived in the dark, but you filled me with light. Expose my true character. Help me be careful how I live.

5:17–20   I’m going to quit living wildly and focus on what you want. Fill me with your Spirit and I’ll worship from my heart.

Advice to Wives and Husbands

21 Place yourselves under each other’s authority out of respect for Christ.

22 Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority as you have placed yourselves under the Lord’s authority.[11] 23 The husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. It is his body, and he is its Savior. 24 As the church is under Christ’s authority, so wives are under their husbands’ authority in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He did this to make the church holy by cleansing it, washing it using water along with spoken words. 27 Then he could present it to himself as a glorious church, without any kind of stain or wrinkle—holy and without faults. 28 So husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29 No one ever hated his own body. Instead, he feeds and takes care of it, as Christ takes care of the church. 30 We are parts of his body. 31 That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will be one. 32 This is a great mystery. (I’m talking about Christ’s relationship to the church.) 33 But every husband must love his wife as he loves himself, and wives should respect their husbands.

5:21–33   Give me a mindset to relate rightly to my spouse. I’ll give our marriage nothing less than my all. I’ll model my devotion after your sacrifice on the cross.

Advice to Children and Parents

6

1 Children, obey your parents because you are Christians.[12] This is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother 3 that everything may go well for you, and you may have a long life on earth.” This is an important commandment with a promise.[13]

4 Fathers, don’t make your children bitter about life. Instead, bring them up in Christian discipline and instruction.

6:1–4   Help me honor my parents and enjoy your blessings. Help me raise my children without making them bitter.

Advice to Slaves and Masters

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with proper respect. Be as sincere as you are when you obey Christ. 6 Don’t obey them only while you’re being watched, as if you merely wanted to please people. But obey like slaves who belong to Christ, who have a deep desire to do what God wants them to do. 7 Serve eagerly as if you were serving your heavenly master and not merely serving human masters. 8 You know that your heavenly master will reward all of us for whatever good we do, whether we’re slaves or free people.

9 Masters, treat your slaves with respect. Don’t threaten a slave. You know that there is one master in heaven who has authority over both of you, and he doesn’t play favorites.

6:5–9   You’re my one true master. I’ll work for my human bosses the same way I work for you. I’ll give them my sincere respect. I won’t slack off when no one is looking.

Put On All the Armor That God Supplies

10 Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. 11 Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. 12 This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. 13 For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days.[14] Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.

14 So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. 15 Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. 16 In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Also take salvation as your helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies.

6:10–17   I need your mighty strength. I’ll put on each piece of your armor and make my stand against the devil. Remind me I’m not wrestling human opponents. I do battle with spiritual forces.

18 Pray in the Spirit[15] in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert. Use every kind of effort and make every kind of request for all of God’s people. 19 Also pray that God will give me the right words to say. Then I will speak boldly when I reveal the mystery of the Good News. 20 Because I have already been doing this as Christ’s representative, I am in prison. So pray that I speak about this Good News as boldly as I have to.

6:18–20   I’ll talk to you with every kind of prayer and request there is. I’ll apply myself and keep praying for God’s people—especially people who spread the Good News.

Greetings from Paul

21 I’m sending Tychicus to you. He is our dear brother and a faithful deacon[16] in the Lord’s work. He will tell you everything that is happening to me so that you will know how I’m getting along. 22 That’s why I’m sending him to you so that you may know how we’re doing and that he may encourage you.

23 May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give our brothers and sisters peace and love along with faith. 24 His favor[17] is with everyone who has an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

6:21–24   Give me not only peace and love but faith. Show your favor to everyone who has an undying love for you.

PHILIPPIANS

INTRODUCTION

Philippians brings a message of true happiness. The apostle Paul seems nearly out of his mind when you consider the setting of this letter. In chains for his faith in Jesus and with an uncertain future looming, he writes the Philippians a letter of profound joy.

Paul thanks God for all his sweet memories of the Philippians, people he introduced to Jesus on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11–40). In this brief note he promises the Lord won’t quit working until he completes the life-altering work he began in his friends. He urges them to draw on everything the Lord has done for them to live with the same servant heart as Jesus, who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Sharing that attitude of Jesus, these believers can live and love with a united purpose. They can make knowing Jesus their highest priority. They can experience contentment whether they face lack or plenty. They can count on God to be their strength and to provide for their every real need.

Praying the book of Philippians invites you to enter into God’s joy and commit to serve like Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4

Greeting

1

1 From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.

To God’s people in the city of Philippi and their bishops[1] and deacons[2]—to everyone who is united with Christ Jesus.

2 Good will[3] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

1:1–2   I’m one of your people. I’m connected to spiritual brothers and sisters because of Jesus. Fill me with your grace and peace.

Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians

3 I thank my God for all the memories I have of you. 4 Every time I pray for all of you, I do it with joy. 5 I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had with you in the Good News from the first day ⌞you believed⌟ until now. 6 I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. 7 You have a special place in my heart. So it’s right for me to think this way about all of you. All of you are my partners. Together we share God’s favor,[4] whether I’m in prison or defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God is my witness that, with all the compassion of Christ Jesus, I long ⌞to see⌟ every one of you.

1:3–8   You watch with joy as you see the work you do inside me. You’ve been changing me since the day I first met you. Don’t stop working in me until you’re totally satisfied. Join me to others who share your favor.

9 I pray that your love will keep on growing because of your knowledge and insight. 10 That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. 11 Jesus Christ will fill your lives with everything that God’s approval produces. Your lives will then bring glory and praise to God.

1:9–11   The better I know you, the more devoted to you I become—and the more love I show others. Give me understanding so I can know and do your will. Use my life to honor you.

Nothing Matters Except That People Are Told about Christ

12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what happened to me has helped to spread the Good News. 13 As a result, it has become clear to all the soldiers who guard the emperor and to everyone else that I am in prison because of Christ. 14 So through my being in prison, the Lord has given most of our brothers and sisters confidence to speak God’s word more boldly and fearlessly than ever.

15 Some people tell the message about Christ because of their jealousy and envy. Others tell the message about him because of their good will. 16 Those who tell the message about Christ out of love know that God has put me here to defend the Good News. 17 But the others are insincere. They tell the message about Christ out of selfish ambition in order to stir up trouble for me while I’m in prison. 18 But what does it matter? Nothing matters except that, in one way or another, people are told the message about Christ, whether with honest or dishonest motives, and I’m happy about that.

1:12–18   Teach me to seize every hardship as an opportunity to tell of your greatness. Make my motives pure as I tell others about you. Nothing matters except that others hear the message about Christ.

Paul Honors Christ Whether He Lives or Dies

Yes, I will continue to be happy 19 for another reason. I know that I will be set free through your prayers and through the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of. I will speak very boldly and honor Christ in my body, now as always, whether I live or die. 21 Christ means everything to me in this life, and when I die I’ll have even more. 22 If I continue to live in this life, my work will produce more results. I don’t know which I would prefer. 23 I find it hard to choose between the two. I would like to leave this life and be with Christ. That’s by far the better choice. 24 But for your sake it’s better that I remain in this life. 25 Since I’m convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you. This will help you to grow and be joyful in your faith. 26 So by coming to you again, I want to give you even more reason to have pride in Christ Jesus with me.

1:19–21   I choose to speak boldly and honor you with my whole life. Whether I live or die, you mean everything to me.

1:22–26   I feel torn. I look forward to going home to heaven to be with you. But there are things you want me to do here and now. I want everyone to meet you and enjoy what I have discovered.

Fighting for the Faith

27 Live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I’ll hear all about you. I’ll hear that you are firmly united in spirit, united in fighting for the faith that the Good News brings. 28 So don’t let your opponents intimidate you in any way. This is God’s way of showing them that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved. 29 God has given you the privilege not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. 30 You are involved in the same struggle that you saw me having. Now you hear that I’m still involved in it.

1:27–30   My opponents scare me. I struggle to think of suffering as a privilege, even when suffering comes because I stand up for you. But these pains show I belong to you. Give me strength as I stay close to your people.

Have the Same Attitude as Christ

2

1 So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion? 2 Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind. 3 Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. 4 Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. 5 Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

2:1–5   You encourage me and comfort me with your love. You give me new friends and show me compassion. So I choose to look past my own interests. I’ll serve others the way you serve me.

6 Although he was in the form of God and equal with God,

he did not take advantage of this equality.

7 Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant,

by becoming like other humans,

by having a human appearance.

8 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,

death on a cross.

2:6–11   You put aside power and privilege and became human. You lived as our servant and died as our Savior. You bowed to us when we should have bowed to you.

9 This is why God has given him an exceptional honor—

the name honored above all other names—

10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth,

and in the world below will kneel

11 and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

to the glory of God the Father.

2:9–11   I will therefore honor you above all else. Now and for all eternity I kneel to you. You are Lord.

12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I’m absent. In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.

2:12–16   I can’t save myself from my sins or break free from my bondages. Work in me so my life pleases you. Light me up so I shine brightly in this dark world.

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 15 Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God’s children without any faults among people who are crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I can brag on the day of Christ that my effort was not wasted and that my work produced results. 17 My life is being poured out as a part of the sacrifice and service ⌞I offer to God⌟ for your faith. Yet, I am filled with joy, and I share that joy with all of you. 18 For this same reason you also should be filled with joy and share that joy with me.

2:17–18   Teach me to let go of my self-serving plans. I want to sacrifice myself to you and your world. Surround me with people who serve you with joy.

Paul Will Send Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope that the Lord Jesus will allow me to send Timothy to you soon so that I can receive some encouraging news about you. 20 I don’t have anyone else like Timothy. He takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 Everyone else looks after his own interests, not after those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know what kind of person Timothy proved to be. Like a father and son we worked hard together to spread the Good News. 23 I hope to send him as soon as I see how things are going to turn out for me. 24 But the Lord gives me confidence that I will come ⌞to visit you⌟ soon.

2:20–22   Make me like Timothy, paying attention to the well-being of others and putting your plans first. May my actions prove that I believe in you.

25 I feel that I must send Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier—back to you. You sent him as your personal representative to help me in my need. 26 He has been longing to see all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was so sick that he almost died. But God had mercy not only on him but also on me and kept me from having one sorrow on top of another. 28 So I’m especially eager to send him to you. In this way you will have the joy of seeing him again and I will feel relieved. 29 Give him a joyful Christian welcome. Make sure you honor people like Epaphroditus highly. 30 He risked his life and almost died for the work of Christ in order to make up for the help you couldn’t give me.

2:25–30   Make me like Epaphroditus, pushing my limits and taking bold risks so others meet you. Have mercy on me and give me everything I need to do your work.

Run Straight Toward the Goal

3

1 Now then, brothers and sisters, be joyful in the Lord. It’s no trouble for me to write the same things to you, and it’s for your safety. 2 Beware of dogs! Beware of those who do evil things. Beware of those who insist on circumcision. 3 We are the ⌞true⌟ circumcised people ⌞of God⌟ because we serve God’s Spirit and take pride in Christ Jesus. We don’t place any confidence in physical things, 4 although I could have confidence in my physical qualifications. If anyone else thinks that he can trust in something physical, I can claim even more. 5 I was circumcised on the eighth day. I’m a descendant of Israel. I’m from the tribe of Benjamin. I’m a pure-blooded Hebrew. When it comes to following Jewish laws, I was a Pharisee. 6 When it comes to being enthusiastic, I was a persecutor of the church. When it comes to winning God’s approval by obeying Jewish laws, I was perfect.

3:1–6   I won’t put my confidence in any right of birth or anything I’ve accomplished. I serve your Spirit and take pride only in you.

7 These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ. 8 It’s far more than that! I consider everything else worthless because I’m much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It’s because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ 9 and to have a relationship with him. This means that I didn’t receive God’s approval by obeying his laws. The opposite is true! I have God’s approval through faith in Christ. This is the approval that comes from God and is based on faith 10 that knows Christ. Faith knows the power that his coming back to life gives and what it means to share his suffering. In this way I’m becoming like him in his death, 11 with the confidence that I’ll come back to life from the dead.

3:7–11   Everything I once considered valuable I now count as worthless. I’m much better off knowing you. I don’t get your approval by following rules but through faith in you. Show me the power that brought you back to life.

12 It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and 14 I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.

15 Whoever has a mature faith should think this way. And if you think differently, God will show you how to think. 16 However, we should be guided by what we have learned so far.

3:12–16   I’m by no means perfect. I haven’t finished your race. But I run to win. I head straight toward you.

Imitate Me

17 Brothers and sisters, imitate me, and pay attention to those who live by the example we have given you. 18 I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things. 20 We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior. 21 Through his power to bring everything under his authority, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified body.

3:17–21   I’ll imitate people who imitate you. Many make themselves enemies of the cross. They let emotions rule them and act on sinful impulses. But I’ll live as a citizen of your kingdom.

Paul’s Advice

4

1 So, brothers and sisters, I love you and miss you. You are my joy and my crown. Therefore, dear friends, keep your relationship with the Lord firm!

2 I encourage both Euodia and Syntyche to have the attitude the Lord wants them to have. 3 Yes, I also ask you, Syzugus, my true partner, to help these women. They fought beside me to spread the Good News along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

4:1–3   Give me every bit of help I need to stay firm in my relationship with you. Call me out when my attitude falls short!

Always Be Joyful

4 Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: Be joyful! 5 Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. 6 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. 7 Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

4:4–7   I won’t worry about anything. I’ll let you in on my situation, tell you what I need, and say thanks. I’ll let your peace guard my mind and emotions.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable. 9 Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.

4:8–9   I’ll focus my thoughts on everything right—everything that deserves your applause.

Thanks for Your Gifts

10 The Lord has filled me with joy because you again showed interest in me. You were interested but did not have an opportunity to show it. 11 I’m not saying this because I’m in any need. I’ve learned to be content in whatever situation I’m in. 12 I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I’ve learned the secret of how to live when I’m full or when I’m hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little. 13 I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, it was kind of you to share my troubles.

4:10–14   Teach me contentment in every situation I face, whether plenty or poverty. I can do everything because you give me strength.

15 You Philippians also know that in the early days, when I left the province of Macedonia to spread the Good News, you were the only church to share your money with me. You gave me what I needed, and you received what I gave you. 16 Even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs twice. 17 It’s not that I’m looking for a gift. The opposite is true. I’m looking for your resources to increase. 18 You have paid me in full, and I have more than enough. Now that Epaphroditus has brought me your gifts, you have filled my needs. Your gifts are a soothing aroma, a sacrifice that God accepts and with which he is pleased. 19 My God will richly fill your every need in a glorious way through Christ Jesus. 20 Glory belongs to our God and Father forever! Amen.

4:15–20   Let my giving bring relief to people who need it the most. Richly fill my every need in a glorious way. Glory belongs to you!

21 Greet everyone who believes in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings to you. 22 All God’s people here, especially those in the emperor’s palace, greet you. 23 May the good will[5] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

COLOSSIANS

INTRODUCTION

Colossians exposes small ideas about Jesus. The Colossians lived in a city on the decline. Once a thriving business center, Colossae suffered in comparison to its up-and-coming neighbors. The apostle Paul writes to remind the believers there that their true riches are safe in heaven—and they’re models of a movement spreading all over the world.

Paul pushes the Colossians not to settle for anything less than the full truth about Jesus. He’s the price paid to win forgiveness for sinful people. He’s the exact image of the invisible God. He created everything in the world, both seen and unseen. He heads up the church. He reigns over everything. This true view of Jesus runs counter to mystical beliefs enticing this young church.

Paul reminds the Colossians that through Jesus, God made peace with the world, turning enemies into friends and forgiving guilty people of their sins. The Colossians have no need to follow human-made religious rules that can’t get them any closer to God. The Lord has raised them to new life, and Jesus is all they need.

Praying this letter to the Colossians calls you to devote yourself to the true Jesus, Lord of your life and Lord of all.

COLOSSIANS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4

Greeting

1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and from our brother Timothy.

2 To God’s holy and faithful people, our brothers and sisters who are united with Christ in the city of Colossae.

Good will[1] and peace from God our Father are yours!

Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in our prayers for you. 4 We thank God because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 5 You have these because of the hope which is kept safe for you in heaven. Some time ago you heard about this hope in the Good News which is the message of truth. 6 This Good News is present with you now. It is producing results and spreading all over the world as it did among you from the first day you heard it. At that time you came to know what God’s kindness[2] truly means. 7 You learned about this Good News from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant. He is taking your place here as a trustworthy deacon[3] for Christ 8 and has told us about the love that the Spirit has given you.

1:1–8   I’m grateful when anyone prays for me. Increase my faith in you and my love for your people. Your Good News produces real results in me. Let it do the same all over the world.

9 For this reason we have not stopped praying for you since the day we heard about you. We ask ⌞God⌟ to fill you with the knowledge of his will through every kind of spiritual wisdom and insight. 10 We ask this so that you will live the kind of lives that prove you belong to the Lord. Then you will want to please him in every way as you grow in producing every kind of good work by this knowledge about God. 11 We ask him to strengthen you by his glorious might with all the power you need to patiently endure everything with joy. 12 You will also thank the Father, who has made you able to share the light, which is what God’s people inherit.

1:9–12   Fill me with insight into your will so I can live a life that proves I belong to you and please you in every way. Strengthen me to patiently endure everything with joy.

What God Has Done Through Christ

13 God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves. 14 His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven.

1:13–14   You rescued me from the power of darkness and brought me into your kingdom. You paid the price to free me, forgiving my sin.

15 He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation.

16 He created all things in heaven and on earth,

visible and invisible.

Whether they are kings or lords,

rulers or powers—

everything has been created through him and for him.

17 He existed before everything

and holds everything together.

1:15–17   You’re the image of the God I can’t see. You created everything that exists—and you’ve always existed. You hold everything together.

18 He is also the head of the church, which is his body.

He is the beginning,

the first to come back to life

so that he would have first place in everything.

19 God was pleased to have all of himself live in Christ. 20 God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.

1:18–20   You were the first to come back to life and deserve the prime place in everything. All of God lives in you. Your sacrificial blood makes peace.

21 Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. 22 But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame. 23 This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains. You’ve heard this Good News of which I, Paul, became a servant. It has been spread throughout all creation under heaven.

1:21–23   I once was cut off from you, hostile in every action and attitude. But your death brought me back and welcomed me into your presence without fault. I have faith in this Good News.

Paul Describes His Work

24 I am happy to suffer for you now. In my body I am completing whatever remains of Christ’s sufferings. I am doing this on behalf of his body, the church. 25 I became a servant of the church when God gave me the work of telling you his entire message. 26 In the past God hid this mystery, but now he has revealed it to his people. 27 God wanted his people throughout the world to know the glorious riches of this mystery—which is Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory.

28 We spread the message about Christ as we instruct and teach everyone with all the wisdom there is. We want to present everyone as mature Christian people. 29 I work hard and struggle to do this while his mighty power works in me.

1:24–29   Train me to be happy when I suffer. I want to tell the world your entire wise message. I long to help everyone mature. I work hard while your mighty power works in me.

2

1 I want you to know how hard I work for you, for the people of Laodicea, and for people I have never met. 2 Because they are united in love, I work so that they may be encouraged by all the riches that come from a complete understanding of Christ. He is the mystery of God. 3 God has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ. 4 I say this so that no one will mislead you with arguments that merely sound good. 5 Although I’m absent from you physically, I’m with you in spirit. I’m happy to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

2:1–5   I want to encourage others with all the riches that come from completely understanding you. I want to shield them from misleading arguments that only sound good on the surface.

6 You received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live as Christ’s people. 7 Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving.

2:6–7   I received you as Lord. All I want is to live as one of your people.

Beware of Requirements Invented by Humans

8 Be careful not to let anyone rob you ⌞of this faith⌟ through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.

9 All of God lives in Christ’s body, 10 and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised. It was not a circumcision performed by human hands. But it was a removal of the corrupt nature in the circumcision performed by Christ. 12 This happened when you were placed in the tomb with Christ through baptism. In baptism you were also brought back to life with Christ through faith in the power of God,[4] who brought him back to life.

2:8–12   Guard me from shallow philosophies—mere human traditions. I’m complete in you, and you’re in charge of everything. In baptism you cut off my corrupt nature. You buried me and brought me back to life.

13 You were once dead because of your failures and your uncircumcised corrupt nature. But God made you alive with Christ when he forgave all our failures. 14 He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross. 15 He stripped the rulers and authorities ⌞of their power⌟ and made a public spectacle of them as he celebrated his victory in Christ.

2:13–15   Once I was dead because of my failures. But you made me alive by nailing the charges against me to the cross. You stripped every ruler of any authority over me.

16 Therefore, let no one judge you because of what you eat or drink or about the observance of annual holy days, New Moon Festivals, or weekly worship days. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body ⌞that casts the shadow⌟ belongs to Christ.

18 Let no one who delights in ⌞false⌟ humility and the worship of angels tell you that you don’t deserve a prize. Such a person, whose sinful mind fills him with arrogance, gives endless details of the visions he has seen. 19 He doesn’t hold on to ⌞Christ,⌟ the head. Christ makes the whole body grow as God wants it to, through support and unity given by the joints and ligaments.

2:16–19   I won’t be bound by human rules. I’ll hang on to you instead of letting my sinful mind make me arrogant.

20 If you have died with Christ to the world’s way of doing things, why do you let others tell you how to live? It’s as though you were still under the world’s influence. 21 People will tell you, “Don’t handle this! Don’t taste or touch that!” 22 All of these things deal with objects that are only used up anyway. 23 These things look like wisdom with their self-imposed worship, ⌞false⌟ humility, and harsh treatment of the body. But they have no value for holding back the constant desires of your corrupt nature.

2:20–23   I won’t let other people dictate how I live. Their rules can’t hold back the constant desires of my corrupt nature. I died with you to the world’s way of doing things.

Live as God’s People

3

1 Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the highest position. 2 Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. 3 You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.

3:1–4   Because you brought me back to life, I can focus on heavenly things. You’re my whole life! I’ll meet you in glory when you return.

5 Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). 6 It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him.[5] 7 You used to live that kind of sinful life. 8 Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. 9 Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, 10 and you’ve become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator. 11 Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything.

3:5–11   I’m killing off everything about me that comes from the world—starting with sexual sin, lust, and greed. I’ll rid myself of every sign of my old sinful life. You made me a new person.

12 As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly. 15 Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful. 16 Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about ⌞God’s⌟ kindness.[6] Sing to God in your hearts. 17 Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

3:12–17   There’s nothing better than being one of your holy people, chosen and loved by you. So I’ll treat others as you treat me. Control me with your peace, and instruct me in your kindness. I’ll live my life in your name.

Advice for Wives and Husbands, Parents and Children, Slaves and Masters

18 Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority.[7] This is appropriate behavior for the Lord’s people. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be harsh with them.

3:18–4:1   I’ll love my spouse as you love me. I’ll please you by honoring my parents and encouraging my children. I’ll work wholeheartedly for every human boss, because I really work for you.

20 Children, always obey your parents. This is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, don’t make your children resentful, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, always obey your earthly masters. Don’t obey them only while you’re being watched, as if you merely wanted to please people. Be sincere in your motives out of respect for your real master. 23 Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans. 24 You know that your real master will give you an inheritance as your reward. It is Christ, your real master, whom you are serving. 25 The person who does wrong will be paid back for the wrong he has done. God does not play favorites.

4

1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

Advice for All Christians

2 Keep praying. Pay attention when you offer prayers of thanksgiving. 3 At the same time also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to speak the word so that we may tell the mystery about Christ. It is because of this mystery that I am a prisoner. 4 Pray that I may make this mystery as clear as possible. This is what I have to do.

5 Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟. Make the most of your opportunities.

6 Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.

4:2–6   I pray for everyone who tells the world your mysteries. Make their teaching clear. Help me make the most of every opportunity to kindly answer people outside the faith.

Greetings from Paul and His Coworkers

7 I’m sending Tychicus to you. He is our dear brother, trustworthy deacon,[8] and partner in the Lord’s work. He will tell you everything that is happening to me. 8 I’m sending him to you so that you may know how we are doing and so that he may encourage you. 9 I’m sending Onesimus with him. Onesimus is from your city and is our faithful and dear brother. They will tell you about everything that’s happening here.

10 Aristarchus, who is a prisoner like me, sends greetings. So does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about Mark. If he comes to you, welcome him. 11 Jesus, called Justus, also greets you. They are the only converts from the Jewish religion who are working with me for God’s kingdom. They have provided me with comfort. 12 Epaphras, a servant of Christ Jesus from your city, greets you. He always prays intensely for you. He prays that you will continue to be mature and completely convinced of everything that God wants. 13 I assure you that he works hard for you and the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 My dear friend Luke, the physician, and Demas greet you. 15 Greet our brothers and sisters in Laodicea, especially Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

16 After you have read this letter, read it in the church at Laodicea. Make sure that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus to complete all the work that he started as the Lord’s servant.

18 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember that I’m a prisoner. God’s good will[9] be with you.

4:7–18   Make me trustworthy like Tychicus, faithful like Onesimus, intense in prayer like Epaphras. Let your kindness be with me.

1 THESSALONIANS

INTRODUCTION

First Thessalonians shows what real faith looks like. The Thessalonian believers got off to an impressive start. Like the apostle Paul tells them, “Your faith is active, your love is working hard, and your confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ is enduring” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Paul knows that God loves the Thessalonians and chose them to believe, because the Thessalonians welcomed God’s word with true joy, abundant power, and full certainty. So Paul isn’t afraid to spread the story of how they turned from false gods to serve the real, living God. Even so, Paul anxiously awaited an update on the Thessalonians’ faith. He was glad when Timothy brought him news that their relationship with God is firm. They have continued to be faithful despite their neighbors’ violent opposition.

Paul doesn’t want the Thessalonians to rest on their reputation. He calls them to holiness rather than sexual impurity. He recognizes that they love each other, but tells them to excel even more. He urges them to act in a way that wins respect from outsiders and to live with hope in the Lord’s imminent return.

Praying 1 Thessalonians calls you to confidence in God, staying true to him no matter what life brings.

1 THESSALONIANS

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5

Greeting

1

1 From Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

To the church at Thessalonica united with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Good will[1] and peace are yours!

Paul’s Prayer for the Thessalonians

2 We always thank God for all of you as we remember you in our prayers. 3 In the presence of our God and Father, we never forget that your faith is active, your love is working hard, and your confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ is enduring. 4 Brothers and sisters, we never forget this because we know that God loves you and has chosen you. 5 We know this because the Good News we brought came to you not only with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with complete certainty. In the same way you know what kind of people we were while we were with you and the good things we did for you.

1:1–5   You make the Good News completely convincing and seal it with your Spirit’s power. Everything you do proves you love me and choose me. Make my faith active, my love hardworking, my confidence enduring.

6 You imitated us and the Lord. In spite of a lot of suffering, you welcomed God’s word with the kind of joy that the Holy Spirit gives. 7 This way, you became a model for all the believers in the province of Macedonia and Greece. 8 From you the Lord’s word has spread out not only through the province of Macedonia and Greece but also to people everywhere who have heard about your faith in God. We don’t need to say a thing about it. 9 They talk about how you welcomed us when we arrived. They even report how you turned away from false gods to serve the real, living God 10 and to wait for his Son to come from heaven. His Son is Jesus, whom he brought back to life. Jesus is the one who rescues us from ⌞God’s⌟ coming anger.

1:6–10   Put me near spiritual leaders worth imitating. Then my own life will be a model for others. I’m turning from every false god to serve only you, the one real and living God.

Paul Remembers When He Was with the Thessalonians

2

1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our time with you was not wasted. 2 As you know, we suffered rough and insulting treatment in Philippi. But our God gave us the courage to tell you his Good News in spite of strong opposition.

3 When we encouraged you, we didn’t use unethical schemes, corrupt practices, or deception. 4 Rather, we are always spreading the Good News. God trusts us to do this because we passed his test. We don’t try to please people but God, who tests our motives. 5 As you know, we never used flattery or schemes to make money. God is our witness! 6 We didn’t seek praise from people, from you or from anyone else, 7 although as apostles of Christ we had the right to do this.

2:1–4   Teach me through spiritual mentors who pass your test—people with proven motives.

Instead, we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children. 8 We felt so strongly about you that we were determined to share with you not only the Good News of God but also our lives. That’s how dear you were to us! 9 You remember, brothers and sisters, our work and what we did to earn a living. We worked night and day so that we could bring you the Good News of God without being a burden to any of you. 10 You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless we were in our dealings with you believers. 11 You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats his children. We comforted you and encouraged you. Yet, we insisted that 12 you should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

2:5–9   Give me humble and gentle examples—people who share not only your Good News but their own lives.

2:10–12   Surround me with pure, honest, and blameless believers—people who encourage me and expect me to live for you.

Paul Remembers How the Thessalonians Received the Word of God

13 Here is another reason why we never stop thanking God: When you received God’s word from us, you realized it wasn’t the word of humans. Instead, you accepted it for what it really is—the word of God. This word is at work in you believers.

2:13   Your word isn’t a human invention. It comes from you. Let it do its work in me.

14 You, brothers and sisters, were like the churches of God in Judea that are united with Christ Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from the people of your own country as those churches did from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and who have persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God. They are enemies of the whole human race 16 because they try to keep us from telling people who are not Jewish how they can be saved. The result is that those Jews always commit as many sins as possible. So at last they are receiving ⌞God’s⌟ anger.

17 Brothers and sisters, we have been separated from you for a little while. Although we may not be able to see you, you’re always in our thoughts. We have made every possible effort to fulfill our desire to see you. 18 We wanted to visit you. I, Paul, wanted to visit you twice already, but Satan made that impossible.

19 Who is our hope, joy, or prize that we can brag about in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Isn’t it you? 20 You are our glory and joy!

2:14–20   Connect me to believers who suffer persecution like you and your prophets. I’ll keep them in the front of my mind and support them every way I can.

Timothy’s Report to Paul

3

1 We thought it best to remain in Athens by ourselves. But, because we couldn’t wait any longer ⌞for news about you⌟, 2 we sent our brother Timothy to you. He serves God by spreading the Good News about Christ. His mission was to strengthen and encourage you in your faith 3 so that these troubles don’t disturb any of you. You know that we’re destined to suffer persecution. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer persecution. And as you know, that’s what happened. 5 But when I couldn’t wait any longer, I sent ⌞Timothy⌟ to find out about your faith. I wanted to see whether the tempter had in some way tempted you, making our work meaningless.

3:1–5   Strengthen my faith so suffering doesn’t shake me. You warned me ahead of time that I won’t escape persecution, but don’t let troubles overpower me.

6 But Timothy has just now come back to us from you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, as we want to see you. 7 So brothers and sisters, your faith has encouraged us in all our distress and trouble. 8 Now we can go on living as long as you keep your relationship with the Lord firm.

9 We can never thank God enough for all the joy you give us as we rejoice in God’s presence. 10 We pray very hard night and day that we may see you again so that we can supply whatever you still need for your faith. 11 We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus will guide us to you. 12 We also pray that the Lord will greatly increase your love for each other and for everyone else, just as we love you. 13 Then he will strengthen you to be holy. Then you will be blameless in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all God’s holy people.

3:6–13   Use me to encourage believers in distress. Firm up my own relationship with you and supply everything I need in my faith. Increase my love for others. Make me blameless in your presence.

Instructions on the Way Christians Should Live

4

1 Now then, brothers and sisters, because of the Lord Jesus we ask and encourage you to excel in living a God-pleasing life even more than you already do. Do this the way we taught you. 2 You know what orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you keep away from sexual sin as a mark of your devotion to him. 4 Each of you should know that finding a husband or wife for yourself is to be done in a holy and honorable way, 5 not in the passionate, lustful way of people who don’t know God. 6 No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We’ve already told you and warned you about this. 7 God didn’t call us to be sexually immoral but to be holy. 8 Therefore, whoever rejects this ⌞order⌟ is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

4:1–2   I want to excel in living a life that pleases you. I will continue living as I do and always seek excellence.

4:3–8   My sexual purity is a mark of my devotion to you. I’ll search for a spouse in an honorable way, exploiting no one. You call me to be holy. Please give me more of your Spirit.

9 You don’t need anyone to write to you about the way Christians should love each other. God has taught you to love each other. 10 In fact, you are showing love to all the Christians throughout the province of Macedonia. We encourage you as believers to excel in love even more. 11 Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you. 12 Then your way of life will win respect from those outside ⌞the church⌟, and you won’t have to depend on anyone else for what you need.

4:9–12   You taught me to love—and I won’t stop now. I aim to live quietly, do my work, and earn my own living. I won’t depend on anyone for my needs.

Comfort about Christians Who Have Died

13 Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus. 15 We are telling you what the Lord taught. We who are still alive when the Lord comes will not go ⌞into his kingdom⌟ ahead of those who have already died. 16 The Lord will come from heaven with a command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet ⌞call⌟ of God. First, the dead who believed in Christ will come back to life. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord. 18 So then, comfort each other with these words!

4:13–18   I won’t grieve like people who have no hope. You died and came back to life. You raise the dead. You’ll take me up and I’ll always be with you!

Be Ready for the Day of the Lord

5

1 Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. 2 You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape. 4 But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark. That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would. 5 You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark. 6 Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober. 7 People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 It was not God’s intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.

5:1–3   One day you’ll come like a thief in the night. People will think everything is safe until destruction strikes.

5:4–8   I won’t be surprised by your arrival. I belong to the day, so I’ll stay awake and sober. I’ll put on faith, love, and hope like armor.

5:9–11   You don’t want me to experience your anger. You want to save me. You died for me so I can live with you.

Paul Encourages the Thessalonians

12 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show your appreciation for those leaders who work among you and instruct you. 13 We ask you to love them and think very highly of them because of the work they are doing. Live in peace with each other.

14 We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not living right, cheer up those who are discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that no one ever pays back one wrong with another wrong. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and everyone else.

5:12–15   Help me lift up my leaders and live at peace with your people. Empower me to do good to everyone.

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.

5:16–18   I’ll always be joyful. I’ll never stop praying. I’ll give thanks no matter what happens.

19 Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. 20 Don’t despise what God has revealed. 21 Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. 22 Keep away from every kind of evil.

5:19–22   I won’t put out your fire or despise what you reveal. Train me to test everything so I can hang on to the good and run from every evil.

Farewell

23 May the God who gives peace make you holy in every way. May he keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.

27 In the Lord’s name, I order you to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The good will[2] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

5:23–28   Make me holy in every way and keep my whole being blameless. You’re faithful, so you’ll make it happen. Let your kindness be with me.

2 THESSALONIANS

INTRODUCTION

Second Thessalonians corrects problems that had crept into a vibrant community. In his first letter to the Thessalonian believers, the apostle Paul lifted them up as models of faith, and in this brief letter he again applauds their remarkable growth and increasing love. The apostle even admits he brags to other believers about their endurance and faith “in all the persecutions and suffering you are experiencing” (2 Thessalonians 1:4).

Nevertheless, Paul brings a sharp correction. His previous teaching that Jesus would soon return to earth had caused some believers to claim he had already arrived. Paul points out that the Lord won’t come before the revelation of a clearly identifiable “man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). This embodiment of evil will take a seat in God’s temple, claim to be God, and use Satan’s power to do miraculous signs. He will deceive anyone who doesn’t love truth. On top of this warning, Paul tells people who have checked out of life to await Jesus’ return to get back to a disciplined lifestyle of hard work. And he tells everyone to never grow tired of doing right.

Praying this book will encourage you to keep growing as you wait for Jesus’ promised return.

2 THESSALONIANS

1  | 2  | 3

Greeting

1

1 From Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

To the church at Thessalonica united with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Good will[1] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

Paul’s Prayer for the Thessalonians

3 We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters. It’s right to do this because your faith is showing remarkable growth and your love for each other is increasing. 4 That’s why we brag in God’s churches about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and suffering you are experiencing. 5 Your suffering proves that God’s judgment is right and that you are considered worthy of his kingdom.

1:1–5   What do you see when you look at me? Remarkable growth? Increasing love? Faithful endurance? Do your work in me!

6 Certainly, it is right for God to give suffering to those who cause you to suffer. 7 It is also right for God to give all of us relief from our suffering. He will do this when the Lord Jesus is revealed, ⌞coming⌟ from heaven with his mighty angels in a blazing fire. 8 He will take revenge on those who refuse to acknowledge God and on those who refuse to respond to the Good News about our Lord Jesus. 9 They will pay the penalty by being destroyed forever, by being separated from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious power. 10 ⌞This will happen⌟ on that day when he comes to be honored among all his holy people and admired by all who have believed in him. This includes you because you believed the testimony we gave you.

1:6–10   You’ll pay back tormenters and bring relief to their victims. So come from heaven with blazing fire. Be honored by your holy people. Receive the admiration of everyone who believes.

11 With this in mind, we always pray that our God will make you worthy of his call. We also pray that through ⌞his⌟ power he will help you accomplish every good desire and help you do everything your faith produces. 12 That way the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored among you. Then, because of the good will of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, you will be honored by him.

1:11–12   Make me worthy of your call. Help me accomplish everything good I want to do. I intend to honor you!

Don’t Be Deceived about the Day of the Lord

2

1 Brothers and sisters, we have this request to make of you about our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming and our gathering to meet him. 2 Don’t get upset right away or alarmed when someone claims that we said through some spirit, conversation, or letter that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you about this in any way. ⌞That day cannot come unless⌟ a revolt takes place first, and the man of sin, the man of destruction, is revealed. 4 He opposes every so-called god or anything that is worshiped and places himself above them, sitting in God’s temple and claiming to be God.

2:1–4   Your day hasn’t yet come. The man of sin still hasn’t been revealed. He opposes every so-called god and sets himself up in your place.

5 Don’t you remember that I told you about these things when I was still with you? 6 You know what it is that now holds him back, so that he will be revealed when his time comes. 7 The mystery of this sin is already at work. But it cannot work effectively until the person now holding it back gets out of the way. 8 Then the man of sin will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will destroy him by what he says. When the Lord Jesus comes, his appearance will put an end to this man.

2:5–8   Once the man of sin appears, you’ll destroy him by what you say. I can’t wait for your spectacular arrival. You’ll put an end to him.

9 The man of sin will come with the power of Satan. He will use every kind of power, including miraculous and wonderful signs. But they will be lies. 10 He will use everything that God disapproves of to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them. 11 That’s why God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe a lie. 12 Then everyone who did not believe the truth, but was delighted with what God disapproves of, will be condemned.

2:9–12   Don’t let me fall for Satan’s captivating signs. Help me see through his lies. I love the truth that saves me! Don’t condemn me with people who don’t believe!

Paul Encourages the Thessalonians

13 We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters. You are loved by the Lord and we thank God that in the beginning he chose you to be saved through a life of spiritual devotion and faith in the truth. 14 With this in mind he called you by the Good News which we told you so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2:13   You love me and chose me to be saved. Lead me in a life of spiritual devotion and truth.

15 Then, brothers and sisters, firmly hold on to the traditions we taught you either when we spoke to you or in our letter.

16 God our Father loved us and by his kindness[2] gave us everlasting encouragement and good hope. Together with our Lord Jesus Christ, 17 may he encourage and strengthen you to do and say everything that is good.

2:14–17   You called me through the Good News. Let your kindness give me hope. Encourage me to do and say good.

Paul’s Final Instructions for the Thessalonians

3

1 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray that we spread the Lord’s word rapidly and that it will be honored the way it was among you. 2 Also pray that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone shares our faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you against the evil one.

4 The Lord gives us confidence that you are doing and will continue to do what we ordered you to do. 5 May the Lord direct your lives as you show God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

3:1–5   Make your word spread rapidly. Rescue your servants from evil people. Direct my life as I show your love and endurance.

6 Brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we order you not to associate with any believer who doesn’t live a disciplined life and doesn’t follow the tradition you received from us. 7 You know what you must do to imitate us. We lived a disciplined life among you. 8 We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, we worked hard and struggled night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. 9 It’s not as though we didn’t have a right to receive support. Rather, we wanted to set an example for you to follow. 10 While we were with you, we gave you the order: “Whoever doesn’t want to work shouldn’t be allowed to eat.”

3:6–10   I need your power to lead a disciplined life. Train me to work hard and not burden anyone. If I don’t work, I won’t eat.

Authentic Prayer

2 Thessalonians 3:1–3

Mission

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray that we spread the Lord’s word rapidly and that it will be honored the way it was among you. 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Prayer empowers the spread of God’s message. The weeks or months the apostle Paul spent with the Thessalonians weren’t wasted. After rough treatment elsewhere, he nevertheless courageously spoke the Good News about Jesus. Even when the Thessalonians themselves met intense opposition, they gladly received the message, abandoning their idols and turning to the living God (1 Thessalonians 1:8–2:2).

As Paul spreads the news about Jesus elsewhere, he invites these models of faith to join him in praying that others will respond as rapidly and completely as they did. He also requests prayer for protection from people conspiring to harm him and stop his message.

The Lord commissions his followers to tell the world about him (Matthew 28:18–20). Scripture and history both prove that the message of Jesus advances only when believers undergird their efforts with prayer. As you talk to God about the spread of his message nearby and around the world, ask him for boldness, protection, responsiveness, gifted workers, financial and material support, creativity, and stamina. Your prayers help send the Word.

Pray the Scriptures Mission: Matthew 9:35–38, Matthew 28:16–20, Acts 1:3–8, Ephesians 6:18–20

11 We hear that some of you are not living disciplined lives. You’re not working, so you go around interfering in other people’s lives. 12 We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to pay attention to their own work so they can support themselves. 13 Brothers and sisters, we can’t allow ourselves to get tired of doing what is right.

3:11–13   Warn me when I wander around interfering in other people’s lives. I’ll shift my attention to my own work and not let myself tire of doing right.

14 It may be that some people will not listen to what we say in this letter. Take note of them and don’t associate with them so that they will feel ashamed. 15 Yet, don’t treat them like enemies, but instruct them like brothers and sisters.

Farewell

16 May the Lord of peace give you his peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. In every letter that I send, this is proof that I wrote it.

18 The good will[3] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

3:14–18   Help me educate brothers and sisters who are adrift. Give me your peace at all times and in every way. Let your kindness be with me.

1 TIMOTHY

INTRODUCTION

First Timothy gives wise insights to all believers doing ministry. Unlike letters from the apostle Paul addressed to local gatherings of Christians, this note delivers one-on-one coaching to a promising young pastor.

Timothy’s grandmother and mother made sure he grew up knowing the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15), and Paul counted Timothy as his own spiritual son (2 Timothy 1:2). Timothy accompanied Paul in the province of Asia (Acts 16:1–5), and the apostle put him in charge of believers in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3).

In this letter Paul instructs Timothy to silence false teachers obsessed with novel interpretations of Jewish law. He offers guidelines for church order, including rigorous standards for people who aspire to leadership. He encourages Timothy to make the most of the gift the Holy Spirit has built into him. He tells this pastor to point the rich to generosity and warns him against letting anything distract him from spreading the Good News about Jesus.

Paul’s counsel aims to toughen up a young leader who sometimes feels disrespected for his age (1 Timothy 4:12). Praying this letter invites you to find your own place in ministry and serve the Lord fully.

1 TIMOTHY

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6

Greeting

1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our confidence.

2 To Timothy, a genuine child in faith.

Good will,[1] mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord are yours!

1:1–2   Grant me your good will, mercy, and faith. You’re my confidence. I await your command!

A Warning about False Teachers

3 When I was going to the province of Macedonia, I encouraged you to stay in the city of Ephesus. That way you could order certain people to stop teaching false doctrine 4 and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These myths and genealogies raise a lot of questions rather than promoting God’s plan, which centers in faith.

5 My goal in giving you this order is for love to flow from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith. 6 Some people have left these qualities behind and have turned to useless discussions. 7 They want to be experts in Moses’ Teachings. However, they don’t understand what they’re talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently.

1:3–7   Help me sift through false doctrines and find ways to advance your plan. Make my love flow from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

8 We know that the laws in Moses’ Teachings are good if they are used as they were intended to be used. 9 For example, a person must realize that those laws are not intended for people who have God’s approval. Laws are intended for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for those who think nothing is holy or sacred, for those who kill their fathers, their mothers, or other people. 10 Laws are intended for people involved in sexual sins, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for those who lie when they take an oath, and for whatever else is against accurate teachings. 11 Moses’ Teachings were intended to be used in agreement with the Good News that contains the glory of the blessed God. I was entrusted with that Good News.

1:8–11   Keeping your law can’t earn me your approval. You sent your rules to shake me—to make me aware of your holiness and my sin. I count on your Good News.

God’s Mercy to Paul

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord that he has trusted me and has appointed me to do his work with the strength he has given me. 13 In the past I cursed him, persecuted him, and acted arrogantly toward him. However, I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief. 14 Our Lord was very kind[2] to me. Through his kindness he brought me to faith and gave me the love that Christ Jesus shows people.

1:12–14   You’re a God who looks past ignorant rage. In kindness you brought me to faith and showed me love.

15 This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the foremost sinner. 16 However, I was treated with mercy so that Christ Jesus could use me, the foremost sinner, to demonstrate his patience. This patience serves as an example for those who would believe in him and live forever. 17 Worship and glory belong forever to the eternal king, the immortal, invisible, and only God. Amen.

1:15–17   You came into the world to save me and every other sinner. Your mercy demonstrates your enormous patience. I’ll worship you forever—immortal, invisible, one-and-only God!

Guidelines for the Church

18 Timothy, my child, I’m giving you this order about the prophecies that are still coming to you: Use these prophecies in faith and with a clear conscience to fight this noble war. 19 Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship.[3] 20 Among these people are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan in order to teach them not to dishonor God.

1:18–20   I’ll use your word to fight a good fight. I’ll let faith shape my conscience.

2

1 First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people, 2 for rulers, and for everyone who has authority over us. Pray for these people so that we can have a quiet and peaceful life always lived in a godly and reverent way. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior. 4 He wants all people to be saved and to learn the truth. 5 There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and humans—a human, Christ Jesus. 6 He sacrificed himself for all people to free them from their sins.

2:1–3   I’ll pray at all times for all people. Give all of us peace to live a godly and reverent life.

This message is valid for every era. 7 I was appointed to spread this Good News and to be an apostle to teach people who are not Jewish about faith and truth. I’m telling you the truth. I’m not lying.

2:4–7   You want all people to be saved and learn the truth. You’re the one mediator—the only sacrifice who frees me from my sins.

8 I want men to offer prayers everywhere. They should raise their hands in prayer after putting aside their anger and any quarrels they have with anyone.

2:8   I’ll put aside quarrels and pray instead. I’ll lift my hands when I plead with you.

9 I want women to show their beauty by dressing in appropriate clothes that are modest and respectable. Their beauty will be shown by what they do,[4] not by their hair styles or the gold jewelry, pearls, or expensive clothes they wear. 10 This is what is proper for women who claim to have reverence for God.

2:9–10   Give me wisdom to honor you with what I wear. I’d rather showcase you than my style.

11 A woman must learn in silence, in keeping with her position. 12 I don’t allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. Instead, she should be quiet. 13 After all, Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 Besides that, Adam was not deceived. It was the woman who was deceived and sinned. 15 However, she ⌞and all women⌟ will be saved through the birth of the child,[5] if they lead respectable lives in faith, love, and holiness.

2:11–15   Teach me to learn in true submission to you. Teach me to speak only words you put in my mouth. Teach me to live with boundless faith, love, and holiness.

Guidelines for Leaders in the Church

3

1 This is a statement that can be trusted: If anyone sets his heart on being a bishop,[6] he desires something excellent. 2 A bishop must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife, be sober, use good judgment, be respectable, be hospitable, and be able to teach. 3 He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but he must be gentle. He must not be quarrelsome or love money. 4 He must manage his own family well. His children should respectfully obey him. 5 (If a man doesn’t know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a new Christian, or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned. 7 People who are not Christians must speak well of him, or he might become the victim of disgraceful insults that the devil sets as traps for him.

3:1–3   Make me the leader you want me to be—sober, sound, respectable, hospitable, gifted at teaching. Let me be gentle rather than greedy or roaring drunk.

3:4–7   Help me raise my children to respect both you and me. Don’t let my head swell. Show me how to make a good impression on people who don’t know you.

8 Deacons[7] must also be of good character. They must not be two-faced or addicted to alcohol. They must not use shameful ways to make money. 9 They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith. 10 First, a person must be evaluated. Then, if he has a good reputation, he may become a deacon.

11 Their wives must also be of good character. They must not be gossips, but they must control their tempers and be trustworthy in every way.

12 A deacon must have only one wife. Deacons must manage their children and their families well. 13 Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.

3:8–13   Call out my hypocrisy and addictions and dishonesty. Test me and see if I’m ready to lead.

14 I hope to visit you soon. However, I’m writing this to you 15 in case I’m delayed. I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16 The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great:

He[8] appeared in his human nature,

was approved by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was announced throughout the nations,

was believed in the world,

and was taken to heaven in glory.

3:14–16   I’m part of your family, your church. Show me how to live. Let me share in your heavenly glory.

A Prophecy about the Last Times

4

1 The Spirit says clearly that in later times some believers will desert the Christian faith. They will follow spirits that deceive, and they will believe the teachings of demons. 2 These people will speak lies disguised as truth. Their consciences have been scarred as if branded by a red-hot iron. 3 They will try to stop others from getting married and from eating certain foods. God created food to be received with prayers of thanks by those who believe and know the truth. 4 Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected if it is received with prayers of thanks. 5 The word of God and prayer set it apart as holy.

4:1–5   Everything you created is good. Your word and prayer make it yours. I want to cling to your truth and live in your freedom. Help me spot lies disguised as truth.

Guidelines for Serving Christ

6 You are a good servant of Christ Jesus when you point these things out to our brothers and sisters. Then you will be nourished by the words of the Christian faith and the excellent teachings which you have followed closely. 7 Don’t have anything to do with godless myths that old women like to tell. Rather, train yourself to live a godly life. 8 Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come. 9 This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance. 10 Certainly, we work hard and struggle to live a godly life, because we place our confidence in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

4:6–10   Nourish me by your word and give me opportunities to teach others. I’ll strengthen my body but give spiritual training first place. I put my confidence in you, my Savior.

11 Insist on these things and teach them. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity an example for other believers. 13 Until I get there, concentrate on reading ⌞Scripture⌟ in worship, giving encouraging messages, and teaching people. 14 Don’t neglect the gift which you received through prophecy when the spiritual leaders[9] placed their hands on you ⌞to ordain you⌟. 15 Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress. 16 Focus on your life and your teaching. Continue to do what I’ve told you. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.

4:11–16   Thanks for not judging me by my age. I’ll set everyone an example in my speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity. I’ll stick to Scripture and use my gifts.

Guidelines for Dealing with Other Christians

5

1 Never use harsh words when you correct an older man, but talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers, 2 older women as if they were your mothers, and younger women as if they were your sisters, while keeping yourself morally pure.

5:1–2   Give me kind and persuasive words no matter who I’m talking to.

3 Honor widows who have no families. 4 The children or grandchildren of a widow must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents. This is pleasing in God’s sight.

5 A widow who has no family has placed her confidence in God by praying and asking for his help night and day. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead although she is still alive. 7 Insist on these things so that widows will have good reputations. 8 If anyone doesn’t take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the Christian faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Any widow who had only one husband and is at least 60 years old should be put on your list ⌞of widows⌟. 10 People should tell about the good things she has done: raising children, being hospitable, taking care of believers’ needs, helping the suffering, or always doing good things.

5:3–10   You call me to respect my own family by repaying my parents. If I don’t care for my own, I’m worse than someone who doesn’t know you at all.

11 Don’t include younger widows ⌞on your list⌟. Whenever their natural desires become stronger than their devotion to Christ, they’ll want to marry. 12 They condemn themselves by rejecting the Christian faith, the faith they first accepted. 13 At the same time, they learn to go around from house to house since they have nothing else to do. Not only this, but they also gossip and get involved in other people’s business, saying things they shouldn’t say.

14 So I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. 15 Some of them have already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any woman is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. In this way the church is not burdened and can help widows who have no families.

5:11–16   Don’t let anything get in the way of my devotion to you. Teach me to seek your will for my life and put myself to good use. Show me who really needs my help.

17 Give double honor to spiritual leaders[10] who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching the word ⌞of God⌟. 18 After all, Scripture says, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing[11] grain,” and “The worker deserves his pay.”

19 Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Reprimand those leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that the other leaders will also be afraid.

21 I solemnly call on you in the sight of God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to be impartial when you follow what I’ve told you. Never play favorites.

22 Don’t be in a hurry to place your hands on anyone ⌞to ordain him⌟. Don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.

23 Stop drinking only water. Instead, drink a little wine for your stomach because you are frequently sick.

5:17–23   I’ll honor my spiritual leaders, especially those who teach me your word. I won’t bother them with petty complaints or criticize them for something I can’t prove.

24 The sins of some people are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there. 25 In the same way, the good things that people do are obvious, and those that aren’t obvious can’t remain hidden.

5:24–25   Forgive my sins and don’t let anyone follow my bad example. Make me a model for everyone.

6

1 All slaves who believe must give complete respect to their own masters. In this way no one will speak evil of God’s name and what we teach. 2 Slaves whose masters also believe should respect their masters even though their masters are also believers. As a result, believers who are slaves should serve their masters even better because those who receive the benefit of their work are believers whom they love.

6:1–2   I’ll respect people who lead and control my life. I won’t give anyone reason to speak evil about you.

Guidelines for Living a Godly Life

Teach and encourage people to do these things. 3 Whoever teaches false doctrine and doesn’t agree with the accurate words of our Lord Jesus Christ and godly teachings 4 is a conceited person. He shows that he doesn’t understand anything. Rather, he has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words. This produces jealousy, rivalry, cursing, suspicion, 5 and conflict between people whose corrupt minds have been robbed of the truth. They think that a godly life is a way to make a profit.

6:3–5   Equip me to filter false doctrines. Let my life and words prove my understanding of you.

6 A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have. 7 We didn’t bring anything into the world, and we can’t take anything out of it. 8 As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied.

9 But people who want to get rich keep falling into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires which drown them in destruction and ruin. 10 Certainly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people who have set their hearts on getting rich have wandered away from the Christian faith and have caused themselves a lot of grief.

6:6–10   I’m rich when I’m content with what I have. Loving money will destroy me. It pushes you away and brings me grief.

11 But you, man of God, must avoid these things. Pursue what God approves of: a godly life, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the Christian faith. Take hold of everlasting life to which you were called and about which you made a good testimony in front of many witnesses.

6:11–14   I want to chase things you approve—godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. I’ll take hold of the life you have for me. I won’t quit trying to do your will.

13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony in front of Pontius Pilate, 14 I insist that, until our Lord Jesus Christ appears, you obey this command completely. Then you cannot be blamed for doing anything wrong. 15 At the right time God will make this known. God is the blessed and only ruler. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 He is the only one who cannot die. He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has seen him, nor can they see him. Honor and power belong to him forever! Amen.

6:15–16   You’re the one and only ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. You deserve honor and power forever!

17 Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 Tell them to do good, to do a lot of good things, to be generous, and to share. 19 By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves which is a good foundation for the future. In this way they take hold of what life really is.

20 Timothy, guard the Good News which has been entrusted to you. Turn away from pointless discussions and the claims of false knowledge that people use to oppose ⌞the Christian faith⌟. 21 Although some claim to have knowledge, they have abandoned the faith.

God’s good will[12] be with all of you.

6:17–21   Riches are uncertain. I trust in you, the one who gives me everything to enjoy. I’ll do good and share generously, because that’s grabbing hold of real life. Let your kindness be with me.

2 TIMOTHY

INTRODUCTION

Second Timothy shows a believer’s joyful trip heavenward. The apostle Paul had already written Timothy once to offer insights for leading the Ephesian church. Now Paul writes again, but encouraging Timothy in his work was just a portion of his message.

Paul instructs his young friend to push past fearfulness to “a spirit of power, love, and good judgment,” unashamed to speak up about the Lord (2 Timothy 1:7–8). God saves people not because of anything they do but because of his own kindness, so spreading the news of God’s plan is worth any price Timothy might pay.

What stands out most in this letter, however, is Paul’s outlook on his own dire situation. As he lingers in prison, he believes God still deserves his trust (2 Timothy 1:12). As he anticipates his death, he gladly pours out his life as a sacrifice to God. He knows he has fought the good fight and run the race well (2 Timothy 4:6–8). Paul wants Timothy to visit him soon, bringing him a warm coat and scrolls. He trusts God to take him safely to his heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18).

Praying this letter forces you to consider your own life path and commit to following Jesus until death and beyond.

2 TIMOTHY

1  | 2  | 3  | 4

Greeting

1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will—a will that contains Christ Jesus’ promise of life.

1:1–2   Your will contains a promise of life. I need your good will, mercy, and peace.

2 To Timothy, my dear child.

Good will,[1] mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

1:3–5   Make me faithful in prayer like Paul. Make me passionate and sincere like Timothy. Help me convince my children you’re real.

3 I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day when I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did. 4 I remember your tears and want to see you so that I can be filled with happiness. 5 I’m reminded of how sincere your faith is. That faith first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m convinced that it also lives in you.

Paul’s Advice for Timothy

6 You received a gift from God when I placed my hands on you ⌞to ordain you⌟. Now I’m reminding you to fan that gift into flames. 7 God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment. 8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord or be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, by God’s power, join me in suffering for the sake of the Good News. 9 God saved us and called us to be holy, not because of what we had done, but because of his own plan and kindness.[2] Before the world began, God planned that Christ Jesus would show us God’s kindness. 10 Now with the coming of our Savior Christ Jesus, he has revealed it. Christ has destroyed death, and through the Good News he has brought eternal life into full view. 11 I was appointed to be a messenger of this Good News, an apostle, and a teacher.

1:6–8   You put a gift inside me and expect me to fan it into flames. Take my cowardice and give me power, love, and sound thinking. Then I won’t be embarrassed to talk about you.

1:9–11   You saved me and made me your own because of kindness you had from the start. You’ve destroyed death and made the path to eternal life obvious.

12 For this reason I suffer as I do. However, I’m not ashamed. I know whom I trust. I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he had entrusted to me until that day.

13 With faith and love for Christ Jesus, consider what you heard me say to be the pattern of accurate teachings. 14 With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, protect the Good News that has been entrusted to you.

1:12–14   Your Good News is why I’m willing to suffer. I know you and trust you. You protect everything I give you.

News about Paul’s Coworkers

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord be merciful to the family of Onesiphorus. He often took care of my needs and wasn’t ashamed that I was a prisoner. 17 When he arrived in Rome, he searched hard for me and found me. 18 May the Lord grant that Onesiphorus finds mercy when that day comes. You know very well that he did everything possible to help me in Ephesus.

1:15–18   Send me believers who stay close. Give me friends who remain faithful.

Remain Focused on Jesus

2

1 My child, find your source of strength in the kindness[3] of Christ Jesus. 2 You’ve heard my message, and it’s been confirmed by many witnesses. Entrust this message to faithful individuals who will be competent to teach others.

2:1–2   I find strength in your kindness. I hang on your message. I’ll pass it along to others.

3 Join me in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Whoever serves in the military doesn’t get mixed up in non-military activities. This pleases his commanding officer. 5 Whoever enters an athletic competition wins the prize only when playing by the rules. 6 A hard-working farmer should have the first share of the crops. 7 Understand what I’m saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.

8 Always think about Jesus Christ. He was brought back to life and is a descendant of David. This is the Good News that I tell others. 9 I’m suffering disgrace for spreading this Good News. I have even been put into prison like a criminal. However, God’s word is not imprisoned. 10 For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive salvation from Christ Jesus with glory that lasts forever. 11 This is a statement that can be trusted:

2:3–10   I won’t get mixed up in anything not connected to you. Because you fill my mind, I’ll live to please you. Because you came back from the dead, I’ll put up with anything for the sake of people you’re saving.

If we have died with him, we will live with him.

12 If we endure, we will rule with him.

If we disown him, he will disown us.

13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful

because he cannot be untrue to himself.

2:11–13   Be my life and endurance. Be faithful when my faith runs out. Be true to your perfect character.

14 Remind believers about these things, and warn them in the sight of God not to quarrel over words. Quarreling doesn’t do any good but only destroys those who are listening.

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly. 16 Avoid pointless discussions. People who ⌞pay attention to these pointless discussions⌟ will become more ungodly, 17 and what they say will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that. 18 They have abandoned the truth. They are destroying the faith of others by saying that people who have died have already come back to life.

2:14–18   Quarreling destroys people. Pointless discussions make them ungodly. Help me explain your truth correctly.

19 In spite of all that, God’s ⌞people⌟ have a solid foundation. These words are engraved on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Whoever worships the Lord must give up doing wrong.”

20 In a large house there are not only objects made of gold and silver, but also those made of wood and clay. Some objects are honored when they are used; others aren’t. 21 Those who stop associating with dishonorable people will be honored. They will be set apart for the master’s use, prepared to do good things.

2:19–21   You know I belong to you, and I have no option but to give up sin. I’m preparing myself to do good for you.

22 Stay away from lusts which tempt young people. Pursue what has God’s approval. Pursue faith, love, and peace together with those who worship the Lord with a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. You know they cause quarrels. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, he must be kind to everyone. He must be a good teacher. He must be willing to suffer wrong. 25 He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth. 26 Then they might come back to their senses and God will free them from the devil’s snare so that they can do his will.

2:22–23   I’ll stay away from tempting lusts and chase everything you approve. I’ll join with people who worship you from a pure heart.

2:24–26   Show me how to gently correct people who oppose you. Bring them back to their senses and free them to do your will.

Watch Out for Sinful People

3

1 You must understand this: In the last days there will be violent periods of time. 2 People will be selfish and love money. They will brag, be arrogant, and use abusive language. They will curse their parents, show no gratitude, have no respect for what is holy, 3 and lack normal affection for their families. They will refuse to make peace with anyone. They will be slanderous, lack self-control, be brutal, and have no love for what is good. 4 They will be traitors. They will be reckless and conceited. They will love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them. Stay away from such people.

3:1–5   There’s violence and rebellion ahead. Arrogant people will disrespect anything holy and love pleasure more than you. They look godly, but they’re unchanged by your power.

6 Some of these men go into homes and mislead weak-minded women who are burdened with sins and led by all kinds of desires. 7 These women are always studying but are never able to recognize the truth.

8 As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth. Their minds are corrupt, and the faith they teach is counterfeit. 9 Certainly, they won’t get very far. Like the stupidity of Jannes and Jambres, their stupidity will be plain to everyone.

3:6–9   Give me a strong mind to guard me from being misled. Help me see and support your truth. Protect me from corrupt, fake, stupid people.

Teach the Truth

10 But you know all about my teachings, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. 11 You also know about the kind of persecutions and sufferings which happened to me in the cities of Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions, and the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil people and phony preachers will go from bad to worse as they mislead people and are themselves misled.

3:10–13   Your true teachers are proven by their life, love, and endurance. Their suffering is a sign they live for you.

14 However, continue in what you have learned and found to be true. You know who your teachers were. 15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you wisdom so that you can be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval. 17 They equip God’s servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things.

3:14–15   I’ll count on the truth you’ve been teaching me since birth. I look to trustworthy teachers and to the Scriptures that tell me how to be saved.

3:16–17   You inspired your word from start to finish. It instructs me, exposes my errors, and trains me for a life you approve. It equips me to do good things.

Continue to Do Your Work

4

1 I solemnly call on you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead. I do this because Christ Jesus will come to rule ⌞the world⌟. 2 Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. Be very patient when you teach.

4:1–2   I’ll be ready to spread your word at any time. You’re coming to rule the world. You’ll judge the living and the dead.

3 A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. 4 People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths.

5 But you must keep a clear head in everything. Endure suffering. Do the work of a missionary. Devote yourself completely to your work.

4:3–5   People only listen to what they want to hear. But I’ll stay clearheaded and continue to spread truth. I won’t slack off in my work.

6 My life is coming to an end, and it is now time for me to be poured out as a sacrifice to God. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. 8 The prize that shows I have God’s approval is now waiting for me. The Lord, who is a fair judge, will give me that prize on that day. He will give it not only to me but also to everyone who is eagerly waiting for him to come again.

4:6–8   Let me come to the end of my life and know I’ve kept the faith. Show me your approval. I’m pouring myself out as a sacrifice to you.

Paul’s Final Instructions to Timothy

9 Hurry to visit me soon. 10 Demas has abandoned me. He fell in love with this present world and went to the city of Thessalonica. Crescens went to the province of Galatia, and Titus went to the province of Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He is useful to me in my work. 12 I’m sending Tychicus to the city of Ephesus as my representative.

13 When you come, bring the warm coat I left with Carpus in the city of Troas. Also bring the scrolls and especially the parchments.[4]

14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did. 15 Watch out for him. He violently opposed what we said. 16 At my first hearing no one stood up in my defense. Everyone abandoned me. I pray that it won’t be held against them. 17 However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that I could finish spreading the Good News for all the nations to hear. I was snatched out of a lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from all harm and will take me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen.

Final Greetings

19 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in the city of Corinth and I left Trophimus in the city of Miletus because he was sick. 21 Hurry to visit me before winter comes. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters send you greetings.

22 The Lord be with you. His good will[5] be with all of you.

4:9–22   You stand by me and strengthen me to spread your Good News. Rescue me from harm and bring me safely to your heavenly kingdom. Glory belongs to you forever. Let your kindness be with me.

TITUS

INTRODUCTION

Titus proves that God can change tough people. Titus was traveling with Paul until the apostle left him behind to wrap up unfinished business on Crete. An island south of Greece known across the Mediterranean as a haven for pirates and slave traders, Crete was no easy assignment. One of its own poets wrote that its people “are always liars, savage animals, and lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12).

Paul tells Titus how to lead struggling believers to a better life. He outlines qualifications for spiritual leaders. He tells Titus to silence teachers spreading lies to make money. He gives directions for people of every age and stage. Throughout his instructions, Paul pushes not only for right beliefs but also for right behavior.

This letter gives hope to even the most stubbornly rebellious people. It declares that God’s saving kindness “trains us to avoid ungodly lives filled with worldly desires so that we can live self-controlled, moral, and godly lives in this present world” (Titus 2:12). Even when we’re stupid and disobedient, God’s kindness rescues and changes us (Titus 3:3–5).

Praying the book of Titus invites you to believe that the Lord can change the most stubborn parts of your heart. Wherever you feel stuck, let him lead you to new life.

TITUS

1  | 2  | 3

Greeting

1

1 From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was sent to lead God’s chosen people to faith and to the knowledge of the truth that leads to a godly life. 2 My message is based on the confidence of eternal life. God, who never lies, promised this eternal life before the world began. 3 God has revealed this in every era by spreading his word. I was entrusted with this word by the command of God our Savior.

4 To Titus, a genuine child in the faith we share.

1:1–4   Thanks for leading me to faith—and to the truth that leads to godly habits. I can count on your promise of eternal life, because you never lie.

Good will[1] and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior are yours!

Guidelines for Leaders in the Church

5 I left you in Crete to do what still needed to be done—appointing spiritual leaders[2] in every city as I directed you. 6 A spiritual leader must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife and have children who are believers. His children shouldn’t be known for having wild lifestyles or being rebellious. 7 Because a bishop[3] is a supervisor appointed by God, he must have a good reputation. He must not be a stubborn or irritable person. He must not drink too much or be a violent person. He must not use shameful ways to make money. 8 Instead, he must be hospitable, love what is good, use good judgment, be fair and moral, and have self-control. 9 He must be devoted to the trustworthy message we teach. Then he can use these accurate teachings to encourage people and correct those who oppose the word.

1:5–8   Get me ready to be a spiritual leader—respected, persuasive, flexible, and even-tempered. Teach me to love good, live fairly, and exercise self-control.

Correct Whoever Teaches What Is Wrong

10 There are many believers, especially converts from Judaism, who are rebellious. They speak nonsense and deceive people. 11 They must be silenced because they are ruining whole families by teaching what they shouldn’t teach. This is the shameful way they make money.

1:9–11   I’m devoted to your trustworthy message. Give me a chance to encourage your people and engage your opponents.

12 Even one of their own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, savage animals, and lazy gluttons.” 13 That statement is true. For this reason, sharply correct believers so that they continue to have faith that is alive and well. 14 They shouldn’t pay attention to Jewish myths or commands given by people who are always rejecting the truth. 15 Everything is clean[4] to those who are clean. But nothing is clean to corrupt unbelievers. Indeed, their minds and their consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but they deny him by what they do. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit to do anything good.

1:12–16   You put Titus in a land of “liars, savage animals, and lazy gluttons.” You told him to sharply correct believers to make their faith living and whole. Don’t hold back when I need a good jab.

Guidelines for Christian Living

2

1 Tell believers to live the kind of life that goes along with accurate teachings. 2 Tell older men to be sober. Tell them to be men of good character, to use good judgment, and to be well-grounded in faith, love, and endurance.

3 Tell older women to live their lives in a way that shows they are dedicated to God. Tell them not to be gossips or addicted to alcohol, but to be examples of virtue. 4 In this way they will teach young women to show love to their husbands and children, 5 to use good judgment, and to be morally pure. Also, tell them to teach young women to be homemakers, to be kind, and to place themselves under their husbands’ authority. Then no one can speak evil of God’s word.

2:1–5   I want my life to line up with your teachings. I long to live up to everything you want me to be. Then no one can speak evil of your word.

6 Encourage young men to use good judgment. 7 Always set an example by doing good things. When you teach, be an example of moral purity and dignity. 8 Speak an accurate message that cannot be condemned. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed because they cannot say anything bad about us.

9 Tell slaves who are believers to place themselves under their masters’ authority in everything they do. Tell them to please their masters, not to argue with them 10 or steal from them. Instead, tell slaves to show their masters how good and completely loyal they can be. Then they will show the beauty of the teachings about God our Savior in everything they do.

2:6–10   I struggle to model your purity and dignity. Help me display goodness and loyalty no matter what I do or who I work for. I’ll show off your saving beauty.

11 After all, God’s saving kindness[5] has appeared for the benefit of all people. 12 It trains us to avoid ungodly lives filled with worldly desires so that we can live self-controlled, moral, and godly lives in this present world. 13 At the same time we can expect what we hope for—the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to set us free from every sin and to cleanse us so that we can be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good things.

15 Tell these things to the believers. Encourage and correct them, using your full authority. Don’t let anyone ignore you.

2:11–15   Your saving kindness appeared for everyone’s good. Loosen my grip on this world and train me to live with self-control. Free me from every sin and make me enthusiastic about doing good.

3

1 Remind believers to willingly place themselves under the authority of government officials. Believers should obey them and be ready to help them with every good thing they do. 2 Believers shouldn’t curse anyone or be quarrelsome, but they should be gentle and show courtesy to everyone.

3:1–2   I’ll put myself under government authority. I’m ready to help with every good task.

What God Did for Us

3 Indeed, we, too, were once stupid, disobedient, and misled. We were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures. We were mean and jealous. We were hated, and we hated each other.

3:3–6   Once I was stupid, a slave to my body and bitter emotions. But you showed up and revealed your kind love. You saved me because of your mercy. You washed me and made me new.

4 However, when God our Savior made his kindness and love for humanity appear, 5 he saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal. 6 God poured a generous amount of the Spirit on us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 As a result, God in his kindness[6] has given us his approval and we have become heirs who have the confidence that we have everlasting life. 8 This is a statement that can be trusted. I want you to insist on these things so that those who believe in God can concentrate on setting an example by doing good things. This is good and helps other people.

3:7–8   You’ve given me your approval and made me your heir. I’m confident I possess everlasting life.

Advice for Titus

9 Avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about Moses’ Teachings. This is useless and worthless. 10 Have nothing to do with people who continue to teach false doctrine after you have warned them once or twice. 11 You know that people like this are corrupt. They are sinners condemned by their own actions.

Farewell

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry to visit me in the city of Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Give Zenas the lawyer and Apollos your best support for their trip so that they will have everything they need.

14 Our people should also learn how to set an example by doing good things when urgent needs arise so that they can live productive lives.

15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet our faithful friends.

3:9–15   I’ll break free of useless controversies. I’ll meet urgent needs and live productively. Let your kindness be with me.

⌞God’s⌟ good will[7] be with all of you.

PHILEMON

INTRODUCTION

Philemon welcomes a new brother. The apostle Paul wrote this short letter to his friend Philemon prodding him to receive back a runaway slave. Nothing in the letter indicates how Onesimus fell into bondage, but he likely sold himself to pay back a debt. The runaway had met Paul in Rome and become a Christian, and after a while, Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon to make things right.

As a slave owner, Philemon possessed legal authority to beat, brand, or execute Onesimus, but the apostle urges him to welcome Onesimus back as a brother in Christ. His note is a letter of reference vouching for his new friend, asking for forgiveness and a warm reception into Philemon’s home and the church in Colossae. Paul offers to pay back anything Onesimus had stolen as he left, but he also gently reminds Philemon of the eternal debt he owes Paul for introducing him to Jesus.

Praying this book calls you to break free of the sinful structures of your culture and discover ways you can show unexpected mercy.

PHILEMON

1

Greeting

1 From Paul, who is a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy.

To our dear coworker Philemon, 2 our sister Apphia, our fellow soldier Archippus, and the church that meets in your house.

3 Good will[1] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

1–3   Your good will and peace are mine. Thank you!

Paul’s Prayer for Philemon

4 ⌞Philemon,⌟ I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers because 5 I hear about your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 As you share the faith you have in common with others, I pray that you may come to have a complete knowledge of every blessing we have in Christ. 7 Your love ⌞for God’s people⌟ gives me a lot of joy and encouragement. You, brother, have comforted God’s people.

4–7   Let my faithfulness to you and my love for your people bring you praise. Help me realize every blessing I possess because of you.

Paul’s Advice about Onesimus

8 Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing. 9 However, I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Useful]. I became his spiritual father here in prison. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us.

8–11   Give me inner strength to do right things because I want to, not because I must.

12 I am sending him back to you. This is like sending you a part of myself. 13 I wanted to keep him here with me. Then he could have served me in your place while I am in prison for spreading the Good News. 14 Yet, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I want you to do this favor for me out of your own free will without feeling forced to do it.

15 Maybe Onesimus was gone for a while so that you could have him back forever—16 no longer as a slave but better than a slave—as a dear brother. He is especially dear to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a Christian.

12–16   Onesimus was a part of Paul, but he sent him back to Philemon. I can’t begin to feel the fear and anger of a slave going back to a master. But you made Onesimus a brother.

17 If you think of me as your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I’m writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life. 20 So, because we’re brothers in the Lord, do something for me. Give me some comfort because of Christ. 21 I am confident as I write to you that you will do this. And I know that you will do even more than I ask.

22 One more thing—have a guest room ready for me. I hope that, because of your prayers, God will give me back to you.

Greetings from Paul’s Coworkers

23 Epaphras, who is a prisoner because of Christ Jesus like I am, 24 and my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send you greetings.

25 The good will of our Lord Jesus Christ be yours.

17–25   Let me act above and beyond what people expect. I owe you my life. I’ll give others every good thing you’ve given me. Let your kindness be with me.

HEBREWS

INTRODUCTION

Hebrews connects the New Testament to the Old Testament. While no one knows with certainty who wrote the book of Hebrews, its purpose is clear. Penned for believers and seekers with roots in the Jewish faith, it offers detailed explanations of how Jesus fulfilled the rules and rituals of Mosaic law.

This long letter begins by acknowledging that God had established the old system as a means of instructing his people, but he now communicates in a fresh way. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets,” it declares. “In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son” (Hebrews 1:1–2). Through the Son, God created and upholds the universe. The Son reflects God’s glory, an exact likeness of all he is. And the Son cleanses people from sin (Hebrews 1:3).

Much of Hebrews explains how Jesus accomplished perfect cleansing of human wrongdoing. The old system could only provide temporary relief from sin. Each bloody animal sacrifice loudly and colorfully demonstrated the high cost of sin, but animals could never pay for human wrongdoing (Hebrews 10:1–4). So Jesus offered his body on the cross, doing away with sin fully and for all time (Hebrews 9:28). His death cleared a new way to God, giving believers confidence to boldly enter God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19–23).

Praying this book allows you to explore the intricacies of God’s care for the human race and the deep love that sent Jesus to the cross for your sin.

HEBREWS

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11  | 12  | 13

God Has Spoken to Us Through His Son

1

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. 2 In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. 3 His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he received the highest position, the one next to the Father in heaven.

God’s Son Is Superior to the Angels

4 The Son has become greater than the angels since he has been given a name that is superior to theirs. 5 God never said to any of his angels,

“You are my Son.

Today I have become your Father.”

1:1–4   You show me everything about God. You’re his exact likeness. You created the universe and hold it together. After you washed away sin, you took your place in heaven.

And God never said to any of his angels,

“I will be his Father,

and he will be my Son.”

6 When God was about to send his firstborn Son into the world, he said,

“All of God’s angels must worship him.”

7 God said about the angels,

“He makes his messengers winds.

He makes his servants flames of fire.”

1:5–7   You’re superior to any angel. No divine messenger has ever borne the name “God’s Son.” All the angels worship you.

8 But God said about his Son,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.

The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice.

9 You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong.

That is why God, your God,

anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.”

1:8–9   Your throne lasts forever. You love right and hate wrong.

10 God also said,

“Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth.

With your own hands you made the heavens.

11 They will come to an end, but you will live forever.

They will all wear out like clothes.

12 They will be taken off like a coat.

You will change them like clothes.

But you remain the same, and your life will never end.

13 But God never said to any of the angels,

“Sit in the highest position in heaven

until I make your enemies your footstool.”

14 What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation.

1:10–14   The earth will end, but you’ll live on. You’ll remain forever the same. You sit in heaven’s highest position. You prop up your feet on your enemies.

Everything Is Under Jesus’ Control

2

1 For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won’t drift away ⌞from the truth⌟. 2 After all, the message that the angels brought was reliable, and every violation and act of disobedience was properly punished. 3 So how will we escape punishment if we reject the important message, the message that God saved us? First, the Lord told this saving message. Then those who heard him confirmed that message. 4 God verified what they said through miraculous signs, amazing things, other powerful acts, and with other gifts from the Holy Spirit as he wanted.

2:1–4   You’re the whole reason I pay attention. I don’t want to drift from truth. You’re the one saving word. Amazing acts verify your message.

5 He didn’t put the world that will come (about which we are talking) under the angels’ control. 6 Instead, someone has declared this somewhere in Scripture:

“What is a mortal that you should remember him,

or the Son of Man[1] that you take care of him?

7 You made him a little lower than the angels.

You crowned him with glory and honor.

8 You put everything under his control.”

When God put everything under his Son’s control, nothing was left out.

2:5–8   The Father put everything under your control. He left nothing out.

However, at the present time we still don’t see everything under his Son’s control. 9 Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, but we see him crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death. Through God’s kindness[2] he died on behalf of everyone. 10 God is the one for whom and through whom everything exists. Therefore, while God was bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was the right time to bring Jesus, the source of their salvation, to the end of his work through suffering.

2:9–10   You’re crowned with glory and honor. Kindness moved you to die for everyone, and you suffered to complete your work.

Jesus Became One of Us to Help Us

11 Jesus, who makes people holy, and all those who are made holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus isn’t ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,

“I will tell my people about your name.

I will praise you within the congregation.”

13 In addition, Jesus says,

“I will trust him.”

And Jesus says,

“I am here with the sons and daughters God has given me.”

14 Since all of these sons and daughters have flesh and blood, Jesus took on flesh and blood to be like them. He did this so that by dying he would destroy the one who had power over death (that is, the devil). 15 In this way he would free those who were slaves all their lives because they were afraid of dying. 16 So Jesus helps Abraham’s descendants rather than helping angels. 17 Therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters so that he could be merciful. He became like them so that he could serve as a faithful chief priest in God’s presence and make peace with God for their sins. 18 Because Jesus experienced temptation when he suffered, he is able to help others when they are tempted.

2:11–16   You accept the people you make holy as your own brothers and sisters. You took on flesh to be like us and to destroy the devil’s power over death.

2:17–18   Because you became like me, you mercifully make peace for my sins. Because you know what it’s like to be tempted, you’re eager to offer me help.

Christ Is Superior to Moses

3

1 Brothers and sisters, you are holy partners in a heavenly calling. So look carefully at Jesus, the apostle and chief priest about whom we make our declaration of faith. 2 Jesus is faithful to God, who appointed him, in the same way that Moses was faithful when he served in God’s house. 3 Jesus deserves more praise than Moses in the same way that the builder of a house is praised more than the house. 4 After all, every house has a builder, but the builder of everything is God.

3:1–4   I study you carefully. You’re even more important than Moses, the man who delivered your ancient law.

5 Moses was a faithful servant in God’s household. He told ⌞the people⌟ what God would say in the future. 6 But Christ is a faithful son in charge of God’s household. We are his household if we continue to have courage and to be proud of the confidence we have.

7 As the Holy Spirit says,

“If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.

8 Don’t be stubborn like those who rebelled

and tested me in the desert.

9 That is where your ancestors tested me,

10 although they had seen what I had done for 40 years.

That is why I was angry with those people. So I said,

‘Their hearts continue to stray,

and they have not learned my ways.’

11 So I angrily took a solemn oath

that they would never enter my place of rest.”

3:5–11   I won’t be stubborn when I hear you speak. I won’t test you like my spiritual ancestors did in the desert. I don’t want to miss out on your rest.

12 Be careful, brothers and sisters, that none of you ever develop a wicked, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 Encourage each other every day while you have the opportunity. If you do this, none of you will be deceived by sin and become stubborn. 14 After all, we will remain Christ’s partners only if we continue to hold on to our original confidence until the end.

15 Scripture says,

“If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.

Don’t be stubborn like those who rebelled.”

3:12–15   I won’t let my heart become wicked and unbelieving. I’ll get and give encouragement with my brothers and sisters. Then sin won’t fool us.

16 Who heard God and rebelled? All those whom Moses led out of Egypt rebelled. 17 With whom was God angry for 40 years? He was angry with those who sinned and died in the desert. 18 Who did God swear would never enter his place of rest? He was talking about those who didn’t obey him. 19 So we see that they couldn’t enter his place of rest because they didn’t believe.

3:16–19   A whole generation rebelled against you and didn’t enter the land you promised. I’ll believe so I can settle into your rest.

We Will Enter God’s Place of Rest

4

1 God’s promise that we may enter his place of rest still stands. We are afraid that some of you think you won’t enter his place of rest. 2 We have heard the same Good News that your ancestors heard. But the message didn’t help those who heard it in the past because they didn’t believe.

3 We who believe are entering that place of rest. As God said, “So I angrily took a solemn oath that they would never enter my place of rest.” God said this even though he had finished his work when he created the world. 4 Somewhere in Scripture God has said this about the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.”

4:1–4   Your promise still stands. You’ve established enduring rest. But your Good News won’t help me if I don’t believe.

5 God also said in the same passage, “They will never enter my place of rest.” 6 However, some people enter that place of rest. Those who heard the Good News in the past did not enter God’s place of rest because they did not obey God. 7 So God set another day. That day is today. Many years after ⌞your ancestors failed to enter that place of rest⌟ God spoke about it through David in the passage already quoted: “If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.” 8 If Joshua had given the people rest, God would not have spoken about another day. 9 Therefore, a time of rest and worship exists for God’s people. 10 Those who entered his place of rest also rested from their work as God did from his.

11 So we must make every effort to enter that place of rest. Then no one will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey.

4:5–11   Some people never enter your rest, all because they refuse to trust you. Spare me from my own stubbornness!

12 God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions. 13 No creature can hide from God. Everything is uncovered and exposed for him to see. We must answer to him.

4:12–13   Your word lives. It slices me deep and judges my thoughts and intentions. I can’t hide from you, because everything lies open for you to see. I answer to you.

Christ Is Superior to Other Chief Priests

14 We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Jesus, the Son of God. 15 We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin. 16 So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness[3] to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.

4:14–16   You sympathize with my weakness. You endured the same temptations I do, but you never gave in to sin. So I can run to your throne of kindness. I’ll find mercy at just the right time.

5

1 Every chief priest is chosen from humans to represent them in front of God, that is, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin. 2 The chief priest can be gentle with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, because he also has weaknesses. 3 Because he has weaknesses, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins in the same way that he does for the sins of his people.

4 No one takes this honor for himself. Instead, God calls him as he called Aaron. 5 So Christ did not take the glory of being a chief priest for himself. Instead, the glory was given to him by God, who said,

“You are my Son.

Today I have become your Father.”

6 In another place in Scripture, God said,

“You are a priest forever,

in the way Melchizedek was a priest.”

5:1–6   You’re gentle with my ignorance. You understand that I’m weak and easily deceived. You’re my priest forever, offering the right sacrifice for my sins.

7 During his life on earth, Jesus prayed to God, who could save him from death. He prayed and pleaded with loud crying and tears, and he was heard because of his devotion to God. 8 Although Jesus was the Son ⌞of God⌟, he learned to be obedient through his sufferings. 9 After he had finished his work, he became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him. 10 God appointed him chief priest in the way Melchizedek was a priest.

5:7–10   Your Father heard your prayers because of your devotion, yet suffering still taught you obedience. You finished your job and became the basis of my salvation.

You Need Someone to Teach You

11 We have a lot to explain about this. But since you have become too lazy to pay attention, explaining it to you is hard. 12 By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. 13 All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. 14 However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.

5:11–14   Sometimes I’m too lazy to listen. I have a hard time tracking with spiritual truth. Grow me up to know the difference between good and evil.

6

1 With this in mind, we should stop going over the elementary truths about Christ and move on to topics for more mature people. We shouldn’t repeat the basics about turning away from the useless things we did and the basics about faith in God. 2 We shouldn’t repeat the basic teachings about such things as baptisms, setting people apart for holy tasks, dead people coming back to life, and eternal judgment. 3 If God permits, we will do this.

4 Some people once had God’s light. They experienced the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit. 5 They experienced the goodness of God’s word and the powers of the world to come. 6 Yet, they have deserted ⌞Christ⌟. They are crucifying the Son of God again and publicly disgracing him. Therefore, they cannot be led a second time to God.

7 God blesses the earth. So rain often falls on it, and it produces useful crops for farmers. 8 However, if the earth produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

6:1–8   I realize you want to move me from basic truths to deeper knowledge. Don’t let me walk away from your goodness and power. That would humiliate you and me.

God Will Not Forget You

9 Dear friends, even though we say these things, we are still convinced that better things are in store for you and that they will save you. 10 God is fair. He won’t forget what you’ve done or the love you’ve shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to prove that you’re working hard so that you will remain confident until the end. 12 Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.

13 God made a promise to Abraham. Since he had no one greater on whom to base his oath, he based it on himself. 14 He said, “I will certainly bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 So Abraham received what God promised because he waited patiently for it.

6:9–15   You have better things in store for me. You won’t ignore that I’ve helped your people. You see proof that I’m working hard. I’ll receive your promises through faith and patience.

16 When people take oaths, they base their oaths on someone greater than themselves. Their oaths guarantee what they say and end all arguments. 17 God wouldn’t change his plan. He wanted to make this perfectly clear to those who would receive his promise, so he took an oath. 18 God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given. 19 We have this confidence as a sure and strong anchor for our lives. This confidence goes into the ⌞holy⌟ place behind the curtain 20 where Jesus went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.

6:16–20   You don’t change your plan or break your promise. Because you never lie, my confidence carries me all the way into the holy place.

Christ Is Superior to Melchizedek

7

1 Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings. 2 Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had captured.

In the first place, Melchizedek’s name means king of righteousness. He is also called king of Salem (which means king of peace). 3 No one knows anything about Melchizedek’s father, mother, or ancestors. No one knows when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God, Melchizedek continues to be a priest forever.

4 You can see how important Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured, even though Abraham was the father of the chosen people. 5 Moses’ Teachings say that members of the tribe of Levi who become priests must receive a tenth of everything from the people. The priests collect it from their own people, Abraham’s descendants. 6 Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had God’s promises. 7 No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person.

7:1–7   Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God. He was so important that the great Abraham brought him a tenth of everything he captured.

8 Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives. 9 We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything. 10 Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

11 The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn’t need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron.

12 When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different. 13 The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar. 14 Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe. 15 The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared. 16 That person is a priest, not because he met human requirements, but because he has power that comes from a life that cannot be destroyed. 17 The Scriptures say the following about him: “You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.” 18 The former requirements are rejected because they are weak and useless. 19 Moses’ Teachings couldn’t accomplish everything that God required. But we have something else that gives us greater confidence and allows us to approach God.

7:8–19   Melchizedek lives on. You have an enduring ministry like Melchizedek. You’re more important than Moses’ old rules.

20 None of this happened without an oath. The men from the tribe of Levi may have become priests without an oath, 21 but Jesus became a priest when God took an oath. God said about him, “The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever.” 22 In this way Jesus has become the guarantee of a better promise.[4]

23 There was a long succession of priests because when a priest died he could no longer serve. 24 But Jesus lives forever, so he serves as a priest forever. 25 That is why he is always able to save those who come to God through him. He can do this because he always lives and intercedes for them.

7:20–25   You’re the guarantee of the best promise ever. Because you never die, you can save me when I come to you. You always live and speak on my behalf.

26 We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who has the highest position in heaven. 27 We need a priest who doesn’t have to bring daily sacrifices as those chief priests did. First they brought sacrifices for their own sins, and then they brought sacrifices for the sins of the people. Jesus brought the sacrifice for the sins of the people once and for all when he sacrificed himself. 28 Moses’ Teachings designated mortals as chief priests even though they had weaknesses. But God’s promise, which came after Moses’ Teachings, designated the Son who forever accomplished everything that God required.

7:26–28   I need a helper who is holy, innocent, pure—nothing like sinners—seated in the highest place in heaven. You offer a sacrifice for my sins once and for all.

Jesus’ Priestly Work Is Superior to Other Priests’ Work

8

1 The main point we want to make is this: We do have this kind of chief priest. This chief priest has received the highest position, the throne of majesty in heaven. 2 He serves as priest of the holy place and of the true tent set up by the Lord and not by any human.

3 Every chief priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, this chief priest had to offer something. 4 If he were on earth, he would not even be a priest. On earth ⌞other⌟ priests offer gifts by following the instructions that Moses gave. 5 They serve at a place that is a pattern, a shadow, of what is in heaven. When Moses was about to make the tent, God warned him, “Be sure to make everything based on the plan I showed you on the mountain.”

8:1–5   You’re the kind of help I need. You’re the chief priest seated on the majestic throne of heaven. Old sacrifices were just a shadow of what you would bring.

6 Jesus has been given a priestly work that is superior to the Levitical priests’ work. He also brings a better promise[5] from God that is based on better guarantees. 7 If nothing had been wrong with the first promise, no one would look for another one. 8 But God found something wrong with his people and said to them,

“The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new promise to Israel and Judah. 9 It will not be like the promise that I made to their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They rejected that promise, so I ignored them, says the Lord. 10 But this is the promise that I will make to Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my teachings inside them, and I will write those teachings on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying, ‘Know the Lord.’ All of them from the least important to the most important will all know me 12 because I will forgive their wickedness and I will no longer hold their sins against them.”

13 God made this new promise and showed that the first promise was outdated. What is outdated and aging will soon disappear.

8:6–13   You bring a better promise based on better guarantees. Your people were broken and couldn’t be fixed by old rules. I need your teachings inside me.

Christ Offered a Superior Sacrifice

9

1 The first promise had rules for the priests’ service. It also had a holy place on earth. 2 A tent was set up. The first part of this tent was called the holy place. The lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the presence were in this part of the tent. 3 Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the most holy place. 4 It contained the gold incense burner and the ark of the Lord’s promise. The ark was completely covered with gold. In the ark were the gold jar filled with manna, Aaron’s staff that had blossomed, and the tablets on which the promise[6] was written. 5 Above the ark were the angels[7] of glory ⌞with their wings⌟ overshadowing the throne of mercy. (Discussing these things in detail isn’t possible now.)

6 That is how these two parts of the tent were set up. The priests always went into the first part of the tent to perform their duties. 7 But only the chief priest went into the second part of the tent. Once a year he entered and brought blood that he offered for himself and for the things that the people did wrong unintentionally. 8 The Holy Spirit used this to show that the way into the most holy place was not open while the tent was still in use.

9:1–8   Under the old rules, a priest entered the holy place once a year. He offered the blood of animals to pay for human sins.

9 The first part of the tent is an example for the present time. The gifts and sacrifices that were brought there could not give the worshiper a clear conscience. 10 These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.

11 But Christ came as a chief priest of the good things that are now here. Christ went through a better, more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not part of this created world. 12 He used his own blood, not the blood of goats and bulls, for the sacrifice. He went into the most holy place and offered this sacrifice once and for all to free us forever.

13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of cows sprinkled on unclean[8] people made their bodies holy and clean. 14 The blood of Christ, who had no defect, does even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve the living God.

9:9–14   You used your own blood to enter the most holy place—a sacrifice once and for all to set people free. You cleanse my conscience from useless things. Now I can serve the living God!

15 Because Christ offered himself to God, he is able to bring a new promise from God. Through his death he paid the price to set people free from the sins they committed under the first promise. He did this so that those who are called can be guaranteed an inheritance that will last forever.

16 In order for a will to take effect, it must be shown that the one who made it has died. 17 A will is used only after a person is dead because it goes into effect only when a person dies.

18 That is why even the first promise was made with blood. 19 As Scripture tells us, Moses told all the people every commandment. Then he took the blood of calves and goats together with some water, red yarn, and hyssop and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “Here is the blood that seals the promise God has made to you.” 21 In the same way, Moses sprinkled blood on the tent and on everything used in worship. 22 As Moses’ Teachings tell us, blood was used to cleanse almost everything, because if no blood is shed, no sins can be forgiven.

9:15–22   If blood isn’t shed, sins can’t be forgiven. Your death paid the price that set me free from the sins I’ve committed. And you guarantee me an inheritance that lasts forever.

23 The copies of the things in heaven had to be cleansed by these sacrifices. But the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed by better sacrifices. 24 Christ didn’t go into a holy place made by human hands. He didn’t go into a model of the real thing. Instead, he went into heaven to appear in God’s presence on our behalf. 25 Every year the chief priest went into the holy place to make a sacrifice with blood that isn’t his own. However, Christ didn’t go into heaven to sacrifice himself again and again. 26 Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the world was created. But now, at the end of the ages, he has appeared once to remove sin by his sacrifice. 27 People die once, and after that they are judged. 28 Likewise, Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of humanity, and after that he will appear a second time. This time he will not deal with sin, but he will save those who eagerly wait for him.

9:23–28   You didn’t enter a holy tent made by human hands. You went into heaven and appeared on my behalf. You removed my sin by your sacrifice once and for all.

We Can Enter the Most Holy Place because of Christ’s Superior Work

10

1 Moses’ Teachings with their yearly cycle of sacrifices are only a shadow of the good things in the future. They aren’t an exact likeness of those things. They can never make those who worship perfect. 2 If these sacrifices could have made the worshipers perfect, the sacrifices would have stopped long ago. Those who worship would have been cleansed once and for all. Their consciences would have been free from sin. 3 Instead, this yearly cycle of sacrifices reminded people of their sins. 4 (The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.)

5 For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“‘You did not want sacrifices and offerings,

but you prepared a body for me.

6 You did not approve of burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.’

7 Then I said, ‘I have come!

(It is written about me in the scroll of the book.)

I have come to do what you want, my God.’”

8 In this passage Christ first said, “You did not want sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sacrifices for sin. You did not approve of them.” (These are the sacrifices that Moses’ Teachings require people to offer.) 9 Then Christ says, “I have come to do what you want.” He did away with sacrifices in order to establish the obedience that God wants. 10 We have been set apart as holy because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do by sacrificing his body once and for all.

10:1–10   The old rules can’t make anyone perfect. They only remind people of the wrong they do. But you came into the world and offered the perfect sacrifice for sin.

11 Every day each priest performed his religious duty. He offered the same type of sacrifice again and again. Yet, these sacrifices could never take away sins. 12 However, this chief priest made one sacrifice for sins, and this sacrifice lasts forever. Then he received the highest position in heaven. 13 Since that time, he has been waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 With one sacrifice he accomplished the work of setting them apart for God forever.

15 The Holy Spirit tells us the same thing: 16 “This is the promise[9] that I will make to them after those days, says the Lord: ‘I will put my teachings in their hearts and write them in their minds.’”

17 Then he adds, “I will no longer hold their sins and their disobedience against them.”

18 When sins are forgiven, there is no longer any need to sacrifice for sins.

10:11–18   The old sacrifices were offered again and again without ever taking away sin. Your shed blood achieves its goal. My sins are gone. They’re forgiven forever!

19 Brothers and sisters, because of the blood of Jesus we can now confidently go into the holy place. 20 Jesus has opened a new and living way for us to go through the curtain. (The curtain is his own body.) 21 We have a superior priest in charge of God’s house. 22 We have been sprinkled ⌞with his blood⌟ to free us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with clean water. So we must continue to come ⌞to him⌟ with a sincere heart and strong faith. 23 We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful.

10:19–23   I have confidence to enter the place where you live. Your body opened the way, and your blood got rid of my guilt. I can approach you with a sincere heart and strong faith.

Encourage Each Other

24 We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. 25 We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.

10:24–25   I won’t stop gathering with my brothers and sisters. We’ll encourage each other to show love and do good.

26 If we go on sinning after we have learned the truth, no sacrifice can take away our sins. 27 All that is left is a terrifying wait for judgment and a raging fire that will consume God’s enemies. 28 If two or three witnesses accused someone of rejecting Moses’ Teachings, that person was shown no mercy as he was executed. 29 What do you think a person who shows no respect for the Son of God deserves? That person looks at the blood of the promise (the blood that made him holy) as no different from other people’s blood, and he insults the Spirit that God gave us out of his kindness.[10] He deserves a much worse punishment. 30 We know the God who said,

“I alone have the right to take revenge.

I will pay back.”

God also said,

“The Lord will judge his people.”

10:26–30   If I go on sinning after I learn your truth, I reject the only sacrifice that can fix my sins. How can I not show you respect? Why would I insult your kindness?

31 Falling into the hands of the living God is a terrifying thing.

32 Remember the past, when you first learned the truth. You endured a lot of hardship and pain. 33 At times you were publicly insulted and mistreated. At times you associated with people who were treated this way. 34 You suffered with prisoners. You were cheerful even though your possessions were stolen, since you know that you have a better and more permanent possession.[11]

35 So don’t lose your confidence. It will bring you a great reward. 36 You need endurance so that after you have done what God wants you to do, you can receive what he has promised.

37 “Yet, the one who is coming will come soon. He will not delay.

38 The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.

But if he turns back, I will not be pleased with him.”

39 We don’t belong with those who turn back and are destroyed. Instead, we belong with those who have faith and are saved.

10:31–39   The thought of falling terrifies me. So I endure whatever it takes to keep going. I won’t turn back. I belong with others who share this saving faith.

Faith Directed People’s Lives

11

1 Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. 2 God accepted our ancestors because of their faith.

3 Faith convinces us that God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen.

11:1–3   Faith assures me of things I expect and convinces me of things I can’t see.

4 Faith led Abel to offer God a better sacrifice than Cain’s sacrifice. Through his faith Abel received God’s approval, since God accepted his sacrifices. Through his faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 Faith enabled Enoch to be taken instead of dying. No one could find him, because God had taken him. Scripture states that before Enoch was taken, God was pleased with him. 6 No one can please God without faith. Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

11:4–5   By faith Abel received your approval. By faith Enoch didn’t die.

7 Faith led Noah to listen when God warned him about the things in the future that he could not see. He obeyed God and built a ship to save his family. Through faith Noah condemned the world and received God’s approval that comes through faith.

11:6–7   Without faith I can’t please you. I can’t get near you without believing that you exist—and that you reward people who seek you.

8 Faith led Abraham to obey when God called him to go to a place that he would receive as an inheritance. Abraham left his own country without knowing where he was going.

9 Faith led Abraham to live as a foreigner in the country that God had promised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise from God. 10 Abraham was waiting for the city that God had designed and built, the city with permanent foundations.

11 Faith enabled Abraham to become a father, even though he was old and Sarah had never been able to have children. Abraham trusted that God would keep his promise. 12 Abraham was as good as dead. Yet, from this man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore.

11:8–12   Faith led Abraham to leave home for a place you hadn’t shown him. His body was as good as dead, but he trusted you to keep your pledge to make him a father.

13 All these people died having faith. They didn’t receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on earth. 14 Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for their own country. 15 If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they could have found a way to go back. 16 Instead, these men were longing for a better country—a heavenly country. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has prepared a city for them.

11:13–16   Plenty of faithful people died without getting what you promised. They could only see your gifts in the distance. When I believe, you’re not ashamed to be known as my God.

17 When God tested Abraham, faith led him to offer his son Isaac. Abraham, the one who received the promises from God, was willing to offer his only son as a sacrifice. 18 God had said to him, “Through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name.” 19 Abraham believed that God could bring Isaac back from the dead. Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead in a figurative sense.

20 Faith led Isaac to bless Jacob and Esau.

21 While Jacob was dying, faith led him to bless each of Joseph’s sons. He leaned on the top of his staff and worshiped God.

22 While Joseph was dying, faith led him to speak about the Israelites leaving Egypt and give them instructions about burying his bones.

11:17–22   By faith Abraham answered your command and offered up his only son. By faith Jacob and Esau were blessed, and Joseph saw into the future.

23 Faith led Moses’ parents to hide him for three months after he was born. They did this because they saw that Moses was a beautiful baby and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s order.

24 When Moses grew up, faith led him to refuse to be known as a son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to suffer with God’s people rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little while. 26 He thought that being insulted for Christ would be better than having the treasures of Egypt. He was looking ahead to his reward.

27 Faith led Moses to leave Egypt without being afraid of the king’s anger. Moses didn’t give up but continued as if he could actually see the invisible God.

11:23–27   Through faith Moses chose to suffer with your people rather than indulge in sinful pleasures. He acted as if he could see the invisible God.

28 Faith led Moses to establish the Passover and spread the blood ⌞on the doorposts⌟ so that the destroying angel would not kill the firstborn sons.

29 Faith caused the people to go through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. The Egyptians also tried this, but they drowned.

30 Faith caused the walls of Jericho to fall after the Israelites marched around them for seven days.

31 Faith led the prostitute Rahab to welcome the spies as friends. She was not killed with those who refused to obey God.

11:28–31   By faith Moses spread blood on doorposts and led your people across a sea as if it were dry land.

32 What more should I say? I don’t have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, did what God approved, and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 put out raging fires, and escaped death. They found strength when they were weak. They were powerful in battle and defeated other armies. 35 Women received their loved ones back from the dead. Other believers were brutally tortured but refused to be released so that they might gain eternal life. 36 Some were made fun of and whipped, and some were chained and put in prison. 37 Some were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. Some were poor, abused, and mistreated. 38 The world didn’t deserve these good people. Some wandered around in deserts and mountains and lived in caves and holes in the ground.

11:32–38   How can I measure up to these heroes? By faith they found strength and suffered torture. By faith they won battles and died by the sword. The world didn’t deserve them.

39 All these people were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. 40 God planned to give us something very special so that we would gain eternal life with them.

11:39–40   These people were famous for their faith, but they didn’t receive what you promised. You had something better in store.

Faith Directs Our Lives

12

1 Since we are surrounded by so many examples ⌞of faith⌟, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up. 2 We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God. 3 Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t become tired and give up.

12:1   You’ve surrounded me with examples of faith, so I get rid of everything that slows me down. I run toward you and don’t give up.

12:2–3   The joy you saw on the far side of the cross made you able to endure pain and disgrace. I’ll focus on you and not get tired. You’re the source and goal of my faith.

4 You struggle against sin, but your struggles haven’t killed you. 5 You have forgotten the encouraging words that God speaks to you as his children:

“My child, pay attention when the Lord disciplines you.

Don’t give up when he corrects you.

6 The Lord disciplines everyone he loves.

He severely disciplines everyone he accepts as his child.”

7 Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. 8 If you aren’t disciplined like the other children, you aren’t part of the family. 9 On earth we have fathers who disciplined us, and we respect them. Shouldn’t we place ourselves under the authority of God, the father of spirits, so that we will live? 10 For a short time our fathers disciplined us as they thought best. Yet, God disciplines us for our own good so that we can become holy like him. 11 We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.

12:4–9   My war with sin hasn’t killed me yet. I won’t give up when you correct me. Your discipline proves I’m your child.

12 Strengthen your tired arms and weak knees. 13 Keep walking along straight paths so that your injured leg won’t get worse. Instead, let it heal.

12:10–13   Your discipline feels like more pain than joy. But you’re working for my good, making me holy like you.

14 Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don’t, you will not see the Lord. 15 Make sure that everyone has kindness[12] from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you. 16 Make sure that no one commits sexual sin or is as concerned about earthly things as Esau was. He sold his rights as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterwards, when he wanted to receive the blessing that the firstborn son was to receive, he was rejected. Even though he begged and cried for the blessing, he couldn’t do anything to change what had happened.

12:14–17   I’ll do my best to make peace. I’ll rely on your kindness and guard against becoming bitter. I’ll stay clear of traps like sexual sin or earthly obsessions.

18 You have not come to something that you can feel, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom, to a storm, 19 to a trumpet’s blast, and to a voice. When your ancestors heard that voice, they begged not to hear it say another word. 20 They couldn’t obey the command that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said he was trembling and afraid.

22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to tens of thousands of angels joyfully gathered together 23 and to the assembly of God’s firstborn children (whose names are written in heaven). You have come to a judge (the God of all people) and to the spirits of people who have God’s approval and have gained eternal life. 24 You have come to Jesus, who brings the new promise[13] from God, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel’s.

12:18–24   I’m hanging out with joyful angels and people you approve. I’m with you—and your promise of life-giving blood. I haven’t come to blazing fire and dark gloom.

25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Your ancestors didn’t escape when they refused to listen to God, who warned them on earth. We certainly won’t escape if we turn away from God, who warns us from heaven. 26 When God spoke to your ancestors, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the sky.”

27 The words once more show clearly that God will change what he has made. These are the things that can be shaken. Then only the things that cannot be shaken will remain. 28 Therefore, we must be thankful that we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Because we are thankful, we must serve God with fear and awe in a way that pleases him. 29 After all, our God is a destructive fire.

12:25–29   You made me a part of an unshakable kingdom. I can see you’re a destructive fire, so I serve you with fear and awe. If I ignore your warnings, I won’t escape.

13

1 Continue to love each other. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to believers you don’t know. By doing this some believers have shown hospitality to angels without being aware of it. 3 Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are mistreated as if you were being mistreated.

13:1–3   I’ll keep opening my heart and my home. I won’t forget the imprisoned and mistreated.

4 Marriage is honorable in every way, so husbands and wives should be faithful to each other. God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery.

13:4   I promise faithfulness to my spouse, because marriage deserves my highest honor. You don’t ignore sexual sin.

5 Don’t love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

13:5–6   Teach me to be happy with what I have. You’ll never abandon me.

“The Lord is my helper.

I will not be afraid.

What can mortals do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about how their lives turned out, and imitate their faith.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

9 Don’t get carried away by all kinds of unfamiliar teachings. Gaining inner strength from God’s kindness[14] is good for us. This strength does not come from following rules about food, rules that don’t help those who follow them. 10 Those who serve at the tent have no right to eat what is sacrificed at our altar.

13:8–10   I can count on you to never change. I get inner strength from your kindness.

11 The chief priest brings the blood of animals into the holy place as an offering for sin. But the bodies of those animals were burned outside the Israelite camp. 12 That is why Jesus suffered outside the gates of Jerusalem. He suffered to make the people holy with his own blood. 13 So we must go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured. 14 We don’t have a permanent city here on earth, but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future. 15 Through Jesus we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, words that acknowledge him. 16 Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God.

13:11–16   I’ll join you in enduring insults and suffering. I’ll offer you a sacrifice of praise and generosity. You make me holy with your own blood.

17 Obey your leaders, and accept their authority. They take care of you because they are responsible for you. Obey them so that they may do this work joyfully and not complain about you. (Causing them to complain would not be to your advantage.)

18 Pray for us. We are sure that our consciences are clear because we want to live honorably in every way. 19 I especially ask for your prayers so that I may come back to you soon.

13:17–19   I’ll live under the authority of spiritual leaders, because you give them responsibility for my life.

20 The God of peace brought the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, back to life through the blood of an eternal promise.[15] 21 May this God of peace prepare you to do every good thing he wants. May he work in us through Jesus Christ to do what is pleasing to him. Glory belongs to Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Farewell

22 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to listen patiently to my encouraging words. I have written you a short letter. 23 You know that Timothy, our brother, has been freed. If he comes here soon, both of us will visit you.

24 Greet all your leaders and all God’s holy people. Those who are with us from Italy greet you.

25 May God’s good will[16] be with all of you!

13:20–25   You came back to life through the blood of an eternal promise. Prepare me to do whatever you need. Glory belongs to you forever!

JAMES

INTRODUCTION

James makes faith practical. Some people who heard that believers are made right with God solely through faith in Jesus must have thought that system let people go on with life as usual. Gaining eternal salvation as a free gift of God’s kindness might seem like a ready excuse to keep sinning. But the apostle James writes to tell everyone that real faith results in real change.

James begins his letter with encouragement to stay faithful even when you’re tested to the extreme. He says that anyone who lacks wisdom should go to God, who gives generously without finding fault. He commands his readers to quit playing favorites and pandering to the rich. He tells everyone to control their tongues and teaches that gentleness flows from heavenly wisdom.

James writes exceedingly practical words. Everything backs up his point that faith is worthless if it doesn’t cause you to do good things. While some readers wonder if this book contradicts the apostle Paul’s grand themes, in reality these words only reinforce them. Like James says, “Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves” (James 1:22).

Praying this book prods you to prove your faith is authentic through the good things you do.

JAMES

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5

Greeting

1

1 From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To God’s faithful people[1] who have been scattered.

Greetings.

When You Are Tested, Turn to God

2 My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways. 3 You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Endure until your testing is over. Then you will be mature and complete, and you won’t need anything.

1:1–4   Why should I be happy when I’m tested? How can struggling ever help me? But I trust you. Train me to endure. You’ll make me complete.

5 If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them. 6 When you ask for something, don’t have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea. 7 A person who has doubts shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can’t make up his mind about anything.

1:5–8   I need your wisdom. You welcome my request. But you tolerate no doubt. I’ll ask with a heart set on your answer.

9 Humble believers should be proud because being humble makes them important. 10 Rich believers should be proud because being rich should make them humble. Rich people will wither like flowers. 11 The sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up plants. The flowers drop off, and the beauty is gone. The same thing will happen to rich people. While they are busy, they will die.

1:9–11   My wealth will wither like flowers in scorching heat. Humble me.

12 Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 When someone is tempted, he shouldn’t say that God is tempting him. God can’t be tempted by evil, and God doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. 15 Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

1:12–15   If I pass your test, I’ll get the crown of life you promise to everyone who loves you. And I know you never tempt me. My own desires pull me into sin.

16 My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be fooled. 17 Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn’t change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon.

18 God decided to give us life through the word of truth to make us his most important creatures.

1:16–18   You’re the source of every good gift. Unlike shifting shadows, you never change.

19 Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily. 20 An angry person doesn’t do what God approves of. 21 So get rid of all immoral behavior and all the wicked things you do. Humbly accept the word that God has placed in you. This word can save you.

1:19–21   Make me quick to listen, slow to speak, even slower to anger. Rid me of my wicked habits.

22 Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves. 23 If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, 24 studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect laws that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s laws say.

1:22–25   I’ll do more than listen to your word. I’ll do whatever your teachings say.

26 If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.

1:26–27   Make my religion pure: caring for orphans and widows, staying uncorrupted by this world.

Don’t Favor Rich People over Poor People

2

1 My brothers and sisters, practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ by not favoring one person over another. 2 For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes. 3 Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, “Please have a seat.” But you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet.” 4 Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments?

2:1–4   I’m living out my faith when I refuse to play favorites. It’s corrupt to flatter the rich and insult the poor. You hate discrimination.

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 6 Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Don’t they curse the good name ⌞of Jesus⌟, the name that was used to bless you?

2:5–7   You choose poor people to receive your kingdom. How can I not give them respect? The rich are my oppressors.

8 You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 9 If you favor one person over another, you’re sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient. 10 If someone obeys all of God’s laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them. 11 After all, the one who said, “Never commit adultery,” is the same one who said, “Never murder.” If you do not commit adultery but you murder, you become a person who disobeys God’s laws.

12 Talk and act as people who are going to be judged by laws that bring freedom. 13 No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2:8–13   Loving my neighbor like I love myself is your highest law. If I favor one person over another, I’m sinning. If I obey all your laws but one, I’m guilty of them all.

We Show Our Faith by What We Do

14 My brothers and sisters, what good does it do if someone claims to have faith but doesn’t do any good things? Can this kind of faith save him? 15 Suppose a believer, whether a man or a woman, needs clothes or food 16 and one of you tells that person, “God be with you! Stay warm, and make sure you eat enough.” If you don’t provide for that person’s physical needs, what good does it do? 17 In the same way, faith by itself is dead if it doesn’t cause you to do any good things.

2:14–17   It’s pathetic to claim I have faith if I don’t do good. It’s heartless to merely wish warmth and food on the poor. That faith can’t save me!

18 Another person might say, “You have faith, but I do good things.” Show me your faith apart from the good things you do. I will show you my faith by the good things I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear.

20 You fool! Do you have to be shown that faith which does nothing is useless? 21 Didn’t our ancestor Abraham receive God’s approval as a result of what he did when he offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice on the altar? 22 You see that Abraham’s faith and what he did worked together. His faith was shown to be genuine by what he did. 23 The Scripture passage came true. It says, “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God.” So Abraham was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person receives God’s approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes. 25 The same is true of the prostitute Rahab who welcomed the spies and sent them away on another road. She received God’s approval because of what she did.

26 A body that doesn’t breathe[2] is dead. In the same way faith that does nothing is dead.

2:18–26   I show my faith by good things I do—through faith and actions working together. My good deeds prove my beliefs are genuine. Give me a living faith!

Speak Wisely

3

1 Brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers. You know that we who teach will be judged more severely.

2 All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does. 3 We put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and we have control over everything they do. 4 The same thing is true for ships. They are very big and are driven by strong winds. Yet, by using small rudders, pilots steer ships wherever they want them to go. 5 In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body, but it can brag about doing important things.

A large forest can be set on fire by a little flame. 6 The tongue is that kind of flame. It is a world of evil among the parts of our bodies, and it completely contaminates our bodies. The tongue sets our lives on fire, and is itself set on fire from hell. 7 People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures. 8 Yet, no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison.

3:1–6   I’ve achieved perfection if I speak without mistakes. But I confess I’m far from that. My small tongue sets my life on fire. It gets its fuel from hell.

9 With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues we curse people, who were created in God’s likeness. 10 Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! 11 Do clean and polluted water flow out of the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? In the same way, a pool of salt water can’t produce fresh water.

3:7–12   I can’t tame my tongue. It’s uncontrollably evil. I use it to curse people and praise you. Save me from myself!

Live Wisely

13 Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don’t brag. Don’t say that you are wise when it isn’t true. 15 That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. 16 Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil.

17 However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. 18 A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.

3:13–18   Forgive my jealousy and self-ambition. I want your real wisdom—wisdom that’s pure, peaceful, gentle, obedient, merciful, good, impartial, and sincere.

Stop Fighting with Each Other

4

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren’t they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you commit murder. You’re determined to have things, but you can’t get what you want. You quarrel and fight. You don’t have the things you want, because you don’t pray for them. 3 When you pray for things, you don’t get them because you want them for the wrong reason—for your own pleasure.

4:1–3   I don’t have what I want because I don’t ask. You don’t grant me what I ask because I think only of myself. Free me from my selfish desires!

4 You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that love for this ⌞evil⌟ world is hatred toward God? Whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think this passage means nothing? It says, “The Spirit that lives in us wants us to be his own.”

6 But God shows us even more kindness.[3] Scripture says,

4:4–6   My love for the world makes me your enemy. You want me to be totally yours. You oppose my pride.

“God opposes arrogant people,

but he is kind to humble people.”

7 So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners, and clear your minds, you doubters. 9 Be miserable, mourn, and cry. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the Lord’s presence. Then he will give you a high position.

4:7–10   I put myself under your authority. I’ll resist the devil and watch him run. I’ll come close to you and you’ll come close to me. I humble myself. Lift me up.

Stop Slandering Each Other

11 Brothers and sisters, stop slandering each other. Those who slander and judge other believers slander and judge God’s laws. If you judge God’s teachings, you are no longer following them. Instead, you are judging them. 12 There is only one who creates laws and judges on the basis of them. He is able to save or destroy you. So who are you to judge your neighbor?

Don’t Brag about Your Plans for the Future

13 Pay attention to this! You’re saying, “Today or tomorrow we will go into some city, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money.” 14 You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. 15 Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.” 16 However, you brag because you’re arrogant. All such bragging is evil.

17 Whoever knows what is right but doesn’t do it is sinning.

4:11–17   Warn me about my proud words—from slandering other believers to bragging about my plans. You’re the Lord of my whole life. Your will is all that matters.

Advice to Rich People

5

1 Pay attention to this if you’re rich. Cry and moan about the misery that is coming to you. 2 Your riches have decayed, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be used as evidence against you. Like fire, it will destroy your body.

You have stored up riches in these last days. 4 The wages you refused to pay the people who harvested your fields shout ⌞to God⌟ against you. The Lord of Armies has heard the cries of those who gather the crops. 5 You have lived in luxury and pleasure here on earth. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered people who have God’s approval, even though they didn’t resist you.

5:1–6   I tremble at your words to the rich. Point out the evil I’ve done. My luxuries fatten me for the day of slaughter.

Be Patient

7 Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. See how farmers wait for their precious crops to grow. They wait patiently for fall and spring rains. 8 You, too, must be patient. Don’t give up hope. The Lord will soon be here. 9 Brothers and sisters, stop complaining about each other, or you will be condemned. Realize that the judge is standing at the door.

10 Brothers and sisters, follow the example of the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. They were patient when they suffered unjustly. 11 We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job’s endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job’s suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

5:7–11   I patiently wait for your coming. I won’t give up hope. You’ll soon be here.

Don’t Take Oaths

12 Above all things, my brothers and sisters, do not take an oath on anything in heaven or on earth. Do not take any oath. If you mean yes, say yes. If you mean no, say no. Do this so that you won’t be condemned.

5:12   My yes means yes. My no means no. Don’t condemn me.

Prayer Is Powerful

13 If any of you are having trouble, pray. If you are happy, sing psalms. 14 If you are sick, call for the church leaders. Have them pray for you and anoint you with olive oil[4] in the name of the Lord. 15 (Prayers offered in faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will cure them.) If you have sinned, you will be forgiven. 16 So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed.

Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective. 17 Elijah was human like us. Yet, when he prayed that it wouldn’t rain, no rain fell on the ground for three-and-a-half years. 18 Then he prayed again. It rained, and the ground produced crops.

5:13–18   If I’m in trouble, I’ll pray. If I’m happy, I’ll sing. If I’m sick, I’ll call for church leaders and get an anointing in your name. You save the sick and forgive the sinful. You honor the prayers of people you approve.

Help Those Who Have Wandered Away from the Truth

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders from the truth, someone can bring that person back. 20 Realize that whoever brings a sinner back from the error of his ways will save him from death, and many sins will be forgiven.

5:19–20   With your help I’ll turn wanderers back. I’ll save sinners from death.

1 PETER

INTRODUCTION

First Peter encourages joyful perseverance. The apostle Peter knew persecution’s sting firsthand. Not long after he preached his first sermon, temple guards arrested both him and John for teaching that the dead come back to life through Jesus (Acts 4:3). His religious opponents fumed and wanted him dead (Acts 5:33).

At the time Peter composed this letter, the most systematic and severe persecution of early Christians was still to come under the Roman emperors Domitian (AD 81–96) and Trajan (AD 98–117). But Nero (AD 54–58) had begun throwing Christians to the lions. Knowing that his readers were already facing violent mistreatment, Peter encourages them to persevere.

No one escapes suffering, Peter says, and trials come to test our faith. Passing the test honors God, so believers can be happy even in the worst suffering. They can pay back evil with good and put up with punishment for doing right, guided by the same attitude Jesus had. Peter also commands his readers to place their confidence in God’s kindness and live holy lives as they await Jesus’ return.

Praying this book lets you consider the tests you face in your own life and ask God for strength to stand up under pressure.

1 PETER

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5

Greeting

1

1 From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

To God’s chosen people who are temporary residents ⌞in the world⌟ and are scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2 God the Father knew you long ago and chose you to live holy lives with the Spirit’s help so that you are obedient to Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood.

May good will[1] and peace fill your lives!

1:1–2   You knew me long ago. You chose me to live holy, and with your Spirit’s help I’ll obey. You sprinkled me with your blood.

Faith in Christ Brings You Joy

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. 4 We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can’t be destroyed or corrupted and can’t fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 since you are guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.

1:3–5   Praise you and your mercy! I live because you’re back from the dead. Nothing can destroy my new life, and my heavenly inheritance can’t fade away.

6 You are extremely happy about these things, even though you have to suffer different kinds of trouble for a little while now. 7 The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again.

1:6–7   I’m happy about all your blessings, even though I’m suffering right now. My troubles test my faith. Passing the test honors you.

8 Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words 9 as you obtain the salvation that is the goal of your faith.

1:8–9   I haven’t seen you, but I love you. As I grab hold of your salvation, I can’t find words to express my joy.

10 The prophets carefully researched and investigated this salvation. Long ago they spoke about God’s kindness[2] that would come to you. 11 So they tried to find out what time or situation the Spirit of Christ kept referring to whenever he predicted Christ’s sufferings and the glory that would follow. 12 God revealed to the prophets that the things they had spoken were not for their own benefit but for yours. What the prophets had spoken, the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven, has now made known to you by those who spread the Good News among you. These are things that even the angels want to look into.

1:10–12   The prophets knew your kindness was coming. Thanks for making your Good News known!

Live Holy Lives

13 Therefore, your minds must be clear and ready for action. Place your confidence completely in what God’s kindness will bring you when Jesus Christ appears again. 14 Because you are children who obey God, don’t live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn’t know any better. 15 But because the God who called you is holy, you must be holy in every aspect of your life. 16 Scripture says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 So if you call God your Father, live your time as temporary residents on earth in fear. He is the God who judges all people by what they have done, and he doesn’t play favorites. 18 Realize that you weren’t set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed. 19 Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections. 20 He is the lamb who was known long ago before the world existed, but for your good he became publicly known in the last period of time. 21 Through him you believe in God who brought Christ back to life and gave him glory. So your faith and confidence are in God.

1:13–16   I’m confident of your kindness. I refuse to live like I once did, because you call me to be holy like you.

1:17–21   You judge everyone, and you don’t play favorites. Your blood bought me freedom from my worthless old life. You’re the whole reason I believe.

Love Each Other

22 Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other. 23 You have been born again, not from a seed that can be destroyed, but through God’s everlasting word that can’t be destroyed. That’s why ⌞Scripture says⌟,

24 “All people are like grass,

and all their beauty is like a flower of the field.

The grass dries up and the flower drops off,

25 but the word of the Lord lasts forever.”

This word is the Good News that was told to you.

1:22–25   You warmed my heart and made love flow forth. Your indestructible and eternal word birthed me a second time.

Live as God’s Chosen People

2

1 So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. 2 Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. 3 Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!

2:1–3   I promise to rid myself of every kind of evil. I’m thirsty for your pure word. I’ve tasted that you’re good!

4 You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God. 5 You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ. 6 That is why Scripture says,

“I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion,

and the person who believes in him

will never be ashamed.”

7 This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don’t believe:

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,

8 a stone that people trip over,

a large rock that people find offensive.”

The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.

2:4–8   Humans considered you worthless, but you’re the precious cornerstone. Your people are a spiritual house being built to serve you.

9 However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.

11 Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents ⌞in the world⌟, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. 12 Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.

2:9–12   We’re your chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to you. I can’t wait to tell everyone of your excellent qualities, all of the ways you’ve shown me mercy.

Respect the Authority of Others

13 Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. Obey the emperor. He holds the highest position of authority. 14 Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. 16 Live as free people, but don’t hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God. 17 Honor everyone. Love your brothers and sisters in the faith. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

2:13–17   I’ll please you by obeying the government. I’ll silence ignorant people by doing what’s right.

18 Slaves, place yourselves under the authority of your owners and show them complete respect. Obey not only those owners who are good and kind, but also those who are unfair. 19 God is pleased if a person is aware of him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering. 20 What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you.

2:18–20   You know when I endure the pain of unjust suffering. You’ll give me credit if I endure.

21 God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps. 22 Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully. 23 Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn’t make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly. 24 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God’s approval. His wounds have healed you. 25 You were like lost sheep. Now you have come back to the shepherd and bishop[3] of your lives.

2:21–25   I keep going because I’m following your example. You suffered for me, even though you did no wrong. You never struck back, and you carried my sins to the cross. Your wounds heal me.

3

1 Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. Some husbands may not obey God’s word. Their wives could win these men ⌞for Christ⌟ by the way they live without saying anything. 2 Their husbands would see how pure and reverent their lives are.

3 Wives must not let their beauty be something external. Beauty doesn’t come from hairstyles, gold jewelry, or clothes. 4 Rather, beauty is something internal that can’t be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious. 5 After all, this is how holy women who had confidence in God expressed their beauty in the past. They placed themselves under their husbands’ authority 6 as Sarah did. Sarah obeyed Abraham and spoke to him respectfully. You became Sarah’s daughters by not letting anything make you afraid to do good.

3:1–4   My worship-filled life might win over my spouse. I’ll make sure my looks are more than skin deep.

7 Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with understanding since they are weaker than you are. Honor your wives as those who share God’s life-giving kindness[4] so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.

3:5–7   I’ll put my confidence in you and your way of life. I’ll honor my spouse as we share your life-giving kindness.

Dedicate Your Lives to Jesus

8 Finally, everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble. 9 Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you, or ridicule those who ridicule you. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.

10 “People who want to live a full life and enjoy good days

must keep their tongues from saying evil things,

and their lips from speaking deceitful things.

11 They must turn away from evil and do good.

They must seek peace and pursue it.

12 The Lord’s eyes are on those who do what he approves.

His ears hear their prayer.

The Lord confronts those who do evil.”

3:8–12   Bring harmony between me and your people. I won’t pay back the evil anyone does to me. I choose peace instead. Approve what I do! Hear my prayer! Confront evil!

13 Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what God approves, you are blessed. Don’t be afraid of those who want to harm you. Don’t get upset. 15 But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence ⌞in God⌟ when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect. 16 Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you. 17 After all, if it is God’s will, it’s better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong.

3:13–17   I’m blessed when I suffer for you, so hostile people can’t make me afraid. My life is completely yours. I have gentle answers ready for anyone who asks about my faith.

18 This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his spirit. 19 In it he also went to proclaim his victory to the spirits kept in prison. 20 They are like those who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah when God waited patiently while Noah built the ship. In this ship a few people—eight in all—were saved by water. 21 Baptism, which is like that water, now saves you. Baptism doesn’t save by removing dirt from the body. Rather, baptism is a request to God for a clear conscience. It saves you through Jesus Christ, who came back from death to life. 22 Christ has gone to heaven where he has the highest position that God gives. Angels, rulers, and powers have been placed under his authority.

3:18–22   You suffered for me. You were an innocent man rescuing guilty sinners. Now you’re seated in the highest position of heaven. You’re above every power.

4

1 Since Christ has suffered physically, take the same attitude that he had. (A person who has suffered physically no longer sins.) 2 That way you won’t be guided by sinful human desires as you live the rest of your lives on earth. Instead, you will be guided by what God wants you to do. 3 You spent enough time in the past doing what unbelievers like to do. You were promiscuous, had sinful desires, got drunk, went to wild parties, and took part in the forbidden worship of false gods. 4 Unbelievers insult you now because they are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of wild living. 5 They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 After all, the Good News was told to people like that, although they are now dead. It was told to them so that they could be judged like humans in their earthly lives and live like God in their spiritual lives.

4:1–6   Stop me when I’m about to follow my worst desires. I’ll be guided by what you want me to do. I wasted enough time running wild.

7 The end of everything is near. Therefore, practice self-control, and keep your minds clear so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins. 9 Welcome each other as guests without complaining. 10 Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others. 11 Whoever speaks must speak God’s words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength God supplies so that in every way God receives glory through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.

4:7–11   Because the end of everything is near, I’ll practice self-control and pray with a clear head. I’ll love others, use my gifts, and give you glory!

Share Christ’s Sufferings

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don’t feel as though something strange is happening to you, 13 but be happy as you share Christ’s sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory—the Spirit of God—is resting on you.

4:12–14   You’ve warned me to expect fiery trials. So I’ll be happy as I share your sufferings. Insults signal that your Spirit rests on me.

15 If you suffer, you shouldn’t suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker. 16 If you suffer for being a Christian, don’t feel ashamed, but praise God for being called that name. 17 The time has come for the judgment to begin, and it will begin with God’s family. If it starts with us, what will be the end for those who refuse to obey the Good News of God? 18 If it’s hard for the person who has God’s approval to be saved, what will happen to the godless sinner? 19 Those who suffer because that is God’s will for them must entrust themselves to a faithful creator and continue to do what is good.

4:15–19   Judgment begins with your family. How will it go for people who don’t know you? I’ll trust myself to you and keep doing right.

Instructions for Spiritual Leaders

5

1 I appeal to your spiritual leaders.[5] I make this appeal as a spiritual leader who also witnessed Christ’s sufferings and will share in the glory that will be revealed. 2 Be shepherds over the flock God has entrusted to you. Watch over it as God does: Don’t do this because you have to, but because you want to. Don’t do it out of greed, but out of a desire to serve. 3 Don’t be rulers over the people entrusted to you, but be examples for the flock to follow. 4 Then, when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

5:1–4   I’ll do whatever you ask. I serve not because I have to but because I want to. Challenge my greed. Increase my desire to serve.

Instructions for Christians

5 Young people, in a similar way, place yourselves under the authority of spiritual leaders.

Furthermore, all of you must serve each other with humility, because God opposes the arrogant but favors the humble. 6 Be humbled by God’s power so that when the right time comes he will honor you.

5:5–7   I humble myself, because you oppose the arrogant. I give my anxiety to you, because you care.

7 Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. 8 Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering. 10 God, who shows you his kindness[6] and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while. 11 Power belongs to him forever. Amen.

5:8–11   I’m alert to the devil’s attack. Show me your kindness. Support me as I suffer.

Farewell

12 I’ve written this short letter to you and I’m sending it by Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother. I’ve written to encourage you and to testify that this is God’s genuine good will.[7] Remain firmly established in it!

13 Your sister church in Babylon, chosen by God, and my son Mark send you greetings. 14 Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

5:12–14   Teach me your genuine good will. Help me stand firm in it!

2 PETER

INTRODUCTION

Second Peter shows off God’s power for growth. The recipients of this note knew they were approved by God because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. But God had more in store for them.

“God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness,” the apostle Peter writes. “This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity” (2 Peter 1:3). In other words, the relationship these believers enjoy with God gives them everything they need to grow. They can add to their faith qualities like integrity, self-control, endurance, and love. If their lives lack any of these characteristics, they need to back up and remember that Jesus died to rid them of sin.

Peter tells his readers to listen closely to God’s words, which come from the Lord through his human prophets. He warns them to block out false teachers who wield impressive arguments to satisfy their greed and lure believers into sin. They should stay ready for Jesus’ return, which they patiently await while God gives people time to turn to him.

Praying 2 Peter invites you to pay attention to God’s true words, allowing him to point out areas where he wants to grow you.

2 PETER

1  | 2  | 3

Greeting

1

1 From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

To those who have obtained a faith that is as valuable as ours, a faith based on the approval that comes from our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2 May good will[1] and peace fill your lives through your knowledge about Jesus, our God and Lord!

1:1–2   I’ve obtained a priceless faith! Your approval is a pure gift.

God’s Power Gives Us the Ability to Live Godly Lives

3 God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity. 4 Through his glory and integrity he has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world.

1:3–4   Your might gives me everything I need to live for you. I get my strength from knowing you. Through your promises I share in your nature and escape sinful desires.

5 Because of this, make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge; 6 to knowledge add self-control; to self-control add endurance; to endurance add godliness; 7 to godliness add Christian affection; and to Christian affection add love. 8 If you have these qualities and they are increasing, it demonstrates that your knowledge about our Lord Jesus Christ is living and productive. 9 If these qualities aren’t present in your life, you’re shortsighted and have forgotten that you were cleansed from your past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, use more effort to make God’s calling and choosing of you secure.

1:5–9   I’ll keep adding good qualities to my faith, finishing everything with love. My growth demonstrates I know you. It proves I haven’t forgotten you cleansed me from sin.

If you keep doing this, you will never fall away. 11 Then you will also be given the wealth of entering into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore, I will always remind you about these qualities, although you already know about them and are well-grounded in the truth that you now have. 13 As long as I’m still alive, I think it’s right to refresh your memory. 14 I know that I will die soon. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made that clear to me. 15 So I will make every effort to see that you remember these things after I die.

1:10–15   You make my faith secure. You let me enter your eternal kingdom. I’ll keep these qualities in the front of my mind.

Pay Attention to God’s Words

16 When we apostles told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we didn’t base our message on clever myths that we made up. Rather, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes. 17 For example, we were eyewitnesses when he received honor and glory from God the Father and when the voice of our majestic God spoke these words to him: “This is my Son, whom I love and in whom I delight.” 18 We heard that voice speak to him from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.19 So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You’re doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts. 20 First, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation. 21 No prophecy ever originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans spoke under God’s direction.

1:16–18   The message of your powerful arrival wasn’t based on clever myths. People saw your majesty with their own eyes.

1:19–21   I won’t stop paying attention to your words. Human minds didn’t invent Scripture. By your Spirit you directed your prophets to speak.

Warnings about False Teachers

2

1 False prophets were among God’s people ⌞in the past⌟, as false teachers will be among you. They will secretly bring in their own destructive teachings. They will deny the Lord, who has bought them, and they will bring themselves swift destruction. 2 Many people will follow them in their sexual freedom and will cause others to dishonor the way of truth. 3 In their greed they will use good-sounding arguments to exploit you. The verdict against them from long ago is still in force, and their destruction is not asleep.

2:1–3   False prophets constantly sneak in their destructive teachings. Their greed and sexual excess denies you and deceives others. You’ll destroy them.

4 God didn’t spare angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, where he has secured them with chains of darkness and is holding them for judgment.

5 God didn’t spare the ancient world either. He brought the flood on the world of ungodly people, but he protected Noah and seven other people. Noah was his messenger who told people about the kind of life that has God’s approval.

6 God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and destroyed them by burning them to ashes. He made those cities an example to ungodly people of what is going to happen to them. 7 Yet, God rescued Lot, a man who had his approval. Lot was distressed by the lifestyle of people who had no principles and lived in sexual freedom. 8 Although he was a man who had God’s approval, he lived among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Each day was like torture to him as he saw and heard the immoral things that people did.

2:4–8   You threw sinful angels in hell. You judged sinful ancients with flood and fire.

9 Since the Lord did all this, he knows how to rescue godly people when they are tested. He also knows how to hold immoral people for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow their corrupt nature along the path of impure desires and who despise the Lord’s authority.

2:9   You know how to rescue godly people from difficult times. You store up punishment for people who despise you.

These false teachers are bold and arrogant. They aren’t afraid to insult the ⌞Lord’s⌟ glory. 11 Angels, who have more strength and power than these teachers, don’t bring an insulting judgment against them from the Lord. 12 These false teachers insult what they don’t understand. They are like animals, which are creatures of instinct that are born to be caught and killed. So they will be destroyed like animals 13 and lose what their wrongdoing earned them.

These false teachers are stains and blemishes. They take pleasure in holding wild parties in broad daylight. They especially enjoy deceiving you while they eat with you. 14 They’re always looking for an adulterous woman. They can’t stop looking for sin as they seduce people who aren’t sure of what they believe. Their minds are focused on their greed. They are cursed.

2:10–14   False teachers aren’t afraid to insult your glory. They mock what they don’t understand. Stop them—because they won’t quit looking for opportunities to sin.

15 These false teachers have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Balaam, son of Beor. Balaam loved what his wrongdoing earned him. 16 But he was convicted for his evil. A donkey, which normally can’t talk, spoke with a human voice and wouldn’t allow the prophet to continue his insanity.

17 These false teachers are dried-up springs. They are a mist blown around by a storm. Gloomy darkness has been kept for them. 18 They arrogantly use nonsense to seduce people by appealing to their sexual desires, especially to sexual freedom. They seduce people who have just escaped from those who live in error. 19 They promise these people freedom, but they themselves are slaves to corruption. A person is a slave to whatever he gives in to.

2:15–19   Keep me on your straight path. Don’t let me fall for babble that makes sexual sin acceptable. That freedom will make me a slave.

20 People can know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and escape the world’s filth. But if they get involved in this filth again and give in to it, they are worse off than they were before. 21 It would have been better for them never to have known the way of life that God approves of than to know it and turn their backs on the holy life God told them to live. 22 These proverbs have come true for them: “A dog goes back to its vomit,” and “A sow that has been washed goes back to roll around in the mud.”

2:20–22   Knowing you is my only way out of the world’s filth. So I won’t turn my back on the holy life you tell me to live. I choose not to roll in old mud.

Be Ready for the Day of the Lord

3

1 Dear friends, this is the second letter I’m writing to you. In both letters I’m trying to refresh your memory. 2 I want you to remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and what the Lord and Savior commanded you through your apostles.

3 First, you must understand this: In the last days people who follow their own desires will appear. These disrespectful people will ridicule ⌞God’s promise⌟ 4 by saying, “What’s happened to his promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of the world.”

3:1–4   People think you’re slow to show up. They say everything always stays the same. They don’t think you’re coming back.

5 They are deliberately ignoring one fact: Because of God’s word, heaven and earth existed a long time ago. The earth ⌞appeared⌟ out of water and was kept alive by water. 6 Water also flooded and destroyed that world. 7 By God’s word, the present heaven and earth are designated to be burned. They are being kept until the day ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.

3:5–7   Your word brought everything into existence. And your word will burn it all up. You’re waiting for the right time to judge.

8 Dear friends, don’t ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.

3:8–9   You’re patient because you don’t want to destroy anyone. I’m grateful you give everyone a chance to turn to you and change the way they think and act!

10 The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed.[2]

11 All these things will be destroyed in this way. So think of the kind of holy and godly lives you must live 12 as you look forward to the day of God and eagerly wait for it to come. When that day comes, heaven will be on fire and will be destroyed. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and melt. 13 But we look forward to what God has promised—a new heaven and a new earth—a place where everything that has God’s approval lives.

3:10–13   You’ll burn up the universe with fire. So I’ll live holy. I’ll get ready for life with you and your people. I’ll look forward to a new heaven and earth.

14 Therefore, dear friends, with this to look forward to, make every effort to have him find you at peace, without ⌞spiritual⌟ stains or blemishes. 15 Think of our Lord’s patience as an opportunity ⌞for us⌟ to be saved. This is what our dear brother Paul wrote to you about, using the wisdom God gave him. 16 He talks about this subject in all his letters. Some things in his letters are hard to understand. Ignorant people and people who aren’t sure of what they believe distort what Paul says in his letters the same way they distort the rest of the Scriptures. These people will be destroyed.

3:14–16   I’ll make every effort to live an unblemished life. Save everyone you can and help me understand your hard words.

17 Dear friends, you already know these things. So be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of people who have no principles. Then you won’t fall from your firm position. 18 But grow in the good will[3] and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to him now and for that eternal day! Amen.

3:17–18   Guard me against dishonest deceivers. Then I’ll keep growing in my knowledge of you. Glory to you now and forever!

1 JOHN

INTRODUCTION

First John is all about love. Jesus isn’t a figment of anyone’s imagination. “The Word of life existed from the beginning” (1 John 1:1), and his first followers witnessed up close everything he said and did. So now John spreads the message of eternal life so others can enjoy that same relationship.

You won’t perceive God as long as you live in darkness. So John tells how to come into the light by letting Jesus rid you of every sin. He writes, “If we say, ‘We aren’t sinful’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong” (1 John 1:8–9).

People who know God live in his love and obey his commands. And Jesus demonstrated what real love looks like when he gave his life for us (1 John 3:16). Anyone who claims to know God must live in love, showing practical care for others, because God is love. Love flows from him alone (1 John 4:7–21).

Praying 1 John lets you immerse yourself in God’s love. Ask him to cleanse you from sin and to teach you to live out his love.

1 JOHN

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John’s Reason for Writing

1

1 The Word of life existed from the beginning. We have heard it. We have seen it. We observed and touched it. 2 This life was revealed to us. We have seen it, and we testify about it. We are reporting to you about this eternal life that was in the presence of the Father and was revealed to us. 3 This is the life we have seen and heard. We are reporting about it to you also so that you, too, can have a relationship with us. Our relationship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing this so that we can be completely filled with joy.

1:1–4   Your friends saw and touched you. They testify about you and the eternal life you bring. Let me share in their relationship with you and each other.

Through Jesus We Have a Relationship with God

5 This is the message we heard from Christ and are reporting to you: God is light, and there isn’t any darkness in him. 6 If we say, “We have a relationship with God” and yet live in the dark, we’re lying. We aren’t being truthful.

1:5–6   You’re pure light. I can’t claim to have a relationship with you and live in the dark.

7 But if we live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, we have a relationship with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from every sin. 8 If we say, “We aren’t sinful” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong. 10 If we say, “We have never sinned,” we turn God into a liar and his Word is not in us.

1:7–10   I’m deceiving myself if I claim I never sin. Yet if I confess my sins, you forgive me. You cleanse me from everything I’ve done wrong. I can count on you for that!

2

1 My dear children, I’m writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God’s full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father. 2 He is the payment for our sins, and not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world.

2:1–2   You don’t want me to sin. But you paid for my every evil act—not only my sins, but the sins of the whole world.

Those Who Know Christ Obey His Commandments

3 We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments. 4 The person who says, “I know him,” but doesn’t obey his commandments is a liar. The truth isn’t in that person. 5 But whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God’s love is perfected. That’s how we know we are in Christ. 6 Those who say that they live in him must live the same way he lived.

2:3–6   I can be sure I know you when I obey your commands. Make your love perfect in me. Free me to live like you.

7 Dear friends, it’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, I’m giving you an old commandment that you’ve had from the beginning. It’s the old commandment you’ve already heard. 8 On the other hand, I’m writing to give you a new commandment. It’s a truth that exists in Christ and in you: The darkness is fading, and the true light is already shining.

9 Those who say that they are in the light but hate other believers are still in the dark. 10 Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light. 11 Those who hate other believers are in the dark and live in the dark. They don’t know where they’re going, because they can’t see in the dark.

2:7–11   You live in me and I in you. I can’t claim to love you yet hate your people. Rescue me and let me walk in your light!

Don’t Love the World

12 I’m writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ.

13 I’m writing to you, fathers, because you know Christ who has existed from the beginning.

I’m writing to you, young people, because you have won the victory over the evil one.

14 I’ve written to you, children, because you know the Father.

I’ve written to you, fathers, because you know Christ, who has existed from the beginning.

I’ve written to you, young people, because you are strong and God’s word lives in you. You have won the victory over the evil one.

15 Don’t love the world and what it offers. Those who love the world don’t have the Father’s love in them. 16 Not everything that the world offers—physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles—comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and 17 the world and its evil desires are passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever.

2:12–17   My sins? Forgiven. I know you well, and I’m winning against the evil one. So don’t let me fall for the world or anything it offers. None of it comes from you. It’s all passing away.

Live in Christ

18 Children, it’s the end of time. You’ve heard that an antichrist is coming. Certainly, many antichrists are already here. That’s how we know it’s the end of time. 19 They left us. However, they were never really part of us. If they had been, they would have stayed with us. But by leaving they made it clear that none of them were part of us.

20 The Holy One has anointed you, so all of you have knowledge. 21 I’m writing to you because you know the truth, not because you don’t know the truth. You know that no lie ever comes from the truth.

22 Who is a liar? Who else but the person who rejects Jesus as the Messiah? The person who rejects the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Everyone who rejects the Son doesn’t have the Father either. The person who acknowledges the Son also has the Father. 24 Make sure that the message you heard from the beginning lives in you. If that message lives in you, you will also live in the Son and in the Father. 25 Christ has given us the promise of eternal life.

2:18–25   The end of everything is bringing a world full of antichrists who reject you as the Messiah. But let your message live in me! I hold tight to your promise of eternal life.

26 I’m writing to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 The anointing you received from Christ lives in you. You don’t need anyone to teach you something else. Instead, Christ’s anointing teaches you about everything. His anointing is true and contains no lie. So live in Christ as he taught you to do.

2:26–29   Teach me everything I need to know. Let me face you unashamed. You approve of me because you gave me birth.

We Are God’s Children

28 Now, dear children, live in Christ. Then, when he appears we will have confidence, and when he comes we won’t turn from him in shame. 29 If you know that Christ has God’s approval, you also know that everyone who does what God approves of has been born from God.

3

1 Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either. 2 Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is. 3 So all people who have this confidence in Christ keep themselves pure, as Christ is pure.

3:1–3   You love me so much that you call me your child. You make me like you in every way. Help me stay pure.

4 Those who live sinful lives are disobeying God. Sin is disobedience. 5 You know that Christ appeared in order to take away our sins. He isn’t sinful. 6 Those who live in Christ don’t go on sinning. Those who go on sinning haven’t seen or known Christ.

7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you. Whoever does what God approves of has God’s approval as Christ has God’s approval. 8 The person who lives a sinful life belongs to the devil, because the devil has been committing sin since the beginning. The reason that the Son of God appeared was to destroy what the devil does. 9 Those who have been born from God don’t live sinful lives. What God has said lives in them, and they can’t live sinful lives. They have been born from God. 10 This is the way God’s children are distinguished from the devil’s children. Everyone who doesn’t do what is right or love other believers isn’t God’s child.

3:4–10   No one who lives in you makes a habit of sin. Anyone ruled by evil still belongs to the devil. Live in me so I don’t live in sin.

Love One Another

11 The message that you have heard from the beginning is to love each other. 12 Don’t be like Cain. He was a child of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain murder his brother? Because the things Cain did were evil and the things his brother did had God’s approval. 13 Brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised if the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates another believer is a murderer, and you know that a murderer doesn’t have eternal life.

3:11–15   You’ll never stop reminding me to love others. I can be certain I’ve passed from death to life because I love your people.

16 We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers. 17 Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer? 18 Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words.

3:16–18   You revealed true love when you gave your life for me. Now it’s my turn to give my life for others. Sincere actions prove my love. Empty words don’t.

19 This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be reassured in his presence. 20 Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we can boldly look to God 22 and receive from him anything we ask. We receive it because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 This is his commandment: to believe in his Son, the one named Jesus Christ, and to love each other as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey Christ’s commandments live in God, and God lives in them. We know that he lives in us because he has given us the Spirit.

3:19–24   Can I really look boldly to you and receive anything I ask? I believe in you. I love others. I live in you. You live in me.

Test People Who Say They Have God’s Spirit

4

1 Dear friends, don’t believe all people who say that they have the Spirit. Instead, test them. See whether the spirit they have is from God, because there are many false prophets in the world. 2 This is how you can recognize God’s Spirit: Every person who declares that Jesus Christ has come as a human has the Spirit that is from God. 3 But every person who doesn’t declare that Jesus Christ has come as a human has a spirit that isn’t from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that you have heard is coming. That spirit is already in the world.

4:1–3   I trust people who grasp that you came to earth as a real human being. Only flesh and blood can pay for my sins.

4 Dear children, you belong to God. So you have won the victory over these people, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 These people belong to the world. That’s why they speak the thoughts of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We belong to God. The person who knows God listens to us. Whoever doesn’t belong to God doesn’t listen to us. That’s how we can tell the Spirit of truth from the spirit of lies.

4:4–6   I triumph over the world because you live in me. You’re bigger than any trouble I face.

God’s Love Lives in His People

7 Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. 8 The person who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, because God is love. 9 God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. 10 This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he lives in us because he has given us his Spirit.

4:7–8   I love others because love comes from you. Your love in me proves you gave me birth. Anyone who doesn’t love hasn’t met you.

4:9–13   You showed love by coming to earth and giving me life. My love is nothing next to your payment for my sin. Teach me to love others like you love me.

14 We have seen and testify to the fact that the Father sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God lives in those who declare that Jesus is the Son of God, and they live in God. 16 We have known and believed that God loves us. God is love. Those who live in God’s love live in God, and God lives in them.

4:14–16   You live in me when I declare who you are. You wrap me in your love.

17 God’s love has reached its goal in us. So we look ahead with confidence to the day of judgment. While we are in this world, we are exactly like him ⌞with regard to love⌟. 18 No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn’t have perfect love.

19 We love because God loved us first. 20 Whoever says, “I love God,” but hates another believer is a liar. People who don’t love other believers, whom they have seen, can’t love God, whom they have not seen. 21 Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers.

4:17–21   I don’t dread your judgment, because your love chases away every fear. I love because you first loved me. If I don’t care for the people you put in my world, I can’t claim to love you.

Those Who Believe in Jesus Are God’s Children

5

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born from God. Everyone who loves the Father also loves his children. 2 We know that we love God’s children when we love God by obeying his commandments. 3 To love God means that we obey his commandments. Obeying his commandments isn’t difficult 4 because everyone who has been born from God has won the victory over the world. Our faith is what wins the victory over the world. 5 Who wins the victory over the world? Isn’t it the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

5:1–5   I’m born of you because I believe you’re the Messiah. I show my love for you by obeying your commands. You make obedience easy because you triumphed over the world.

6 This Son of God is Jesus Christ, who came by water and blood. He didn’t come with water only, but with water and with blood. The Spirit is the one who verifies this, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 There are three witnesses:[1] 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood. These three witnesses agree.

9 We accept human testimony. God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony that he has given about his Son. 10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them. Those who don’t believe God have made God a liar. They haven’t believed the testimony that God has given about his Son.

11 This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is found in his Son. 12 The person who has the Son has this life. The person who doesn’t have the Son of God doesn’t have this life.

5:6–12   I have your solemn promise inside me. You’ve given me eternal life. I only find life in you.

Conclusion

13 I’ve written this to those who believe in the Son of God so that they will know that they have eternal life.

14 We are confident that God listens to us if we ask for anything that has his approval. 15 We know that he listens to our requests. So we know that we already have what we ask him for.

5:13–15   Your promise gives me confidence I’ll really live forever with you. I’m convinced you hear my requests and grant what I ask.

16 If you see another believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, you should pray that God would give that person life. This is true for those who commit sins that don’t lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I’m not telling you to pray about that. 17 Every kind of wrongdoing is sin, yet there are sins that don’t lead to death.

18 We know that those who have been born from God don’t go on sinning. Rather, the Son of God protects them, and the evil one can’t harm them.

19 We know that we are from God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

5:16–19   Give life to my friends stuck in sin. Guard us all from the evil one’s reach.

20 We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we know the real God. We are in the one who is real, his Son Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is the real God and eternal life.

21 Dear children, guard yourselves from false gods.

5:20–21   You came to show me you’re real. I live in you and you give me eternal life!

2 JOHN

INTRODUCTION

Second John warns about misguided kindness. In his first letter, John told everyone to love others. After all, love comes from God. Anyone who doesn’t love, doesn’t know God (1 John 4:7–8).

Now John’s spiritual children need reminding of what constitutes real love. False teachers are traveling from place to place preaching that anything physical is evil and only spiritual things are good. They assert that Jesus was actually a spirit who only appeared to be a person with real human flesh. But a Jesus without a physical body can’t identify with people or die for human sins.

This letter warns its recipients to quit welcoming false teachers into their homes, giving them food and a place to stay. Their hospitality literally opens the door to false beliefs that put their salvation at risk. Praying 2 John calls you to consider how to best put true love into action.

2 JOHN

1

Greeting

1 From the church leader.[1]

To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love because we share the truth. I’m not the only one who loves you. Everyone who knows the truth also loves you. 2 We love you because of the truth which lives in us and will be with us forever.

3 Good will,[2] mercy, and peace will be with us. They come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, who in truth and love is the Father’s Son.

1–3   Let me share a love for the truth with your friends. Your truth will live in us forever.

Living in the Truth

4 I was very happy to find some of your children living in the truth as the Father has commanded us. 5 Dear lady, I’m now requesting that we continue to love each other. It’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, from the beginning we were commanded to love each other. 6 Love means that we live by doing what he commands. We were commanded to live in love, and you have heard this from the beginning.

4–6   I’ll continue to love your people. Your commandment isn’t anything new. From the start you told me to love.

Reject Teachers Who Don’t Teach What Christ Taught

7 Many people who deceive others have gone into the world. They refuse to declare that Jesus Christ came in flesh and blood. This is the mark of a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Be careful that you don’t destroy what we’ve worked for, but that you receive your full reward.

9 Everyone who doesn’t continue to teach what Christ taught doesn’t have God. The person who continues to teach what Christ taught has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring these teachings, don’t take him into your home or even greet him. 11 Whoever greets him shares the evil things he’s doing.

7–11   The world is full of deceivers who say you weren’t real flesh and blood. I won’t partner with people who deny reality.

Farewell

12 I have a lot to write to you. I would prefer not to write a letter. Instead, I hope to visit and talk things over with you personally. Then we will be completely filled with joy.

13 The children of your chosen sister greet you.

12–13   Let me love your people in person. Then I’ll be filled with joy!

3 JOHN

INTRODUCTION

Third John pulls people back to love. When John told his spiritual children to quit opening their homes to false teachers (2 John 10), they promptly obeyed. He’s overjoyed to hear they’re “living according to the truth” (3 John 4).

But now caution is causing his friends to shut out authentic teachers he sent to build them up. A believer named Diotrephes not only slammed the door on these preachers but vowed to ban from church anyone who gave them shelter or food. John tells his friends to follow the example of Gaius, who warmly welcomed these genuine Christian teachers.

John’s readers discovered that love isn’t always simple. Praying 3 John prompts you to think hard about what real love looks like in your own life.

3 JOHN

1

Greeting

1 From the church leader.[1]

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love because we share the truth.

Encouragement for Gaius

2 Dear friend, I know that you are spiritually well. I pray that you’re doing well in every other way and that you’re healthy. 3 I was very happy when some believers came and told us that you are living according to the truth. 4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.

1–4   I love people who share your truth and pray for total well-being. Nothing makes me happier than all of us living your truth.

5 Dear friend, you are showing your faith in whatever you do for other believers, especially when they’re your guests. 6 These believers have told the congregation about your love. You will do well to support them on their trip in a way that proves you belong to God. 7 After all, they went on their trip to serve the one named Christ, and they didn’t accept any help from the people to whom they went. 8 We must support believers who go on trips like this so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth.

Criticism of Diotrephes

9 I wrote a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won’t accept us. 10 For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he’s doing. He’s not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers ⌞we send⌟ as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation.

5–10   I’ll open my home to people who spread your truth. They go on the road to serve you. Put a stop to people who your reject your messengers.

Praise for Demetrius

11 Dear friend, never imitate evil, but imitate good. The person who does good is from God. The person who does evil has never seen God.

12 Everyone, including the truth itself, says good things about Demetrius. We also say good things about him, and you know that what we say is true.

11–12   I’m done with evil. I’ll imitate good because I know you.

Farewell

13 I have a lot to write to you. However, I would rather not write. 14 I hope to visit you very soon. Then we can talk things over personally.

15 Peace be with you! Your friends here send you their greetings. Greet each of our friends by name.

13–15   I look forward to talking with your people in person. Fill us with your peace!

JUDE

INTRODUCTION

Jude fights for the true faith. The news of how God saves people through Jesus seems so simple it’s tough to mess up. Yet it didn’t take long for false teachers to twist the message to their own ends.

Jude reports that the community of believers has been infiltrated by people who use God’s kindness as an excuse to indulge in sexual immorality. Their sinful actions deny that Jesus is Lord and Master. Jude speaks passionately, saying the situation demands he implore them to continue their fight “for the Christian faith that was entrusted to God’s holy people once for all time” (Jude 3).

The message of Jesus isn’t up for grabs. Even by the time Jude writes this letter, the content of authentic Christian teaching was well-established. The truth given by God isn’t subject to change or reinterpretation. Jude warns that believers will face more tests. There will always be people who ridicule God and let their ungodly desires run wild.

Praying the book of Jude lets you ask God to ground you in the true faith now and always.

JUDE

1

Greeting

1 From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James.

To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father, and who are kept safe for Jesus Christ.

2 May mercy, peace, and love fill your lives!

1–2   You call me and keep me safe. Fill my life with mercy, peace, and love!

Warnings about False Teachers

3 Dear friends, I had intended to write to you about the salvation we share. But something has come up. It demands that I write to you and encourage you to continue your fight for the Christian faith that was entrusted to God’s holy people once for all time.

3   I’ll continue to fight for the faith—for the truth entrusted to your people once for all time.

4 Some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. Not long ago they were condemned in writing for the following reason: They are people to whom God means nothing. They use God’s kindness[1] as an excuse for sexual freedom and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

4   Protect me from liars who use your kindness as an excuse for sexual sin.

5 I want to remind you about what you already know: The Lord once saved his people from Egypt. But on another occasion he destroyed those who didn’t believe. 6 He held angels for judgment on the great day. They were held in darkness, bound by eternal chains. These are the angels who didn’t keep their position of authority but abandoned their assigned place. 7 What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities near them is an example for us of the punishment of eternal fire. The people of these cities suffered the same fate that God’s people and the angels did, because they committed sexual sins and engaged in homosexual activities.

5–7   You save your people, but you destroy unbelievers. You’ve already shown what eternal fire looks like.

8 Yet, in a similar way, the people who slipped in among you are dreamers. They contaminate their bodies with sin, reject the Lord’s authority, and insult his glory. 9 When the archangel Michael argued with the devil, they were arguing over the body of Moses. But Michael didn’t dare to hand down a judgment against the devil. Instead, Michael said, “May the Lord reprimand you!”

10 Whatever these people don’t understand, they insult. Like animals, which are creatures of instinct, they use whatever they know to destroy themselves. 11 How horrible it will be for them! They have followed the path of Cain. They have rushed into Balaam’s error to make a profit. They have rebelled like Korah and destroyed themselves.

8–11   I’m on my guard against dreamers who sin with their bodies, reject your authority, and insult your glory. It won’t go well for them.

12 These people are a disgrace at the special meals you share with other believers. They eat with you and don’t feel ashamed. They are shepherds who care ⌞only⌟ for themselves. They are dry clouds blown around by the winds. They are withered, uprooted trees without any fruit. As a result, they have died twice. 13 Their shame is like the foam on the wild waves of the sea. They are wandering stars for whom gloomy darkness is kept forever.

14 Furthermore, Enoch, from the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about them. He said, “The Lord has come with countless thousands of his holy angels. 15 He has come to judge all these people. He has come to convict all these ungodly sinners for all the ungodly things they have done and all the harsh things they have said about him.”

16 These people complain, find fault, follow their own desires, say arrogant things, and flatter people in order to take advantage of them.

12–16   Save me from my own wanderings. Don’t send me to a gloomy darkness. Convict me of the ungodly things I do.

17 Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you to expect: 18 “In the last times people who ridicule ⌞God⌟ will appear. They will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who cause divisions. They are concerned about physical things, not spiritual things.

Final Advice

20 Dear friends, use your most holy faith to grow. Pray with the Holy Spirit’s help. 21 Remain in God’s love as you look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life.

17–21   Some choose to ridicule you and follow evil desires. But let my holy faith grow with your help. I’ll stay in your love and count on you for eternal life.

22 Show mercy to those who have doubts. 23 Save others by snatching them from the fire ⌞of hell⌟. Show mercy to others, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives.

24 God can guard you so that you don’t fall and so that you can be full of joy as you stand in his glorious presence without fault. 25 Before time began, now, and for eternity glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

22–25   I’ll show mercy to doubters and snatch others from the fires of hell. Guard me so I don’t fall and fill me up with joy. Glory, majesty, power, and authority are yours!

REVELATION

INTRODUCTION

Revelation looks forward to heaven. In an era of persecution, wrong beliefs, and confusion about Jesus’ promised return, believers needed extraordinary encouragement. It came in a stunning heavenly vision given to the apostle John, a prisoner for his faith on the rocky island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea.

John’s vision takes him from his current day to the end of time. As he worships one Sunday, he hears a shout that he should write down what he is about to see. He turns around to encounter Jesus blazing like fire. John drops like a dead man, but Jesus tells him not to fear. He says, “I am the first and the last, the living one. I was dead, but now I am alive forever. I have the keys of death and hell” (Revelation 1:17–18).

Jesus lifts up the apostle and speaks messages for seven ancient churches. Then he lets John gaze into heaven, witnessing wondrous worship and a violent struggle against evil. The exact situations and symbolism in the vision are difficult to interpret, yet the main point is clear. At the end of time, God exerts his reign over everything and everyone. He establishes a new heaven and earth where he dwells with people. And at that time “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won’t be any more death. There won’t be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared” (Revelation 21:4).

Praying the book of Revelation compels you to worship God and live for him with utter respect. Seize the opportunity to welcome him into your life and your world.

REVELATION

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The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Seven Churches

1

1 This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to him to show his servants the things that must happen soon. He sent this revelation through his angel to his servant John. 2 John testified about what he saw: God’s word and the testimony about Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads, as well as those who hear the words of this prophecy and pay attention to what is written in it because the time is near.

1:1–3   You reveal yourself and things about to happen. I’m blessed if I pay attention, because your time is near.

4 From John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Good will[1] and peace to you from the one who is, the one who was, and the one who is coming, from the seven spirits who are in front of his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the witness, the trustworthy one, the first to come back to life, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Glory and power forever and ever[2] belong to the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and has made us a kingdom, priests for God his Father. Amen.

1:4–6   You’re the trustworthy witness. I count on your love. By your blood you freed me from sin. I’ll give you glory forever.

7 Look! He is coming in the clouds.

Every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him.

Every tribe on earth will mourn because of him.

This is true. Amen.

8 “I am the A and the Z,”[3] says the Lord God, the one who is, the one who was, and the one who is coming, the Almighty.

1:7–8   Everyone will see you come back to a world of people whose sins killed you. You’re the Almighty, the one who was, is, and is to come.

9 I am John, your brother. I share your suffering, ruling, and endurance because of Jesus. I was ⌞exiled⌟ on the island of Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus. 10 I came under the Spirit’s power on the Lord’s day. I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

12 I turned toward the voice which was talking to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lamp stands. 13 There was someone like the Son of Man among the lamp stands. He was wearing a robe that reached his feet. He wore a gold belt around his waist. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool—like snow. His eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like glowing bronze refined in a furnace. His voice was like the sound of raging waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines in all its brightness.

1:9–16   When you speak, your face blazes like the sun. Let me hear and understand your message to your churches.

17 When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. Then he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the first and the last, 18 the living one. I was dead, but now I am alive forever. I have the keys of death and hell. 19 Therefore, write down what you have seen, what is, and what is going to happen after these things. 20 The hidden meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lamp stands is this: The seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.

1:17–20   You’re back from the grave, never to die again. You alone hold the keys of death and hell.

A Letter to the Church in Ephesus

2

1 “To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write:

The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says: 2 I know what you have done—how hard you have worked and how you have endured. I also know that you cannot tolerate wicked people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not apostles. You have discovered that they are liars. 3 You have endured, suffered trouble because of my name, and have not grown weary. 4 However, I have this against you: The love you had at first is gone. 5 Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don’t change. 6 But you have this in your favor—you hate what the Nicolaitans are doing. I also hate what they’re doing.

7 “Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the paradise of God, to everyone who wins the victory.

2:1–7   Some of your people work hard and put up with much, but their first love has vanished. I’ll change how I think and act—and show the love I did at first.

A Letter to the Church in Smyrna

8 “To the messenger of the church in Smyrna, write:

The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says: 9 I know how you are suffering, how poor you are—but you are rich. I also know that those who claim to be Jews slander you. They are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. Your suffering will go on for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Everyone who wins the victory will never be hurt by the second death.

2:8–11   Some of your people need to let go of their fears, despite the suffering they face. Grant me the crown of life.

A Letter to the Church in Pergamum

12 “To the messenger of the church in Pergamum, write:

The one who holds the sharp two-edged sword says: 13 I know where you live. Satan’s throne is there. You hold on to my name and have not denied your belief in me, even in the days of Antipas. He was my faithful witness who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you: You have among you those who follow what Balaam taught Balak. Balak trapped the people of Israel by ⌞encouraging⌟ them to eat food sacrificed to idols and to sin sexually. 15 You also have some who follow what the Nicolaitans teach. 16 So return to me and change the way you think and act, or I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword from my mouth.

17 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give some of the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. I will also give each person a white stone with a new name written on it, a name that is known only to the person who receives it.

2:12–17   Some of your people live where Satan rules. They believe in you, but they indulge in sexual sin. I’ll return to you right now.

A Letter to the Church in Thyatira

18 “To the messenger of the church in Thyatira, write:

The Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire and whose feet are like glowing bronze, says: 19 I know what you do. I know your love, faith, service, and endurance. I also know that what you are doing now is greater than what you did at first. 20 But I have something against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. She teaches and misleads my servants to sin sexually and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to turn to me and change the way she thinks and acts, but she refuses to turn away from her sexual sins. 22 Watch me! I’m going to throw her into a sickbed. Those who commit sexual sins with her will also suffer a lot, unless they turn away from what she is doing. 23 I will kill her children. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches hearts and minds. I will reward each of you for what you have done. 24 But the rest of you in Thyatira—all who don’t hold on to Jezebel’s teaching, who haven’t learned what are called the deep things of Satan—I won’t burden you with anything else. 25 Just hold on to what you have until I come.

26 I have received authority from my Father.[4] I will give authority over the nations to everyone who wins the victory and continues to do what I want until the end. 27 Those people will rule the nations with iron scepters and shatter them like pottery. 28 I will also give them the morning star. 29 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

2:18–29   Some of your people abound in love, faith, service, and endurance. But they tolerate an advocate of idolatry and sexual sin. I’ll stay faithful and hold on until you return.

A Letter to the Church in Sardis

3

1 “To the messenger of the church in Sardis, write:

The one who has God’s seven spirits and the seven stars says: I know what you have done. You are known for being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be alert, and strengthen the things that are left which are about to die. I have found that what you are doing has not been completed in the sight of my God. 3 So remember what you received and heard. Obey, and change the way you think and act. If you’re not alert, I’ll come like a thief. You don’t know when I will come. 4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have kept their clothes clean. They will walk with me in white clothes because they deserve it.

5 Everyone who wins the victory this way will wear white clothes. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge them in the presence of my Father and his angels. 6 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

3:1–6   Some of your people are famous for being alive, but you know they’re spiritually dead. I’ll change how I think and act.

A Letter to the Church in Philadelphia

7 “To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write:

The one who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens ⌞a door⌟ that no one can shut, and who shuts ⌞a door⌟ that no one can open, says: 8 I know what you have done. See, I have opened a door in front of you that no one can shut. You only have a little strength, but you have paid attention to my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are in Satan’s synagogue come and bow at your feet and realize that I have loved you. They claim that they are Jewish, but they are lying. 10 Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you safe during the time of testing which is coming to the whole world to test those living on earth. 11 I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown.

12 I will make everyone who wins the victory a pillar in the temple of my God. They will never leave it again. I will write on them the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from my God), and my new name. 13 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

3:7–13   Some of your people are weak. But they pay attention to your word and stay true to your name. Keep me safe from the coming tests.

A Letter to the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the messenger of the church in Laodicea, write:

The amen, the witness who is faithful and true, the source of God’s creation, says: 15 I know what you have done, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 But since you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I’m going to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I’m rich. I’m wealthy. I don’t need anything.’ Yet, you do not realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you: Buy gold purified in fire from me so that you may be rich. Buy white clothes from me. Wear them so that you may keep your shameful, naked body from showing. Buy ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. Take this seriously, and change the way you think and act. 20 Look, I’m standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I’ll come in and we’ll eat together.

21 I will allow everyone who wins the victory to sit with me on my throne, as I have won the victory and have sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

3:14–22   Some of your people are good for nothing, but you’ll discipline them because you love them. I’ll answer your knocking. Come in and talk with me.

A Vision of God’s Throne in Heaven

4

1 After these things I saw a door standing open in heaven. I heard the first voice like a trumpet speaking to me. It said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”

2 Instantly, I came under the Spirit’s power. I saw a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it. 3 The one sitting there looked like gray quartz and red quartz. There was a rainbow around the throne which looked like an emerald.

4 Around that throne were 24 other thrones, and on these thrones sat 24 leaders wearing white clothes. They had gold crowns on their heads. 5 Lightning, noise, and thunder came from the throne. Seven flaming torches were burning in front of the throne. These are the seven spirits of God.

4:1–5   You throw open your throne room to show what comes next. You glitter like jewels. Powerful servants surround you.

6 In front of the throne, there was something like a sea of glass as clear as crystal. In the center near the throne and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like a young bull, the third had a face like a human, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and were covered with eyes, inside and out. Without stopping day or night they were singing,

4:6–8   Heavenly creatures sing your holiness day and night. You’re the one who was, is, and is to come.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,

who was, who is, and who is coming.”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, to the one who lives forever and ever, 10 the 24 leaders bow in front of the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They place their crowns in front of the throne and say,

11 “Our Lord and God, you deserve to receive glory, honor, and power

because you created everything.

Everything came into existence and was created because of your will.”

4:9–11   I bow to you, the one who lives forever. You deserve glory, honor, and power, because apart from you nothing exists.

The Lamb Takes the Scroll That Has Seven Seals

5

1 I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. It had writing both on the inside and on the outside. It was sealed with seven seals. 2 I saw a powerful angel calling out in a loud voice, “Who deserves to open the scroll and break the seals on it?” 3 No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside it. 4 I cried bitterly because no one was found who deserved to open the scroll or look inside it.

Authentic Prayer

Revelation 4:6–11

Worship

Our Lord and God, you deserve to receive glory, honor, and power because you created everything. Everything came into existence and was created because of your will. Revelation 4:11

God deserves glory, honor, and power. Right from the start of his relationship with Israel, the Lord commanded worship. At the very top of his most important regulations, he told his people to never bow to other gods but to only worship him (Exodus 20:3–8). Yet praising God is more than a must-do task. It’s a natural response to meeting him.

The most intense worship in the universe happens in heaven, the place where God’s followers see him face-to-face. Winged creatures surround his throne and shout his holiness day and night (Revelation 4:8). Leaders of his kingdom lay their crowns before him and applaud his creative genius (Revelation 4:11). A large crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language worships the Lamb slain to bring salvation to earth (Revelation 5:9–10).

If worship doesn’t readily flow from your mouth, ask God to reveal more of himself to you. Study his powerful acts in Scripture. Look for his bold kindness in daily life. Think hard about his trustworthy character. When you see who God truly is, you can’t help but worship.

Pray the Scriptures Worship: Exodus 20:1–6, Psalm 95:1–7, Psalm 150:1–6, Ephesians 5:17–20

5 Then one of the leaders said to me, “Stop crying! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has won the victory. He can open the scroll and the seven seals on it.”

5:1–5   Only the Lion from the tribe of Judah deserves to open your scroll. Only he can see what’s inside.

6 I saw a lamb standing in the center near the throne with the four living creatures and the leaders. The lamb looked like he had been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent all over the world. 7 He took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sits on the throne.

5:6–7   A lamb stands near the throne. He looks like he’s been slaughtered.

8 When the lamb had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 leaders bowed in front of him. Each held a harp and a gold bowl full of incense, the prayers of God’s holy people. 9 Then they sang a new song,

“You deserve to take the scroll and open the seals on it,

because you were slaughtered.

You bought people with your blood to be God’s own.

They are from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

10 You made them a kingdom and priests for our God.

They will rule as kings on the earth.”

5:8–10   The lamb’s blood bought people to be your own, drawn from every tribe and nation. They’ll serve as priests in your kingdom.

11 Then I heard the voices of many angels, the four living creatures, and the leaders surrounding the throne. They numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands times thousands. 12 In a loud voice they were singing,

“The lamb who was slain deserves to receive

power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise.”

13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea. Every creature in those places was singing,

“To the one who sits on the throne and to the lamb

be praise, honor, glory, and power forever and ever.”

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the leaders bowed and worshiped.

5:11–14   Every heavenly being sings. The lamb has earned the highest praise possible. The lamb who was slain deserves honor, glory, and power forever.

The Lamb Opens the First Six Seals

6

1 I watched as the lamb opened the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Go!” 2 Then I looked, and there was a white horse, and its rider had a bow. He was given a crown and rode off as a warrior to win battles.

3 When the lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Go!” 4 A second horse went out. It was fiery red. Its rider was given the power to take peace away from the earth and to make people slaughter one another. So he was given a large sword.

5 When the lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Go!” I looked, and there was a black horse, and its rider held a scale. 6 I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s pay or three quarts of barley for a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil and the wine.”

7 When the lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Go!” 8 I looked, and there was a pale horse, and its rider’s name was Death. Hell followed him. They were given power over one-fourth of the earth to kill people using wars, famines, plagues, and the wild animals on the earth.

6:1–8   Your horsemen ride off to trigger war, famine, and death. You give them authority to injure and kill.

9 When the lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of God’s word and the testimony they had given about him. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, “Holy and true Master, how long before you judge and take revenge on those living on earth who shed our blood?” 11 Each of the souls was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until all their coworkers, the other Christians, would be killed as they had been killed.

6:9–11   The souls of people killed for believing in you cry out for revenge on their murderers. They must rest until all their coworkers are killed.

12 I watched as the lamb opened the sixth seal. A powerful earthquake struck. The sun turned as black as sackcloth made of hair. The full moon turned as red as blood. 13 The stars fell from the sky to the earth like figs dropping from a fig tree when it is shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up. Every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people hid themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. 16 They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the lamb, 17 because the frightening day of their anger has come, and who is able to endure it?”

6:12–17   Your frightening day of anger arrives. The sky vanishes. Mountains and islands move. Everyone on earth hides. Who can endure this?

144,000 People Are Sealed

7

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth to keep them from blowing on the land, the sea, or any tree. 2 I saw another angel coming from the east with the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been allowed to harm the land and sea, 3 “Don’t harm the land, the sea, or the trees until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

4 I heard how many were sealed: 144,000. Those who were sealed were from every tribe of the people of Israel:

5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,

12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,

12,000 from the tribe of Gad,

6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher,

12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,

12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,

7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,

12,000 from the tribe of Levi,

12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,

8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,

12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,

12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

7:1–8   You seal the foreheads of your servants, thousands upon thousands from Israel’s tribes.

God’s People around His Throne in Heaven

9 After these things I saw a large crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language. No one was able to count how many people there were. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb. They were wearing white robes, holding palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb!”

11 All the angels stood around the throne with the leaders and the four living creatures. They bowed in front of the throne with their faces touching the ground, worshiped God, 12 and said,

“Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength

be to our God forever and ever! Amen!”

7:9–12   No one can count the crowd standing in front of you and the lamb. Salvation belongs to you and the lamb!

13 One of the leaders asked me, “Who are these people wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered him, “Sir, you know.”

Then he told me,

“These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering.

They have washed their robes

and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

15 That is why they are in front of the throne of God.

They serve him day and night in his temple.

The one who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

16 They will never be hungry or thirsty again.

Neither the sun nor any burning heat will ever overcome them.

17 The lamb in the center near the throne will be their shepherd.

He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life,

and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

7:13–17   Some have come out of terrible suffering. They’ve washed their robes in the lamb’s blood. They’ll never leave your presence. They’ll never be hungry or thirsty again, and you’ll wipe every tear from their eyes.

The Lamb Opens the Seventh Seal

8

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Seven Angels with Seven Trumpets

2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand in God’s presence, and they were given seven trumpets. 3 Another angel came with a gold incense burner and stood at the altar. He was given a lot of incense to offer on the gold altar in front of the throne. He offered it with the prayers of all of God’s people. 4 The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand to God along with the prayers of God’s people. 5 The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. Then there was thunder, noise, lightning, and an earthquake.

6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets got ready to blow them.

8:1–6   Eerie silence envelops heaven. Then seven angels receive seven trumpets. Your people’s prayers rise like incense.

The First Four Angels Blow Their Trumpets

7 When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire were mixed with blood, and were thrown on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned up, one-third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

8 When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a huge mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the sea turned into blood, 9 one-third of the creatures that were living in the sea died, and one-third of the ships were destroyed.

10 When the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star flaming like a torch fell from the sky. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs. 11 That star was named Wormwood. One-third of the water turned into wormwood, and many people died from this water because it had turned bitter.

12 When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, one-third of the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars were struck so that one-third of them turned dark. There was no light for one-third of the day and one-third of the night.

13 I saw an eagle flying overhead, and I heard it say in a loud voice, “Catastrophe, catastrophe, catastrophe for those living on earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts which the three angels are about to blow.”

8:7–13   You send catastrophe to everyone on earth—hail and fire mixed with blood, bitterness and darkness.

The Fifth and Sixth Angels Blow Their Trumpets

9

1 When the fifth angel blew his trumpet, I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky. The star was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2 It opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and smoke came out of the shaft like the smoke from a large furnace. The smoke darkened the sun and the air. 3 Locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth, and they were given power like the power of earthly scorpions. 4 They were told not to harm any grass, green plant, or tree on the earth. They could harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not allowed to kill them. They were only allowed to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the pain of a scorpion’s sting. 6 At that time people will look for death and never find it. They will long to die, but death will escape them.

7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. They seemed to have crowns that looked like gold on their heads. Their faces were like human faces. 8 They had hair like women’s hair and teeth like lions’ teeth. 9 They had breastplates like iron. The noise from their wings was like the roar of chariots with many horses rushing into battle. 10 They had tails and stingers like scorpions. They had the power to hurt people with their tails for five months. 11 The king who ruled them was the angel from the bottomless pit. In Hebrew he is called Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

9:1–11   You let pain arise from the bottomless pit, anguish that strikes people who don’t have your seal. The angel from the pit causes destruction.

12 The first catastrophe is over. After these things there are two more catastrophes yet to come.

13 When the sixth angel blew his trumpet, I heard a voice from the four horns of the gold altar in front of God. 14 The voice said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are held at the great Euphrates River.” 15 The four angels who were ready for that hour, day, month, and year were released to kill one-third of humanity. 16 The soldiers on horses numbered 20,000 times 10,000. I heard how many there were.

17 In the vision that I had, the horses and their riders looked like this: The riders had breastplates that were fiery red, pale blue, and yellow. The horses had heads like lions. Fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18 These three plagues—the fire, smoke, and sulfur which came out of their mouths—killed one-third of humanity. 19 The power of these horses is in their mouths and their tails. (Their tails have heads like snakes which they use to hurt people.)

20 The people who survived these plagues still did not turn to me and change the way they were thinking and acting. If they had, they would have stopped worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. 21 They did not turn away from committing murder, practicing witchcraft, sinning sexually, or stealing.

9:12–21   Those who survive deadly angel plagues refuse to turn to you. They don’t change how they think and act. They continue to worship idols and commit sins of every kind.

John Eats a Small Scroll

10

1 I saw another powerful angel come down from heaven. He was dressed in a cloud, and there was a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet were like columns of fire. 2 He held a small, opened scroll in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. 3 Then he shouted in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he shouted, the seven thunders spoke with voices of their own. 4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was going to write it down. I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and don’t write it down.”

5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 He swore an oath by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. 7 In the days when the seventh angel is ready to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be completed, as he had made this Good News known to his servants, the prophets.” 8 The voice which I had heard from heaven spoke to me again. It said, “Take the opened scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 I went to the angel and asked him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”

10:1–7   There will be no more delay. You’ll reveal your final mysteries.

10 I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, it was bitter in my stomach. 11 The seven thunders told me, “Again you must speak what God has revealed in front of many people, nations, languages, and kings.”

10:8–11   You give John words to swallow. They’re sweet in his mouth and bitter in his stomach. He must speak your revelation to every people.

God’s Two Witnesses

11

1 Then I was given a stick like a measuring stick. I was told, “Stand up and measure the temple of God and the altar. Count those who worship there. 2 But do not measure the temple courtyard. Leave that out, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3 I will allow my two witnesses who wear sackcloth to speak what God has revealed. They will speak for 1,260 days.”

4 These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing in the presence of the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone wants to hurt them, fire comes out of the witnesses’ mouths and burns up their enemies. If anyone wants to hurt them, he must be killed the same way. 6 These witnesses have authority to shut the sky in order to keep rain from falling during the time they speak what God has revealed. They have authority to turn water into blood and to strike the earth with any plague as often as they want.

11:1–6   You send a pair of witnesses to speak everything you reveal, and they burn up every opponent. You give them authority to strike the earth with any plague as often as they want.

7 When the witnesses finish their testimony, the beast which comes from the bottomless pit will fight them, conquer them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will lie on the street of the important city where their Lord was crucified. The spiritual names of that city are Sodom and Egypt. 9 For 3½ days some members of the people, tribes, languages, and nations will look at the witnesses’ dead bodies and will not allow anyone to bury them. 10 Those living on earth will gloat over the witnesses’ death. They will celebrate and send gifts to each other because these two prophets had tormented those living on earth.

11:7–10   When your witnesses finish speaking, the beast from the bottomless pit conquers and kills them. Their bodies lie in the street. Their enemies celebrate their deaths.

11 After 3½ days the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who watched them. 12 The witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven calling to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 At that moment a powerful earthquake struck. One-tenth of the city collapsed, 7,000 people were killed by the earthquake, and the rest were terrified. They gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second catastrophe is over. The third catastrophe will soon be here.

11:11–14   You breath life into your witnesses. Anyone who sees them rise to their feet feels fear.

15 When the seventh angel blew his trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

“The kingdom of the world has become

the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,

and he will rule as king forever and ever.”

16 Then the 24 leaders, who were sitting on their thrones in God’s presence, immediately bowed, worshiped God, 17 and said,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

who is and who was,

because you have taken your great power

and have begun ruling as king.

11:15–17   The world kingdom has become your kingdom and your Messiah’s kingdom. He’ll rule forever and ever. You take your great power and begin to reign!

18 “The nations were angry, but your anger has come.

The time has come for the dead to be judged:

to reward your servants, the prophets,

your holy people,

and those who fear your name,

no matter if they are important or unimportant,

and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

19 God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his promise was seen inside his temple. There was lightning, noise, thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

11:18–19   The time has come to judge the dead. You’ll reward your people, everyone who lives with respect for you.

Two Signs

12

1 A spectacular sign appeared in the sky: There was a woman who was dressed in the sun, who had the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant. She cried out from labor pains and the agony of giving birth.

3 Another sign appeared in the sky: a huge fiery red serpent with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky and threw them down to earth. The serpent stood in front of the woman who was going to give birth so that it could devour her child when it was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a boy, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter. Her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where God had prepared a place for her so that she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

12:1–6   Signs appear in the sky—a pregnant woman and fiery red serpent. The serpent hates the woman and her baby. The boy is snatched to your throne, and the woman flees to the desert.

7 Then a war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels had to fight a war with the serpent. The serpent and its angels fought. 8 But it was not strong enough, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 The huge serpent was thrown down. That ancient snake, named Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to earth. Its angels were thrown down with it.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, power, kingdom of our God,

and the authority of his Messiah have come.

The one accusing our brothers and sisters,

the one accusing them day and night in the presence of our God,

has been thrown out.

12:7–10   Your angels throw Satan and his demons from heaven. The accuser can’t do his thing to your people any more. Your kingdom has come. It brings salvation and power and authority!

11 They won the victory over him because of the blood of the lamb

and the word of their testimony.

They didn’t love their life so much that they refused to give it up.

12 Be glad for this reason, heavens and those who live in them.

How horrible it is for the earth and the sea

because the Devil has come down to them with fierce anger,

knowing that he has little time left.”

12:11–12   The lamb’s blood gives victory! Brothers and sisters laid down their lives rather than stop speaking truth about you.

13 When the serpent saw that it had been thrown down to earth, it persecuted the woman who had given birth to the boy. 14 The woman was given the two wings of the large eagle in order to fly away from the snake to her place in the wilderness, where she could be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time. 15 The snake’s mouth poured out a river of water behind the woman in order to sweep her away. 16 The earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river which had poured out of the serpent’s mouth. 17 The serpent became angry with the woman. So it went away to fight with her other children, the ones who keep God’s commands and hold on to the testimony of Jesus.

18 The serpent stood on the sandy shore of the sea.[5]

12:13–18   You shelter the persecuted woman in the wilderness, so the serpent leaves to fight with children who keep your commands. They hold tight to the truth about you. Am I one of those children?

The Beast from the Sea

13

1 I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns, seven heads, and ten crowns on its horns. There were insulting names on its heads. 2 The beast that I saw was like a leopard. Its feet were like bear’s feet. Its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The serpent gave its power, kingdom, and far-reaching authority to the beast. 3 One of the beast’s heads looked like it had a fatal wound, but its fatal wound was healed.

All the people of the world were amazed and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the serpent because it had given authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast and said, “Who is like the beast? Who can fight a war with it?” 5 The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and insulting things. It was given authority to act for 42 months. 6 It opened its mouth to insult God, to insult his name and his tent—those who are living in heaven. 7 It was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. 8 Everyone living on earth will worship it, everyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life. That book belongs to the lamb who was slaughtered before the creation of the world.

9 If anyone has ears, let him listen:

10 If anyone is taken prisoner, he must go to prison.

If anyone is killed with a sword, with a sword he must be killed.

In this situation God’s holy people need endurance and confidence.

13:1–10   The world’s people obey an amazing beast from the sea. The beast insults you and wars against your people. Everyone whose name isn’t written in the lamb’s book worships him. In this situation I need endurance and confidence.

The Beast from the Earth

11 I saw another beast come from the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb. It talked like a serpent. 12 The second beast uses all the authority of the first beast in its presence. The second beast makes the earth and those living on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 The second beast performs spectacular signs. It even makes fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 It deceives those living on earth with the signs that it is allowed to do in front of the ⌞first⌟ beast. It tells those living on earth to make a statue for the beast who was wounded by a sword and yet lived.

15 The second beast was allowed to put breath into the statue of the ⌞first⌟ beast. Then the statue of the ⌞first⌟ beast could talk and put to death whoever would not worship it. 16 The second beast forces all people—important and unimportant people, rich and poor people, free people and slaves—to be branded on their right hands or on their foreheads. 17 It does this so that no one may buy or sell unless he has the brand, which is the beast’s name or the number of its name.

18 In this situation wisdom is needed. Let the person who has insight figure out the number of the beast, because it is a human number.[6] The beast’s number is 666.

13:11–18   A second beast makes the world worship the first beast. He forces everyone to be branded with the beast’s number. In this situation I need wisdom. The beast is 666.

The New Song on Mount Zion

14

1 I looked, and the lamb was standing on Mount Zion. There were 144,000 people with him who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 Then I heard a sound from heaven like the noise of raging water and the noise of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like the music played by harpists. 3 They were singing a new song in front of the throne, the four living creatures, and the leaders. Only the 144,000 people who had been bought on earth could learn the song.

4 These 144,000 virgins are pure. They follow the lamb wherever he goes. They were bought from among humanity as the first ones offered to God and to the lamb. 5 They’ve never told a lie. They are blameless.

14:1–5   Thousands upon thousands stand with the lamb. They sing a new song in front of your throne. Wherever the lamb goes, they follow.

The Harvest of the Earth

6 I saw another angel flying overhead with the everlasting Good News to spread to those who live on earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 The angel said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the time has come for him to judge. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs.”

8 Another angel, a second one, followed him, and said, “Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has made all the nations drink the wine of her passionate sexual sins.”

14:6–8   An angel spreads the everlasting Good News to every tribe and nation. I’ll fear you and give you glory, because your time to judge has come.

9 Another angel, a third one, followed them, and said in a loud voice, “Whoever worships the beast or its statue, whoever is branded on his forehead or his hand, 10 will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured unmixed into the cup of God’s anger. Then he will be tortured by fiery sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the lamb. 11 The smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast or its statue, or for anyone branded with its name.” 12 In this situation God’s holy people, who obey his commands and keep their faith in Jesus, need endurance.

14:9–12   Those who worship the beast will drink your fury. In the lamb’s presence they’ll feel fiery sulfur forever and ever. In this situation I need faith and endurance.

13 I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: From now on those who die believing in the Lord are blessed.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit. “Let them rest from their hard work. What they have done goes with them.”

14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and on the cloud sat someone who was like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Another angel came out of the temple. He cried out in a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud, “Swing your sickle, and gather the harvest. The time has come to gather it, because the harvest on the earth is overripe.”

16 The one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the harvesting of the earth was completed.

14:14–16   The Son of Man appears seated on a cloud. He wears a gold crown and holds a sharp sickle. He swings his sickle and harvests the earth.

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven. He, too, had a sharp sickle. 18 Yet another angel came from the altar with authority over fire. This angel called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle, and gather the bunches of grapes from the vine of the earth, because those grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth and gathered the grapes from the vine of the earth. He threw them into the winepress of God’s anger. 20 The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city. Blood flowed out of the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 1,600 stadia.[7]

14:17–20   An angel swings a sickle and gathers grapes for the winepress of your anger.

Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

15

1 I saw another sign in heaven. It was spectacular and amazing. There were seven angels with the last seven plagues which are the final expression of God’s anger.

15:1   Another sign appears in heaven—seven angels with seven plagues, your anger’s final expression.

2 Then I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who had won the victory over the beast, its statue, and the number of its name were standing on the glassy sea. They were holding God’s harps 3 and singing the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the lamb. They sang,

“The things you do are spectacular and amazing, Lord God Almighty.

The way you do them is fair and true, King of the Nations.

4 Lord, who won’t fear and praise your name?

You are the only holy one,

and all the nations will come to worship you

because they know about your fair judgments.”

5 After these things I looked, and I saw that the temple of the tent containing the words of God’s promise was open in heaven. 6 The seven angels with the seven plagues came out of the temple wearing clean, shining linen with gold belts around their waists. 7 One of the four living creatures gave seven gold bowls full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever, to the seven angels. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and his power. No one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels came to an end.

15:2–8   Those who defeat the beast sing the lamb’s song. Your acts are spectacular, and everything you do is fair. Why would anyone not fear and praise you?

The Seven Angels Pour Out Their Bowls

16

1 I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Pour the seven bowls of God’s anger over the earth.”

2 The first angel poured his bowl over the earth. Horrible, painful sores appeared on the people who had the brand of the beast and worshiped its statue.

3 The second angel poured his bowl over the sea. The sea turned into blood like the blood of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.

4 The third angel poured his bowl over the rivers and the springs. They turned into blood. 5 Then I heard the angel of the water say,

“You are fair.

You are the one who is and the one who was, the holy one,

because you have judged these things.

6 You have given them blood to drink

because they have poured out

the blood of God’s people and prophets.

This is what they deserve.”

7 Then I heard the altar answer,

“Yes, Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and fair.”

8 The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun. The sun was allowed to burn people with fire. 9 They were severely burned. They cursed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues. They would not change the way they think and act and give him glory.

10 The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast. Its kingdom turned dark. People gnawed on their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pains and their sores. However, they would not stop what they were doing.

12 The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great Euphrates River. The water in the river dried up to make a road for the kings from the east. 13 Then I saw three evil spirits like frogs come out of the mouths of the serpent, the beast, and the false prophet. 14 They are spirits of demons that do miracles. These spirits go to the kings of the whole world and gather them for the war on the frightening day of God Almighty.

16:1–13   Angels pour bowls of your anger over the earth—sores and blood, burning and darkness. But people still won’t quit their sins.

15 “See, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains alert and doesn’t lose his clothes. He will not have to go naked and let others see his shame.”

16 The spirits gathered the kings at the place which is called Armageddon in Hebrew.

16:14–16   Demons gather the world to Armageddon—to a final battle on your frightening day. People who stay alert are blessed!

17 The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air. A loud voice came from the throne in the temple, and said, “It has happened!” 18 There was lightning, noise, thunder, and a powerful earthquake. There has never been such a powerful earthquake since humans have been on earth. 19 The important city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered to give Babylon the Great the cup of wine from his fierce anger. 20 Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be seen. 21 Large, heavy hailstones fell from the sky on people. The people cursed God because the plague of hail was such a terrible plague.

16:17–21   It’s happened! You split the great city and make nations fall. Islands and mountains vanish. Huge hailstones pummel people.

Babylon the Great

17

1 One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of that notorious prostitute who sits on raging waters. 2 The kings of the earth had sex with her, and those living on earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual sins.” 3 Then the angel carried me by his power into the wilderness.

I saw a woman sitting on a bright red beast covered with insulting names. It had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman wore purple clothes, bright red clothes, gold jewelry, gems, and pearls. In her hand she was holding a gold cup filled with detestable and evil things from her sexual sins. 5 A name was written on her forehead. The name was Mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Detestable Things of the Earth. 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people and of those who testify about Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.

7 The angel asked me, “Why are you surprised? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns that carries her.

17:1–7   The Mother of Detestable Things was drunk on the blood of your holy people. What an ugly surprise!

8 “You saw the beast which once was, is no longer, and will come from the bottomless pit and go to its destruction. Those living on earth, whose names were not written in the Book of Life when the world was created, will be surprised when they see the beast because it was, is no longer, and will come again.

9 “In this situation a wise mind is needed. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is sitting. 10 They are also seven kings. Five of them have fallen, one is ruling now, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must remain for a little while. 11 The beast that was and is no longer is the eighth king. It belongs with the seven kings and goes to its destruction.

12 “The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet started to rule. They will receive authority to rule as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 They have one purpose—to give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will go to war against the lamb. The lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him.”

15 The angel also said to me, “The waters you saw, on which the prostitute is sitting, are people, crowds, nations, and languages. 16 The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her abandoned and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her up in a fire. 17 God has made them do what he wants them to do. So they will give their kingdom to the beast until God’s words are carried out. 18 The woman you saw is the important city which dominates the kings of the earth.”

17:8–18   The beast comes again to provoke kings to war against the lamb. The lamb wins, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. His faithful are with him. In this situation I need a wise mind.

Babylon’s Fall

18

1 After these things I saw another angel come from heaven. He had tremendous power, and his glory lit up the earth. 2 He cried out in a powerful voice, “Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every evil spirit, every unclean[8] bird, and every unclean and hated beast. 3 All the nations fell because of the wine of her sexual sins. The kings of the earth had sex with her. Her luxurious wealth has made the merchants of the earth rich.”

4 I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of Babylon, my people, so that you do not participate in her sins and suffer from any of her plagues. 5 Her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. 6 Do to her what she has done. Give her twice as much as she gave. Serve her a drink in her own cup twice as large as the drink she served others. 7 She gave herself glory and luxury. Now give her just as much torture and misery. She says to herself, ‘I’m a queen on a throne, not a widow. I’ll never be miserable.’ 8 For this reason her plagues of death, misery, and starvation will come in a single day. She will be burned up in a fire, because the Lord God, who judges her, is powerful.

18:1–8   Fallen is Babylon the Great! You remember her crimes and punish her with her own punishments. You sentence her to torture and misery and set her aflame.

9 “The kings of the earth who had sex with her and lived in luxury with her will cry and mourn over her when they see the smoke rise from her raging fire. 10 Frightened by her torture, they will stand far away and say,

‘How horrible, how horrible it is for that important city,

the powerful city Babylon!

In one moment judgment has come to it!’

11 “The merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore. 12 No one buys their cargo of gold, silver, gems, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, bright red cloth, all kinds of citron wood, articles made of ivory and very costly wood, bronze, iron, marble, 13 cinnamon, spices, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, slaves (that is, humans).

14 ‘The fruit you craved is gone.

All your luxuries and your splendor have disappeared.

No one will ever find them again.’

15 “Frightened by her torture, the merchants who had become rich by selling these things will stand far away. They will cry and mourn, 16 saying,

‘How horrible, how horrible for that important city

which was wearing fine linen, purple clothes,

bright red clothes, gold jewelry, gems, and pearls.

17 In one moment all this wealth has been destroyed!’

Every ship’s captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made their living from the sea stood far away. 18 When they saw the smoke rise from her raging fire, they repeatedly cried out, ‘Was there ever a city as important as this?’ 19 Then they threw dust on their heads and shouted while crying and mourning,

18:9–19   The kings who love Babylon mourn when smoke rises from her raging fire. Your judgment terrifies the merchants made rich by selling her wares.

‘How horrible, how horrible for that important city.

Everyone who had a ship at sea

grew rich because of that city’s high prices.

In one moment it has been destroyed!’

20 “Gloat over it, heaven, God’s people, apostles, and prophets.

God has condemned it for you.”

21 Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone. He threw it into the sea and said,

“The important city Babylon will be thrown down with the same force.

It will never be found again.

22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters

will never be heard in it again.

A skilled craftsman—regardless of the type of craft—

will never be found in it again.

The sound of a millstone

will never be heard in it again.

23 Light from lamps

will never shine in it again.

Voices of brides and grooms

will never be heard in it again.

Its merchants were the important people of the world,

because all the nations were deceived by its witchcraft.

24 “The blood of prophets, God’s people, and everyone who had been murdered on earth was found in it.”

18:20–24   You condemn Babylon for the sake of your holy people. You put an end to her profits and dark arts. You judge a city drenched in your people’s blood.

The Lamb’s Wedding

19

1 After these things I heard what sounded like the loud noise from a large crowd in heaven, saying,

“Hallelujah!

Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God.

2 His judgments are true and fair.

He has condemned the notorious prostitute

who corrupted the world with her sexual sins.

He has taken revenge on her for the blood of his servants.”

3 A second time they said, “Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.” 4 The 24 leaders and the 4 living creatures bowed and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, “Amen! Hallelujah!” 5 A voice came from the throne. It said, “Praise our God, all who serve and fear him, no matter who you are.”

19:1–5   A shout arises in heaven. Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to you. Your judgments are true, and you fill me with awe. I’ll praise you!

6 I heard what sounded like the noise from a large crowd, like the noise of raging waters, like the noise of loud thunder, saying,

“Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, has become king.

7 Let us rejoice, be happy, and give him glory

because it’s time for the marriage of the lamb.

His bride has made herself ready.

8 She has been given the privilege of wearing

dazzling, pure linen.”

This fine linen represents the things that God’s holy people do that have his approval.

9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the lamb’s wedding banquet.’” He also told me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 I bowed at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Don’t do that! I am your coworker and a coworker of the Christians who hold on to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy!”

19:6–10   The Almighty is King! It’s time for the lamb’s marriage. His bride is ready. She’s dressed in dazzling, pure linen. I’m blessed if I’m invited to the lamb’s wedding banquet.

The Great Banquet of God

11 I saw heaven standing open. There was a white horse, and its rider is named Faithful and True. With integrity he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are flames of fire. On his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him, but only he knows what it is. 13 He wears clothes dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

14 The armies of heaven, wearing pure, white linen, follow him on white horses. 15 A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to defeat the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter and tread the winepress of the fierce anger of God Almighty. 16 On his clothes and his thigh he has a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

19:11–16   The Word of God wages just war. His eyes blaze and his clothes are bloody. He defeats the nations and treads the winepress of your fierce anger. He’s King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

17 I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come! Gather for the great banquet of God. 18 Eat the flesh of kings, generals, warriors, horses and their riders, and all free people and slaves, both important or insignificant people.”

19 I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 The beast and the false prophet who had done miracles for the beast were captured. By these miracles the false prophet had deceived those who had the brand of the beast and worshiped its statue. Both of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rider on the horse killed the rest with the sword that came out of his mouth. All the birds gorged themselves on the flesh of those who had been killed.

19:17–21   Birds feast on the flesh of people who are deceived. The beast and false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of flaming sulfur.

An Angel Overpowers the Devil

20

1 I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit and a large chain in his hand. 2 He overpowered the serpent, that ancient snake, named Devil and Satan. The angel chained up the serpent for 1,000 years. 3 He threw it into the bottomless pit. The angel shut and sealed the pit over the serpent to keep it from deceiving the nations anymore until the 1,000 years were over. After that it must be set free for a little while.

4 I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were allowed to judge. Then I saw the souls of those whose heads had been cut off because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its statue and were not branded on their foreheads or hands. They lived and ruled with Christ for 1,000 years. 5 The rest of the dead did not live until the 1,000 years ended.

This is the first time that people come back to life. 6 Blessed and holy are those who are included the first time that people come back to life. The second death has no power over them. They will continue to be priests of God and Christ. They will rule with him for 1,000 years.

20:1–6   Your angel hurls Satan into the bottomless pit. Your martyrs—all who died for speaking the truth about you—rule for a thousand years.

The Final Judgment

7 When 1,000 years are over, Satan will be freed from his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive Gog and Magog, the nations in the four corners of the earth, and gather them for war. They will be as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. 9 ⌞I saw that⌟ they spread over the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s holy people and the beloved city. Fire came from heaven and burned them up. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were also thrown. They will be tortured day and night forever and ever.

20:7–10   Satan goes loose to deceive the earth. But you burn up the nations gathered to attack your holy people, and you toss Satan into the lake of flaming sulfur forever.

11 I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence, but no place was found for them. 12 I saw the dead, both important and unimportant people, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened, including the Book of Life. The dead were judged on the basis of what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead. Death and hell gave up their dead. People were judged based on what they had done. 14 Death and hell were thrown into the fiery lake. (The fiery lake is the second death.) 15 Those whose names were not found in the Book of Life were thrown into the fiery lake.

20:11–15   The dead rise and stand before you to be judged. You throw any not named in the Book of Life into the fiery lake.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21

1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone. 2 Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, dressed like a bride ready for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won’t be any more death. There won’t be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared.”

21:1–2   There is a new heaven and earth, and a New Jerusalem dressed like a bride for her husband.

21:3–4   Now you live with humans! You’ll make your home with us, your people. You’re our God! You wipe every tear from our eyes. Death and pain no longer exist.

5 The one sitting on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” He said, “Write this: ‘These words are faithful and true.’” 6 He said to me, “It has happened! I am the A and the Z,[9] the beginning and the end. I will give a drink from the fountain filled with the water of life to anyone who is thirsty. It won’t cost anything. 7 Everyone who wins the victory will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8 But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

21:5–8   You make everything new—you whose words are completely true. You offer the water of life to every thirsty human being. Any who refuse to change how they think and act will find themselves in the lake of flaming sulfur.

A New Jerusalem

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came to me and said, “Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.” 10 He carried me by his power away to a large, high mountain. He showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. 11 It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal. 12 It had a large, high wall with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The wall of the city had 12 foundations. The 12 names of the 12 apostles of the lamb were written on them.

15 The angel who was talking to me had a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city was square. It was as wide as it was long. He measured the city with the stick. It was 12,000 stadia[10] long. Its length, width, and height were the same. 17 He measured its wall. According to human measurement, which the angel was using, it was 144 cubits.[11] 18 Its wall was made of gray quartz. The city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the city wall were beautifully decorated with all kinds of gems: The first foundation was gray quartz, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth red quartz, the seventh yellow quartz, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth green quartz, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The 12 gates were 12 pearls. Each gate was made of one pearl. The street of the city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.

21:9–21   The wife of the lamb—your New Jerusalem—shines with glory that can only come from you. Its streets are paved with gold as clear as glass, and the gems of its foundations dazzle the eye.

22 I did not see any temple in it, because the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are its temple. 23 The city doesn’t need any sun or moon to give it light because the glory of God gave it light. The lamb was its lamp. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will be open all day. They will never close because there won’t be any night there. 26 They will bring the glory and wealth of the nations into the holy city. 27 Nothing unclean,[12] no one who does anything detestable, and no liars will ever enter it. Only those whose names are written in the lamb’s Book of Life will enter it.

21:22–27   You and the lamb are your city’s temple and light. All nations walk in your brightness. Nothing unclean can enter your city. Only those named in the lamb’s Book of Life can come in.

22

1 The angel showed me a river filled with the water of life, as clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and the lamb. 2 Between the street of the city and the river there was a tree of life visible from both sides. It produced 12 kinds of fruit. Each month had its own fruit. The leaves of the tree will heal the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him 4 and see his face. His name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings forever and ever.

22:1–5   Your tree of life heals the nations. Your servants worship you and the lamb. They see your face, and your name marks their foreheads.

Jesus Says: I’m Coming Soon

6 He said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets has sent his angel to show his servants the things that must happen soon. 7 I’m coming soon! Blessed is the one who follows the words of the prophecy in this book.”

8 I, John, heard and saw these things. When I had heard and seen them, I bowed to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing me these things. 9 He told me, “Don’t do that! I am your coworker. I work with other Christians, the prophets, and those who follow the words in this book. Worship God!”

22:6–9   You’re coming soon! Your words are trustworthy and true. I’m blessed if I obey the words of this prophecy.

10 Then the angel said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy in this book because the time is near. 11 Let those who don’t have God’s approval go without it, and let filthy people continue to be filthy. Let those who have God’s approval continue to have it, and let holy people continue to be holy.”

22:10–11   I have your approval, and I’ll continue to live in holiness. I’ll urge everyone around me to turn to you.

12 “I’m coming soon! I will bring my reward with me to pay all people based on what they have done. 13 I am the A and the Z,[13] the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexual sinners, murderers, idolaters, and all who lie in what they say and what they do.

22:12–15   You’re coming soon! You’ll reward all people according to what they’ve done. Blessed is everyone who has washed their robes in the lamb’s blood. They can enter your presence.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this testimony to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David. I am the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let those who hear this say, “Come!” Let those who are thirsty come! Let those who want the water of life take it as a gift.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to this, God will strike him with the plagues that are written in this book. 19 If anyone takes away any words from this book of prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book.

22:16–19   I’m thirsty! I want your water of life. I’ll receive it as your gift. I’ll obey the words of your book.

20 The one who is testifying to these things says, “Yes, I’m coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

21 The good will[14] of the Lord Jesus be with all of you. Amen!

22:20–21   You’re coming soon! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Let your kindness be with me!

TOPICAL PRAYER GUIDE

Italics indicate Scriptures that are highlighted in Authentic Prayer sidebars.

Asking

1 Samuel 1:1–20

Authority/Leadership

Exodus 23:20–22

Numbers 27:12–23

2 Chronicles 31:9–21

Psalm 80:17–19

Proverbs 16:12–15; 28:2

Jeremiah 30:18–24

Matthew 17:24–27

Acts 6:1–7; 14:21–28

Romans 13:1–5

1 Thessalonians 5:12–15

1 Timothy 5:17–23

Titus 3:1–2

Hebrews 13:17–19

1 Peter 2:13–17

Blessing

Genesis 5:1–2; 9:1–3; 12:1–5; 22:15–19; 28:13–14; 32:26–30; 39:1–6; 49:22–26

Numbers 6:22–27

Deuteronomy 7:11–16; 28:1–14

1 Chronicles 17:23–27

Psalm 84

Isaiah 17:5–8

Ephesians 1:1–6

Character

Ruth 4:1–12

Psalm 54:1–3

Proverbs 31:10–12; 31:27–30

2 Corinthians 6:3–13

Ephesians 8:5–16

2 Timothy 2:11–13

Church/Body of Christ

Mark 9:14–19

Acts 2:1–4; 8:1–3; 8:4–8; 11:25–30; 12:1–5; 14:1–7; 16:1–10; 16:33–34; 19:1–7

Romans 14:10–13

1 Corinthians 3:3–8; 14:10–19

2 Corinthians 2:1–11; 8:1–6

Galatians 2:1–5

Ephesians 8:1–3

1 Thessalonians 2:10–12; 2:14–20; 3:6–13

1 Timothy 3:14–16

2 Timothy 1:15–18

Titus 1:12–16

James 4:11–17; 5:13–18

Revelation 1:9–16

Comfort

Esther 9:20–32

Job 2:11–13

Psalms 30:10–12; 71:20–21; 119:49–50

Isaiah 12:1–2; 25:6–8; 40:1–5

2 Corinthians 1:3–7; 7:5–7

Philippians 2:1–5

Confession

Leviticus 5:1–17; 26:41–46

Numbers 5:5–10

Nehemiah 1:6–7

Psalm 38:17–18; 51:1–19

Proverbs 28:13–14

Matthew 3:1–6

1 John 1:7–10

Confusion

Habakkuk 1:12–17

Courage

Joshua 1:7–9

Psalms 23:4–5; 27:13–14; 31:23–34

Isaiah 57:15–21

Dedication/Commitment

1 Samuel 7:1–6

1 Chronicles 22:14–19; 28:1–8

2 Chronicles 6:12–42; 17:1–6

Acts 11:19–24

Romans 6:19–23

Deliverance

Genesis 14:1–16

Exodus 6:6–8; 23:14–17

Leviticus 26:41–46

Numbers 9:1–14

Deuteronomy 6:16–25; 8:11–16; 26:5–11

Joshua 4:14–24

1 Samuel 26:21–25

2 Samuel 22:16–20; 22:44–46

2 Kings 13:14–25; 18:28–37

1 Chronicles 9:1–18

2 Chronicles 32:10–19; 35:1–19

Psalms 3:6–7; 12:3–5; 18:15–19; 18:43–45; 25:19–21; 37:37–40; 59:1–3; 71:15; 72:12–14; 82:3–5; 105:24–36; 109:20–24; 119:146–149; 130:5–8; 140:1–2

Isaiah 36:13–22

Jeremiah 30:3–11

Ezekiel 34:11–16

Zephaniah 3:18–20

Matthew 1:18–23; 13:36–43

Mark 10:23–34

Luke 1:67–75

John 3:16–21

Acts 2:40–41; 3:17–26

Romans 7:21–25

Colossians 1:13–14

2 Timothy 4:9–22

2 Peter 2:9

1 John 2:7–11

Desperation

2 Kings 19:14–19

Despondence

1 Kings 19:1–18

Encouragement

1 Kings 1:1–10

2 Chronicles 29:15–19

Isaiah 57:15–21

Zephaniah 3:14–17

Luke 23:50–56

Acts 11:19–24; 15:30–35; 20:1–3

Romans 15:4–6

2 Corinthians 13:11–13

Colossians 2:1–5

Titus 1:9–11

Hebrews 3:12–15; 10:24–25

Faith/Faithfulness

Genesis 30:1–21

Joshua 1:7–9

Judges 2:6–10; 8:22–35

1 Samuel 23:15–18

1 Kings 18:16–24

2 Kings 20:1–11

1 Chronicles 9:19–34; 26:20–28

Ezra 10:18–44

Psalms 51:9–12; 71:22–24; 89:1; 98:1–3; 115:1; 119:29–31; 119:88–91

Daniel 6:1–10

Habakkuk 2:2–4

Matthew 1:24–25; 13:18–23; 17:19–21; 25:19–30

Mark 9:20–29

Luke 8:11–14; 22:31–38

John 20:30–31

Acts 6:1–7; 17:30–34

Romans 1:8–17; 10:9–11; 10:17–21

1 Corinthians 10:13; 15:12–19

2 Corinthians 5:6–10

Galatians 3:10–14; 5:1–12

Ephesians 2:8–9

Philippians 3:7–11

1 Thessalonians 1:1–5; 5:4–8

2 Timothy 1:3–5; 4:6–8

Philemon 4–7

Hebrews 6:9–15; 11:1–3; 11:6–7; 12:2–3

James 2:14–17; 2:18–26

Jude 17–21

Revelation 2:18–29

Family/Marriage

Exodus 20:12–17

Deuteronomy 4:9–10

Joshua 24:14–15

1 Kings 3:1–3

Psalms 78:6–10; 128:3–6; 144:12

Proverbs 1:8–9; 5:15–19; 6:20–23; 17:6; 18:22; 19:14; 22:6

Ecclesiastes 9:9

Matthew 19:13–15

Luke 9:46–48

1 Corinthians 7:10–28

Ephesians 5:21–33; 6:1–4

Colossians 3:18–4:1

1 Thessalonians 4:3–8

1 Timothy 3:4–7; 5:3–10

Hebrews 13:4

1 Peter 3:1–7

Finance/Stewardship

Genesis 41:46–57; 42:1–5

Exodus 16:31–36

1 Kings 17:8–16

2 Kings 7:1–2; 19:29–37

1 Chronicles 26:20–28

Psalms 37:21–22; 37:25–27; 62:10; 111:3–5

Proverbs 11:25; 14:4; 16:16; 22:9; 23:4–5; 31:13–18

Ecclesiastes 5:18–13

Isaiah 37:30–38

Matthew 6:25–31; 25:14–18

Luke 16:9–13

Romans 15:25–29

1 Corinthians 16:1–4

2 Corinthians 9:11–15

Philippians 4:10–14

1 Timothy 6:6–10

Forgiveness/Mercy

Genesis 18:27–33

Exodus 21:12–32; 34:6–7

Numbers 14:17–19

Deuteronomy 9:23–29

1 Kings 8:33–36

2 Kings 13:1–9

1 Chronicles 16:34–43

2 Chronicles 6:12–17; 6:24–27; 30:6–9

Ezra 10:18–44

Esther 7:5–10

Psalms 5:7–8; 13:3–6; 19:12–14; 25:6–7; 51:1–2; 90:14–15; 106:1–2; 118:1–4; 143:7–8

Isaiah 55:6–7

Jeremiah 14:10–13

Daniel 9:1–19; 9:15–23

Micah 7:18–20

Matthew 5:6–7; 6:9–15; 9:27–31; 18:21–22; 18:23–25; 26:69–75

Mark 1:4–8; 10:46–52

Luke 9:37–43; 11:37–44; 14:15–24; 15:11–19; 15:25–32; 23:33–38

Acts 7:51–60; 28:25–29

1 Corinthians 12:12–21

1 John 1:7–10

Jude 22–25

Friendship

Exodus 17:8–16; 33:7–11

Deuteronomy 13:6–19; 23:1–14

Ruth 1:8–18

1 Samuel 18:1–5; 20:14–23; 20:24–32

2 Samuel 23:8–39

2 Kings 8:25–29

Job 2:11–13; 13:7–16; 26:1–4

Psalms 55:12–14; 119:22–24; 119:63

Proverbs 2:16–19; 16:27–29; 17:17; 22:24; 27:6; 27:9–10; 27:14; 27:17

Mark 14:32–42; 14:43–52

Luke 11:5–13

Romans 3:23–31; 4:1–8

2 Timothy 1:15–18

God’s Will/Future

2 Samuel 8:1–18

2 Chronicles 2:11–18

Ezra 6:6–15; 7:11–20

Psalms 5:11–12; 16:5–6; 27:11–12; 31:14–16; 143:9–12

Isaiah 33:5–6

Jeremiah 29:10–14; 42:19–22

Daniel 2:24–30

Matthew 12:46–50

Mark 3:31–35

Acts 9:17–19; 15:36–41; 20:22–24

Philippians 1:9–11

Colossians 1:9–12

1 Timothy 5:11–16

2 Timothy 1:1–2

James 4:11–17

Grace

2 Corinthians 12:6–10

Grief

Nehemiah 1:4–11

Growth

Ephesians 3:14–21

Health/Healing

Exodus 15:26–27

2 Kings 5:1–8

Psalms 30:1–3; 41:1–3; 92:12–15; 103:3–6

Proverbs 3:7–10; 4:20–22; 18:14

Isaiah 38:1–20; 38:15–20; 53:4–7; 57:15–21; 61:1–3

Jeremiah 17:9–14; 33:6–9

Hosea 6:1–2

Malachi 4:1–6

Matthew 8:14–18; 9:9–13; 9:18–26; 15:29–31

Luke 8:32–39; 13:31–35

John 5:1–15; 9:16–34

Acts 4:5–12; 28:25–29

1 Peter 2:21–25

Revelation 22:1–5

Holiness

Exodus 15:9–13

Leviticus 8:1–13

Psalms 33:21–22; 89:35–39; 93:5; 97:10; 108:7

Ezekiel 10:1–22; 22:6–12; 36:13–23

1 Corinthians 1:26–31

2 Corinthians 1:12–14

1 Timothy 1:8–11; 2:11–15

Revelation 4:6–8

Hope

Job 14:14–22

Psalms 13:3–6; 37:37–40; 62:5–7; 65:4–5; 71:5–6; 119:43–45; 143:3–6

Proverbs 10:25–28; 11:5–10; 13:12; 24:13–14

Isaiah 20:1–6; 40:28–31

Jeremiah 23:16–22; 29:10–14; 52:31–34

Lamentations 3:21–30

Ezekiel 37:11–14

Matthew 1:11–17; 11:2–6; 12:15–21

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 5:4–8

James 5:7–11

Intercession

Isaiah 62:6–7

Justice

Leviticus 24:10–23

Deuteronomy 16:18–22

1 Kings 8:31–32; 10:9–13

2 Chronicles 6:22–23; 9:8–12

Esther 7:5–10

Psalms 17:1–3; 72:1–2; 72:4–5

Proverbs 28:5

Ezekiel 45:9–12

Micah 3:8–12

Zechariah 7:8–10

Kingdom

1 Chronicles 14:1–7

2 Chronicles 1:8–17

Matthew 13:31–34

Luke 11:1–4; 17:20–21

Listening

Exodus 3:1–17

Love for Others

Leviticus 19:15–18; 19:19–37

Deuteronomy 14:22–29

2 Kings 6:18–23

Psalms 109:1–5; 109:9–12

Proverbs 25:21

Zechariah 7:8–10

Matthew 5:38–48; 22:33–40

Mark 12:28–34

Luke 6:27–36

John 13:33–38

Romans 13:8–10; 15:1–3

Galatians 5:13–15

Colossians 3:12–17

1 Thessalonians 3:6–13

James 1:26–27; 2:8–13

1 Peter 4:7–11

1 John 3:11–15; 4:9–13

2 John 12–13

Mission

2 Thessalonians 3:1–3

Obedience

Genesis 22:15–19

Exodus 20:1–2

Leviticus 19:19–37; 25:18–34

Numbers 22:1–20

Deuteronomy 5:1–5; 11:8–15; 27:9–26

1 Kings 6:11–13

2 Kings 12:17–21; 23:1–3

2 Chronicles 25:1–13

Esther 4:10–17

Psalms 32:8–9; 40:6–8; 50:23; 95:8–11; 119:2–5; 119:133–134

Proverbs 19:16

Isaiah 38:15–20

Jeremiah 7:27–34; 36:27–32; 42:19–22

Matthew 7:24–29

Mark 10:17–22

Luke 11:27–32

Acts 10:1–8

2 Corinthians 7:11–16

1 John 2:3–6; 5:1–5

Revelation 22:16–19

Oppression

Mark 9:14–29

Patience/Waiting

Exodus 34:6–7

Numbers 22:21–31

1 Samuel 28:3–7

Nehemiah 9:16–21

Psalm 5:1–3

Proverbs 14:29; 19:11; 25:15

Isaiah 8:11–17

Ezekiel 11:22–25

Nahum 1:1–3

1 Corinthians 13:4–7

Ephesians 4:1–10

Colossians 1:9–12

1 Timothy 1:15–17

Hebrews 6:9–15

James 5:7–11

2 Peter 3:8–9

Peace

Exodus 33:12–17

Leviticus 17:10–15; 26:1–13

Numbers 6:22–27

Deuteronomy 20:5–15

Judges 3:7–11

2 Kings 22:14–20

2 Chronicles 14:1–7; 15:14–15; 29:20–30

Psalms 23:1–3; 29:10–11; 55:16–19; 72:6–7; 85:10–11; 94:13–14; 120:5–7; 147:13–14

Proverbs 17:1; 21:9

Isaiah 9:6–7; 26:1–6; 48:18–22; 54:7–10

Jeremiah 46:27–28

Ezekiel 45:9–12

Malachi 2:1–9

Luke 2:13–14; 7:40–50

John 14:27–31; 16:29–33

Romans 5:1–5

1 Corinthians 14:26–33

Galatians 1:1–5; 6:11–18

Ephesians 2:16–22

Philippians 4:4–7

1 Thessalonians 5:12–15

2 Thessalonians 3:14–18

1 Timothy 2:1–3

2 Timothy 1:1–2

Hebrews 2:17–18

James 3:13–18

1 Peter 3:8–12

Praise/Worship

Genesis 2:10–17; 4:3–7; 4:25–26; 13:14–18; 21:22–34; 24:22–27; 29:31

Exodus 15:1–2; 20:3–6; 20:7–11; 20:22–26; 31:12–18

Leviticus 6:8–13; 6:14–23; 6:24–30; 23:1–44

Deuteronomy 12:8–14

Judges 7:9–15

1 Samuel 7:7–17

2 Samuel 22:3–6

1 Kings 8:62–66

1 Chronicles 16:23–25; 16:34–43; 25:1–31

2 Chronicles 7:4–10; 20:18–20; 20:21–30; 29:20–30; 30:21–27; 31:9–21

Ezra 3:1–6; 3:10–13

Nehemiah 9:6–8

Psalms 8:1–2; 9:1–2; 9:11–14; 22:3–5; 22:23–24; 22:27–31; 29:1–2; 30:4; 40:3; 48:1–3; 48:9–10; 50:7–9; 63:2–3; 65:1–2; 66:1–4; 75:9–10; 92:1–3; 95:6–7; 96:1–3; 98:7–9; 103:19–22; 104:1–5; 146:1–2; 148:1–3; 148:7–9; 148:10–12; 148:13–14; 149:3–4; 150:1–2; 150:3–6

Isaiah 29:13–14; 58:13–14; 66:17–24

Luke 1:46–50; 2:25–32; 19:28–37; 19:38–44

John 4:16–24

Romans 12:1

Ephesians 1:7–12; 5:17–20

1 Timothy 1:15–17

Revelation 4:6–11; 5:11–14; 19:1–5; 22:1–5

Protection

Genesis 4:13–16; 7:21–24; 31:4–16; 39:13–22

Exodus 12:12–13

Deuteronomy 32:7–12

Joshua 20:1–9

1 Samuel 26:12–20

2 Kings 4:38–41

Esther 3:1–11

Psalms 3:3–4; 4:2; 16:1–2; 17:7–9; 20:1–3; 25:19–21; 32:7; 40:11–12; 61:3–4; 91:3–4; 91:14–16; 119:113–117; 121:5–8; 125:1–2; 127:1; 140:3–5; 144:12–15

Proverbs 10:29; 30:15–16

Isaiah 26:1–6; 65:20–25

Matthew 14:1–12

Luke 22:1–6

John 17:15–19

Acts 8:1–3; 17:5–10

2 Timothy 3:6–9

Jude 4

Redemption

2 Kings 13:1–9

Job 33:23–33

Isaiah 35:8–10; 43:3–4; 51:9–11

1 Corinthians 1:26–31

Remembering

Numbers 14:10–25

Repentance

Numbers 12:8–16

Psalm 51

Ezekiel 33:10–20

Matthew 3:1–6; 4:12–17

Mark 1:14–20

Acts 3:17–26

Restoration

Psalm 85:1–4

Jeremiah 16:14–21

Haggai 2:10–19

Luke 8:29–32; 22:31–38

Romans 5:9–11

Salvation

Luke 1:76–78; 3:1–6

Acts 2:14–21; 4:5–12; 16:16–18

Romans 10:9–13

1 Corinthians 15:1–8

Hebrews 5:7–10

1 Peter 1:8–9

Silence

Job 23:1–12

Simplicity

Matthew 6:5–15

Strength

Genesis 37:19–30

Exodus 15:1–2

2 Samuel 10:7–19; 22:1–2

1 Kings 2:1–4; 14:25–31

2 Kings 6:13–17

1 Chronicles 19:6–19

2 Chronicles 1:1–6; 16:1–9

Psalms 18:1–2; 27:13–14; 31:1–2; 46:10–11; 60:10–12; 68:33–35; 86:14–16; 144:12–15

Proverbs 17:22; 24:5; 31:13–118

Isaiah 30:15–18; 31:1–3

Matthew 10:38–39

Luke 21:12–19

Acts 16:1–10

Romans 16:25–27

1 Corinthians 1:4–9

Ephesians 6:10–17

Philippians 1:27–30

Colossians 1:9–12

1 Thessalonians 3:1–5

Philemon 8–11

Surrender

Luke 22:39–46

Acts 16:35–40

Titus 2:11–15

Thanks

Exodus 30:11–16

Deuteronomy 8:7–10

2 Samuel 22:50–51

2 Kings 4:18–37

1 Chronicles 16:8–13

2 Chronicles 20:21–30

Nehemiah 9:1–5

Psalms 18:49–50; 26:7–8; 33:1–3; 43:3–4; 68:19–20; 71:22–24; 72:18–19; 75:1; 97:10; 100:4–5; 106:1–2; 106:43–48; 107:1–6; 108:7; 109:30–31; 118:1–4; 136:1–26; 138:1–2; 145:8–10; 147:7–9

Isaiah 51:1–3

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Titus 1:1–4

Philemon 1–3

1 Peter 1:10–12

Trust

Genesis 12:1–5; 39:1–6; 41:46–57

Numbers 18:8–32; 20:6–13

Deuteronomy 1:32–46

1 Samuel 26:1–11

2 Kings 19:5–13

1 Chronicles 9:19–34

2 Chronicles 13:13–22

Psalms 4:5–7; 21:5–7; 23:1–6; 27:9–10; 31:3–6; 31:14–16; 34:11; 37:16–18; 40:4; 52:6–7; 55:12–14; 55:22–23; 56:3–4; 56:9–11; 62:8; 78:6–10; 78:21–28; 91:1–2; 109:7–8; 115:9–13; 118:8–9

Proverbs 3:5–6; 11:25; 16:20; 25:21; 28:13–14; 29:25

Isaiah 30:15–18

Jeremiah 17:5–8; 42:7–18

Matthew 8:5–18

Mark 9:42–49

Luke 18:15–17

2 Corinthians 1:8–11

Hebrews 4:5–11

Unity

John 17:20–23

Acts 5:12–16

1 Corinthians 1:10–16

Ephesians 4:1–10

Wisdom/Guidance

Genesis 32:13–21

Leviticus 10:8–15

Deuteronomy 1:9–18

Judges 6:11–40

1 Samuel 23:1–14

1 Kings 3:16–28; 4:29–34

1 Chronicles 22:6–13

2 Chronicles 1:8–17

Job 11:7–12

Psalms 43:3–4; 48:11–14; 51:6–8; 73:21–24; 107:43; 111:10; 119:141–143

Proverbs 1:1–4; 2:1–5; 3:5–6; 3:17–18; 4:20–22; 5:1–2; 8:1–5; 11:30; 12:8; 13:15–16; 14:33; 15:21; 16:16; 18:4; 22:17–19; 23:23; 24:27; 30:24–28; 31:25–26

Ecclesiastes 7:14–18; 9:13–18; 10:2

Isaiah 58:9–12

Daniel 2:20–23

Matthew 7:15–20

Mark 12:13–17

Luke 12:54–59

John 16:12–15

Acts 6:1–7; 16:35–40; 19:8–10

1 Corinthians 2:6–9

Ephesians 1:7–12

James 1:5–8; 3:13–18

1 Peter 4:1–6

Revelation 13:11–18; 17:8–18

Work

Genesis 31:25–42; 39:1–6; 47:13–26

Exodus 5:12–19; 23:10–13; 35:10–35

1 Chronicles 24:1–31

2 Chronicles 5:1; 19:1–7; 26:1–14

Nehemiah 4:4–6

Psalm 111:3–5

Proverbs 6:6–7; 12:11; 22:29

Ecclesiastes 3:16–22; 9:10–12

Jeremiah 1:7–10

Matthew 25:14–18

Luke 12:41–48

Ephesians 6:5–9

Colossians 3:18–4:1

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12

2 Thessalonians 3:6–10

PRAYERS IN SCRIPTURE

Old Testament

Genesis

4:13–14

15:2–3

17:18

18:23–25, 27–32

24:12–14

28:20–22

32:9–12

32:26–29

Exodus

4:13

5:22–23

15:1–18

32:11–13

32:31–32

33:12–13, 15–16, 18

Numbers

6:24–26

10:35–36

11:10–15

11:21–22

12:13

14:13–19

16:15

21:7

27:16–17

Deuteronomy

3:24–25

9:26–29

Joshua

7:7–9

10:12

Judges

1:1

6:13, 15, 17–18, 22

6:36–39

10:10, 15

11:30–31

13:8, 11–12, 15, 17

15:18

16:28

20:23

20:28

21:3

1 Samuel

1:11

2:1–10

14:37

23:2

23:10–12

30:8

2 Samuel

2:1

5:19

7:18–29

24:10

1 Kings

3:6–9

8:23–53

17:20–21

18:36–37

19:4

2 Kings

6:17–18

13:4

19:15–19

20:3

1 Chronicles

4:10

29:10–19

2 Chronicles

14:11

20:6–12

Ezra

7:27–28

9:6–15

Nehemiah

1:5–11

4:1–6

6:14

9:5–38

13:14, 22, 29

Job

1:20–22

7:17–21

9:25–10:22

14:13–22

23:3–5

40:3–5

42:1–6

Psalms

3

4:1, 6–8

5

6:1–5

7:1–10

8

9

10:12–18

12

13

16:1

17

22

25:1–7, 11, 15–22

26

27:7–12

28:1–4, 9

30

31

33:22

35:1–10, 17–28

36:5–12

38

39:4–13

40:5–17

41:4–13

43

44

51

54

55:1–9, 23

56:1–3, 8–9, 13

57:1, 5, 9–11

58:6–9

59

60:5, 10–11

61

63:1–8

64:1–6

65

66:3–4, 20

68:19, 28, 35

69:1–29

70

71

72:1–2, 18–19

74

75:1

77:11–20

79

80

82:8

83

85:4–7

86

88

89

90

94:1–3

102:1–2, 24–28

106:4–5, 47

108

109

118:28

119

120:2

123

125:4

126:4

130:1–4

132:1–10

138

139

140

141

142:5–7

143

144:5–7

145:1–13

Isaiah

6:5

37:16–20

38:3

Jeremiah

1:6

4:10

10:23–25

12:1–4

14:7–9, 20–22

15:15–18

17:13–18

18:19–23

20:7–12

32:17–25

Lamentations

1:20–22

2:20–22

3:55–66

5

Ezekiel

4:14

9:8

11:13

Daniel

2:20–23

9:4–19

12:8

Amos

7:2, 5

Jonah

1:14

2:2–9

4:2–3

Habakkuk

1:1–5

1:12–17

3:2–19

New Testament

Matthew

6:9–13

8:2

8:6–9

8:21

8:25

8:29–31

9:18

9:27

11:25–26

14:28

14:30

15:22–27

17:15–16

20:21

20:30–33

26:39, 42

27:46

Mark

1:23–24

7:34

Luke

2:29–32

11:2–4

16:24–31

17:13

18:13

23:34

23:42

23:46

John

4:49

6:34

11:41–42

12:27–28

17

Acts

1:24–25

3:6

4:24–30

7:59–60

9:5–6

Ephesians

3:16–21

Philippians

1:9–11

Colossians

1:9–11

3 John

2

Revelation

4:11

5:12, 13

6:10

7:10, 12

19:1–6

22:20

Contributors

Editor

Kevin Johnson

Project Development

David Horton

Brian Vos

Project Management

Natasha Sperling

Art Direction

Cheryl Van Andel

Cover Design

Gayle Raymer

Interior Design

Brian Brunsting

Proofreading

Peachtree Editorial and Proofreading Services, Peachtree City, GA

NOTES

Old Testament

Genesis Notes

[1] 2:7 There is a play on words here between Hebrew ʾadam (man) and ʾadamah (earth).

[2] 2:12 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[3] 3:24 Or “cherubim.”

[4] 4:25 There is a play on words here between Hebrew sheth (Seth) and shath (given).

[5] 6:14 Or “teakwood.”

[6] 6:16 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[7] 6:18 Or “covenant.”

[8] 7:2 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God. “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[9] 8:20 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[10] 9:9 Or “covenant.”

[11] 9:19 The second part of verse 18 (in Hebrew) has been placed just after verse 19 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[12] 9:27 There is a play on words here between the Hebrew yapht (May God expand) and yepheth (Japheth).

[13] 10:4 1 Chronicles 1:7, Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek; Masoretic Text “the Dodanim.”

[14] 11:2 Or “from the east.”

[15] 11:3 Or “bitumen.”

[16] 12:6 English equivalent difficult.

[17] 14:14 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[18] 14:19 Or “Possessor.”

[19] 15:1 Or “I am your shield, your very great reward.”

[20] 15:2 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[21] 15:18 Or “covenant.”

[22] 16:12 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[23] 17:2 Or “covenant.”

[24] 21:30 Or “a witness.”

[25] 21:31 Beersheba can mean either “Well of the Seven” or “Well of the Oath.”

[26] 22:24 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[27] 23:18 The last part of verse 17 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 18 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[28] 24:30 The last part of verse 29 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 30 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[29] 24:63 Greek; Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[30] 25:6 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[31] 25:22 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[32] 25:30 There is a play on words here between Hebrew ʾadom (red stuff) and Edom.

[33] 27:11 Or “but I am a smooth man.”

[34] 27:40 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[35] 27:40 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[36] 27:42 English equivalent difficult.

[37] 29:17 Or “had no sparkle in her eyes.”

[38] 29:23 The first part of verse 25 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 23 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[39] 30:8 Or “I have struggled the struggles of God.”

[40] 30:14 Mandrakes were considered a source of fertility for women.

[41] 30:37 English equivalent difficult.

[42] 31:13 Greek; Masoretic Text “the God at Bethel.”

[43] 31:42 Or “Protection of Isaac.”

[44] 31:47 Galeed is the Hebrew equivalent of the Aramaic words Jegar Sahadutha.

[45] 31:54 Genesis 31:55 in English Bibles is Genesis 32:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[46] 32:1 Genesis 32:1–32 in English Bibles is Genesis 32:2–33 in the Hebrew Bible.

[47] 32:31 Another name for Peniel.

[48] 35:2 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[49] 35:22 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[50] 36:12 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[51] 36:24 Latin; Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[52] 38:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts “son, whom he named”; other Hebrew manuscripts, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Targum “son, whom she named.”

[53] 40:1 A cupbearer was a trusted royal official who ensured that the king’s drink was not poisoned.

[54] 41:9 A cupbearer was a trusted royal official who ensured that the king’s drink was not poisoned.

[55] 41:9 English equivalent difficult.

[56] 41:40 Greek; Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[57] 41:43 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[58] 41:56 Greek, Syriac; Masoretic Text “all that was in them.”

[59] 47:16 Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek, Targum; Masoretic Text “I’ll give to you.”

[60] 49:5 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[61] 49:16 There is a play on words here between Hebrew Dan and yadin (he will hand down decisions).

[62] 50:10 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

Exodus Notes

[1] 2:24 Or “covenant.”

[2] 3:6 Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek, Acts 7:32; Masoretic Text “ancestor.”

[3] 6:4 Or “covenant.”

[4] 8:1 Exodus 8:1–32 in English Bibles is Exodus 7:26–8:28 in the Hebrew Bible.

[5] 15:25 Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, Targum, Latin; Masoretic Text “taught.”

[6] 17:16 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[7] 19:5 Or “terms of my covenant.”

[8] 21:8 Or “master so that he does not choose her as a wife.”

[9] 22:1 Exodus 22:1–31 in English Bibles is Exodus 21:37–22:30 in the Hebrew Bible.

[10] 22:5 “he must make . . . grazing” Greek, Samaritan Pentateuch, Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text omits these words.

[11] 22:29 Hebrew meaning of “your best wine” uncertain.

[12] 24:7 Or “Covenant.”

[13] 25:5 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[14] 25:7 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[15] 25:18 Or “cherubim.”

[16] 26:1 Or “a cherubim.”

[17] 26:14 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[18] 26:24 Or “These are to be separated at the bottom but held together at the top by a single ring.”

[19] 28:30 The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine God’s answer to questions.

[20] 28:32 Hebrew meaning of “a leather collar” uncertain.

[21] 30:13 Hebrew adds, “There are 20 gerahs to the standard shekel.”

[22] 30:23 Or “liquid.”

[23] 31:10 Greek, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[24] 31:16 Or “covenant.”

[25] 32:4 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[26] 32:18 Hebrew meaning of “wild celebration” uncertain.

[27] 32:29 Or “God gave you a blessing today at the cost of your own sons and brothers.”

[28] 34:10 Or “covenant.”

[29] 34:19 Greek, Latin; Hebrew meaning of the Masoretic Text uncertain.

[30] 35:7 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[31] 35:9 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[32] 35:19 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[33] 35:22 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[34] 36:8 Or “A cherubim.”

[35] 36:19 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[36] 36:29 Or “These were separated at the bottom but held together at the top by a single ring.”

[37] 37:7 Or “cherubim.”

[38] 39:23 Hebrew meaning of “a leather collar” uncertain.

[39] 39:34 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

Leviticus Notes

[1] 2:13 Or “covenant.”

[2] 4:12 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[3] 5:2 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[4] 6:1 Leviticus 6:1–30 in English Bibles is Leviticus 5:20–6:23 in the Hebrew Bible.

[5] 8:7 Ephod is a technical term for part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[6] 8:8 The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine God’s answer to questions.

[7] 10:10 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God. “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[8] 14:30 Greek, Syriac; Masoretic Text repeats “whichever he can afford.”

[9] 16:8 Unknown Hebrew term.

[10] 20:25 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God. “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[11] 24:8 Or “covenant.”

[12] 24:11 Part of verse 11 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 10 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[13] 26:5 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[14] 26:9 Or “covenant.”

[15] 27:25 Hebrew adds “There are 20 gerahs to the standard shekel.”

Numbers Notes

[1] 4:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[2] 4:47 Verse 48 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 46 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[3] 5:2 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[4] 5:18 In this verse and the following verses there is a play on words between the Hebrew words hammarîm (bitter) and hame ʿaraîm (that can bring a curse).

[5] 5:21 Or “make you have miscarriages and become sterile.”

[6] 6:7 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[7] 6:9 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[8] 7:89 Or “cherubim.”

[9] 8:6 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[10] 9:6 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[11] 9:13 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[12] 12:7 Or “He is in charge of my entire household.”

[13] 14:12 Or “I’ll take away the land I promised them.”

[14] 14:22 Part of verse 23 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 22 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[15] 14:37 Part of verse 37 (in Hebrew) has been placed at the end of verse 36 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[16] 14:45 Or “and defeated them, chasing them all the way to Hormah.”

[17] 15:20 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[18] 16:1 The beginning of verse 2 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 1 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[19] 16:35 Numbers 16:36–50 in English Bibles is Numbers 17:1–15 in the Hebrew Bible.

[20] 17:1 Numbers 17:1–13 in English Bibles is Numbers 17:16–28 in the Hebrew Bible.

[21] 17:2 There is a play on words here. Hebrew matteh can mean “staff” or “tribe.”

[22] 18:11 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[23] 18:27 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[24] 19:2 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[25] 19:7 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[26] 19:9 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[27] 21:9 There is a play on words here between Hebrew nachash (snake) and nechosheth (bronze).

[28] 21:28 Masoretic Text; Greek “it consumed Arnon’s worship sites.”

[29] 22:32 Greek; Hebrew meaning of “because . . . evil” uncertain.

[30] 23:14 Or “to a lookout point.”

[31] 24:3 Greek, Targum; Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[32] 24:17 Or “all the descendants of Seth.”

[33] 24:21–22 There is a play on words here among Hebrew qeyniy (Kenite), qinneka (your nest), and qayin (Cain).

[34] 26:8 Ancient scribal tradition; Masoretic Text “sons.”

[35] 26:17 Genesis 46:16, Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek, Syriac; Masoretic Text “Arod.”

[36] 26:23 Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek, Syriac, Latin; Masoretic Text “Puvah.”

[37] 26:39 A few Hebrew manuscripts, Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek, Syriac, Targum, Latin; Masoretic Text “Shephupham.”

[38] 27:21 The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine God’s answer to questions.

[39] 29:39 Numbers 29:40 in English Bibles is Numbers 30:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[40] 30:1 Numbers 30:1–16 in English Bibles is Numbers 30:2–17 in the Hebrew Bible.

[41] 31:16 Targum; Hebrew meaning of “caused” uncertain.

[42] 31:23 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God.

[43] 32:17 Greek, Latin; Masoretic Text “ready ⌞to march ⌟ ahead quickly.”

[44] 33:8 Most Hebrew manuscripts, Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, Latin; some Hebrew manuscripts “moved from in front of Hahiroth.”

[45] 33:45 Or “Iye Abarim.”

[46] 34:24 This sentence has been moved from verse 23 in order to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[47] 35:34 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

Deuteronomy Notes

[1] 1:4 One Hebrew manuscript, Greek, Syriac, Latin; Masoretic Text omits “and.”

[2] 4:23 Or “covenant.”

[3] 4:25 The first part of verse 26 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 25 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[4] 5:2 Or “covenant.”

[5] 5:20 Deuteronomy 5:21–33 in English Bibles is Deuteronomy 5:17–30 in some Hebrew Bibles.

[6] 7:9 Or “covenant.”

[7] 8:18 Or “covenant.”

[8] 12:15 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God. “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[9] 12:31 Deuteronomy 12:32 in English Bibles is Deuteronomy 13:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[10] 13:1 Deuteronomy 13:1–18 in English Bibles is Deuteronomy 13:2–19 in the Hebrew Bible.

[11] 13:2 The first part of verse 3 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 2 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[12] 14:5 A specific species of deer.

[13] 14:7 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[14] 15:8 This sentence has been moved from verse 7 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[15] 15:14 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[16] 15:22 “Clean” refers to anything that is presentable to God. “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[17] 16:13 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[18] 17:2 Or “covenant.”

[19] 18:1 Or “They are to eat the sacrifices offered by fire to the LORD or any of the other sacrifices to the LORD.”

[20] 18:8 Hebrew meaning of “what he gets from selling his family’s goods” uncertain.

[21] 21:3 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[22] 21:14 Hebrew meaning of “mistreat her as if she were a slave” uncertain.

[23] 21:23 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[24] 22:29 Deuteronomy 22:30 in English Bibles is Deuteronomy 23:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[25] 23:1 Deuteronomy 23:1–25 in English Bibles is Deuteronomy 23:2–26 in the Hebrew Bible.

[26] 23:9 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[27] 24:4 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[28] 24:7 Hebrew meaning of “treated . . . like a slave” uncertain.

[29] 25:4 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[30] 26:14 “Unclean” refers to anything that is not presentable to God.

[31] 28:22 Or “uncontrolled fever.”

[32] 28:22 Latin; Masoretic Text “warfare.”

[33] 28:22 Or “blight.”

[34] 28:27 Or “boils.”

[35] 28:27 Or “scurvy.”

[36] 28:27 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[37] 28:29 Or “darkness, but you won’t be able to find your way.”

[38] 28:68 Or “in sorrow.”

[39] 29:1 Deuteronomy 29:1–29 in English Bibles is Deuteronomy 28:69–29:28 in the Hebrew Bible.

[40] 29:1 Or “covenant.”

[41] 29:10 Syriac, Greek, Targum; Masoretic Text “your heads, your tribes.”

[42] 29:19 Hebrew meaning of “After all . . . dry” uncertain.

[43] 30:20 Or “He is your life, and he will let you live for a long time.”

[44] 31:7 Or “And you will distribute the land to them.”

[45] 31:16 Or “covenant.”

[46] 31:20 Or “prosperous.”

[47] 32:15 “Jeshurun” is another name for Israel.

[48] 32:26 Hebrew meaning of “cut them in pieces” uncertain.

[49] 32:43 Dead Sea Scrolls, Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek, Latin; Masoretic Text “his land ⌞and⌟ his people.”

[50] 32:44 “Hoshea” is another name for Joshua.

[51] 33:2 Hebrew meaning of “a raging fire” uncertain.

[52] 33:3 Hebrew meaning of “They bow . . . your instructions” uncertain.

[53] 33:5 “Jeshurun” is another name for Israel.

[54] 33:8 The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine God’s answer to questions.

[55] 33:9 Or “covenant.”

[56] 33:21 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

Joshua Notes

[1] 3:15 This sentence has been moved from verse 16 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[2] 5:3 Or “Hill of Foreskins.”

[3] 5:9 There is a play on words here between Hebrew gilgal (rolled) and gallothi (roll away/remove).

[4] 7:11 Or “covenant.”

[5] 8:28 Ai means “ruins.”

[6] 9:2 Part of verse 1 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 2 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[7] 12:18 Or “Lasharon.”

[8] 12:23 Or “Galilee.”

[9] 15:59 Greek adds, “They also gave them 11 cities with their villages: Tekoa, Ephrathah (now called Bethlehem), Peor, Etam, Dulon, Tatam, Sores, Carem, Gallim, Bether, and Manach.”

[10] 17:11 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[11] 19:28 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Joshua 21:30, 1 Chronicles 6:59; other Hebrew manuscripts “Ebron.”

[12] 22:19 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[13] 23:16 Or “covenant.”

Judges Notes

[1] 2:1 Or “covenant.”

[2] 2:16 The judges served as God-appointed political/religious leaders of Israel.

[3] 3:22 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[4] 3:23 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[5] 5:11 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[6] 6:37 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[7] 8:27 Or “ephod,” a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[8] 8:31 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[9] 9:29 Greek; Masoretic Text “So he said to Abimelech.”

[10] 13:4 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[11] 17:5 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[12] 19:1 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[13] 20:4 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[14] 20:9 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[15] 20:10 Or “10 out of every battalion, 100 out of every regiment, and 1,000 out of every company.”

Ruth Notes

[1] 3:2 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

1 Samuel Notes

[1] 1:18 English equivalent difficult.

[2] 1:24 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, Latin, Syriac; Masoretic Text “three bulls.” (See verse 25.)

[3] 2:10 Or “Anointed One.”

[4] 2:18 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[5] 2:33 Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek; Masoretic Text “you.”

[6] 3:3 According to Exodus 27:21, each night the priests were to light a lamp in the tent of meeting which was to burn from dusk to dawn.

[7] 3:13 Ancient scribal tradition, Greek, and Latin; Masoretic Text “cursing themselves.” At times some scribes would alter the text when they thought it was disrespectful to God.

[8] 3:21 This sentence is the first part of 1 Samuel 4:1 in the Hebrew Bible and most English Bibles.

[9] 4:2 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[10] 4:4 Or “cherubim.”

[11] 4:12 Tearing one’s clothes and throwing dirt on one’s head was a sign of mourning.

[12] 4:18 Eli served as a God-appointed political/religious leader of Israel like the judges in the book of Judges.

[13] 5:4 Greek; Masoretic Text “Only Dagon was left.”

[14] 5:8 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek read “The citizens of Gath said, ‘Let the ark of God be brought to us.’”

[15] 5:9 Dead Sea Scrolls add “to Gath.”

[16] 6:18 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[17] 6:19 “70 people” is found in a few Hebrew manuscripts and the writings of the ancient Jewish historian Josephus. Masoretic Text and Greek read “50,070 people.”

[18] 8:16 Greek; Masoretic Text “best young men.”

[19] 9:24 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[20] 9:24 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[21] 9:25 Greek; Masoretic Text reads “. . . for the city, and he spoke with Saul on the roof, and they got up early.”

[22] 10:1 “to be ruler of his people . . . has anointed you” Greek; Masoretic Text omits these words.

[23] 11:1 Dead Sea Scrolls and the ancient Jewish historian Josephus add this first part of verse 1 between chapters 10 and 11 (usually denoted as verse 10:27b).

[24] 13:1 The text of 1 Samuel 13:1 is problematic in all traditions. Some late Greek manuscripts state Saul was 30 years old when he became king. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus and Acts 13:21 state that Saul ruled for 40 years.

[25] 13:15 “Samuel . . . from Gilgal” Greek; Masoretic Text omits these words.

[26] 13:21 A pim was a measure of weight.

[27] 13:21 Hebrew meaning of “one-tenth . . . a mattock” uncertain.

[28] 14:3 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[29] 14:18 Greek; Masoretic Text problematic: “Bring the ark of God because the ark of God that day and the sons of Israel.”

[30] 14:19 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[31] 14:25 Or “The entire land came into the woods.”

[32] 14:41 “Why didn’t you . . . your people Israel” Greek, Latin; Masoretic Text omits these words.

[33] 15:32 Or “Agag came to him in shackles.”

[34] 15:32 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[35] 16:7 Greek; Masoretic Text “Not that which humans see.”

[36] 17:4 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek “seven feet tall.”

[37] 17:12 Greek; Masoretic Text “he came a leader among men.”

[38] 17:25 Hebrew meaning of “elevate the social status of his family” uncertain.

[39] 18:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[40] 20:16 Greek; Masoretic Text omits “name.”

[41] 20:16 Ancient scribal tradition; Masoretic Text “punish David’s enemies.” At times some scribes would alter the text when they thought it was disrespectful.

[42] 20:19 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[43] 20:26 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[44] 20:30 English equivalent difficult.

[45] 20:41 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[46] 20:42 1 Samuel 20:42b in English Bibles is 1 Samuel 21:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[47] 21:1 1 Samuel 21:1–15 in English Bibles is 1 Samuel 21:2–16 in the Hebrew Bible.

[48] 21:2 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek; Masoretic Text “I’ve informed.”

[49] 21:9 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[50] 22:6 Greek; Masoretic Text “at Ramah.”

[51] 22:18 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[52] 22:22 Greek; Masoretic Text “I turned.”

[53] 23:1 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[54] 23:6 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[55] 23:13 Masoretic Text; Greek “four hundred.”

[56] 23:15 Or “David saw that.”

[57] 23:16 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek; Masoretic Text “in God.”

[58] 23:28 1 Samuel 23:29 in English Bibles is 1 Samuel 24:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[59] 24:1 1 Samuel 24:1–22 in English Bibles is 1 Samuel 24:2–23 in the Hebrew Bible.

[60] 24:7 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[61] 25:22 Greek; Masoretic Text “To David’s enemies.”

[62] 25:22 Hebrew uses a coarse term for “men” here and at verse 34.

[63] 25:37 English equivalent difficult.

[64] 27:8 Greek; Masoretic Text “lived in the country for a long time.”

[65] 27:10 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek; Masoretic Text “Did you raid today?”

[66] 28:6 The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine God’s answer to questions.

[67] 28:23 Greek; Masoretic Text “the woman broke through.”

[68] 29:10 “and go . . . approve of you” Greek; Masoretic Text omits these words.

[69] 30:7 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

2 Samuel Notes

[1] 1:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts, Greek “Amalek.”

[2] 1:9 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[3] 1:18 Unknown musical term.

[4] 1:21 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[5] 2:8 Masoretic Text; 1 Chronicles 8:33, 9:39, Greek “Ishbaal.”

[6] 2:9 Or “the Ashurites.”

[7] 2:21 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[8] 3:7 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[9] 3:8 English equivalent difficult.

[10] 3:29 Spinning yarn and thread was normally done only by women and therefore was something only the weakest of men would do.

[11] 4:11 The last part of verse 9 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 11 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[12] 5:8 Or “temple.”

[13] 5:9 The exact place referred to as “the Millo” is unknown.

[14] 5:10 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, 1 Chronicles 11:9 omit “God.”

[15] 5:13 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[16] 6:2 Or “Baal in Judah” or “the citizens of Judah”; Dead Sea Scrolls and 1 Chronicles 13:6 “Baalah in Kiriath Jearim.”

[17] 6:2 Or “cherubim.”

[18] 6:5 Or “with all their might.” See 1 Chronicles 13:8.

[19] 6:5 A type of rattle used as a musical instrument.

[20] 6:6 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[21] 6:14 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[22] 7:7 1 Chronicles 17:6; Masoretic Text “tribes.”

[23] 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Latin, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts “in your presence.”

[24] 7:23 Or “its name.”

[25] 7:23 Greek and 1 Chronicles 17:21; Masoretic Text “Your land.”

[26] 8:1 Or “of Metheg Ammah.”

[27] 8:7 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, 1 Chronicles 18:7, Syriac, Targum “Hadadezer’s servants carried.”

[28] 8:13 A few Hebrew manuscripts, 1 Chronicles 18:12, Greek, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts “Arameans.”

[29] 8:18 One Hebrew manuscript, Syriac, Targum, Latin; all other Hebrew manuscripts “Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.”

[30] 11:21 Or “Jerubbaal’s”; see Judges 9:1.

[31] 11:22 Greek adds, “And David was angry with Joab. ‘Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know you would be shot at from the wall? Who killed Abimelech, Jerubbaal’s son? Didn’t a woman throw a millstone on him from the wall? Why did you go so close to the wall?’”

[32] 13:21 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, Latin add this sentence.

[33] 13:23 The time when sheep were sheared was also a time of rejoicing and feasting.

[34] 13:25 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text “press,” also in verse 27.

[35] 14:2 A cosmetic treatment of the skin.

[36] 14:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac, Targum, Latin; some Hebrew manuscripts “said.”

[37] 14:30 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, and Latin add this sentence.

[38] 15:16 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[39] 15:25 Or “his.”

[40] 15:27 A seer is a prophet.

[41] 16:21 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[42] 17:3 “as a bride . . . only one man” Greek; Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[43] 17:19 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[44] 17:25 Greek, 1 Chronicles 2:17; Masoretic Text “the Israelite.”

[45] 17:25 Or “Ishmael’s descendant Ithra, who slept with Abigail.”

[46] 17:28 Greek, Latin, Syriac; Masoretic Text adds “and roasted grain.”

[47] 18:9 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, Latin, Syriac; Masoretic Text “he was put.”

[48] 18:12 Two Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac, Targum, Latin; meaning of other Hebrew manuscripts uncertain.

[49] 18:32 2 Samuel 18:33 in English Bibles is 2 Samuel 19:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[50] 19:1 2 Samuel 19:1–43 in English Bibles is 2 Samuel 19:2–44 in the Hebrew Bible.

[51] 19:5 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[52] 19:42 Greek; Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[53] 20:3 Hebrew “concubines/wives”; a concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[54] 20:6 Hebrew meaning of this phrase uncertain.

[55] 20:11 Greek, Latin; Masoretic Text “him.”

[56] 21:8 1 Samuel 18:19, two Hebrew manuscripts, some Greek manuscripts, Syriac, Targum; other Hebrew and Greek manuscripts “Mical.”

[57] 21:11 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[58] 22:11 Or “cherubim.”

[59] 22:33 Dead Sea Scrolls, Psalm 18:33, Greek, Syriac, Latin; Masoretic Text “my refuge is strength.”

[60] 22:46 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[61] 22:51 Or “to his descendants.”

[62] 23:1 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek; Masoretic Text “who was raised up high.”

[63] 23:5 Or “covenant.”

[64] 23:7 Or “The fire.”

[65] 23:8 1 Chronicles 11:11; Greek “drew his sword”; Hebrew meaning of Masoretic Text uncertain.

[66] 23:9 1 Chronicles 11:13; Masoretic Text “when [the Philistines] challenged.”

[67] 24:11 A seer is a prophet.

[68] 24:16 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[69] 24:22 A thresher is a device used to separate grain from its husks. A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

1 Kings Notes

[1] 1:5 Adonijah’s mother was Haggith; his father was David. He was David’s oldest living son.

[2] 1:5 “very handsome . . . Absalom.” These words are the last part of verse 6 (in Hebrew). They have been placed at the beginning of verse 5 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[3] 1:50 Holding on to the horns of the altar was an appeal for mercy.

[4] 3:10 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek; other Hebrew manuscripts “Lord.”

[5] 4:19 “There was . . . territory” Masoretic Text; Greek “There was also one governor in the territory of Judah.”

[6] 4:20 1 Kings 4:21–34 in English Bibles is 1 Kings 5:1–14 in the Hebrew Bible.

[7] 4:26 Or “12,000 cavalry horses.”

[8] 5:1 1 Kings 5:1–18 in English Bibles is 1 Kings 5:15–32 in the Hebrew Bible.

[9] 6:8 Greek, Targum; Masoretic Text “second story.”

[10] 6:9 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[11] 6:23 Or “cherubim.”

[12] 7:3 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[13] 7:7 Latin, Syriac; Masoretic Text “floor to floor.”

[14] 7:18 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts “pomegranates.”

[15] 7:29 Or “cherubim.”

[16] 8:6 Or “cherubim.”

[17] 8:23 Or “covenant.”

[18] 8:41 The first sentence of verse 42 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 41 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[19] 8:65 Greek; Masoretic Text adds “. . . and seven [more] days, fourteen days [total].”

[20] 9:15 The exact place referred to as “the Millo” is unknown.

[21] 9:20 “because the Israelites. . . .” This clause from verse 21 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 20 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[22] 10:5 A cupbearer was a trusted royal official who ensured that the king’s drink was not poisoned.

[23] 11:3 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[24] 11:11 Or “covenant.”

[25] 11:27 The exact place referred to as “the Millo” is unknown.

[26] 12:2 2 Chronicles 10:2, Greek, Latin; Masoretic Text “remained in Egypt.”

[27] 12:10 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[28] 14:3 Or “cakes.”

[29] 14:10 Hebrew uses a coarse term for “male” here.

[30] 14:14 Hebrew meaning of these two sentences uncertain.

[31] 15:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts “Jeroboam.”

[32] 16:11 Hebrew uses a coarse term for “male” here.

[33] 17:18 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[34] 19:10 Or “covenant.”

[35] 19:21 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[36] 20:27 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[37] 21:21 Hebrew uses a coarse term for “male” here.

[38] 22:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Targum “The LORD.”

[39] 22:10 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[40] 22:44 1 Kings 22:44b–53 in English Bibles is 1 Kings 22:45–54 in the Hebrew Bible.

2 Kings Notes

[1] 1:17 Greek; Masoretic Text “. . . succeeded him in Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram’s second year as king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son.”

[2] 3:1 In the Masoretic Text this king of Israel is also called Jehoram, a longer form of Joram.

[3] 3:11 Or “He used to pour water on Elijah’s hands.”

[4] 5:10 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[5] 6:25 Or “pigeon.”

[6] 6:27 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[7] 8:16 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Joram, a shorter form of Jehoram.

[8] 9:8 Hebrew uses a coarse term for “male” here.

[9] 11:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[10] 11:20 2 Kings 11:21 in English Bibles is 2 Kings 12:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[11] 11:21 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Jehoash, a longer form of Joash.

[12] 12:1 2 Kings 12:1–21 in English Bibles is 2 Kings 12:2–22 in the Hebrew Bible.

[13] 13:1 In the Masoretic Text this king of Israel is also called Joahaz, a shorter form of Jehoahaz.

[14] 13:9 In the Masoretic Text this king of Israel is also called Joash, a shorter form of Jehoash.

[15] 13:23 Or “covenant.”

[16] 14:28 Syriac; Masoretic Text “for Judah in Israel.”

[17] 15:1 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Uzziah.

[18] 16:6 Masoretic Text “Aram.” (The Hebrew words for “Aram” and “Edom” are nearly identical.)

[19] 17:13 A seer is a prophet.

[20] 17:15 Or “covenant.”

[21] 18:12 Or “covenant.”

[22] 19:15 Or “cherubim.”

[23] 19:17 Greek; Masoretic Text “nations and their country.”

[24] 19:23 Isaiah 37:24; Masoretic Text “kings.”

[25] 22:13 Masoretic Text adds “about us.”

[26] 23:2 Or “Covenant.”

[27] 23:8 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[28] 23:33 Or “to keep him from ruling.”

[29] 25:3 Jeremiah 39:2; 52:6; Masoretic Text omits “fourth.”

1 Chronicles Notes

[1] 1:32 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[2] 1:36 Genesis 36:12, Greek; Masoretic Text “Kenaz, and Timnath, and Amalek.”

[3] 2:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts, 1 Kings 5:11, Greek, Syriac, Targum, Egyptian “Darda.”

[4] 2:46 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[5] 3:9 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[6] 3:21 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “and Jeshiah, the sons of Rephaiah.”

[7] 3:21 Greek, Latin; Masoretic Text “the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.”

[8] 4:13 Greek; Masoretic Text omits “and Meonothai.”

[9] 6:1 1 Chronicles 6:1–81 in English Bibles is 1 Chronicles 5:27–6:66 in the Hebrew Bible.

[10] 6:78 The last part of verse 79 has been moved to verse 78 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[11] 7:14 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[12] 7:15 Or “sister’s.”

[13] 8:14 Greek; Masoretic Text “Ahio.”

[14] 8:29 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, Targum, Latin, 1 Chronicles 9:35; Masoretic Text omits “Jeiel.”

[15] 9:22 A seer is a prophet.

[16] 11:8 The exact place referred to as “the Millo” is unknown.

[17] 11:11 2 Samuel 23:8, Greek; Masoretic Text “thirty.”

[18] 12:4 1 Chronicles 12:4b–40 in English Bibles is 1 Chronicles 12:5–41 in the Hebrew Bible.

[19] 12:33 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[20] 13:2 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[21] 13:6 Or “cherubim.”

[22] 13:9 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[23] 15:18 Greek; Masoretic Text adds “Ben,” or “son.”

[24] 15:20 Unknown musical term.

[25] 15:21 Unknown musical term.

[26] 15:27 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothing. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[27] 16:15 Or “covenant.”

[28] 17:17 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[29] 18:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, 2 Samuel 8:17, Greek, Syriac, Latin, Arabic “Ahimelech.”

[30] 20:3 One Hebrew manuscript, 2 Samuel 12:31; other Hebrew manuscripts “saws.”

[31] 20:4 Or “a descendant of Hushah.”

[32] 21:9 A seer is a prophet.

[33] 21:15 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[34] 21:23 Threshers are devices used to separate grain from its husks.

[35] 23:10 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Greek, Latin “Ziza” (see verse 11).

[36] 23:28 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[37] 24:23 Greek, 1 Chronicles 23:19; Masoretic Text lacks “for Hebron’s descendants.”

[38] 25:5 A seer is a prophet.

[39] 26:18 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[40] 26:28 A seer is a prophet.

[41] 27:25 The last part of verse 32 has been moved to the beginning of verse 25 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[42] 28:18 Or “cherubim.”

[43] 29:10 Or “May you be praised forever and ever, LORD God of our ancestor Israel.”

[44] 29:29 A seer is a prophet.

2 Chronicles Notes

[1] 2:1 2 Chronicles 2:1–18 in English Bibles is 2 Chronicles 1:18–2:17 in the Hebrew Bible.

[2] 3:1 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[3] 3:7 Or “cherubim.”

[4] 4:14 1 Kings 7:43, Greek; Masoretic Text “he made stands, and he made basins. . . .”

[5] 5:7 Or “cherubim.”

[6] 5:9 A few Hebrew manuscripts, 1 Kings 8:8, Greek; other Hebrew manuscripts “The poles extended so long from the ark that their ends could be seen by anyone standing in front of the inner room.”

[7] 5:12 The first part of verse 11 (in Hebrew) has been placed just before verse 13 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[8] 6:14 Or “covenant.”

[9] 8:7 “because the Israelites. . . .” This clause has been moved from verse 8 (in Hebrew) to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[10] 9:4 A cupbearer was a trusted royal official who ensured that the king’s drink was not poisoned.

[11] 9:29 A seer is a prophet.

[12] 10:10 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[13] 11:21 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[14] 12:15 A seer is a prophet.

[15] 13:5 Or “covenant.”

[16] 13:11 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[17] 14:1 2 Chronicles 14:1–15 in English Bibles is 2 Chronicles 13:23–14:14 in the Hebrew Bible.

[18] 16:7 A seer is a prophet.

[19] 18:9 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[20] 18:14 1 Kings 22:15; Masoretic Text “Micah.”

[21] 19:2 A seer is a prophet.

[22] 20:1 Greek; Masoretic Text “and some of the Ammonites.”

[23] 20:2 One Hebrew manuscript, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “Aram.”

[24] 20:9 Greek; Masoretic Text “judgment.”

[25] 20:25 Latin; Masoretic Text “corpses.”

[26] 21:7 Or “covenant.”

[27] 21:17 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Jehoahaz, an alternate form of Ahaziah.

[28] 22:2 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Jehoahaz, an alternate form of Ahaziah.

[29] 22:5 In the Masoretic Text this king of Israel is also called Jehoram, a longer form of Joram.

[30] 22:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, 2 Kings 8:29, Greek, Syriac, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “Azariah.”

[31] 23:18 A few Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts “Levitical priests.”

[32] 23:19 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[33] 24:1 In the Masoretic text this king of Judah is also called Jehoash, a longer form of Joash.

[34] 25:11 Seir is another name for Edom.

[35] 25:17 In the Masoretic Text this king of Israel is also called Joash, a shorter form of Jehoash.

[36] 29:6 Or “the place where the LORD lives.”

[37] 29:15 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[38] 29:25 A seer is a prophet.

[39] 30:17 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[40] 32:5 The exact place referred to as “the Millo” is unknown.

[41] 33:18 Seers are prophets.

[42] 34:3 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[43] 34:6 Hebrew meaning of “he removed all their temples” uncertain.

[44] 34:30 Or “Covenant.”

[45] 35:5 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[46] 35:15 A seer is a prophet.

[47] 36:14 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

Ezra Notes

[1] 1:8 Or “for Sheshbazzar, the leader of Judah.”

[2] 1:9 Hebrew meaning of this word uncertain.

[3] 1:9 Hebrew meaning of this word uncertain.

[4] 2:63 The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine God’s answer to questions.

[5] 4:2 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, Syriac, Egyptian; Masoretic Text “We have not sacrificed.”

[6] 6:11 Hebrew meaning of this word uncertain.

[7] 6:20 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[8] 8:5 Greek; Masoretic Text omits “of Zattu.”

[9] 8:10 Greek; Masoretic Text omits “of Bani.”

[10] 10:44 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

Nehemiah Notes

[1] 1:5 Or “covenant.”

[2] 1:11 A cupbearer was a trusted official who ensured that the king’s drink was not poisoned.

[3] 3:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac, Latin, Egyptian “Zaccai’s son.”

[4] 4:1 Nehemiah 4:1–23 in English Bibles is Nehemiah 3:33–4:17 in the Hebrew Bible.

[5] 4:12 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[6] 7:65 The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine God’s answer to questions.

[7] 7:68 Some Hebrew manuscripts omit “They had . . . mules.” In those manuscripts verses 69–73 are numbered as 68–72.

[8] 9:8 Or “covenant.”

[9] 9:37 Nehemiah 9:38 in English Bibles is Nehemiah 10:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[10] 10:1 Nehemiah 10:1–39 in the English Bible is Nehemiah 10:2–40 in the Hebrew Bible.

[11] 13:29 Or “covenant.”

Esther Notes

[1] 1:14 The first part of verse 13 (in Hebrew) has been placed just before verse 15 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[2] 1:22 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[3] 2:6 Masoretic Text “Jeconiah,” an alternate form of Jehoiakin.

[4] 2:14 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

Job Notes

[1] 3:8 Or “those who curse the sea.”

[2] 3:8 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[3] 5:5 Hebrew meaning of the last two lines uncertain.

[4] 6:6 Hebrew meaning of “white of an egg” uncertain.

[5] 6:7 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[6] 6:16 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[7] 6:21 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[8] 7:15 Or “bones.”

[9] 7:19 English equivalent of this verse difficult.

[10] 8:6 English equivalent of this line difficult.

[11] 9:13 Rahab is the name of a demonic creature who opposes God.

[12] 9:30 Or “with water made from snow.”

[13] 9:33–34 Or “If there were a mediator between us to put his hand on both of us, he would remove his rod from me, and no longer terrify me.”

[14] 9:35 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[15] 10:8 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[16] 10:16 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[17] 11:6 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[18] 11:20 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[19] 12:6 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[20] 12:12 Or “Wisdom is with the elderly, and understanding with those who have lived a long time.”

[21] 13:12 Or “proverbs of ashes.”

[22] 13:12 Or “are just answers of clay.”

[23] 13:15 Or “If God would kill me, I would still have hope.”

[24] 14:4 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God. “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[25] 14:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[26] 15:23 Or “He wanders around as if he were food for vultures.”

[27] 15:24 The Hebrew text divides verses 23 and 24 at this point.

[28] 15:34 Or “those who take bribes.”

[29] 16:13 Or “bile.”

[30] 16:20 Or “my friends mock me.”

[31] 16:22 Verse 22 has been placed before verse 21 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[32] 17:4 English equivalent difficult.

[33] 19:24 The order of the lines has been reversed because the English equivalent is difficult.

[34] 20:7 Or “he will be dead forever.”

[35] 22:6 Clothes were often used as security deposits for loans in biblical times.

[36] 22:14 English equivalent difficult.

[37] 22:29 Or “you will say, ‘It’s conceit.’ But he will save the humble person.”

[38] 23:14 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[39] 24:24 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[40] 26:7 Or “the north.”

[41] 26:9 Or “the face of the moon.”

[42] 28:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[43] 28:11 Or “dam up.”

[44] 28:13 Or “how valuable it is.”

[45] 28:17 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[46] 29:24 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[47] 30:3 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[48] 30:4 Or “they use the roots of the broom plant for warmth.”

[49] 30:12 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[50] 30:17 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[51] 32:3 Masoretic Text “Job.” At times some scribes would alter the text when they thought it was disrespectful to God.

[52] 33:17 Or “and cover a person’s pride.”

[53] 33:26 Or “restores them to his righteousness.”

[54] 35:15 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[55] 36:21 Hebrew meaning of verses 17–21 uncertain. The first two words of verse 18 (in Hebrew) were added to the end of verse 17 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[56] 37:7 Or “He seals up every person’s hand.”

[57] 37:9 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[58] 38:36 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[59] 39:12 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[60] 39:13 Or “Do its wings compare well with the wings and feathers of the stork?”

[61] 40:15 The Hebrew word Behemoth means “beast, animal.”

[62] 40:24 Or “catch it with a trap.”

[63] 41:1 Job 41:1–34 in English Bibles is Job 40:25–41:26 in the Hebrew Bible.

[64] 41:1 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[65] 41:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts “it.”

[66] 41:30 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[67] 42:11 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[68] 42:16 Or “grandchildren, four generations.”

Psalms Notes

[1] 1:3 Or “and its leaves do not wither, and whatever it produces thrives.”

[2] 2:2 Or “anointed one.”

[3] 6:1 Unknown musical term.

[4] 7:1 Unknown musical term.

[5] 7:4 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[6] 7:6 Greek; Masoretic Text “Wake up to me.”

[7] 8:1 Unknown musical term.

[8] 8:1 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[9] 9:1 Or “almuth labben”; unknown musical term.

[10] 9:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, and Latin treat Psalms 9 and 10 as one psalm.

[11] 12:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[12] 14:1 Psalm 14 is virtually identical in wording to Psalm 53.

[13] 16:1 Unknown musical term.

[14] 16:3 English equivalent of this verse difficult.

[15] 17:10 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[16] 18:1 Psalm 18 is virtually identical in wording to 2 Samuel 22.

[17] 18:10 Or “cherubim.”

[18] 18:50 Or “to his descendants.”

[19] 21:12 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[20] 22:1 Unknown musical term.

[21] 24:4 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[22] 24:6 A few Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac; Masoretic Text “your face, Jacob.”

[23] 25:1 Psalm 25 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[24] 25:10 Or “covenant.”

[25] 27:8 Hebrew meaning uncertain; Greek “My heart said to you, ‘I have sought your face. O LORD, I will seek your face.’”

[26] 28:8 Or “anointed one.”

[27] 29:9 Hebrew meaning of “splits the oaks” uncertain.

[28] 30:12 Or “glory.”

[29] 32:1 Unknown musical term.

[30] 34:1 Psalm 34 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[31] 34:5 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[32] 37:1 Psalm 37 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[33] 38:1 Hebrew meaning of “to be kept in mind” uncertain.

[34] 40:6 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[35] 40:13 Verses 13–17 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 70.

[36] 42:1 Unknown musical term.

[37] 42:7 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[38] 44:2 Or “and you sent them away.”

[39] 44:17 Or “covenant.”

[40] 45:1 Unknown musical term.

[41] 46:1 Unknown musical term.

[42] 49:11 Greek, Syriac, Targum; Masoretic Text “their insides.”

[43] 50:16 Or “covenant.”

[44] 51:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[45] 51:7 Branches from the hyssop plant were used in purification rites.

[46] 51:7 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[47] 53:1 Psalm 53 is virtually identical in wording to Psalm 14.

[48] 53:1 Unknown musical term.

[49] 53:5 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[50] 54:3 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[51] 55:11 Or “its marketplace.”

[52] 56:1 Unknown musical term.

[53] 57:1 Unknown musical term.

[54] 57:6 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[55] 57:7 Verses 7–11 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 108:1–5.

[56] 57:8 Or “my glory.”

[57] 58:7 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[58] 58:9 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[59] 60:1 Unknown musical term.

[60] 60:5 Verses 5–12 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 108:6–13.

[61] 68:4 Or “Lift a song to him who rides upon the clouds.”

[62] 68:23 Greek, Targum, Syriac; Masoretic Text “shatter.”

[63] 68:30 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[64] 70:1 Psalm 70 is virtually identical in wording to Psalm 40:13–17.

[65] 72:1 According to ancient Jewish and Christian tradition, “king” and “king’s son” refer to the Messiah.

[66] 73:7 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[67] 73:10 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[68] 74:1 Unknown musical term.

[69] 74:3 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[70] 74:5 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[71] 74:11 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[72] 74:14 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[73] 74:20 Or “covenant.”

[74] 76:4 Greek, Syriac; Masoretic Text “mountains of prey.”

[75] 76:10 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[76] 77:10 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[77] 77:18 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[78] 78:10 Or “covenant.”

[79] 80:1 Or “cherubim.”

[80] 81:1 Unknown musical term.

[81] 83:13 Or “whirling dust.”

[82] 83:15 Verse 15 (in Hebrew) has been placed in front of verse 14 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

[83] 84:5 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[84] 84:6 Or “As they pass through the valley of Weeping.”

[85] 84:6 Or “pools.”

[86] 88:1 Unknown musical term.

[87] 88:15 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[88] 88:18 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[89] 89:3 Or “covenant.”

[90] 89:10 Rahab is the name of a demonic creature who opposes God.

[91] 89:17 Hebrew meaning of “give us victory” uncertain.

[92] 89:19 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[93] 89:24 Hebrew meaning of “he will be victorious” uncertain.

[94] 89:50 Many Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts “Lord.”

[95] 89:50 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts “your servants.”

[96] 89:51 Or “anointed one.”

[97] 90:10 Hebrew meaning of “the best of them” uncertain.

[98] 90:11 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[99] 94:15 English equivalent of this verse difficult.

[100] 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript, Greek, Syriac, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “Light is planted for righteous people.”

[101] 99:1 Or “cherubim.”

[102] 100:3 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Targum, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “and not we ourselves.”

[103] 103:18 Or “covenant.”

[104] 104:26 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[105] 105:8 Or “covenant.”

[106] 106:20 Or “their glory.”

[107] 106:45 Or “covenant.”

[108] 108:1 Verses 1–5 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 57:7–11; verses 6–13 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 60:5–12.

[109] 108:1 Or “my glory.”

[110] 109:4 Or “but I am a man of prayer.”

[111] 109:15 Or “them.”

[112] 110:3 Or “You have the dew of your youth.”

[113] 111:1 Psalm 111 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[114] 111:5 Or “covenant.”

[115] 112:1 Psalm 112 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[116] 115:4 Verses 4–8 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 135:15–18.

[117] 119:1 Psalm 119 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[118] 119:118 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[119] 119:126 One Hebrew manuscript, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “It is time to act for the LORD.”

[120] 122:3 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[121] 132:12 Or “covenant.”

[122] 135:15 Verses 15–18 are virtually identical in wording to Psalm 115:4–8.

[123] 138:3 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[124] 141:7 Hebrew meaning of verses 5–7 uncertain.

[125] 142:1 Unknown musical term.

[126] 144:14 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[127] 145:1 Psalm 145 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[128] 148:14 Or “given his people strength.”

Proverbs Notes

[1] 2:22 Or “will be swept away.”

[2] 3:6 Or “straight.”

[3] 3:9 Or “harvest.”

[4] 5:19 Or “graceful goat.”

[5] 6:33 Or “wounds.”

[6] 7:22 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[7] 8:5 English equivalent difficult.

[8] 8:30 Hebrew meaning of “master craftsman” uncertain.

[9] 9:13 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[10] 11:25 Or “and whoever gives someone a drink will also get a drink.”

[11] 12:6 Or “mouths.”

[12] 12:12 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[13] 12:27 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[14] 12:27 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[15] 13:15 Masoretic Text; Greek “is their disaster.”

[16] 14:16 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[17] 14:33 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[18] 17:8 Or “who receives it.”

[19] 18:24 Or “A person has friends as companions.”

[20] 19:23 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[21] 20:4 Fall was the start of the planting season in Palestine.

[22] 20:20 Or “snuffed out as darkness approaches.”

[23] 21:8 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[24] 25:27 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[25] 27:6 Hebrew meaning of “are too much to bear” uncertain.

[26] 27:9 Or “is sincere advice.”

[27] 27:16 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[28] 27:22 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[29] 29:6 Hebrew meaning of “runs away from it” uncertain.

[30] 29:21 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[31] 30:3 Or “holy ones.”

[32] 30:12 Blunt Hebrew term but not considered vulgar.

[33] 30:31 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[34] 30:31 Hebrew meaning of “at the head of his army” uncertain.

[35] 30:33 In Hebrew there is a play on words in verse 33 where the same verb is used to express all three actions.

Ecclesiastes Notes

[1] 2:8 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[2] 3:5 Hebrew meaning of these two lines uncertain.

[3] 3:15 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[4] 4:16 Or “everyone who lived before these [kings].”

[5] 5:1 Ecclesiastes 5:1–20 in English Bibles is Ecclesiastes 4:17–5:19 in the Hebrew Bible.

[6] 5:9 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[7] 7:29 English equivalent difficult.

[8] 8:8 Or “breath.”

[9] 9:2 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God. “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

Song of Songs Notes

[1] 1:13 Myrrh is a fragrant resin used for perfumes, embalming, and deodorizers.

[2] 3:7 A sedan chair is a portable chair for carrying a person of high position.

[3] 3:9 English equivalent of this phrase difficult.

[4] 4:4 Hebrew meaning of “beautifully-designed” uncertain.

[5] 4:9 “Brother” and “sister” are terms of endearment between lovers in ancient Near Eastern literature.

[6] 4:14 Calamus is a sweet-smelling spice.

[7] 4:14 Or “incense-producing trees.”

[8] 6:4 Or “awe-inspiring as an army with flags.”

[9] 6:8 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[10] 6:12 Song of Songs 6:13 in English Bibles is Song of Songs 7:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[11] 7:1 Song of Songs 7:1–13 in English Bibles is Song of Songs 7:2–14 in the Hebrew Bible.

[12] 7:9 Or “flowing gently over lips and teeth.”

[13] 7:11 Or “in the villages.”

[14] 7:13 Mandrakes were thought to stimulate sexual desire.

[15] 8:10 In Hebrew there is a play on the words “peace” (shalom), “Solomon” (Shlomo), and “the young woman from Shulam” (Shulamith).

Isaiah Notes

[1] 3:24 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text “expensive clothes, instead of beauty.”

[2] 4:4 Or “Zion’s women.”

[3] 6:2 Or “Seraphim.”

[4] 9:1 Isaiah 9:1–21 in English Bibles is Isaiah 8:23–9:20 in the Hebrew Bible.

[5] 9:4 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[6] 10:27 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[7] 14:25 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[8] 15:2 The shaving of the head and the beard are signs of a people going into exile.

[9] 15:9 Or “the survivors in the countryside.”

[10] 16:1 Masoretic Text; Targum “They have sent lambs to the ruler of the land.”

[11] 16:7 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[12] 16:14 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[13] 17:11 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[14] 17:11 Or “But the harvest will flee.”

[15] 19:5 Or “Then the water of the sea will be dried up.”

[16] 19:18 Dead Sea Scrolls, some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Targum, Latin, Egyptian; Masoretic Text “City of Destruction.”

[17] 21:8 Syriac, Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text, Targum “lion”; Greek “Uriah.”

[18] 21:10 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain. Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain.

[19] 21:11 The exact location of Dumah is unknown.

[20] 21:16 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[21] 22:8 “The House of the Forest” is a storehouse for weapons and other items. It was built by Solomon as part of the temple complex.

[22] 24:5 Or “covenant.”

[23] 25:11 Hebrew meaning of “despite the movements of their hands” uncertain.

[24] 26:16 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[25] 27:1 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[26] 27:8 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[27] 27:12 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[28] 28:10 Or “Command for command, command for command, line for line, line for line, a little here, a little there.” Also in verse 13.

[29] 28:27 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[30] 29:1 Ariel is an unknown Hebrew word which may mean “lion of God,” “mountain of God,” or “fireplace.”

[31] 29:10 A seer is a prophet.

[32] 30:7 Rahab is the name of a demonic creature who opposes God.

[33] 30:10 A seer is a prophet.

[34] 30:24 Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain.

[35] 31:9 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[36] 33:8 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text “Cities.”

[37] 37:16 Or “cherubim.”

[38] 37:18 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek; Masoretic Text “every country and their country.”

[39] 38:21 Verses 21 and 22 have been placed after verse 6 to communicate the order of the account more clearly in English. According to most scholars, if these verses were originally in Isaiah 38, they most likely ended up being misplaced. See 2 Kings 20:7–8 for the proper placement of these verses in the narrative.

[40] 38:15 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[41] 40:12 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text “Who has measured the water.”

[42] 41:15 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[43] 41:16 Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain.

[44] 41:29 Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac, Targum; Masoretic Text “They are false.”

[45] 42:6 Or “covenant.”

[46] 44:2 “Jeshurun” is another name for Israel.

[47] 45:1 Masoretic Text; Greek “my.”

[48] 48:1 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text “the fountain of Judah.”

[49] 49:8 Or “covenant.”

[50] 51:9 Rahab is the name of a demonic creature who opposes God.

[51] 52:11 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[52] 52:14 Two Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Targum; Masoretic Text “you.”

[53] 54:10 Or “covenant.”

[54] 55:3 Or “covenant.”

[55] 56:4 Or “covenant.”

[56] 58:6 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[57] 59:21 Or “covenant.”

[58] 61:8 Or “covenant.”

[59] 64:1 Isaiah 64:1–12 in English Bibles is Isaiah 63:19b–64:11 in the Hebrew Bible.

[60] 64:6 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[61] 66:18 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

Jeremiah Notes

[1] 1:11–12 There is a play on words here between Hebrew shaked (almond tree) and shoked (watching).

[2] 2:7 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[3] 2:20 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[4] 4:11 Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain.

[5] 5:5 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[6] 7:30 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[7] 9:1 Jeremiah 9:1–26 in English Bibles is Jeremiah 8:23–9:25 in the Hebrew Bible.

[8] 9:3 Greek; Masoretic Text “They bend their tongue. Their bow is falsehood. And not for truth are they strong in the land.”

[9] 9:6 Greek; Masoretic Text “Your sitting is in the midst of deceit.”

[10] 11:2 Or “covenant.”

[11] 12:4 Greek; Masoretic Text “he.”

[12] 13:27 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[13] 14:21 Or “covenant.”

[14] 15:7 Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain.

[15] 17:3 Greek; Masoretic Text “on my mountain.”

[16] 19:13 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[17] 22:9 Or “covenant.”

[18] 22:24 Masoretic Text “Coniah,” an alternate form of Jehoiakin.

[19] 23:8 Greek; Masoretic Text “I.”

[20] 24:1 Masoretic Text “Jeconiah,” an alternate form of Jehoiakin.

[21] 27:2 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[22] 27:19–20 Masoretic Text “Jeconiah,” an alternate form of Jehoiakin.

[23] 28:2 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[24] 28:13 Greek; Masoretic Text “you.”

[25] 29:2 Masoretic Text “Jeconiah,” an alternate form of Jehoiakin.

[26] 30:8 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[27] 31:31 Or “covenant.”

[28] 32:40 Or “covenant.”

[29] 33:20 Or “covenant.”

[30] 34:13 Or “covenant.”

[31] 40:5 Hebrew meaning of “If you wish to remain” uncertain.

[32] 43:12 Greek; Masoretic Text “I.”

[33] 49:1 Or “Molech.”

[34] 51:2 Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain.

[35] 51:33 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

Lamentations Notes

[1] 1:1 Chapter 1 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[2] 1:4 Or “are in mourning.”

[3] 1:4 Or “All its gates are in despair.”

[4] 1:14 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[5] 1:21 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[6] 2:1 Chapter 2 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[7] 3:1 Chapter 3 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[8] 3:51 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[9] 4:1 Chapter 4 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.

[10] 4:15 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[11] 5:6 Or “We made a pledge to Egypt and Assyria in order to get enough food.”

[12] 5:9 Hebrew meaning of “in the heat” uncertain.

Ezekiel Notes

[1] 4:13 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[2] 8:17 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[3] 9:3 Or “cherubim.”

[4] 10:1 Or “cherubim.”

[5] 11:22 Or “cherubim.”

[6] 16:57 Some Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac “Edom.”

[7] 16:59 Or “covenant.”

[8] 18:14 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “Although he sees them, he doesn’t do such things.”

[9] 20:37 Or “covenant.”

[10] 20:44 Ezekiel 20:45–49 in English Bibles is Ezekiel 21:1–5 in the Hebrew Bible.

[11] 21:1 Ezekiel 21:1–32 in English Bibles is Ezekiel 21:6–37 in the Hebrew Bible.

[12] 21:10 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[13] 22:10 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[14] 22:24 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[15] 23:24 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[16] 27:11 Or “Celicia.”

[17] 28:14 Or “one of the cherubim.”

[18] 29:14 Or “southern Egypt.”

[19] 34:27 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[20] 36:17 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[21] 36:25 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[22] 37:9 Or “Spirit.”

[23] 37:26 Or “covenant.”

[24] 39:12 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[25] 39:16 There is a play on words here between Hebrew hamon (troops) and Hamonah.

[26] 41:18 Or “cherubim.”

[27] 42:10 Greek; Masoretic Text “east side.”

[28] 43:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “When I came.”

[29] 44:7 Or “foreigners whose hearts and bodies are uncircumcised.”

[30] 44:23 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God. “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[31] 45:11 A homer was about 60 gallons as a liquid measure or 6 bushels as a dry measure.

[32] 45:12 A shekel was about four-tenths of an ounce.

Daniel Notes

[1] 2:35 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[2] 3:1 Or “in the plain of Dura.”

[3] 4:1 Daniel 4:1–37 in English Bibles is Daniel 3:31–4:34 in the Hebrew Bible.

[4] 5:2 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

[5] 5:28 There is a play on words here between Aramaic peres (divided) and paras (Persians).

[6] 5:30 Daniel 5:31 in English Bibles is Daniel 6:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[7] 6:1 Daniel 6:1–28 in English Bibles is Daniel 6:2–29 in the Hebrew Bible.

[8] 7:13 Or “like a human.”

[9] 8:12 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[10] 9:4 Or “covenant.”

[11] 9:26 Or “Messiah.”

[12] 9:26 Or “The people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the holy place.”

[13] 11:6 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, some Greek manuscripts “her son.”

[14] 11:18 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

[15] 11:22 Or “covenant.”

Hosea Notes

[1] 1:9 Or “I am no longer I Am to you.” (See Exodus 3:14.)

[2] 1:9 Hosea 1:10–11 in English Bibles is Hosea 2:1–2 in the Hebrew Bible.

[3] 2:1 Hosea 2:1–23 in English Bibles is Hosea 2:3–25 in the Hebrew Bible.

[4] 2:16 Or “her Baal.”

[5] 3:4 Ephod is a technical term for part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

[6] 5:2 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[7] 5:3 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[8] 5:11 Greek, Syriac, Targum; Masoretic Text “to chase commands.”

[9] 5:13 Or “to ask King Jareb for help.”

[10] 6:7 Or “You have walked all over my promise as if it were dirt.”

[11] 6:10 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[12] 8:5 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[13] 9:1 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[14] 9:3 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[15] 10:6 Or “to King Jareb.”

[16] 10:11 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[17] 10:11 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[18] 11:2 Greek; Masoretic Text “The more they called them.”

[19] 11:3 Or “I was the one who guided Ephraim.”

[20] 11:4 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[21] 11:11 Hosea 11:12 in English Bibles is Hosea 12:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[22] 12:1 Hosea 12:1–14 in English Bibles is Hosea 12:2–15 in the Hebrew Bible.

[23] 12:10 Or “I brought destruction through the prophets.”

[24] 13:3 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[25] 13:5 Greek; Masoretic Text “I knew you.”

[26] 13:14 Or “Death, where is your plague? Grave, where is your destruction?”

[27] 13:15 Hosea 13:16 in English Bibles is Hosea 14:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[28] 14:1 Hosea 14:1–9 in English Bibles is Hosea 14:2–10 in the Hebrew Bible.

Joel Notes

[1] 1:17 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[2] 2:2 Or “like darkness.”

[3] 2:23 Or “The LORD has given you plenty of autumn rain.”

[4] 2:24 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[5] 2:27 Joel 2:28–32 in English Bibles is Joel 3:1–5 in the Hebrew Bible.

[6] 3:1 Joel 3:1–21 in English Bibles is Joel 4:1–21 in the Hebrew Bible.

[7] 3:2 Or “the valley where the LORD judges.”

[8] 3:21 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

Amos Notes

[1] 1:3 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[2] 3:12 Or “a couch of Damascus.”

[3] 7:12 A seer is a prophet.

[4] 7:17 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[5] 8:14 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

Obadiah Notes

[1] 6 Esau was the son of Isaac and the ancestor of the people of Edom.

Jonah Notes

[1] 1:16 Jonah 1:17 in English Bibles is Jonah 2:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[2] 2:1 Jonah 2:1–10 in English Bibles is Jonah 2:2–11 in the Hebrew Bible.

[3] 3:3 Or “around.”

Micah Notes

[1] 1:10 Or “I rolled in the dust of Beth Leaphrah.”

[2] 3:7 A seer is a prophet.

[3] 4:12 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[4] 4:13 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[5] 5:1 Micah 5:1–15 in English Bibles is Micah 4:14–5:14 in the Hebrew Bible.

[6] 6:5 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

[7] 6:9 Greek; Masoretic Text “Listen to the stick and the one who appointed it.”

[8] 7:3 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

Nahum Notes

[1] 1:13 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[2] 1:14 Nahum 1:15 in English Bibles is Nahum 2:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

[3] 2:1 Nahum 2:1–13 in English Bibles is Nahum 2:2–14 in the Hebrew Bible.

[4] 3:8 The city No-amon, also called Thebes, was the capital of southern Egypt.

Habakkuk Notes

[1] 2:4 Masoretic Text; Greek “live because of my faith.”

[2] 3:1 Unknown musical term.

[3] 3:13 Or “to save with your anointed.”

Zephaniah Notes

[1] 1:5 Or “to their king.”

[2] 1:8 Wearing foreign clothing was a sign of worshiping foreign gods.

[3] 1:10–11 The Mortar was in the northern part of Jerusalem, the Second Part of the city, which could be entered through the Fish Gate.

Haggai Notes

[1] 1:6 Or “You have ⌞wine⌟ to drink but not enough to become drunk.”

[2] 2:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[3] 2:13 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

Zechariah Notes

[1] 1:17 Zechariah 1:18–21 in English Bibles is Zechariah 2:1–4 in the Hebrew Bible.

[2] 2:1 Zechariah 2:1–13 in English Bibles is Zechariah 2:5–17 in the Hebrew Bible.

[3] 3:9 Or “facets.”

[4] 5:6 One Hebrew manuscript, Greek, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts “This is their eye all over the earth.”

[5] 7:2 Or “Bethel Sharezer sent Regem Melech with his men.”

[6] 9:2 This sentence has been moved from verse 1 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[7] 9:8 Hebrew meaning of verses 7–8 uncertain.

[8] 9:10 Greek, Syriac; Masoretic Text “I.”

[9] 9:11 Or “covenant.”

[10] 9:17 Or “He will be beautiful and lovely.”

[11] 11:10 Or “covenant.”

[12] 13:2 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[13] 14:5 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[14] 14:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

[15] 14:21 Or “merchant.”

Malachi Notes

[1] 2:4 Or “covenant.”

[2] 2:15 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

[3] 3:1 Or “covenant.”

[4] 4:1 Malachi 4:1–6 in English Bibles is Malachi 3:19–24 in the Hebrew Bible.

New Testament Notes

Matthew Notes

[1] 2:1 Or “astrologers.”

[2] 2:11 Myrrh is a fragrant resin used for perfumes, embalming, and deodorizers.

[3] 3:12 Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain.

[4] 3:12 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[5] 4:7 Or “Never put the Lord your God to any test.”

[6] 4:25 A federation of ten Greek city states east and west of the Jordan River.

[7] 5:22 Some manuscripts and translations add “without a cause.”

[8] 6:13 Or “rescue us from evil.”

[9] 8:2 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[10] 10:25 Beelzebul is another name for the devil. See Matthew 12:24.

[11] 11:29 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

[12] 12:4 Some manuscripts and translations read “they ate.”

[13] 12:6 Some manuscripts and translations read “someone.”

[14] 15:11 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[15] 16:18 In Greek there is a play on words between petros (Peter or pebble) and petra (rock).

[16] 17:20 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 21: “However, this kind ⌞of demon⌟ goes away only by prayer and fasting.”

[17] 18:10 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 11: “The Son of Man came to save the lost.”

[18] 18:15 Some manuscripts and translations add “against you.”

[19] 21:44 Some manuscripts and translations omit this verse.

[20] 23:13 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 14: “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make yourselves look good. You will receive a most severe punishment.” (See Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.)

[21] 26:28 Or “testament,” or “covenant.”

Mark Notes

[1] 1:4 “Repentance” is turning to God with a complete change in the way a person thinks and acts.

[2] 1:40 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[3] 3:14 Some manuscripts and translations omit “whom he called apostles.”

[4] 5:20 A federation of ten Greek city states east and west of the Jordan River.

[5] 7:2 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[6] 7:4 Some manuscripts and translations omit “and dinner tables.”

[7] 7:16 Some manuscripts and translations omit this verse.

[8] 7:31 A federation of ten Greek city states east and west of the Jordan River.

[9] 9:29 Some manuscripts and translations add “and fasting.”

[10] 9:43 Some manuscripts and translations add verses 44 and 46, which both say: “In hell worms that eat the body never die, and the fire is never put out.”

[11] 11:25 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 26: “But if you don’t forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your failures.”

[12] 14:24 Or “testament,” or “covenant.”

[13] 14:36 Abba is Aramaic for “father.”

[14] 14:41 Greek meaning uncertain.

[15] 14:68 Some manuscripts and translations omit this sentence.

[16] 15:27 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 28: “And what the Scriptures said came true: ‘He was counted with criminals.’”

[17] 16:8 Some manuscripts and translations end Mark here; some add verses 9–20.

Luke Notes

[1] 1:30 Or “grace.”

[2] 1:72 Or “covenant.”

[3] 2:22 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[4] 2:40 Or “grace.”

[5] 3:3 Repentance is turning to God with a complete change in the way a person thinks and acts.

[6] 3:17 Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain.

[7] 3:17 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

[8] 4:4 Some manuscripts and translations add “but on every word of God.”

[9] 4:12 Or “Never put the Lord your God to any test.”

[10] 4:18 Some manuscripts and translations add “to heal those who are brokenhearted.”

[11] 4:44 Some manuscripts read “in the synagogues of Galilee.”

[12] 5:12 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[13] 7:22 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[14] 9:55 Some manuscripts and translations add “‘You don’t know the kind of spirit that is influencing you. The Son of Man didn’t come to destroy people’s lives but to save them,’ he said.”

[15] 10:1 Some manuscripts have “72.”

[16] 10:42 Some manuscripts and translations read, “But of the few things ⌞worth worrying about⌟, there is only one thing you need.”

[17] 11:41 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[18] 15:21 Some manuscripts and translations add “Make me one of your hired hands.”

[19] 16:21 The last sentence in verse 20 (in Greek) has been moved to verse 21 to express the complex Greek paragraph structure more clearly in English.

[20] 17:14 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[21] 17:21 Or “among.”

[22] 17:24 Some manuscripts and translations omit “The day of.”

[23] 17:35 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 36: “Two will be in a field. One will be taken, and the other will be left.” See Matthew 24:40.

[24] 22:20 Or “testament,” or “covenant.”

[25] 22:44 Some manuscripts and translations omit verses 43 and 44.

[26] 23:16 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 17: “At every Passover festival the governor had to set someone free for them.”

[27] 23:34 Some manuscripts and translations omit “Then . . . doing.”

John Notes

[1] 1:5 English equivalent difficult.

[2] 1:14 Or “grace.”

[3] 3:3 Or “born again.”

[4] 3:8 The Greek word for wind is the same as the Greek word for Spirit.

[5] 5:3 Some manuscripts and translations add verses 3b–4: “They would wait for the water to move. People believed that at a certain time an angel from the Lord would go into the pool and stir up the water. The first person who would step into the water after it was stirred up would be cured from whatever disease he had.”

[6] 5:27 “Son of Man” is a name Jesus called himself to show that he was not only God’s Son but also human.

[7] 7:52 John 7:53–8:11 is not found in many manuscripts and some translations. Some manuscripts place these verses between 7:36 and 7:37. Other manuscripts place them between 7:44 and 7:45. Others place them after 21:25, and some place them between Luke 21:38 and 22:1.

[8] 10:14 The first part of verse 15 (in Greek) has been moved to verse 14 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[9] 15:3 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[10] 18:28 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

Acts Notes

[1] 1:22 Verses 21–22 have been rearranged to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[2] 3:25 Or “covenant.”

[3] 4:33 Or “grace.”

[4] 6:8 Or “grace.”

[5] 7:8 Or “covenant.”

[6] 7:10 Or “grace.”

[7] 7:46 Some manuscripts and translations read “God of Jacob.”

[8] 8:36 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 37: “Philip said to the official, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you can be baptized.’ The official answered, ‘I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’”

[9] 10:14 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[10] 10:15 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[11] 11:8 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[12] 11:9 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[13] 11:23 Or “grace.”

[14] 13:24 “Repentance” is turning to God with a complete change in the way a person thinks and acts.

[15] 13:43 Or “grace.”

[16] 14:3 Or “grace.”

[17] 14:23 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[18] 14:26 Or “grace.”

[19] 15:2 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[20] 15:11 Or “grace.”

[21] 15:33 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 34: “But Silas decided to stay there, and Judas went back to Jerusalem alone.”

[22] 15:40 Or “grace.”

[23] 16:4 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[24] 18:27 Or “grace.”

[25] 19:4 “Repentance” is turning to God with a complete change in the way a person thinks and acts.

[26] 19:41 Acts 19:41 in English Bibles is Acts 19:40b in the Greek Bible.

[27] 20:17 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[28] 20:24 Or “grace.”

[29] 20:28 English equivalent difficult.

[30] 21:18 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[31] 21:28 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[32] 24:6 Some manuscripts and translations add verses 6b–8a: “We wanted to try him under our law. But the officer Lysias used force to take him from us. He ordered his accusers to come in front of you.”

[33] 28:15 The last sentence in verse 14 has been placed in verse 15 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[34] 28:28 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 29: “After Paul said this, the Jews left. They argued intensely among themselves.”

Romans Notes

[1] 1:3 “Our Lord Jesus Christ” from verse 4 (in Greek) has been placed in verse 3 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[2] 1:5 Or “grace.”

[3] 1:7 Or “grace.”

[4] 3:24 Or “grace.”

[5] 4:16 Or “grace.”

[6] 5:2 Some manuscripts read “we can approach God through faith.”

[7] 5:2 Or “grace.”

[8] 5:15 Or “grace.”

[9] 6:1 Or “grace.”

[10] 6:14 Or “grace.”

[11] 8:15 Abba is Aramaic for “father.”

[12] 8:38 The last part of verse 39 (in Greek) has been moved to verse 38 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[13] 9:4 Or “covenants.”

[14] 9:12 The last part of verse 12 (in Greek) has been placed in verse 11 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[15] 11:5 Or “grace.”

[16] 11:27 Or “covenant.”

[17] 12:3 Or “grace.”

[18] 16:1 English equivalent difficult.

[19] 16:20 Or “grace.”

[20] 16:23 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 24: “May the good will of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.”

1 Corinthians Notes

[1] 1:3 Or “Grace.”

[2] 1:12 Cephas is the Aramaic name for the Apostle Peter.

[3] 1:14 A few of the older manuscripts read “I am thankful that.”

[4] 2:1 Some manuscripts and translations read “testimony.”

[5] 2:13 Or “We explain spiritual things in spiritual words.”

[6] 3:10 Or “grace.”

[7] 7:39 Or “only as the Lord guides her.”

[8] 9:5 Cephas is the Aramaic name for the Apostle Peter.

[9] 9:9 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[10] 10:9 Some manuscripts and translations; other manuscripts and translations “Christ.”

[11] 11:25 Or “testament,” or “covenant.”

[12] 12:31 Or “Desire the better gifts, and I will show you the best thing to do.”

[13] 13:3 Some manuscripts read “give up my body so that I may brag.”

[14] 15:5 Cephas is the Aramaic name for the Apostle Peter.

[15] 15:10 Or “grace.”

[16] 16:23 Or “grace.”

2 Corinthians Notes

[1] 1:2 Or “grace.”

[2] 1:12 Some manuscripts and translations read “God-given openness.”

[3] 1:12 Or “grace.”

[4] 3:6 Or “covenant.”

[5] 4:15 Or “grace.”

[6] 5:3 Some manuscripts and translations read “taken it off.”

[7] 6:1 Or “grace.”

[8] 6:8 The last part of verse 7 (in Greek) has been moved to verse 8 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[9] 6:17 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[10] 8:1 Or “grace.”

[11] 9:8 Or “grace.”

[12] 12:4 The last two sentences of verse 3 (in Greek) have been moved to verse 4 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[13] 12:9 Or “grace.”

[14] 13:12 Some English Bibles count the last sentence of verse 12 as verse 13. Verse 13 is then counted as verse 14.

[15] 13:13 Or “grace.”

Galatians Notes

[1] 1:3 Or “Grace.”

[2] 1:6 Or “grace.”

[3] 1:18 Cephas is the Aramaic name for the apostle Peter.

[4] 2:9 Or “had given me grace.”

[5] 2:21 Or “grace.”

[6] 3:19 Or “Moses’ laws did this until the descendant referred to in the promise ⌞to Abraham⌟ came.”

[7] 4:6 Abba is Aramaic for “father.”

[8] 4:14 Or “an angel of God.”

[9] 4:24 Or “covenants.”

[10] 5:4 Or “grace.”

[11] 6:16 Or “Peace and mercy will come to rest on them and on the Israel of God.”

[12] 6:18 Or “grace.”

Ephesians Notes

[1] 1:1 Some early manuscripts omit “in the city of Ephesus.”

[2] 1:2 Or “Grace.”

[3] 1:6 Or “grace.”

[4] 2:5 Or “grace.”

[5] 2:12 Or “covenants.”

[6] 3:1 Some manuscripts omit “Jesus.”

[7] 3:2 Or “grace.”

[8] 4:7 Or “grace.”

[9] 5:14 Or “and you will shine with Christ’s light.”

[10] 5:18 Or “in ⌞your⌟ spirit.”

[11] 5:22 English equivalent difficult.

[12] 6:1 Some manuscripts and translations omit “because you are Christians.”

[13] 6:3 The first part of verse 2 (in Greek) has been placed at the end of verse 3 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[14] 6:13 Or “when the evil day comes.”

[15] 6:18 Or “in ⌞your⌟ spirit.”

[16] 6:21 English equivalent difficult.

[17] 6:24 Or “grace.”

Philippians Notes

[1] 1:1 English equivalent difficult.

[2] 1:1 English equivalent difficult.

[3] 1:2 Or “Grace.”

[4] 1:7 Or “grace.”

[5] 4:23 Or “grace.”

Colossians Notes

[1] 1:2 Or “Grace.”

[2] 1:6 Or “grace.”

[3] 1:7 English equivalent difficult.

[4] 2:12 Or “through faith produced by God.”

[5] 3:6 Some manuscripts and translations omit “on those who refuse to obey him.”

[6] 3:16 Or “grace.”

[7] 3:18 English equivalent difficult.

[8] 4:7 English equivalent difficult.

[9] 4:18 Or “grace.”

1 Thessalonians Notes

[1] 1:1 Or “Grace.”

[2] 5:28 Or “grace.”

2 Thessalonians Notes

[1] 1:2 Or “Grace.”

[2] 2:16 Or “grace.”

[3] 3:18 Or “grace.”

1 Timothy Notes

[1] 1:2 Or “Grace.”

[2] 1:14 Or “gracious.”

[3] 1:19 Verses 18 and 19 have been rearranged to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[4] 2:9 The first part of verse 10 (in Greek) has been moved to verse 9 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[5] 2:15 Taken to refer to Jesus. Or “will be saved by having children,” or “will be kept safe as they have children.”

[6] 3:1 English equivalent difficult.

[7] 3:8 English equivalent difficult.

[8] 3:16 Some manuscripts read “God.”

[9] 4:14 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[10] 5:17 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[11] 5:18 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.

[12] 6:21 Or “grace.”

2 Timothy Notes

[1] 1:2 Or “Grace.”

[2] 1:9 Or “grace.”

[3] 2:1 Or “grace.”

[4] 4:13 Parchments are writing materials made from animal skins.

[5] 4:22 Or “grace.”

Titus Notes

[1] 1:4 Or “Grace.”

[2] 1:5 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[3] 1:7 English equivalent difficult.

[4] 1:15 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.

[5] 2:11 Or “grace.”

[6] 3:7 Or “grace.”

[7] 3:15 Or “grace.”

Philemon Notes

[1] 3 Or “Grace.”

Hebrews Notes

[1] 2:6 “Son of Man” is a name for Jesus. It shows that he was not only God’s Son but also human. Some believe “son of man” here refers to humans in general.

[2] 2:9 Or “grace.”

[3] 4:16 Or “grace.”

[4] 7:22 Or “covenant.”

[5] 8:6 Or “covenant.”

[6] 9:4 Or “covenant.”

[7] 9:5 Or “cherubim.”

[8] 9:13 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[9] 10:16 Or “covenant.”

[10] 10:29 Or “grace.”

[11] 10:34 Some manuscripts and translations add “in heaven.”

[12] 12:15 Or “grace.”

[13] 12:24 Or “covenant.”

[14] 13:9 Or “grace.”

[15] 13:20 Or “covenant.”

[16] 13:25 Or “grace.”

James Notes

[1] 1:1 Or “to the twelve tribes.”

[2] 2:26 Or “A body without a spirit.”

[3] 4:6 Or “grace.”

[4] 5:14 People in ancient times used olive oil for healing.

1 Peter Notes

[1] 1:2 Or “grace.”

[2] 1:10 Or “grace.”

[3] 2:25 English equivalent difficult.

[4] 3:7 Or “grace.”

[5] 5:1 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”

[6] 5:10 Or “grace.”

[7] 5:12 Or “grace.”

2 Peter Notes

[1] 1:2 Or “grace.”

[2] 3:10 Some manuscripts and translations read “will be burned up.”

[3] 3:18 Or “grace.”

1 John Notes

[1] 5:7 Four very late manuscripts add verses 7b–8a: “in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. These three witnesses agree. And there are three witnesses on earth:”

2 John Notes

[1] 1 Or “pastor,” or “elder.”

[2] 3 Or “Grace.”

3 John Notes

[1] 1 Or “pastor,” or “elder.”

Jude Notes

[1] 4 Or “grace.”

Revelation Notes

[1] 1:4 Or “Grace.”

[2] 1:5 The last part of verse 6 (in Greek) has been moved to verse 5 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[3] 1:8 Or “the Alpha and the Omega.”

[4] 2:26 The first part of verse 28 (in Greek) has been moved to the beginning of verse 26 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.

[5] 12:18 Some translations include this verse at the beginning of 13:1.

[6] 13:18 Or “it is the number of a human.”

[7] 14:20 One stadion is equivalent to 607 feet.

[8] 18:2 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[9] 21:6 Or “the Alpha and the Omega.”

[10] 21:16 One stadion is equivalent to 607 feet.

[11] 21:17 One cubit is equivalent to 21 inches.

[12] 21:27 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.

[13] 22:13 Or “the Alpha and the Omega.”

[14] 22:21 Or “grace.”