LXX Concordance for ταῖς

God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.

Lamech said to his wives:

Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words.

For I killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for striking me.

The Nephilim[fn] were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.

From these descendants, the peoples of the coasts and islands spread out into their lands according to their clans in their nations, each with its own language.

These are Ham's sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.

Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg,[fn] for during his days the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

These are Shem's sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.

Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your power; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.

At daybreak the angels urged Lot on: “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment[fn] of the city.”

He demolished these cities, the entire plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and whatever grew on the ground.

And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your brother one thousand pieces of silver. It is a verification of your honor[fn] to all who are with you. You are fully vindicated.”

When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I'll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink.”[fn]

Laban said, “Come, you who are blessed by the LORD. Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

“and who responds to me, ‘Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels also' ​— ​let her be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master's son.

These are Ishmael's sons, and these are their names by their settlements and encampments: twelve leaders[fn] of their clans.[fn]

so Esau went to Ishmael and married, in addition to his other wives, Mahalath daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son. She was the sister of Nebaioth.

“Let me go through all your sheep today and remove every sheep that is speckled or spotted, every dark-colored sheep among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the female goats. Such will be my wages.

Jacob then took branches of fresh poplar, almond, and plane wood, and peeled the bark, exposing white stripes on the branches.

Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob placed the branches in the troughs, in full view of the flocks, and they would breed in front of the branches.

“If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, though no one is with us, understand that God will be a witness between you and me.”

They captured all their possessions, dependents, and wives and plundered everything in the houses.

Then they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and their earrings, and Jacob hid them under the oak near Shechem.

chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan.

These are the chiefs among the Horites,

clan by clan,[fn] in the land of Seir.

These are the names of Esau's chiefs,

according to their families and their localities,

by their names:

chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,

chief Magdiel, and chief Iram.

These are Edom's chiefs,

according to their settlements in the land they possessed.

Esau[fn] was father of the Edomites.

So she took off her widow's clothes, veiled her face, covered herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.

When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made everything he did successful,

She grabbed him by his garment and said, “Sleep with me! ” But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.

The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph's authority,[fn] because the LORD was with him, and the LORD made everything that he did successful.

when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds.

“when seven well-fed, healthy-looking cows came up from the Nile and grazed among the reeds.

“Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh's authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food.

Joseph gathered all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and put it in the cities. He put the food in every city from the fields around it.

“Take twice as much silver with you. Return the silver that was returned to you in the top of your bags. Perhaps it was a mistake.

The men took this gift, double the amount of silver, and Benjamin. They immediately went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

“When we came to the place where we lodged for the night and opened our bags of grain, each one's silver was at the top of his bag! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us.

When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift they had carried into the house, and they bowed to the ground before him.

“You are also commanded to tell them, ‘Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your dependents and your wives and bring your father here.

The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives ​— ​the first, whose name was Shiphrah, and the second, whose name was Puah ​— ​

So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very numerous.

Years later,[fn] after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people[fn] and observed their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his people.

“So where is he? ” he asked his daughters. “Why then did you leave the man behind? Invite him to eat dinner.”

The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure you do before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart[fn] so that he won't let the people go.

But then Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers ​— ​the magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same thing by their occult practices.

But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing by their occult practices. So Pharaoh's heart was hard, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

But the magicians did the same thing by their occult practices and brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt.

The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on people and animals.

“then the LORD's hand will bring a severe plague against your livestock in the field ​— ​the horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.

“Here is how you must eat it: You must be dressed for travel,[fn] your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is the LORD's Passover.

“Yeast must not be found in your houses for seven days. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a resident alien or native of the land, must be cut off from the community of Israel.

He said, “If you will carefully obey the LORD your God, do what is right in his sight, pay attention to his commands, and keep all his statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you that I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

“The cherubim are to have wings spread out above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and are to face one another. The faces of the cherubim should be toward the mercy seat.

“Each curtain should be forty-two feet[fn] long and six feet[fn] wide; all the curtains are to have the same measurements.

“Each curtain should be forty-five feet[fn] long and six feet wide. All eleven curtains are to have the same measurements.

“As for the flap that remains from the tent curtains, the leftover half curtain is to hang over the back of the tabernacle.

“They are to be paired at the bottom, and joined together[fn] at the top in a single ring. So it should be for both of them; they will serve as the two corners.

“Tie the sashes on Aaron and his sons and fasten headbands on them. The priesthood is to be theirs by a permanent statute. This is the way you will ordain Aaron and[fn] his sons.

“Make two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with.

“They must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this is to be a permanent statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”

Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides ​— ​inscribed front and back.

The LORD said to Moses, “Cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.

Every skilled[fn] woman spun yarn with her hands and brought it: blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

They had wings spread out. They faced each other and covered the mercy seat with their wings. The faces of the cherubim were looking toward the mercy seat.

For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages of their journey.

“He will then present part of the fellowship sacrifice as a food offering to the LORD consisting of its fat and the entire fat tail, which he is to remove close to the backbone. He will also remove the fat surrounding the entrails, all the fat on the entrails,

“They are to bring the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the presentation offering, together with the food offerings of the fat portions, to present as a presentation offering before the LORD. It will belong permanently to you and your children, as the LORD commanded.”

“This is what you may eat from all that is in the water: You may eat everything in the water that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or streams.

“When you enter the land of Canaan that I am giving you as a possession, and I place a mildew contamination in a house in the land you possess,[fn]

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron's sons, the priests, and tell them: A priest is not to make himself ceremonially unclean for a dead person among his relatives,

“When a man presents a fellowship sacrifice to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it has to be unblemished to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it.

“The open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for it is their permanent possession.

“His uncle or cousin may redeem him, or any of his close relatives from his clan may redeem him. If he prospers, he may redeem himself.

“But if after these things you will not obey me, I will proceed to discipline you seven times for your sins.

These are the Israelites registered by their ancestral families. The total number in the camps by their military divisions is 603,550.

“He may assist his brothers to fulfill responsibilities[fn] at the tent of meeting, but he must not do the work. This is how you are to deal with the Levites regarding their duties.”

“Tell the Israelites: When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a corpse or is on a distant journey, he may still observe the Passover to the LORD.

“The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. Your use of these is a permanent statute throughout your generations.

“and you make a food offering to the LORD from the herd or flock ​— ​either a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow, or as a freewill offering, or at your appointed festivals ​— ​to produce a pleasing aroma for the LORD,

“When an alien resides with you or someone else is among you and wants to prepare a food offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, he is to do exactly as you do throughout your generations.

“As for the firepans of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, make them into hammered sheets as plating for the altar, for they presented them before the LORD, and the firepans are holy. They will be a sign to the Israelites.”

“The contribution of their gifts also belongs to you. I have given all the Israelites' presentation offerings to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. Every ceremonially clean person in your house may eat it.

“I give to you and to your sons and daughters all the holy contributions that the Israelites present to the LORD as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you as well as your offspring.”

Israel took all the cities and lived in all these Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its surrounding villages.

So Israel lived in the Amorites' land.

The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and reported Balak's words to him.

Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between the vineyards, with a stone wall on either side.

God brought him out of Egypt;

he is like[fn] the horns of a wild ox for them.

He will feed on enemy nations

and gnaw their bones;

he will strike them with his arrows.

Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, “I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times.

The women invited them to the sacrifices for their gods, and the people ate and bowed in worship to their gods.

So Moses told Israel's judges, “Kill each of the men who aligned themselves with Baal of Peor.”

“Command the Israelites and say to them: Be sure to present to me at its appointed time my offering and my food as my food offering, a pleasing aroma to me.

“At the beginning of each of your months present a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old ​— ​all unblemished ​— ​

“Offer these to the LORD at your appointed times in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt, grain, drink, or fellowship offerings.”

Moses sent one thousand from each tribe to war. They went with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, in whose care were the holy objects and signal trumpets.

Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites lived, as well as all their encampments,

Then they approached him and said, “We want to build sheep pens here for our livestock and cities for our dependents.

“Our dependents, wives, livestock, and all our animals will remain here in the cities of Gilead,

“But if you don't drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs for your eyes and thorns for your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live.

So Moses commanded the Israelites, “This is the land you are to receive by lot as an inheritance, which the LORD commanded to be given to the nine and a half tribes.

“These instructions will be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations wherever you live.

They said, “The LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelites. My lord was further commanded by the LORD to give our brother Zelophehad's inheritance to his daughters.

“This is what the LORD has commanded concerning Zelophehad's daughters: They may marry anyone they like provided they marry within a clan of their ancestral tribe.

“They took some of the fruit from the land in their hands, carried it down to us, and brought us back a report: ‘The land the LORD our God is giving us is good.'

“You grumbled in your tents and said, ‘The LORD brought us out of the land of Egypt to hand us over to the Amorites in order to destroy us, because he hates us.

“But your wives, dependents, and livestock ​— ​I know that you have a lot of livestock ​— ​will remain in the cities I have given you

“So keep the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and fearing him.

“So I went back down the mountain, while it was blazing with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands.

“I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you are to place them in the ark.'

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you except to fear the LORD your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul?

“For if you carefully observe every one of these commands I am giving you to follow ​— ​to love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, and remain faithful[fn] to him ​— ​

“Within your city gates you may not eat the tenth of your grain, new wine, or fresh oil; the firstborn of your herd or flock; any of your vow offerings that you pledge; your freewill offerings; or your personal contributions.[fn]

“If the place where the LORD your God chooses to put his name is too far from you, you may slaughter any of your herd or flock he has given you, as I have commanded you, and you may eat it within your city gates whenever you want.

“You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to a resident alien within your city gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. Do not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

“then exchange it for silver, take the silver in your hand, and go to the place the LORD your God chooses.

“Do not neglect the Levite within your city gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.

“Eat it within your city gates; both the unclean person and the clean may eat it, as though it were a gazelle or deer.

“Rejoice before the LORD your God in the place where he chooses to have his name dwell ​— ​you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, the Levite within your city gates, as well as the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow among you.

“Rejoice during your festival ​— ​you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, as well as the Levite, the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow within your city gates.

“Appoint judges and officials for your tribes in all your towns the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

“If a case is too difficult for you ​— ​concerning bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults ​— ​cases disputed at your city gates, then go up to the place the LORD your God chooses.

“The person who acts arrogantly, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there serving the LORD your God or to the judge, must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

“When the LORD your God annihilates the nations whose land he is giving you, so that you drive them out and live in their cities and houses,

“provided you keep every one of these commands I am giving you today and follow them, loving the LORD your God and walking in his ways at all times ​— ​you are to add three more cities to these three.

“the two people in the dispute are to stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and judges in authority at that time.

“Be careful to do whatever comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed what you promised to the LORD your God.

“Do not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether one of your Israelite brothers or one of the resident aliens in a town[fn] in your land.

“When you come before the priest who is serving at that time, say to him, ‘Today I declare to the LORD your[fn] God that I have entered the land the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.'

“When you have finished paying all the tenth of your produce in the third year, the year of the tenth, you are to give it to the Levites, resident aliens, fatherless children, and widows, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

“Today you have affirmed that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commands, and ordinances, and obey him.

“The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he swore to you, if you obey the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.

“The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them from one direction but flee from them in seven directions. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

“The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, tumors, a festering rash, and scabies, from which you cannot be cured.

“They will besiege you within all your city gates until your high and fortified walls, that you trust in, come down throughout your land. They will besiege you within all your city gates throughout the land the LORD your God has given you.

“refusing to share with any of them his children's flesh that he will eat because he has nothing left during the siege and hardship your enemy imposes on you in all your towns.

“the afterbirth that comes out from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else during the siege and hardship your enemy imposes on you within your city gates.

“so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, which he is making with you today, so that you may enter into his oath

“But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.

“For[fn] I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live[fn] and multiply, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

“Gather the people ​— ​men, women, dependents, and the resident aliens within your city gates ​— ​so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and be careful to follow all the words of this law.

and the seven priests carrying seven rams' horns marched in front of the ark of the LORD. While the rams' horns were blowing, the armed men went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the ark of the LORD.

So the troops shouted, and the rams' horns sounded. When they heard the blast of the ram's horn, the troops gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The troops advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city.

There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, the dependents, and the resident aliens who lived among them.

At that time Joshua proceeded to exterminate the Anakim from the hill country ​— ​Hebron, Debir, Anab ​— ​all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them with their cities.

Joshua and the Israelites struck down the following kings of the land beyond the Jordan to the west, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which ascends toward Seir (Joshua gave their land as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their allotments:

“from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory) ​— ​the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvites

“Therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”

Their inheritance was by lot as the LORD commanded through Moses for the nine and a half tribes,

But the descendants of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who inhabit the valley area have iron chariots, both at Beth-shean with its surrounding villages and in the Jezreel Valley.”

These were the portions that the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the family heads distributed to the Israelite tribes by lot at Shiloh in the LORD's presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.

Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.

“Only carefully obey the command and instruction that Moses the LORD's servant gave you: to love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, keep his commands, be loyal to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

“Instead, it is to be a witness between us and you, and between the generations after us, so that we may carry out the worship of the LORD in his presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings. Then in the future, your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no share in the LORD! '

A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, Joshua was old, advanced in age.

“know for certain that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out before you. They will become a snare and a trap for you, a sharp stick[fn] for your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you disappear from this good land the LORD your God has given you.

for they abandoned him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.

The Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight; they forgot the LORD their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.

For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to lay waste to it.

Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the people of the east had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.

“When I and everyone with me blow our rams' horns, you are also to blow your rams' horns all around the camp. Then you will say, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon! ' ”

Gideon replied, “Very well, when the LORD has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will tear[fn] your flesh with thorns and briers from the wilderness! ”

So he took the elders of the city, and he took some thorns and briers from the wilderness, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them.

Then the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not worship him.

so they cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against you. We have abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals.”

“While Israel lived three hundred years in Heshbon and Aroer and their surrounding villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, why didn't you take them back at that time?

“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can explain it to me during the seven days of the feast and figure it out, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.

Then he ignited the torches and released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned the piles of grain and the standing grain as well as the vineyards and olive groves.

When Delilah realized that he had told her the whole truth, she sent this message to the Philistine leaders: “Come one more time, for he has told me the whole truth.” The Philistine leaders came to her and brought the silver with them.

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.

In those days, there was no king in Israel, and the Danite tribe was looking for territory to occupy. Up to that time no territory had been captured by them among the tribes of Israel.

In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite staying in a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim acquired a woman from Bethlehem in Judah as his concubine.

Then the Israelites inquired of the LORD. In those days, the ark of the covenant of God was there,

Then the Benjaminites came out against the troops and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the troops as before, killing about thirty men of Israel on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah through the open country.

Then Benjamin turned and fled toward the wilderness to Rimmon Rock, and Israel killed five thousand men on the highways. They overtook them at Gidom and struck two thousand more dead.

The people had compassion on Benjamin, because the LORD had made this gap in the tribes of Israel.

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.

Naomi said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother's home. May the LORD show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me.

Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters.

The boy Samuel served the LORD in Eli's presence. In those days the word of the LORD was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.

And Samuel's words came to all Israel.

Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and[fn] camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek.

“When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you've chosen for yourselves, but the LORD won't answer you on that day.”

The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.

So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

and continued to be successful in all his activities because the LORD was with him.

Now an evil spirit sent from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing the lyre,

“I will shoot three arrows beside it as if I'm aiming at a target.

so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them,[fn] scribbling[fn] on the doors of the city gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

At that time, the Philistines gathered their military units into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army[fn] with me.”

The Philistine commanders, however, were enraged with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the battle. What better way could he ingratiate himself with his master than with the heads of our men?

to those in Racal, in the towns of the Jerahmeelites, and in the towns of the Kenites;

Do not tell it in Gath,

don't announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon,

or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,

and the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.

In addition, David brought the men who were with him, each one with his family, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him.

He removed the people who were in the city and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God ​— ​such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel's advice.

During David's reign there was a famine for three successive years, so David inquired[fn] of the LORD. The LORD answered, “It is due to Saul and to his bloody family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

David said, “LORD, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives? ” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

“and keep your obligation to the LORD your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn,

The two doors were made of cypress wood; the first door had two folding sides, and the second door had two folding panels.

Then he made ten bronze basins ​— ​each basin held 220 gallons[fn] and each was six feet wide ​— ​one basin for each of the ten water carts.

For the cherubim were spreading their wings over[fn] the place of the ark, so that the cherubim covered the ark and its poles from above.

He said:

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel!

He spoke directly to my father David,

and he has fulfilled the promise by his power.

He said,

may you hear in heaven

and forgive the sin of your people Israel.

May you restore them to the land

you gave their ancestors.

may you hear in heaven

and forgive the sin of your servants

and your people Israel,

so that you may teach them to walk on the good way.

May you send rain on your land

that you gave your people for an inheritance.

May you forgive your people

who sinned against you

and all their rebellions[fn] against you,

and may you grant them compassion

before their captors,

so that they may treat them compassionately.

Pharaoh's daughter moved from the city of David to the house that Solomon had built for her; he then built the terraces.

All of King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon's time,

Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen and stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

He did the same for all his foreign wives, who were burning incense and offering sacrifices to their gods.

“However, I will not do it during your lifetime for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of your son's hand.

“For they have abandoned me; they have bowed down to Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, to Chemosh, the god of Moab, and to Milcom, the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in my ways to do what is right in my sight and to carry out my statutes and my judgments as his father David did.

“ ‘After that, if you obey all I command you, walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight in order to keep my statutes and my commands as my servant David did, I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give you Israel.

Jeroboam made a festival in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival in Judah. He offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He also stationed the priests in Bethel for the high places he had made.

Judah did what was evil in the LORD's sight. They provoked him to jealous anger more than all that their ancestors had done with the sins they committed.

Abijam walked in all the sins his father before him had committed, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God as his ancestor David had been.

Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, all Chinnereth, and the whole land of Naphtali.

Nadab did what was evil in the LORD's sight and walked in the ways of his father and the sin he had caused Israel to commit.

He did what was evil in the LORD's sight and walked in the ways of Jeroboam and the sin he had caused Israel to commit.

because of the sin he committed by doing what was evil in the LORD's sight and by walking in the ways of Jeroboam and the sin he caused Israel to commit.

He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat in every respect and continued in his sins that he caused Israel to commit, angering the LORD God of Israel with their worthless idols.

Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.

Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not enough, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve Baal and bow in worship to him.

During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he finished its gates, according to the word of the LORD he had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.

Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions?[fn] If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn't answer him a word.

Then Ben-hadad sent messengers to him and said, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if Samaria's dust amounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.”

“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime, because he has humbled himself before me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son's lifetime.”

Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor at the entrance to the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.

He did what was evil in the LORD's sight. He walked in the ways of his father, in the ways of his mother, and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

The rest of the events of Ahaziah's reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.[fn]

Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at Samaria's gate, six quarts[fn] of fine flour will sell for a half ounce of silver[fn] and twelve quarts[fn] of barley will sell for a half ounce of silver.' ”

During Jehoram's reign, Edom rebelled against Judah's control and appointed their own king.

In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory

However, he did not put the children of the killers to death, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses where the LORD commanded, “Fathers are not to be put to death because of children, and children are not to be put to death because of fathers; instead, each one will be put to death for his own sin.”

King Pul[fn] of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul seventy-five thousand pounds[fn] of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grasp on the kingdom.

In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee ​— ​all the land of Naphtali ​— ​and deported the people to Assyria.

In those days the LORD began sending Aram's King Rezin and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.

The Israelites secretly did things[fn] against the LORD their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city.

Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. The settlers took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.

But the people of each nation were still making their own gods in the cities where they lived and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made.

“Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: They completely destroyed them. Will you be rescued?

Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD:

LORD God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you are God ​— ​you alone ​— ​of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.' ”

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good,” for he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security during my lifetime? ”

He built altars to all the stars in the sky in both courtyards of the LORD's temple.

Then he did away with the idolatrous priests the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense at the high places in the cities of Judah and in the areas surrounding Jerusalem. They had burned incense to Baal, and to the sun, moon, constellations, and all the stars in the sky.

The king tore down the altars that the kings of Judah had made on the roof of Ahaz's upper chamber. He also tore down the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courtyards of the LORD's temple. Then he smashed them[fn] there and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley.

Josiah also removed all the shrines of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to anger the LORD. Josiah did the same things to them that he had done at Bethel.

During his reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went to confront him, and at Megiddo when Neco saw him he killed him.

During Jehoiakim's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked. Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, and then he turned and rebelled against him.

these mentioned by name were leaders in their families. Their ancestral houses increased greatly.

They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its surrounding villages, and throughout the pasturelands of Sharon.

These were the places assigned to Aaron's descendants from the Kohathite family for their settlements in their territory, because the first lot was for them.

All Israel was registered in the genealogies that are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. But Judah was exiled to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun;

and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah who lived in the settlements of the Netophathites.

The total number of those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds was 212. They were registered by genealogy in their settlements. David and the seer Samuel had appointed them to their trusted positions.

Their relatives came from their settlements at fixed times to be with them seven days,

Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD because he did not keep the LORD's word. He even consulted a medium for guidance,

Some Manassites defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. However, they did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers sent David away after a discussion. They said, “It will be our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”

The priests, Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be gatekeepers for the ark.

and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

And say, “Save us, God of our salvation;

gather us and rescue us from the nations

so that we may give thanks to your holy name

and rejoice in your praise.

“But a son will be born to you; he will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies, for his name will be Solomon,[fn] and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.

“Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the LORD on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed festivals, they are to offer them regularly in the LORD's presence according to the number prescribed for them.

Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king's storehouses.

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses.

the weight of refined gold for the altar of incense; and the plans for the chariot of[fn] the gold cherubim that spread out their wings and cover the ark of the LORD's covenant.

Now I am building a temple for the name of the LORD my God in order to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense before him, for displaying the rows of the Bread of the Presence continuously, and for sacrificing burnt offerings for the morning and the evening, the Sabbaths and the New Moons, and the appointed festivals of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel permanently.

the Levitical singers dressed in fine linen and carrying cymbals, harps, and lyres were standing east of the altar, and with them were 120 priests blowing trumpets. The Levitical singers were descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun and their sons and relatives.

may you hear in heaven

and forgive the sin of your people Israel.

May you restore them to the land

you gave them and their ancestors.

may you hear in heaven

and forgive the sin of your servants

and your people Israel,

so that you may teach them the good way

they should walk in.

May you send rain on your land

that you gave your people for an inheritance.

The priests and the Levites were standing at their stations. The Levites had the musical instruments of the LORD, which King David had made to give thanks to the LORD ​— ​“for his faithful love endures forever” ​— ​when he offered praise with them. Across from the Levites, the priests were blowing trumpets, and all the people were standing.

and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

He followed the daily requirement for offerings according to the commandment of Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons, and the three annual appointed festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Shelters.

The remaining events of Solomon's reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of the Prophet Nathan, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the Visions of the Seer Iddo concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat.

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked in the ways of David and Solomon for three years.

Rehoboam also showed discernment by dispersing some of his sons to all the regions of Judah and Benjamin and to all the fortified cities. He gave them plenty of provisions and sought many wives for them.

“But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not abandoned him; the priests ministering to the LORD are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites serve at their tasks.

Judah turned and discovered that the battle was in front of them and behind them, so they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets,

Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land experienced peace for ten years.

He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the LORD's instruction with them. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city.

“For every dispute that comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities ​— ​whether it regards differences of bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, or judgments ​— ​you are to warn them, so they will not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath will not come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not incur guilt.

He walked in the ways of Asa his father; he did not turn away from it but did what was right in the LORD's sight.

During Jehoram's reign, Edom rebelled against Judah's control and appointed their own king.

He also followed their advice and went with Joram[fn] son of Israel's King Ahab to fight against King Hazael of Aram, in Ramoth-gilead. The Arameans[fn] wounded Joram,

As she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar[fn] at the entrance. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praise. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason! ”

“For the sons of that wicked Athaliah broke into the LORD's temple and even used the sacred things of the LORD's temple for the Baals.”

and they abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and served the Asherah poles and the idols. So there was wrath against Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.

He sought God throughout the lifetime of Zechariah, the teacher of the fear[fn] of God. During the time that he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

They said to them, “You must not bring the captives here, for you plan to bring guilt on us from the LORD to add to our sins and our guilt. For we have much guilt, and burning anger is on Israel.”

The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the hand of the king and his officials, and according to the king's command, saying, “Israelites, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel so that he may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.

Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites for the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD, each division corresponding to his service among the priests and Levites.

As for the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought a tenth of the herds and flocks, and a tenth of the dedicated things that were consecrated to the LORD their God. They gathered them into large piles.

They distributed also to those recorded by genealogy of the priests by their ancestral families[fn] and the Levites twenty years old and above, by their responsibilities in their divisions;

In those days Hezekiah became sick to the point of death, so he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a miraculous sign.

Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart ​— ​he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem ​— ​so the LORD's wrath didn't come on them during Hezekiah's lifetime.

He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down and reestablished the altars for the Baals. He made Asherah poles, and he bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served them.

He built altars to all the stars in the sky in both courtyards of the LORD's temple.

After this, he built the outer wall of the city of David from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate; he brought it around Ophel, and he heightened it considerably. He also placed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.

Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut[fn] stones, and its beams are being set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people's efforts.

King Darius gave the order, and they searched in the library of Babylon in the archives.[fn]

I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates River:

Whatever Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of the heavens, asks of you must be provided in full,

Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our ancestors until the present. Because of our iniquities we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings, and to the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame, as it is today.

When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it ​— ​though at that time I had not installed the doors in the city gates ​— ​

During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.

So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.”

You warned them to turn back to your law,

but they acted arrogantly

and would not obey your commands.

They sinned against your ordinances,

which a person will live by if he does them.

They stubbornly resisted,[fn]

stiffened their necks, and would not obey.

Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns.

On that same day men were placed in charge of the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tenths. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields, because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving.

At that time I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.

In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus, who ruled 127 provinces from India to Cush.

Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women of King Ahasuerus's palace.

He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

“Let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom, so that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem at the fortress of Susa. Put them under the supervision of Hegai, the king's eunuch, keeper of the women, and give them the required beauty treatments.

The young woman pleased him and gained his favor so that he accelerated the process of the beauty treatments and the special diet that she received. He assigned seven hand-picked female servants to her from the palace and transferred her and her servants to the harem's best quarters.

The king held a great banquet for all his officials and staff. It was Esther's banquet. He freed his provinces from tax payments and gave gifts worthy of the king's bounty.

The royal scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. It was intended for the royal satraps, the governors of each of the provinces, and the officials of each ethnic group and written for each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring.

This explains why the rural Jews who live in villages observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a time of rejoicing and feasting. It is a holiday when they send gifts to one another.

because during those days the Jews gained relief from their enemies. That was the month when their sorrow was turned into rejoicing and their mourning into a holiday. They were to be days of feasting, rejoicing, and of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.

Why is light given to one burdened with grief,

and life to those whose existence is bitter,

His troops advance together;

they construct a ramp[fn] against me

and camp around my tent.

If my step has turned from the way,

my heart has followed my eyes,

or impurity has stained my hands,

Be angry[fn] and do not sin;

reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent.Selah

For there is nothing reliable in what they say;

destruction is within them;

their throat is an open grave;

they flatter with their tongues.

so that I may declare all your praises.

I will rejoice in your salvation

within the gates of Daughter Zion.

For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings;

the one who is greedy curses[fn] and despises the LORD.

All have turned away;

all alike have become corrupt.

There is no one who does good,

not even one.

My steps are on your paths;

my feet have not slipped.

Do not drag me away with the wicked,

with the evildoers,

who speak in friendly ways with their neighbors

while malice is in their hearts.

The course of my life is in your power;

rescue me from the power of my enemies

and from my persecutors.

God, we have heard with our ears —

our ancestors have told us —

the work you accomplished in their days,

in days long ago:

But you have rejected and humiliated us;

you do not march out with our armies.

God is our refuge and strength,

a helper who is always found

in times of trouble.

God is known as a stronghold

in its citadels.

“I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices

or for your burnt offerings,

which are continually before me.

Let death take them by surprise;

let them go down to Sheol alive,

because evil is in their homes and within them.

God, haven't you rejected us?

God, you do not march out with our armies.

How happy is the one you choose

and bring near to live in your courts!

We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,

the holiness of your temple.[fn]

You soften it with showers and bless its growth,

soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.

Rebuke the beast in the reeds,

the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.

Trample underfoot those with bars of silver.[fn]

Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war.

Ascribe power to God.

His majesty is over Israel;

his power is among the clouds.

May the righteous[fn] flourish in his days

and well-being abound

until the moon is no more.

But as for me, God's presence is my good.

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,

so I can tell about all you do.

The brave-hearted have been plundered;

they have slipped into their final sleep.

None of the warriors was able to lift a hand.

I sought the Lord in my day of trouble.

My hands were continually lifted up

all night long;

I refused to be comforted.

They deliberately[fn] tested God,

demanding the food they craved.

Yet he was compassionate;

he atoned for their iniquity

and did not destroy them.

He often turned his anger aside

and did not unleash[fn] all his wrath.

He shepherded them with a pure heart

and guided them with his skillful hands.

God of our salvation, help us,

for the glory of your name.

Rescue us and atone for our sins,

for your name's sake.

“If only my people would listen to me

and Israel would follow my ways,

Better a day in your courts

than a thousand anywhere else.

I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God

than live in the tents of wicked people.

Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love

so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.

For he will give his angels orders concerning you,

to protect you in all your ways.

Planted in the house of the LORD,

they thrive in the courts of our God.

He forgives all your iniquity;

he heals all your diseases.

The high mountains are for the wild goats;

the cliffs are a refuge for hyraxes.

The sun rises; they go back

and lie down in their dens.

Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold,

and no one among his tribes stumbled.

and would disperse their descendants[fn]

among the nations,

scattering them throughout the lands.

He rescued them many times,

but they continued to rebel deliberately

and were beaten down by their iniquity.

God, haven't you rejected us?

God, you do not march out with our armies.

Your people will volunteer

on your day of battle.[fn]

In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn,

the dew of your youth belongs to you.[fn]

Hallelujah![fn]

Happy is the person who fears the LORD,

taking great delight in his commands.

Because he has turned his ear to me,

I will call out to him as long as I live.

They do nothing wrong;

they walk in his ways.

I will meditate on your precepts

and think about your ways.

I delight in your commands,

which I love.

Teach me good judgment and discernment,

for I rely on your commands.

Let the arrogant be put to shame

for slandering me with lies;

I will meditate on your precepts.

Your word is a lamp for my feet

and a light on my path.

My life is constantly in danger,[fn]

yet I do not forget your instruction.

Our feet were standing

within your gates, Jerusalem —

“may there be peace within your walls,

security within your fortresses.”

How happy is everyone who fears the LORD,

who walks in his ways!

Lift up your hands in the holy place

and bless the LORD!

The LORD does whatever he pleases

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all the depths.

There we hung up our lyres

on the poplar trees,

They will sing of the LORD's ways,

for the LORD's glory is great.

Let the righteous one strike me —

it is an act of faithful love;

let him rebuke me —

it is oil for my head;

let me[fn] not refuse it.

Even now my prayer is against

the evil acts of the wicked.[fn]

Our storehouses will be full,

supplying all kinds of produce;

our flocks will increase by thousands

and tens of thousands in our open fields.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways

and faithful in all his acts.

He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;

he does not value the power of a warrior.[fn]

Let the exaltation of God be in their mouths[fn]

and a double-edged sword in their hands,

Praise him for his powerful acts;

praise him for his abundant greatness.

They will be life for you[fn]

and adornment[fn] for your neck.

calling to those who pass by,

who go straight ahead on their paths:

Those with twisted minds are detestable to the LORD,

but those with blameless conduct are his delight.

Every wise woman builds her house,

but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

The slacker says, “There's a lion outside!

I'll be killed in the public square! ”

The slacker says, “There's a lion in the road —

a lion in the public square! ”

She selects wool and flax

and works with willing hands.

She rises while it is still night

and provides food for her household

and portions[fn] for her female servants.

One who watches the wind will not sow,

and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.

on the day when the guardians of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

the women who grind grain cease because they are few,

and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you

by the gazelles and the wild does of the field,

do not stir up or awaken love

until the appropriate time.[fn]

I will arise now and go about the city,

through the streets and the plazas.

I will seek the one I love.

I sought him, but did not find him.

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you

by the gazelles and the wild does of the field,

do not stir up or awaken love

until the appropriate time.[fn]

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you,

if you find my love,

tell him that I am lovesick.

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you,

do not stir up or awaken love

until the appropriate time.

In the last days

the mountain of the LORD's house will be established

at the top of the mountains

and will be raised above the hills.

All nations will stream to it,

On that day people will throw

their worthless idols of silver and gold,

which they made to worship,

to the moles and the bats.

I will make it a wasteland.

It will not be pruned or weeded;

thorns and briers will grow up.

I will also give orders to the clouds

that rain should not fall on it.

Seraphim[fn] were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

This took place during the reign of Ahaz, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah king of Judah: Aram's King Rezin and Israel's King Pekah son of Remaliah went to fight against Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it.

All of them will come and settle

in the steep ravines, in the clefts of the rocks,

in all the thornbushes, and in all the water holes.

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger —

the staff in their hands is my wrath.

Prepare a place of slaughter for his sons,

because of the iniquity of their ancestors.

They will never rise up to possess a land

or fill the surface of the earth with cities.

In its streets they wear sackcloth;

on its rooftops and in its public squares everyone wails,

falling down and weeping.

And at the end of the seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre and she will go back into business, prostituting herself with all the kingdoms of the world throughout the earth.

Therefore, in the east honor the LORD!

In the coasts and islands of the west

honor the name of the LORD,

the God of Israel.

Look, the Lord has a strong and mighty one —

like a devastating hail storm,

like a storm with strong flooding water.

He will bring it across the land with his hand.

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good,” for he thought: There will be peace and security during my lifetime.

Zion, herald of good news,

go up on a high mountain.

Jerusalem, herald of good news,

raise your voice loudly.

Raise it, do not be afraid!

Say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God! ”

Let them give glory to the LORD

and declare his praise in the coasts and islands.

Who gave Jacob to the robber,[fn]

and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the LORD?

Have we not sinned against him?

They were not willing to walk in his ways,

and they would not listen to his instruction.

“You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings

or honored me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings

or wearied you with incense.[fn]

who confirms the message of his servant

and fulfills the counsel of his messengers;

who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,”

and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,”

and I will restore her ruins;

“So take your stand with your spells

and your many sorceries,

which you have wearied yourself with from your youth.

Perhaps you will be able to succeed;

perhaps you will inspire terror!

saying to the prisoners, “Come out,”

and to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.”

They will feed along the pathways,

and their pastures will be on all the barren heights.

This is what the LORD says:

Where is your mother's divorce certificate

that I used to send her away?

Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?

Look, you were sold for your iniquities,

and your mother was sent away

because of your transgressions.

We all went astray like sheep;

we all have turned to our own way;

and the LORD has punished him

for[fn] the iniquity of us all.

“Pay attention and come to me;

listen, so that you will live.

I will make a permanent covenant with you

on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.[fn]

These dogs have fierce appetites;

they never have enough.

And they are shepherds

who have no discernment;

all of them turn to their own way,

every last one for his own profit.

who burn with lust among the oaks,

under every green tree,

who slaughter children in the wadis

below the clefts of the rocks?

You became weary on your many journeys,

but you did not say, “It's hopeless! ”

You found a renewal of your strength;[fn]

therefore you did not grow weak.

“Because of his sinful greed I was angry,

so I struck him; I was angry and hid;

but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart.

“Why have we fasted, but you have not seen?

We have denied ourselves, but you haven't noticed! ”[fn]

“Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast,

and oppress all your workers.

Their feet run after evil,

and they rush to shed innocent blood.

Their thoughts are sinful thoughts;

ruin and wretchedness are in their paths.

Justice is turned back,

and righteousness stands far off.

For truth has stumbled in the public square,

and honesty cannot enter.

For those who gather grain will eat it

and praise the LORD,

and those who harvest the grapes will drink the wine

in my holy courts.

“These people continually anger me

to my face,

sacrificing in gardens,

burning incense on bricks,

The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.

Even if you wash with lye

and use a great amount of bleach,[fn]

the stain of your iniquity is still in front of me.

This is the Lord GOD's declaration.

How skillfully you pursue love;

you also teach evil women your ways.

Look to the barren heights and see.

Where have you not been immoral?

You sat waiting for them beside the highways

like a nomad in the desert.

You have defiled the land

with your prostitution and wickedness.

In the days of King Josiah the LORD asked me, “Have you seen what unfaithful Israel has done? She has ascended every high hill and gone under every green tree to prostitute herself there.

“When you multiply and increase in the land, in those days ​— ​this is the LORD's declaration ​— ​no one will say again, “The ark of the LORD's covenant.” It will never come to mind, and no one will remember or miss it. Another one will not be made.[fn]

A sound is heard on the barren heights:

the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy,

for they have perverted their way;

they have forgotten the LORD their God.

Roam through the streets of Jerusalem.

Investigate;[fn]

search in her squares.

If you find one person,

any who acts justly,

who pursues faithfulness,

then I will forgive her.

Therefore, a lion from the forest will strike them down.

A wolf from arid plains will ravage them.

A leopard stalks their cities.

Anyone who leaves them will be torn to pieces

because their rebellious acts are many,

their unfaithful deeds numerous.

“But even in those days” ​— ​this is the LORD's declaration ​— ​“I will not finish you off.

“The prophets prophesy falsely,

and the priests rule by their own authority.

My people love it like this.

But what will you do at the end of it?

This is what the LORD says:

Stand by the roadways and look.

Ask about the ancient paths,

“Which is the way to what is good? ”

Then take it

and find rest for yourselves.

But they protested, “We won't! ”

Don't go out to the fields;

don't walk on the road.

For the enemy has a sword;

terror is on every side.