LXX Concordance for σοι

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

And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it':

The ground is cursed because of you.

You will eat from it by means of painful labor[fn]

all the days of your life.

“If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

The LORD said to Abram:

Go from your land,

your relatives,

and your father's house

to the land that I will show you.

and blessed be God Most High

who has handed over your enemies to you.

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

He also said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

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.

“And to you and your future offspring[fn] I will give the land where you are residing ​— ​all the land of Canaan ​— ​as a permanent possession, and I will be their God.”

“I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac.[fn] I will confirm my covenant with him as a permanent covenant for his future offspring.

“But I will confirm my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”

Then the angels said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here: a son-in-law, your sons and daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of this place,

Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you want.”[fn]

But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed[fn] about the boy and about your slave. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her, because your offspring will be traced through Isaac,

“Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

“No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the sight[fn] of my people. Bury your dead.”

“Then you will be free from my oath if you go to my family and they do not give her to you ​— ​you will be free from my oath.'

Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.[fn]

The LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land that I tell you about;

“You will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done only what was good to you, sending you away in peace. You are now blessed by the LORD.”

“Now, my son, listen to me and do what I tell you.

May God give to you —

from the dew of the sky

and from the richness of the land —

an abundance of grain and new wine.

When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she summoned her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Listen, your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you.

“May God give you and your offspring the blessing of Abraham so that you may possess the land where you live as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”

“Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

“This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God's house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.”

Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I'll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

“Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me.”

But Leah replied to her, “Isn't it enough that you have taken my husband? Now you also want to take my son's mandrakes? ”

“Well then,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes.”

“Give me my wives and my children that I have worked for, and let me go. You know how hard I have worked for you.”

So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your herds have fared with me.

“And he said, ‘Look up and see: all the males that are mating with the flocks are streaked, spotted, and speckled, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.

“In fact, all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has said to you.”

“I did not bring you any of the flock torn by wild beasts; I myself bore the loss. You demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or by night.

“For twenty years in your household I served you ​— ​fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks ​— ​and you have changed my wages ten times!

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau; he is coming to meet you ​— ​and he has four hundred men with him.”

And he told the first one, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to? Where are you going? And whose animals are these ahead of you? '

“I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”

“Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.

God said to Jacob, “Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had? ” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you? ”

“I will send you a young goat from my flock,” he replied.

But she said, “Only if you leave something with me until you send it.”

“But when all goes well for you, remember that I was with you. Please show kindness to me by mentioning me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison.

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are.

“If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

“Now please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave, in place of the boy. Let him go back with his brothers.

“He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and numerous; I will make many nations come from you, and I will give this land as a permanent possession to your future descendants.'

When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these? ”

“Over and above what I am giving your brothers, I am giving you the one mountain slope[fn] that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”

“Judah, your brothers will praise you.

Your hand will be on the necks of your enemies;

your father's sons will bow down to you.

“by the God of your father who helps you,

and by the Almighty who blesses you

with blessings of the heavens above,

blessings of the deep that lies below,

and blessings of the breasts and the womb.

“‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers' transgression and their sin ​— ​the suffering they caused you.' Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when their message came to him.

Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Should I go and call a Hebrew woman who is nursing to nurse the boy for you? ”

Then Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.” So the woman took the boy and nursed him.

He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship[fn] God at this mountain.”

Moses answered, “What if they won't believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you'? ”

“This will take place,” he continued, “so that they will believe that the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

“If they will not believe you and will not respond to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign.

Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn't Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you.

“He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him.

“I told you: Let my son go so that he may worship me, but you refused to let him go. Look, I am about to kill your firstborn son! ”

“You must say whatever I command you; then Aaron your brother must declare it to Pharaoh so that he will let the Israelites go from his land.

“As you have said,” Moses replied, “I will never see your face again.”

“When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites,[fn] which he swore to your ancestors that he would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you must carry out this ceremony in this month.

“Unleavened bread is to be eaten for those seven days. Nothing leavened may be found among you, and no yeast may be found among you in all your territory.

“Let it serve as a sign for you on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead,[fn] so that the LORD's instruction may be in your mouth; for the LORD brought you out of Egypt with a strong hand.

“When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and gives it to you,

LORD, who is like you among the gods?

Who is like you, glorious in holiness,

revered with praises, performing wonders?

When Moses's father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this you're doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening? ”

“You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone.

“They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every major case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load,[fn] and they will bear it with you.

Do not have other gods besides me.

Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

“When you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for six years; then in the seventh he is to leave as a free man[fn] without paying anything.

“But if he did not intend any harm,[fn] and yet God allowed it to happen, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee.

“Observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib,[fn] because you came out of Egypt in that month. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.

“But if you will carefully obey him and do everything I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.

“They must not remain in your land, or else they will make you sin against me. If you serve their gods, it will be a snare for you.”

The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay there so that I may give you the stone tablets with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

“You must make it according to all that I show you ​— ​the pattern of the tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings.

“Put the tablets of[fn] the testimony that I will give you into the ark.

“Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark.

“Be careful to make them according to the pattern you have been shown on the mountain.

“You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you have been shown on the mountain.

“Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. They are to make it just as it was shown to you on the mountain.

“You are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil from crushed olives for the light, in order to keep the lamp burning regularly.

“Take the breast from the ram of Aaron's ordination and present it as a presentation offering before the LORD; it is to be your portion.

“This is what you are to do for Aaron and his sons based on all I have commanded you. Take seven days to ordain them.

“This will be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you[fn] to speak with you.

“You are to place the altar in front of the curtain by the ark of the testimony ​— ​in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony ​— ​where I will meet with you.

“Grind some of it into a fine powder and put some in front of the testimony in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It must be especially holy to you.

“I have also selected Oholiab[fn] son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be with him. I have put wisdom in the heart of every skilled artisan[fn] in order to make all that I have commanded you:

“the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary. They must make them according to all that I have commanded you.”

Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin? ”

“Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, my angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.”

For the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites: You are a stiff-necked people. If I went up with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.”

The LORD answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”

“Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

And the LORD responded, “Look, I am making a covenant. In the presence of all your people I will perform wonders that have never been done[fn] in the whole earth or in any nation. All the people you live among will see the LORD's work, for what I am doing with you is awe-inspiring.

“Observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. You are to eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib,[fn] as I commanded you, for you came out of Egypt in the month of Abib.

The LORD also said to Moses, “Write down these words, for I have made a covenant with you and with Israel based on these words.”

“Whatever the land produces during the Sabbath year can be food for you ​— ​for yourself, your male or female slave, and the hired worker or alien who resides with you.

“You are to count seven sabbatical years, seven times seven years, so that the time period of the seven sabbatical years amounts to forty-nine.

“You are to make the purchase from your neighbor based on the number of years since the last Jubilee. He is to sell to you based on the number of remaining harvest years.

“If your brother among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, you must not force him to do slave labor.

“Your male and female slaves are to be from the nations around you; you may purchase male and female slaves.

“may the LORD look with favor on you[fn]

and give you peace.” '

“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to summon the community and have the camps set out.

“Then place them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony where I meet with you.

“But also bring your relatives with you from the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, so they may join you and assist you and your sons in front of the tent of the testimony.

“You are to eat it as a most holy offering.[fn] Every male may eat it; it is to be holy to you.

The LORD told Aaron, “You will not have an inheritance in their land; there will be no portion among them for you. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

But Edom answered him, “You will not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

Woe to you, Moab!

You have been destroyed, people of Chemosh!

He gave up his sons as refugees,

and his daughters into captivity

to Sihon the Amorite king.

“for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me! ' ”

Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times? ”

But the donkey said, “Am I not the donkey you've ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before? ”

“No,” he replied.

Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back.”

Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone. Maybe the LORD will meet with me. I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So he went to a barren hill.

But Balaam answered him, “Didn't I tell you: Whatever the LORD says, I must do? ”

“Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”

“Joshua son of Nun, who attends you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit it.

“But the LORD was angry with me because of you[fn] and would not listen to me. The LORD said to me, ‘That's enough! Do not speak to me again about this matter.

“The LORD was angry with me on your account. He swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

“He let you hear his voice from heaven to instruct you. He showed you his great fire on earth, and you heard his words from the fire.

“to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance, as is now taking place.

“Keep his statutes and commands, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper and so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you for all time.”

“Do not have other gods besides me.

“Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the LORD your God has commanded you.

“Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

“Be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or the left.

“Do this so that you may fear the LORD your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life.

“These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give you ​— ​a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build,

“Carefully observe the commands of the LORD your God, the decrees and statutes he has commanded you.

“So keep the command ​— ​the statutes and ordinances ​— ​that I am giving you to follow today.

“You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God is delivering over to you and not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

“He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

“When you eat and are full, you will bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

“and your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold multiply, and everything else you have increases,

“He led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its poisonous[fn] snakes and scorpions, a thirsty land where there was no water. He brought water out of the flint rock for you.

“but remember that the LORD your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm his covenant he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

“But understand that today the LORD your God will cross over ahead of you as a consuming fire; he will devastate and subdue them before you. You will drive them out and destroy them swiftly, as the LORD has told you.

“Understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.

“Keep the LORD's commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good.

“Keep every command I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to cross into and possess the land you are to inherit,

“If you carefully obey my commands I am giving you today, to love the LORD your God and worship him 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 ​— ​

“You must offer your burnt offerings only in the place the LORD chooses in one of your tribes, and there you must do everything I command you.

“When the LORD your God enlarges your territory as he has promised you, and you say, ‘I want to eat meat' because you have a strong desire to eat meat, you may eat it whenever you want.

“Do not eat it, so that you and your children after you will prosper, because you will be doing what is right in the LORD's sight.

“Be careful to obey all these things I command you, so that you and your children after you may prosper forever, because you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.

“Be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it.

“If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

“That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has urged rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the place of slavery, to turn you from the way the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. You must purge the evil from you.

“any of the gods of the peoples around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other ​— ​

“If you hear it said about one of your cities the LORD your God is giving you to live in,

“Nothing set apart for destruction is to remain in your hand, so that the LORD will turn from his burning anger and grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as he swore to your ancestors.

“This is how to cancel debt: Every creditor[fn] is to cancel what he has lent his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD's release of debts has been proclaimed.

“For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘Open your hand willingly to your poor and needy brother in your land.'

“Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.

“take an awl and pierce through his ear into the door, and he will become your slave for life. Also treat your female slave the same way.

“No yeast is to be found anywhere in your territory for seven days, and none of the meat you sacrifice in the evening of the first day is to remain until morning.

“You are to celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the LORD your God with a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how the LORD your God has blessed you.

“Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you.

“Pursue justice and justice alone, so that you will live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.

“If a man or woman among you in one of your towns that the LORD your God will give you is discovered doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God and violating his covenant

“and if you are told or hear about it, then investigate it thoroughly. If the report turns out to be true that this detestable act has been done in Israel,

“You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Ask, and they will give you a verdict in the case.

“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, take possession of it, live in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations around me,'

“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable customs of those nations.

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

“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,

“This is why I am commanding you to set apart three cities for yourselves.

“Do not look on him with pity but purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, and you will prosper.

“If it accepts your offer of peace and opens its gates to you, all the people found in it will become forced laborers for you and serve you.

“But you may take the women, dependents, animals, and whatever else is in the city ​— ​all its spoil ​— ​as plunder. You may enjoy the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you.

“However, you must not let any living thing survive among the cities of these people the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

“If a murder victim is found lying in a field in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him,

“When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you take some of them prisoner, and

“you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

“You may take the young for yourself, but be sure to let the mother go free, so that you may prosper and live long.

“You are to have a place outside the camp and go there to relieve yourself.

“Do not return a slave to his master when he has escaped from his master to you.

“Stand outside while the man you are making the loan to brings the security out to you.

“Be sure to return it[fn] to him at sunset. Then he will sleep in it and bless you, and this will be counted as righteousness to you before the LORD your God.

“Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

“When you knock down the fruit from your olive tree, do not go over the branches again. What remains will be for the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow.

“Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

“You must have a full and honest weight, a full and honest dry measure, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

“Remember what the Amalekites did to you on the journey after you left Egypt.

“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and live in it,

“You, the Levites, and the resident aliens among you will rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given you and your household.

“The LORD your God is commanding you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. Follow them carefully with all your heart and all your soul.

“And today the LORD has affirmed that you are his own possession as he promised you, that you are to keep all his commands,

“When you cross the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster.

“Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and statutes I am giving you today.”

“Now if you faithfully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today, the LORD your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth.

“The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you from one direction but flee from you in seven directions.

“Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you bear the LORD's name, and they will stand in awe of you.

“The LORD will send against you curses, confusion, and rebuke in everything you do until you are destroyed and quickly perish, because of the wickedness of your actions in abandoning me.

“The sky above you will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron.

“so that at noon you will grope as a blind person gropes in the dark. You will not be successful in anything you do. You will only be oppressed and robbed continually, and no one will help you.

“Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be taken away from you and not returned to you. Your flock will be given to your enemies, and no one will help you.

“You will have olive trees throughout your territory but not moisten your skin with oil, because your olives will drop off.

“He will lend to you, but you won't lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.

“They will eat the offspring of your livestock and your land's produce until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine, fresh oil, young of your herds, or newborn of your flocks until they cause you to perish.

“You will find no peace among those nations, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despondent spirit.

“and so that he may establish you today as his people and he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“and you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul by doing[fn] everything I am commanding you today,

“Then you will again obey him and follow all his commands I am commanding you today.

“This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach.

“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.

“I tell you today that you will certainly perish and will not prolong your days in the land you are entering to possess across the Jordan.

Remember the days of old;

consider the years of past generations.

Ask your father, and he will tell you,

your elders, and they will teach you.

How happy you are, Israel!

Who is like you,

a people saved by the LORD?

He is the shield that protects you,

the sword you boast in.

Your enemies will cringe before you,

and you will tread on their backs.[fn]

“Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.

“Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

“Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous! ”

The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us. How can we make a treaty with you? ”

“all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, all the Sidonians.

I will drive them out before the Israelites, only distribute the land as an inheritance for Israel, as I have commanded you.

When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you? ”

So Joshua replied to Joseph's family (that is, Ephraim and Manasseh), “You have many people and great strength. You will not have just one allotment,

When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want? ”

Then he said to her, “Stand at the entrance to the tent. If a man comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here? ' say, ‘No.' ”

When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he went in with her, and there was Sisera lying dead with a tent peg through his temple!

But the LORD said to him, “Peace to you. Don't be afraid, for you will not die.”

“Build a well-constructed altar to the LORD your God on the top of this mound. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”

Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many troops. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one can go with you,' he can go. But if I say about anyone, ‘This one cannot go with you,' he cannot go.”

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

“Isn't it true that you can have whatever your god Chemosh conquers for you, and we can have whatever the LORD our God conquers for us?

“I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by fighting against me. Let the LORD who is the judge decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

Then she said to him, “My father, you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me as you have said, for the LORD brought vengeance on your enemies, the Ammonites.”

Then Manoah said to him, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your words come true? ”

On the fourth[fn] day they said to Samson's wife, “Persuade your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father's family to death. Did you invite us here to rob us? ”

“I was sure you hated her,” her father said, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Isn't her younger sister more beautiful than she is? Why not take her instead? ”

The Philistine leaders went to her and said, “Persuade him to tell you[fn] where his great strength comes from, so we can overpower him, tie him up, and make him helpless. Each of us will then give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”

He said to his mother, “The 1,100 pieces of silver taken from you, and that I heard you place a curse on ​— ​here's the silver. I took it.”

Then his mother said, “My son, may you be blessed by the LORD! ”

Micah replied,[fn] “Stay with me and be my father and priest, and I will give you four ounces of silver a year, along with your clothing and provisions.” So the Levite went in

They called to the Danites, who turned to face them, and said to Micah, “What's the matter with you that you mustered the men? ”

“Welcome! ” said the old man. “I'll take care of everything you need. Only don't spend the night in the square.”

“Hannah, why are you crying? ” her husband, Elkanah, would ask. “Why won't you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than ten sons? ”

Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you've made of him.”

Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife: “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she[fn] has given to the LORD.” Then they would go home.

“Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief[fn] and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.[fn][fn]

“What was the message he gave you? ” Eli asked. “Don't hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that he told you.”

But the LORD told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.

When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man I told you about; he will govern my people.”

“I am the seer,” Samuel answered.[fn] “Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. When I send you off in the morning, I'll tell you everything that's in your heart.

Then Samuel said to the cook, “Get the portion of meat that I gave you and told you to set aside.”

Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it out on Saul's head, kissed him, and said, “Hasn't the LORD anointed you ruler over his inheritance?[fn]

“They will ask how you are and give you two loaves[fn] of bread, which you will accept from them.

“Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

“Tell me,” Saul's uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you? ”

Nahash[fn] the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”

“Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned the LORD and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.'

Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. It was at this time that the LORD would have permanently established your reign over Israel,

“Stop! ” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” he replied.

“and then sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.'

“Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”

“Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God comes on you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”

“I'll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I'll tell you.”

Jonathan said to him, “No, you won't die. Listen, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This can't be true.”

Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

“If he says, ‘Good,' then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions.

“No! ” Jonathan responded. “If I ever find out my father has evil intentions against you, wouldn't I tell you about it? ”

“Then I will send a servant and say, ‘Go and find the arrows! ' Now, if I expressly say to the servant, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you ​— ​get them,' then come, because as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no problem.

David answered the priest Ahimelech, “The king gave me a mission, but he told me, ‘Don't let anyone know anything about the mission I'm sending you on or what I have ordered you to do.' I have stationed my young men at a certain place.

saying, “Don't be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I'll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”

and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.

“I hear that you are shearing.[fn] When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.

“Now my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live ​— ​it is the LORD who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself by your own hand—may your enemies and those who intend to harm my lord be like Nabal.

“When the LORD does for my lord all the good he promised you and appoints you ruler over Israel,

Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I tell you.”

Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment will come to you[fn] from this.”

“The LORD has done[fn] exactly what he said through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.

“But what have I done? ” David replied to Achish. “From the first day I entered your service until today, what have you found against your servant to keep me from going to fight against the enemies of my lord the king? ”

“ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“ ‘The LORD declares to you: The LORD himself will make a house for you.

since you, LORD of Armies, God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant when you said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you.

“Don't be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul's fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”

the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he's showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn't David sent his emissaries in order to scout out the city, spy on it, and demolish it? ”

“if the king's anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall?

“I gave your master's house to you and your master's wives into your arms,[fn] and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.

“Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife.'

“However, because you treated[fn] the LORD with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”

and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king's son, so miserable every morning? Won't you tell me? ”

Amnon replied, “I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.”

“What's the matter? ” the king asked her.

“Sadly, I am a widow; my husband died,” she said.

Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.”

The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these? ”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

“You just saw him! ” Joab exclaimed.[fn] “Why didn't you strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten silver pieces[fn] and a belt! ”

However, Ahimaaz son of Zadok persisted and said to Joab, “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite! ”

Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to run since you won't get a reward? ”[fn]

Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: The LORD has vindicated you today by freeing you from all who rise against you! ”

“Now get up! Go out and encourage[fn] your soldiers, for I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now! ”

The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me I will do for you.”

Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, LORD;

I will sing praises about your name.

“Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am offering you three choices. Choose one of them, and I will do it to you.' ”

“Now please come and let me advise you. Save your life and the life of your son Solomon.

Bathsheba knelt low and paid homage to the king, and he asked, “What do you want? ”

“just as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne in my place, that is exactly what I will do this very day.”

“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,

It was reported to King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the LORD's tabernacle and is now beside the altar.”

Then Solomon sent[fn] Benaiah son of Jehoiada and told him, “Go and strike him down! ”

So the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Didn't I make you swear by the LORD and warn you, saying, ‘On the day you leave and go anywhere else, know for sure that you will certainly die'? And you said to me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will obey.'

“I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.

“Therefore, command that cedars from Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants' wages according to whatever you say, for you know that not a man among us knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

But will God indeed live on earth?

Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you,

much less this temple I have built.

When your people Israel are defeated before an enemy,

because they have sinned against you,

and they return to you and praise your name,

and they pray and plead with you

for mercy in this temple,

When the skies are shut and there is no rain,

because they have sinned against you,

and they pray toward this place

and praise your name,

and they turn from their sins

because you are afflicting them,

When they sin against you —

for there is no one who does not sin —

and you are angry with them

and hand them over to the enemy,

and their captors deport them to the enemy's country —

whether distant or nearby —

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.

The LORD said to him:

I have heard your prayer and petition you have made before me. I have consecrated this temple you have built, to put[fn] my name there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there at all times.

I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David: You will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.

Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Since you have done this[fn] and did not keep my covenant and my statutes, which I commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand. I will give you ten tribes,

“I will take ten tribes of the kingdom from his son and give them to you.

“ ‘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.

“Your father made our yoke harsh. You, therefore, lighten your father's harsh service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

They replied, “Today if you will be a servant to this people and serve them, and if you respond to them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

Then the king declared to the man of God, “Come home with me, refresh yourself, and I'll give you a reward.”

and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you rebelled against the LORD's command and did not keep the command that the LORD your God commanded you ​— ​

“There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.”

Wasn't it reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the LORD's prophets? I hid a hundred of the prophets of the LORD, fifty men to a cave, and I provided them with food and water.

Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.”

“Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you? ”

“Raise another army for yourself like the army you lost ​— ​horse for horse, chariot for chariot ​— ​and let's fight with them on the plain; and we will certainly be stronger than they are.” The king listened to them and did it.

Then Ben-hadad said to him, “I restore to you the cities that my father took from your father, and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, like my father set up in Samaria.”

Ahab responded, “On the basis of this treaty, I release you.” So he made a treaty with him and released him.

So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard so I can have it for a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”

“Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,” he replied. “I told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place.' But he said, ‘I won't give you my vineyard! ' ”

When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite who refused to give it to you for silver, since Naboth isn't alive, but dead.”

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”

So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.”

Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab? ”

Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house? ”

She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”

Then he said to Gehazi, “Say to her, ‘Look, you've gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army? ' ”

She answered, “I am living among my own people.”

Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Go fast; don't slow the pace for me unless I tell you.”

“Run out to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your son all right? ' ”

And she answered, “It's all right.”

Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”

“And my heart didn't go[fn] when the man got down from his chariot to meet you,” Elisha said. “Is this a time to accept silver and clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, flocks and herds, and male and female slaves?

Then the king asked her, “What's the matter? ”

She said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.'

Hazael left Elisha and went to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you? ”

He responded, “He told me you are sure to recover.”

So a horseman went to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace? ' ”

Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”

The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them but hasn't started back.”

Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in my heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

The word of the LORD that he spoke to Jehu was, “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel,” and it was so.

“So now, make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I'll give you two thousand horses if you're able to supply riders for them!

“This will be the sign for you: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what grows from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

“Even previously when Saul was king, you were leading Israel out to battle and bringing us back. The LORD your God also said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.' ”

Then the Spirit enveloped[fn] Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:

We are yours, David,

we are with you, son of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,

and peace to him who helps you,

for your God helps you.

So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.

“I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest on the earth.

“ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.

“ ‘Furthermore, I declare to you that the LORD himself will build a house for you.

LORD, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as all we have heard confirms.

the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he's showing respect for your father? Instead, haven't his emissaries come in order to scout out, overthrow, and spy on the land? ”

“Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am offering you three choices. Choose one of them for yourself, and I will do it to you.' ”

Then God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but when the angel was about to destroy the city,[fn] the LORD looked, relented concerning the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough, withdraw your hand now! ” The angel of the LORD was then standing at the threshing floor of Ornan[fn] the Jebusite.

King David answered Ornan, “No, I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

“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.

“Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when he puts you in charge of Israel so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.

“As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.

Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.

I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present[fn] here giving joyfully and[fn] willingly to you.

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask. What should I give you? ”

“wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, wealth, and glory, unlike what was given to the kings who were before you, or will be given to those after you.”

I have now sent Huram-abi,[fn] a skillful man who has understanding.

but I have built an exalted temple for you,

a place for your dwelling forever.

He said:

LORD God of Israel,

there is no God like you

in heaven or on earth,

who keeps his gracious covenant

with your servants who walk before you

with all their heart.

Therefore, LORD God of Israel,

keep what you promised

to your servant, my father David:

“You will never fail to have a man

to sit before me on the throne of Israel,

if only your sons take care to walk in my Law

as you have walked before me.”

But will God indeed live on earth with humans?

Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you,

much less this temple I have built.

If your people Israel are defeated before an enemy,

because they have sinned against you,

and they return to you and praise your name,

and they pray and plead for mercy

before you in this temple,

When the skies are shut and there is no rain

because they have sinned against you,

and they pray toward this place

and praise your name,

and they turn from their sins

because you are afflicting[fn] them,

When they sin against you —

for there is no one who does not sin —

and you are angry with them

and hand them over to the enemy,

and their captors deport them

to a distant or nearby country,

may you hear their prayer and petitions in heaven,

your dwelling place,

and uphold their cause.[fn]

May you forgive your people

who sinned against you.

As for you, if you walk before me as your father David walked, doing everything I have commanded you, and if you keep my statutes and ordinances,

“How happy are your men.[fn] How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom.

“Your father made our yoke harsh. Therefore, lighten your father's harsh service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

They replied, “If you will be kind to this people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

“There's a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Go break your treaty with Israel's King Baasha so that he will withdraw from me.”

So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn't I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster? ”

Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “What should I do about the 7,500 pounds of silver I gave to Israel's division? ”

The man of God replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”

They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD ​— ​only the consecrated priests, the descendants of Aaron, have the right to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully! You will not receive honor from the LORD God.”

Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax, and the royal revenue[fn] will suffer.

We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.

We also asked them for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.

Be advised that you do not have authority to impose tribute, duty, and land tax on any priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant's prayer that I now pray to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins[fn] we have committed against you. Both I and my father's family have sinned.

When they were in their kingdom,

with your abundant goodness that you gave them,

and in the spacious and fertile land you set before them,

they would not serve you or turn from their wicked ways.

“What is it, Queen Esther? ” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”

While drinking the[fn] wine, the king asked Esther, “Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”

His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows seventy-five feet[fn] tall. Ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed.

Once again, on the second day while drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “Queen Esther, whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”

She said, “If it pleases the king and I have found favor with him, if the matter seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let a royal edict be written. Let it revoke the documents the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces.

King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Look, I have given Haman's estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked[fn] the Jews.

The king said to Queen Esther, “In the fortress of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman's ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek will also be done.”

“the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ”

“Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ”

“Very well,” the LORD told Satan, “he is in your power; only spare his life.”

Should anyone try to speak with you

when you are exhausted?

Yet who can keep from speaking?

A word was brought to me in secret;

my ears caught a whisper of it.

Call out! Will anyone answer you?

Which of the holy ones will you turn to?

For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,

and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

If I have sinned, what have I done to you,

Watcher of humanity?

Why have you made me your target,

so that I have become a burden to you?[fn]

if you are pure and upright,

then he will move even now on your behalf

and restore the home where your righteousness dwells.

“Is it good for you to oppress,

to reject the work of your hands,

and favor[fn] the plans of the wicked?

“Yet you concealed these thoughts in your heart;

I know that this was your hidden plan:[fn]

Should your babbling put others to silence,

so that you can keep on ridiculing

with no one to humiliate you?

He would show you the secrets of wisdom,

for true wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your iniquity.

Your life will be brighter than noonday;

its darkness[fn] will be like the morning.

But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;

ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

Then call, and I will answer,

or I will speak, and you can respond to me.

Why do you hide your face

and consider me your enemy?

You would call, and I would answer you.

You would long for the work of your hands.

Listen to me and I will inform you.

I will describe what I have seen,

Is there no end to your empty[fn] words?

What provokes you that you continue testifying?

You who tear yourself in anger[fn] —

should the earth be abandoned on your account,

or a rock be removed from its place?